Start-up association concerned with industry's app-titude
The proliferation of new associations in the Internet arena continues as the Application Developers Alliance opened its doors in Washington earlier this year.
While there already is an association - ACT - that states its interest is to represent app developers, Ward said the purpose of the Alliance is to be a "professional services association that is 100 percent committed to meeting the unique needs of the development community." That includes member access to each other, and offering "the latest technologies, training and techniques."
Organized as a c(6), the association already has attracted 3,000 members in its two-month existence, through meet-ups and conferences, as well as social media. At the moment, partner companies are paying dues, while individual members are not yet being charged. But "even when we are charging it's never going to be a lot of money," Ward said.
The association is planning to start offering certification programs this year, and will have an advocacy program. "[Advocacy is] not our top priority, not even our second priority, but is unavoidable in an industry as dynamic as the app industry," he said.
Heading the eight staff is Jon Potter, formerly executive director of the Digital Media Association for 12 years. Earlier he was government relations SVP for Columbus Newport and an attorney at DC law firm Gotshal & Manges, where he specialized in policy and government relations work on issues such as digital copyright. According to his biography on the group's website, Potter launched his advocacy career while he was a law student at New York University, managing political and nonprofit fundraising from his dorm room.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Rochester and a juris doctorate at New York University. Details: appdevelopersalliance.org.
