Cybersecurity will be a focus of attention at the annual South Sound Technology Conference, being held for the 12th year at the University of Washington Tacoma on Fri., March 9. The reason: Howard Schmidt, President Obama’s choice to be the White House Cybersecurity Coordinator, will deliver the lunch-time address. One of the world’s leading authorities on computer security, Schmidt orchestrates the government’s cybersecurity activities.

The conference, the primer technology showcase for the Tacoma and South Puget Sound region, will hear speakers on other topics, too. Companies will talk about problems they would want a technology company to solve for them; user groups and technology organizations will introduce themselves and showcase their interests; and conference goers will discuss the mobile applications explosion and social media. Steve Jarvis, vice president of operations for the travel site Expedia, will keynote the morning address. For more information and to register, visit http://www.sstconference.org .