Arlington, VA – 02/10/2012 – This morning, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)^® and the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) welcomed presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney as the featured speaker at their cosponsored  Presidential Series breakfast.

Introducing Governor Romney, Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CEA, remarked, "If we tasked headhunters with selecting a president based on relevant management and government experience, financial and budgeting acumen, leadership and integrity, they would identify Mitt as a top candidate. Mitt has a vision and a passion for the nation. And it revolves around excellence, innovation, technology and tapping into what makes us great as Americans.”

Romney repeatedly spoke to the need for an economic and governmental climate that supports and promotes innovation. If elected president, Romney stated, he would make important changes to grow America's innovation economy including changing government regulation to encourage risk, opening markets for American goods abroad, and improving immigration policies so that  foreign-born, American-educated individuals can stay in America and contribute to the U.S. economy. 

"Governor Romney's vision for American competitiveness and a culture of innovation reflect that of CEA's own Innovation Movement,” said Shapiro.  To join CEA's Innovation Movement for free, visit DeclareInnovation.com. "Technology and innovation, and their role in spurring the nation's economic growth, will be important issues in the 2012 presidential election, and today we heard from one candidate who understands what entrepreneurs and businesses need.”

NVTC and CEA have extended invitations to all of the presidential candidates to address the region's technology community as part of the Presidential Series. For more information about the series, visit nvtc.org.