ITAA, GEIA plan merger

The Information Technology Association of America and the Government Electronics and Information Technology Association are heading toward a merger in 2008.

The boards of directors of the two IT advocacy groups announced their intention today to begin talks with a view to combining forces sometime next year.

A single entity would have greater resources to work with, they said, because some 32 government technology contractors belong to both ITAA and GEIA and account for about 30 percent the combined revenues.

ITAA Chairman Dave Sanders said the merger would carry the industry's message to Washington with a louder, clearer voice.

"Today's government technology marketplace demands convergence and commercial innovation," said GEIA Chairman Randy Lucas. "Companies should be able to gather in one place to advance the industry and help uphold America's position as the world's innovation headquarters."

The planned merger would combine GEIA's business development, networking, standards and market analysis products and programs with the offerings available through ITAA's Commercial and Public Sector groups in public policy advocacy, business development and networking, they said.

Henry Steininger, incoming ITAA chairman, said GEIA's market forecasting reports, government relations and standards programs complement ITAA's offerings. "The merger of these two association leaders would clearly yield a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts."

The merger also would provide members with a new home where they can ally themselves not only with other companies serving the public sector, but also with those developing cutting-edge commercial solutions for the private sector, added Gene Glazar, incoming GEIA chairman.

The combined organization would represent more than 380 member companies that offer IT solutions to commercial companies and to federal, state and local government agencies.