Tech lobbyist opens Seattle office

TechNet, a Silicon Valley technology lobbying group, has opened a new office in Seattle. The office will focus on issues and companies in Oregon, Idaho and Washington, which is home to Microsoft. The group also named Sara Morris TechNet's executive director of the Northwest region. Most recently, Morris was a group marketing manager at Amazon.com. CEO Rick White said the Northwest region is heavily dependent on technology for economic growth. "We're putting in place the mechanisms we'll need to optimize growth as we emerge from this downturn," White said in a statement about the office. TechNet, which is headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., also has offices in Austin, Texas; Boston; and Orange County, Calif.