AKELA Attends NJ Hi-Tech Conference in DC
Monmouth Junction, NJ, September 30, 2009 — AKELA Laser Corporation CEO Robert Sellers traveled to Washington D.C. today to attend a conference for leaders of New Jersey small businesses in the High Tech sector. AKELA was one of nearly 50 companies to take part in the conference that enabled company representatives to meet members of Congress and the Executive Branch focused on Small Business, Technology and Innovation. The conference was hosted by Congressman Rush Holt (NJ-12) as another in his series of “DC Days” that brings disparate members of his constituency to the Capitol to discuss key issues.
“We have seen the fruits of innovation for our economy,” Holt said. “The challenges of the 21st century require that we recognize that innovation is fundamental to our nation’s economic growth. These high tech small businesses are on the front lines of our economic recovery. Today’s meetings offered an opportunity for them to have a constructive dialogue with policymakers on issues that affect their business and our local economy.”
Added Sellers, “AKELA is truly fortunate to be in Congressman Holt’s district. With a PhD in Physics, Congressman Holt understands technology and is uniquely qualified to represent the interests of AKELA and other high tech companies that are the engines of growth both in New Jersey and the United States as a whole. By providing access to so many important decision and policy makers throughout different areas of government, Congressman Holt once again displayed his commitment to driving the growth of high tech businesses in his district.”
In addition to Congressman Holt, Sellers and the other business leaders met with Congressmen Polis and Altmire, the White House Deputy Chief Technology Officer, the District Director of the Small Business Administration, and directors and key staff members from the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) arms of the DOD, DOE, NIH and NSF.