Fred Morris is Governor Locke’s Executive Policy Advisor for Science and Technology. He advises the governor on measures to sustain and enhance the climate for science and technology in Washington.
Seattle.internet.com caught up with Morris earlier today to get the scoop on “Technology Innovators Day”
and more…
seattle.internet.com: Why did you decide to proclaim yesterday “Technology Innovators Day”?
Fred Morris: Governor Locke proclaimed February 1, 2001 “Technology Innovators Day” to
honor WSA and its members on the occasion of their sixth annual Industry Achievement Awards. As the governor states in the proclamation, WSA “has worked hard to foster the tremendous growth that technology innovation has brought about in the last 15 years.”
seattle.internet.com: With all the layoffs and adjustments in the high-tech sector, where do you
see the future of this industry headed in Washington State?
Fred Morris:Governor Locke foresees technology as a continued engine of growth for
Washington’s economy. The highly publicized layoffs and adjustments at
dot-com companies need to be viewed in perspective. In some cases, they
reflect a company’s transition to more digital business methods. In other
instances, they simply represent the churn that is inherent in a highly
entrepreneurial, dynamic sector. And in most cases, other tech companies in
the state are quickly snatching up the displaced workers. Of course, we do
not take our continued success for granted. As Governor Locke has stated
“If our prosperity is to last for the long-term, we have to work strategically and diligently to build and
maintain the foundations of a knowledge-based, technology-based economy.”
That’s why the governor’s proposed budget includes set of key measures to
educate our children for the knowledge-based economy, build a workforce for
the 21st century, and strengthen our research institutions.
seattle.internet.com: How has Governor Locke’s administration incorporated the internet into its daily
routine?
Fred Morris: Led by Steve Kolodney and his outstanding team at the Department of
Information Services, Washington’s award-winning Digital Government
initiative is transforming the way we do business in countless ways. To
name just a few: our employees purchase goods and services over the internet
via Central Stores Online; they download many frequently used state forms
and complete them electronically; they can enroll in, take, and be tested in
any of 500 course titles related to information technology; they can record
planned performance objectives and track performance. Similarly, our
citizens can find government information through the powerful Find It!
Washington search tool; they can track the progress of any bill pending in
the state legislature; they can order certified copies of vital records.
This is just a tiny sample of the available government-to-government and
government-to-citizen applications. The complete portfolio is at http://www.wa.gov/dis/e-gov/plan/applications.htm.
