14^th Annual AeA High-Tech Innovation Awards Finalists Announced
Orange County and Inland Empire's most innovative organizations recognized and feted during event with mayor of Anaheim to appear as master of ceremonies

Newport Beach, Calif. (April 4, 2007) - AeA, the largest technology trade association in the United States, today announced the finalists in its 14^th Annual High-Tech Innovation Awards, presented by AeA’s Orange County & Inland Empire Council. City of Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle will act as the master of ceremonies for the evening celebrating innovators from Orange County and the Inland Empire.

"The Race to Innovate in Orange County is evident in the record number of nominations AeA received for this year’s awards," said Tim Jemal, AeA executive director for Orange County and the Inland Empire. "Companies must work harder than ever to differentiate themselves from the competition. The High-Tech Awards recognize innovative products, people and business processes that stand out. We’re thrilled that Curt Pringle has agreed to be our master of ceremonies."

The 14^th Annual High-Tech Innovation Awards will be presented at the Fairmont Hotel in Newport Beach on May 10, 2007. The awards recognize local companies, individuals and products in the technology field that drive innovation in Orange County. In addition, AeA Orange County will recognize educators and students for their innovative use of science, math and technology in the classroom and the community in conjunction with Project Tomorrow, the nation's leading education nonprofit group focused on preparing today's students to be tomorrow's innovators.

"AeA's High-Tech Innovation Awards encourage companies in Orange County and the Inland Empire to invent new ways of doing business and products to facilitate innovation in everyday life," said Curt Pringle, mayor of Anaheim. "I am excited to be a part of the program and congratulate each of the companies and people recognized as finalists."

The finalists in all categories are listed below:

Greg Ross Community Service
Stephen LaCount, principal, LaCount Law

High-Impact Person of the Year
Doug Patton, chief executive officer, Patton Design
Gary Augusta, president and chief executive officer, OCTANe
Frank Peters, chairman, Tech Coast Angels
Joey Benadretti, president and director of operations for the Americas, SYSPRO
Michael Henson, entrepreneur & venture investor

Outstanding Medical Device Company
Alsius Corporation
Ambryx Biotechnology Inc.
Biolase
I-Flow
ICU Medical
SenoRx

Outstanding Private Company
DATAllegro
HireRight, Inc.
SiliconSystems, Inc.
SYSPRO
Teridian Semiconductor Corporation
Vision Solutions, Inc.

Outstanding Private Company CEO
Brett Butler, chief executive officer, Axiom Microdevices Inc.
Jeffrey Hilbert, chief executive officer, WiSpry, Inc.
Michael Hajeck, chief executive officer, SiliconSystems Inc.

Outstanding Public Company
Epicor Software
Jazz Semiconductor
Netlist, Inc.
Sage Software
Skyworks Solutions
Telelogic North America Inc.
The TriZetto Group

Outstanding Public Company CEO
George Klaus, chief executive officer, Epicor Software
Heath Clarke, chief executive officer, Local.com
Jeff Margolis, chief executive officer, The TriZetto Group
Jim McCluney, chief executive officer, Emulex Corporation
Michael A. Mussallem, chief executive officer, Edwards Lifesciences

Outstanding Woman in Technology
Helen Chen, vice president of business development, Ambryx Biotechnology Inc.
Jennifer Black, vice president of marketing, Local.com
Karen Evensen, vice president of engineering, EADS North America Defense Test & Services
Kirsten Mangers, chief executive officer and co-founder, WebVisible

Project Tomorrow: District Leadership in Science, Math and Technology
Dr. Theresa Daem, superintendent, Laguna Beach Unified School District

Project Tomorrow: Emerging Student Innovator
Jason Youdeem, Foothill High School, Tustin Unified School District
Katherine L. Bower, Brea Olinda High School, Brea Olinda Unified School District
Marshall Thomas, Laguna Beach High School, Laguna Beach Unified School District

Project Tomorrow: High Impact Teacher in Science, Math and Technology
Amanda Donnell, Andersen Elementary School, Newport-Mesa Unified School District
Holly Steele, Beechwood School, Fullerton School District
Janice Hopper, Century High School, Santa Ana Unified School District
Jeffrey Lee, Arthur F. Covey Elementary School, Buena Park Unified School District

Project Tomorrow: Innovative School Program in Science, Math and Technology
Ginny Trapani, principal, Yorba Linda Middle School, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District
Jacqueline Pearce, principal, Robert C. Fisler School, Fullerton School District
Jerry Halpin, principal, Brea Olinda High School Global IT Academy, Brea Olinda Unified School District
Lucinda Nares Pueblos, principal, Lathrop Technology Magnet School, Santa Ana Unified School District

Computer Peripherals
Comarco
Eclypse International Corporation
Hectrix Inc.
Kofax
Printronix Inc.

Computer Storage
CMS Products
DATAllegro (two products finalists)
Emulex
iStor
Kingston Technology
SiliconSystems, Inc.
STEC, Inc.

Consumer Hardware
CMS Products
D-Link Systems Inc. (two product finalists)
Gateway (two product finalists)

Consumer Software
CMS Products
SpeechPhone LLC
SRS Labs (two product finalists)

Innovation Design
Jayco Interface Technology, Inc.
Patton Design (nominated three products)

Instructional Technology
MIND Institute

Internet
Accurate Background, Inc.
Epicor Software
Hectrix Inc.
Mavent Inc.
Memeo
Omnifuse Inc.
Primal Solutions
The Return Exchange
WebVisible

Medical Devices
CalHealth, Inc.
Edwards Lifesciences
I-Flow

Orqis Medical
Patton Design

Semiconductors
Aktino, Inc.
Axiom Microdevices Inc.
Conexant Systems, Inc.
DDi Corporation
GloNav Inc.
Lantronix
WiSpry, Inc.

Software
Bitfone Corporation, HP acquisition
eEye Digital Security
Enclarity
Epicor Software
Integrien Corporation
MSC Software
SYSPRO
Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc.

"This year's categories are more competitive than ever, proving that Orange County and the Inland Empire are hotbeds for innovation," said Jemal.

The awards recipients will be revealed on May 10, 2007 at the Fairmont Hotel in Newport Beach. Individual tickets prices are $125 for AeA members and $150 for non-members. Tables of 12 are still available for $1,200 for AeA members and $1,500 for non-members.  To register for the event, please contact Leah Van Zee or call (949) 477-5300.

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About AeA
AeA is the largest high-tech trade association in the U.S. and represents all segments of the technology industry. Our mission is to help our member companies grow and improve their business. Internationally, AeA represents 2,500 companies with 1.8 million employees. In Orange County & the Inland Empire, AeA represents 140 member companies with worldwide revenue of more than $8 billion and more than 160,000 employees in the United States and globally. Information on the Orange County & Inland Empire Council can be found at www.aeanet.org/orangecounty.

This page was last updated on 04/09/07.