CompTIA’s Chief Learns from Electronics Industry

“Todd Thibodeaux is an innovative, engaging and dynamic leader,” said Brian Wiser, chairman of the CompTIA Board of Directors, in a press statement.

Thibodeaux said he wants to increase CompTIA’s face time with media, regulators and other trade shows. “You have to get out there and do it,” he said. “It can’t be just one person. It can’t just be sending out a few press releases. You have to get multiple people out giving speeches, getting your research out to as many places as you can. You try to be a resource to as many press as you possibly can. And, you also get your members to be evangelists too. We’ll have a multipronged strategy for that.”

Thibodeaux is optimistic CompTIA’s profile will be higher by the end of the year. “We are in a learning curve for the next few months. I hope that toward the end of the year and into 2009 our visibility and footprint will be bigger,” he said.

Publicity will not be for publicity’s sake, he said. “Expanding the visibility of the organization is not just to make more people aware of the name, but to make them aware of the name so they can use the tools we have, so they can join and be involved and learn something from the experience,” he said.

Increased name recognition also will help the association redouble efforts to influence public policy, he added.

Venator to Lead CompTIA Foundation

Thibodeaux succeeds Venator, who lead the association for nearly 20 years. Venator had planned to retire next year, but requested to step aside this year to care for his elderly parents. At the board’s request, Venator will continue to serve as president and CEO of the CompTIA Educational Foundation, the association’s charitable outreach program, through Aug. 31, 2010.

John Venator lead CompTIA for nearly 20 years.

“John will continue to provide leadership for a program he is very passionate about, the CompTIA Educational Foundation.” Wiser said. “His mission is to build visibility for the Foundation, broaden its industry engagement and enhance its financial stability. I’m confident John will succeed in this task in the same way that he led CompTIA to its standing today as the ‘voice’ of the world’s IT industry."

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