Contributor

Harris N. Miller, President and CEO, Career College Association

Harris N. Miller is President and CEO of the Career College Association (CCA), a national trade association with over 1400 members representing accredited for-profit institutions of higher education based in Washington, DC. In this role, he oversees the day to day operations of the nation's premier trade group for career education. His responsibilities include: developing the strategic and tactical plans needed to position the sector for future growth; proactively reaching out to federal and state lawmakers and regulators to advance the sector's public policy agenda; communicating sector positions and value propositions to key constituencies and stakeholders; growing the organization and developing a range of value-added member services; and assuring the continued financial health and prosperity of the enterprise.

Although Miller only joined CCA in 2007, he has already advanced the cause of career education and the prospects of the organization across a number of dimensions.

CCA Accomplishments

- Expanded, reorganized and revamped the CCA government affairs department to assure that the interests of career education are clearly defined, articulated and presented on Capitol Hill, in state capitals, and within the Education Department and other relevant government agencies;

- Developed on-going relations with allied organizations, including accreditation agencies, higher education trade groups, vertical industry trade groups, think tanks, and other interest groups;

- Launched the first sector-backed conference specifically designed to meet the needs of career college owners, equity investors, and others interested in capitalizing career education operations;

- Conducted one of the most successful CCA membership conferences ever, far exceeding estimates for attendance, revenue and profit;

- Created strategic messaging and a comprehensive communications program designed to promote career education to students, parents, high schools, employers, and policymakers. Created new outreach programs including an on-going webcast series and introducing a daily CCA Media Intelligence Portal;

- Visited dozens of CCA member schools to hear issues first hand, assess member needs, promote member accomplishments and seek opportunities for additional collaboration and benefit;

Prior to joining CCA, Miller ran in the 2006 Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat held by then Sen. George Allen (R-VA). Although endorsed by The Washington Post and elected officials around the Commonwealth, Miller lost a close race to Jim Webb, and Webb went on to unseat Sen. Allen.

Miller's decision to run for Senate from Virginia concluded an 11-year stint as president of the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), the nation's oldest and largest computer software and services trade association. Harris led the effort to introduce new and largely unexplored policy challenges for law enforcement, national security, U.S. economic leadership, education, copyright protection, tax fairness and traditional commerce, and was recognized as a thought leader on the expansion of the Internet into everyday lives.

ITAA Accomplishments

- Testifying before Congress, speaking at national and international conferences and appearing on national news outlets, Miller led the information technology (IT) industry's efforts to raise awareness of cyber security issues among business and home computer users. He helped IT companies and law enforcement collaborate on computer crime issues in a manner that encourages greater cooperation, more productive investigation and more effective prosecution, organizing the first law enforcement/industry cybercrime conferences. The Washington Post recognized him as one of the industry's leadership cybersecurity experts.

- Miller brought the Year 2000 software conversion problem to the attention of the American people and people around the globe. Starting several years prior to the onset of the looming computer "glitch," Miller developed a multifaceted industry program designed to educate Congress, reach out to computer reliant industries, and inform computer users of the vulnerabilities in software and the need to take timely remedial action. Miller was a frequent writer and lecturer on the Year 2000 topic and testified before Congress on the subject several times in the intervening years.

- Miller helped educate business executives and government officials about how the U.S. faces a new competitive reality, one in which the door to international trade must swing both ways and comparative advantage is enjoyed by the countries with the best educated, most technologically advanced and economically productive populations.

- Miller led IT industry efforts to invest in the next generation of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) talent, calling on the nation to meet the challenge of doubling the number of STEM graduates over the next ten years. He organized the first National Convocation on the IT workforce shortage.

- As President of the World Information Technology and Services Alliance, Miller tripled the size of this ITAA sister association from 22 national technology association member countries in 1995 to 67 national technology associations by 2005. In this capacity, he brought the World Congress on Information Technology to George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia in 1998, helping Virginia receive global recognition as an IT leader. Harris has greatly contributed to the development of information technology markets in Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. As these markets growth, they create new demand for high tech products and jobs for Americans. He regularly spoke at major global conferences and met with leading government officials in countries throughout Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.

Miller is a 1972 Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, which recognized him in 2004 as its Legacy Laureate. In 1975, he earned a Master of Philosophy degree from Yale University. He began his 30-year career in public service as a recipient of the prestigious American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship, working for Sen. John Durkin (D-NH). Miller advanced to become Sen. Durkin's Legislative Director, leaving in 1979 to become Deputy Director of Congressional Relations in the Office of Personnel Management. In 1981, Miller returned to the Hill, serving on the Immigration and Refugees Subcommittee staff of Congressman Ron Mazzoli (D-KY).

Working on the Immigration Subcommittee, Miller played a critical role in drafting the last major immigration bill, the Simpson-Mazzoli Immigration Reform and Control Act. Unprecedented in its purpose and scope, the legislation helped tighten immigration enforcement at the nation's borders, required employers to obtain proper worker documentation, created ground rules for allowing undocumented foreign workers to earn legal residency, and established a balanced but limited guest worker program.

Miller ran for Virginia's 10th Congressional District House seat in 1984, losing in the Democratic primary by less than 1000 votes. Turning his hand to private enterprise, Miller started his own small business, Harris Miller and Associates, later Holt, Miller and Associates. In that role, Harris helped his clients solve difficult issues in such areas as immigration, banking, insurance, and technology.

Harris has held many important state positions, including a term on the Virginia State Lottery Board, appointed by Governor Doug Wilder, and as one of Governor Mark Warner's appointees to the Virginia Research Technology Advisory Committee. He has long been active in the arts, and serves as Chairman of the Virginia Opera Board of Directors in Northern Virginia. He also served under Governor Jerry Baliles as a member of Virginia Governor's Commission on the Federal Funding of State Domestic Programs. Earlier, he served as Chairman of the Democratic Party in Fairfax County and as Chairman of the American Heart Association Northern Virginia Council. He also served on the board of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, National Capital Area Region.

Miller is married to Dr. Deborah Kahn. The couple's children, Derek and Alexis, are graduates of Yale and Northwestern University, respectively.