Now that Washington state has found itself in the market for someone to fill the much-coveted position of director of information services, the message is clear that the state is taking all the time it needs to ensure a custom fit. "They're going to take the time to focus on the quality of the candidate and not just filling the position. They just want to make sure its a meticulous process for the right candidate," said Sharon Peck, special assistant to the director in the department of personnel. To help expedite the process is The Oldani Group, a search firm hired by Gov. Gary Locke to conduct the nationwide recruitment search. When Oldani completes its search, the top two candidates will be given to the governor to make the final decision. In the meantime, Deputy Acting Director Clare Donahue is leading the department, addressing Y2K remediation and planning New Year's weekend. Donahue is filling the position left vacant when Steve Kolodney departed. "Steve did a great job of mapping out a future for that part of the agency," Peck said. "[The department had] a well-defined plan, so they're doing well."

     So far it's been a busy July for Netscape Communications former chief executive Jim Barksdale. Already serving on the boards of five companies, including 3Com and Mondavi, Barksdale joined Sun Microsystems' board, and was named co-chair on Texas Gov. George W. Bush's high-tech team last week. Bush will be speaking in Virginia about high-tech issues Wednesday, however, a source familiar with the campaign said not to expect any surprises at the event.

     After a year and a half, the executive director of the Potomac Council of the American Electronics Association, Kevin Carroll, is leaving to join the San Diego Council of the AEA. Carroll has held the position for a year and a half, focusing on different issues that affect technology companies in the Washington area. "It's a tough job," Carroll said. "The person has to be able to wear many hats." Carroll will be starting his job on the West Coast on Aug. 1, leaving the company a little less than month to fill the position.

     Former deputy chief of staff and director of communications for the the office of Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Arlen Specter, John Elliot joined Intel's Washington, DC, office as communications manager Monday. "We have a number of press issues related to government policy activities. There are a number of policy fronts that we are active on that are important to high tech and Intel," said Tom Waldrop, Intel company spokesman. Among the policy issues Elliot may address are Y2K liability litigation, export control and employment-based immigration. Because a number of people on staff work directly with Congress, according to Waldrop, the company saw the need to put a press relations manager in the DC government affairs office. "In the past we managed those issues from out West Coast sites, but because the number of issues we decided to put our PR manager in our government," Waldrop said.

     Education Secretary Richard Riley lobbied his core constituency — teachers — on everything from bridging the digital divide to the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act at this week's National Conference on Education Technology. Speaking to teachers from 44 states gathered to evaluate the effectiveness of technology in education, Riley hammed it up with Star Wars references and e-mail anecdotes as he reported progress in the area of computers in classrooms. "It is my firm belief that we cannot speak about the economic consequences and benefits of technology without addressing...the need to provide a quality education to build this strong future and the positive force that technology can play in creating a quality education for all students," he said. Riley also touted the full e-rate funding recently approved by the FCC and title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which is designed to prepare teachers to use technology effectively in their classrooms. After Riley's speech, Gordon Ambach, executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers, led the packed hall in a meticulously choreographed, stadium-like "wave."

     Now he can act official: acting patent commissioner Q. Todd Dickinson was nominated to the position of assistant secretary of commerce and commissioner of patents and trademarks by President Clinton on July 1. An intellectual property lawyer by training, Dickinson became acting commissioner at the beginning of the year, when Bruce A. Lehman resigned the post.

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