The Tech Council of Maryland and the Chesapeake Regional Tech Council have merged to create a statewide organization that will aim to advance Maryland's position as a hub for technology companies.
The new group, the Maryland Tech Council, has close to 700 member companies across the state. The merger was completed in December and announced Tuesday at the former Tech Council's annual Maryland Policy and Leadership Dinner in Annapolis.
The merger gives the group a stronger, more unified voice to push for business-friendly legislation, attract resources for businesses, such as funding for startups, and draw more national attention to the region as a technology and life sciences hub, said Tami Howie, the executive director of the Chesapeake Regional Tech Council who will serve as CEO of the Maryland Tech Council.
"My No. 1 priority is making sure companies come here and stay here and thrive here," Howie said.
The two groups each bring more than 300 members, with only eight companies overlapping on their membership lists, Howie said.
The Chesapeake Regional Tech Council's membership region spanned from Annapolis, west to Howard County and north to Baltimore.
Meanwhile Montgomery County was the nucleus of Rockville-based Tech Council of Maryland, though the group also had members in the Baltimore area.
"The organizations really complement each other," said Rene B. LaVigne, the chair of the Tech Council of Maryland.
LaVigne and Jason Silva, the chair of the Chesapeake Regional Tech Council, will serve as co-chairs of the new organization.