Irvine, Calif., (April 16, 2009) – TechAmerica, formed by the merger of AeA (formerly the American Electronics Association), the Cyber Security Industry Alliance (CSIA), the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) and the Government Electronics & Information Technology Association (GEIA), today announced the finalists in its 16th Annual High-Tech Innovation Awards. This premier business event celebrates excellence and achievement in the region’s technology industry, and honors local companies, individuals, and products that drive innovation in Orange County and the Inland Empire. The winners will be named during the event which takes place on May 14, 2009 at the Catalina Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel in Costa Mesa, Calif.

“This region boasts many noteworthy individuals, companies, and products that help advance the business of technology not only in Orange County and the Inland Empire, but throughout the world,” said Don Hicks, executive director of TechAmerica Orange County. “We had many outstanding submissions this year, and congratulate the newly-named finalists on their achievements.”

In addition to recognizing innovation in the region’s technology industry, TechAmerica Orange County has teamed up with Project Tomorrow, one of the nation’s leading education nonprofit groups, to recognize Orange County educators and students for their innovative use of science, math and technology in the classroom and the community. Though a grant from Emulex Corporation, the winning school and teacher will receive a donation to help expand their innovative program, and the emerging student innovator will earn a $2,500 college scholarship to further their studies in science, math or technology.

The finalists in all categories are listed below:

Outstanding Public CEO In Technology Finalists
Reynolds Bish, Kofax
Heath Clarke, Local.com
George Klaus, Epicor

Outstanding Private CEO In Technology Finalists
Joey Benadretti, SYSPRO USA
Michael Hajeck, SiliconSystems, Inc.
Oli Thordarson, Alvaka Networks

Outstanding Woman In Technology Finalists
Kelsey Galarza, Director, SMB Solutions, HireRight, Inc.
Kirsten Mangers, Founder and CEO, WebVisible, Inc.
Miranda Su, Executive Vice President, IOGEAR

Outstanding Public Technology Company Finalists
Epicor
Kofax
QLogic Corporation
SRS Labs, Inc.

Outstanding Private Technology Company Finalists
D-Link Systems, Inc.
Enclarity
SiliconSystems, Inc.
SYSPRO

Innovative Product/Technology In 2008 Finalists

Hardware Finalists
Emulex OneConnect™ UCNA Platform, Emulex Corporation
USB to VGA Kit, IOGEAR
QLogic 8100 Series of PCI-Express converged network adapters (CNAs), QLogic Corp
SRS iWOW Adaptor for iPod, SRS Labs, Inc.
SiliconDrive Blade, SiliconSystems, Inc.

Software Finalists
BounceBack Ultimate, CMS Products Inc
iRubric, Reazon Systems, Inc.
Memeo Share, Memeo, Inc.
SRS TruVolume, SRS Labs, Inc.

Internet Finalists
Resultlinks™, Future Ads
SmartStops.net
Where 2 Get It

Semiconductors Finalists
CX20562 USB Speakers-on-a-Chip, Conexant Systems, Inc.
71M653X Metering Chip Family, Teridian Semiconductor Corp.
Tunable Impedance Matching Network, WiSpry, Inc.

Telecommunications Finalists
WiMAX Digital Remote Radio Head, Powerwave Technologies, Inc.
Xpress Suite, Javaground
XPRESSED, Javaground
Harvey Mudd College Green Engineering Award Finalists
Balqon Corporation
D-Link Systems, Inc.
EcoTek Lighting, Inc.
Teridian Semiconductor Corporation

Project Tomorrow Innovation in Education Awards 2009 Finalists

Innovative School Program of the Year in Science, Math and Technology Finalists
Dave Gerhard
Concordia Elementary School
Capistrano Unified School District, Project Splash

William Skelly
Heniger Elementary School
Santa Ana Unified School District, Technology

Kathy Slawson
Early College High School
Newport-Mesa Unified School District, Project-Based Learning

Innovative School Program of the Year in Science, Math and Technology:
Project Splash
Dave Gerhard, Concordia Elementary School (Capistrano Unified School District)

Project-Based Learning
Kathy Slawson, Early College High School (Newport-Mesa Unified School District)

Technology
William Skelly, Heniger Elementary School (Santa Ana Unified School District)

High Impact Teacher of the Year in Science, Math and Technology
Leslie Flores, 4th Grade Science Teacher
Star View Elementary School (Ocean View School District)

Susan Groff, Biology/Anatomy Teacher
Middle College High School at Santa Ana College (Santa Ana Unified School District)

Todd Salesky, Global IT Academy
Brea Olinda High School, (Brea Unified School District)

Charlotte Zaremba, Physics/Chemistry/Computers Teacher
Orange Coast Middle College High School, Newport-Mesa Unified School District

Emerging Student Innovator Finalists
Govil Gupta, Northwood High School (Irvine Unified School District)
Philip Jia, Troy High School (Fullerton Joint Union High School District)
Kate Jaihee Lee, Brea Olinda High School (Brea Unified School District)

Registrations Open
Registration for the 16th Annual High-Tech Innovation Awards is available now. Individual registration is $125 for members/finalist, and $150 for non-members. Tables of 10 can be purchased for $1,100 for members/finalists and $1,300 for non-members. In addition, companies can showcase their expertise during the opening reception for $500. To register online, visit the following link: http://www.aeanet.org/ocawards.  To register by phone, contact
Yalanda Oglesby at +1 949 450-1500 ext. 101 or yalanda.olglesby@techamerica.org.

Our Sponsors
The program is underwritten and produced by financial and in-kind sponsors. These include Premier sponsors Deloitte, Edgewood Partners Insurance Centers (EPIC), Silicon Valley Bank, Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth and Associate sponsors California Manufacturing Technology Consultants (CMTC), Greenwala and United Healthcare. WunderMarx|PR will continue as the public relations and marketing sponsor. Sponsorship opportunities still exist, and interested companies and organizations can contact Don Hicks at 949.450.1500, or don.hicks@techamerica.org.

About TechAmerica
TechAmerica is the leading voice for the U.S. technology industry, which is the driving force behind productivity growth and jobs creation in the United States and the foundation of the global innovation economy. Representing approximately 1,500 member companies of all sizes from the public and commercial sectors of the economy, it is the industry’s largest advocacy organization and is dedicated to helping members’ top and bottom lines. It is also the technology industry's only grassroots-to-global advocacy network, with offices in state capitals around the United States, Washington, D.C., Europe (Brussels) and Asia (Beijing). TechAmerica was formed by the merger of AeA (formerly the American Electronics Association), the Cyber Security Industry Alliance (CSIA), the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) and the Government Electronics & Information Technology Association (GEIA). Learn more at www.techamerica.org.

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