Business Editors/Political Writers

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 3, 2004

Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA) will speak on the subject of Technology, Jobs and the New Economy at the next meeting of SEASIM. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 18 from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Dallas Room, at the DoubleTree Suites in Southcenter. See http://www.seasim.org for more details.

This is an executive level briefing that will present Smith's studied insights into this timely topic. It is suitable for senior management, Information Technology (IT) professionals, educators and government leaders with an interest in understanding issues that will shape our IT workforce, IT education, government policies on worker visas and Federal initiatives concerning global outsourcing of IT work.

Adam Smith has taken an active interest in the effects of globalization on our high technology jobs and our economy. With an eye to creating effective government policy and legislation, he has established himself as a leader in the effort to gain an understanding of the issues and stakeholders that are impacted by recent job and economic shifts caused by IT globalization.

Smith's interest in this subject led to an ongoing GAO (General Accounting Office) investigation into the costs, risks and trends associated with offshore outsourcing of IT services.

Congressman Adam Smith is a leader of the centrist House New Democrat Coalition and aggressively seeks innovative, market-based solutions to our country's challenges. Smith has become one of the House's experts on technology, telecommunications, and economic growth issues, including digital signature, broadband, and export controls.

About The Society for Information Management (SIM)

SIM is made up of 2700 senior executives who are corporate/divisional heads of information technology organizations, their senior management staff, leading academicians, consultants and other leaders who shape the management and use of IT. SIM is also striving to cultivate tomorrow's IT leaders by bringing new communities of professionals into the organization. In partnership with its network of 29 active chapters and four alliances, SIM provides international leadership and education in the successful management and use of IT to achieve business objectives. SIM International is headquartered in Chicago.

About Society for Information Management, Seattle Area Chapter (SEASIM)

SEASIM is the local chapter of SIM and has 200 senior executive members with technology leadership positions from corporations, educational institutions and government. The subject of the February 18 meeting was selected to support the efforts of SEASIM'S Executive Forum on Workforce and Education. This forum which is a joint effort of SEASIM and RATEC will sponsor research into the subject of IT globalization. Outcomes of the research will be discussed during meetings of this forum.

About RATEC, (formerly the Regional Advanced Technology Education Consortium),

RATEC is a non-profit organization consisting of business, education, and government partners dedicated to identifying technology education and workforce issues, and facilitating timely solutions to support a technologically advanced and economically competitive region.