PFF Chairman and co-founder George "Jay" Keyworth said Thierer is "the perfect choice" to lead the group and said under Ferree's leadership, PFF has "played a leading role in the debate about technology policy issues in Washington issues." Ferree had been splitting his time between D.C. and Lake Tahoe, Calif., where he moved his family in 2007. Thierer said he looks forward to continuing the organization's vision of defending individual liberty, free markets, freedom of speech, and property rights.

The group is also working to re-launch its annual tech policy summit after PFF cancelled this year's event, which was to be held in August at Robert Redford's swanky Sundance Resort in Utah, Thierer said. Ferree cited the nation's ongoing economic woes as the rationale for pulling the plug on the popular outside the Beltway soiree. The summer retreat for lobbyists and policy experts had been held in Aspen, Colo. for 14 years before the group decided to relocate for 2009. The 2010 conference will be held in the Beehive State.