Advancing Technology through Entrepreneurship

For Immediate Release:

Advisory Committee Formed For Chesapeake Innovation Center

Annapolis, MD (May 22, 2003) - County Executive Janet S. Owens announced today that an advisory committee has been formed to help guide The Chesapeake Innovation Center (CIC), Anne Arundel County's new business incubator. The CIC advisory committee will provide advice on ways to help incubator companies succeed, provide guidance and assistance with fundraising, and will review policies developed by the CIC.

“I expect the CIC to reap big gains for Anne Arundel County,” said County Executive Janet S. Owens. “This high-powered advisory committee will provide the structured support needed to grow businesses into successful enterprises.”

“Our business leaders here have shown tremendous interest and support for the CIC,” said Bill Badger, President and CEO of AAEDC. “Members of the CIC Advisory Committee represent Anne Arundel County's preeminent businesses, Maryland's educational institutions, and federal agencies. We are looking forward to their guidance as the incubator grows.” The AAEDC is designated as the County's lead agency on the CIC initiative.

One of the primary focuses of the CIC will be the development of firms specializing in homeland security/defense technology, the first business incubator in the nation with this focus. The CIC Advisory Committee will help in developing partnerships with federal agencies, universities and key corporations as the incubator grows new companies in the communications and information technology sectors.

The CIC Advisory Committee members were asked to serve based on their professional expertise as well as the potential for added value to the incubator. Currently, the committee is comprised of 17 representatives from the private, public, and university sectors but it is expected to grow to 25 members by the end of the year. Members of the CIC Advisory Committee are:

5/22/03
Ermis Sfakiyanudis (Chairman) - President, Sigma Engineering, Inc. - a civil engineering firm with over 28 years of experience in Anne Arundel County. (www.sigma-engineering.com)

Rocky Cintron - President & CEO, Force 3 - an information technology solutions provider that assists client hospitals and medical facilities in managing networks and bandwidth requirements. (www.force3.com)

Brian Darmody – Office of the President , University of Maryland – a liaison between UMS and the business community creating interaction on statewide economic development opportunities.
(www.onestopshop.umd.edu)

Gerald Ford - Vice President, Corporate Strategic Planning, ARINC – a world leader in the field of aviation communications and systems engineering. (www.arinc.com)

Chris Foster - Technology Coordinator, Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development - develops policies and implements programs to strengthen the Maryland economy. (www.choosemaryland.org)

Kathy Freeland - Chief Executive Officer, RGII Technologies, Inc. – an information technology company that organizes, manages, and integrates information to streamline operations and accommodate emerging technologies. (www.rg2.com)

Steven Fritz, Ph.D. - Director, Technology Transfer, Maryland Technology Development Corporation – a state organization that serves as the focal point for technology leadership in Maryland. (www.marylandtedco.org)

John Graham - Managing Director & General Counsel, Omni Communications, Inc. – a provider of satellite-based telecommunication infrastructure to emerging markets that develops and deploys customized, high-performance broadband technology.
(www.omni-inc.net)

Catherine Hill - Director of Community Partnerships, National Security Agency (NSA) – coordinates, directs, and performs highly specialized activities to protect U.S. information systems and produce foreign intelligence information. (www.nsa.gov)

Stephanie Keller-Bottom - Director, Nokia Innovent, Nokia Ventures Organization – collaborates with leading edge entrpreneurs, providing them access to Innovent's resources to clarify their vision and accelerate commercialization. (www.nokia.com/innovent)

Darren Lacey - Executive Director, Information Security Institute, Johns Hopkins University – a focal point for research and education in information security, assurance, and privacy guided by input from leaders of academia, industry, and government. (www.jhu.edu)

Robert Pozgar - President, Windermere Group LLC – a provider of practical and responsive technology solutions to federal and commercial customers. (www.windermeregroup.com)

Steven Rizzi - Corporate Vice President, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) - one of the worlds leading providers of outsourcing and IT services, and the nation's largest employee-owned research and engineering company. (www.saic.com)

Bob Root – Imagineer & CEO, Orion Imagineering, Inc – a technology marketing company that introduces new technologies to the market, partners, and the industry; specializing in optical storage, photonics, micro-machines/nanotechnology, biotech and wireless communications. (www.orionlearning.com/nerd.html)

Wilbert Sirota - Partner and Co-Chair of Venture Capital and Emerging Companies Group, Piper, Rudnick, LLP – a business law firm specializing in business and technology, real estate, government affairs, International commerce and litigation. (www.piperrudnick.com)

Carl Smith - Area Manager, External Affairs, Verizon Communications (Retired) - formed by the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE, Verizon is one of the world's leading providers of high-growth communications services. (www.verizon.com)

Steve Walker - President, Steve Walker & Associates - invests in technology companies, with a bias towards Internet infrastructure and software technologies in the Mid-Atlantic region. (www.walkerventures.com)

The CIC will provide business start-up services and flexible facilities to accelerate the formation and growth of early stage technology ventures, which increases the likelihood of success. The CIC is projected to open in June 2003, in a 24,000 square-foot facility at 175 Admiral Cochrane Drive, in Annapolis, Maryland. All entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply for a business presence at CIC, particularly if their focus is in the security, information technology, or communications sectors. Interested parties are welcome to contact Mr. John Elstner, CIC Director, at jelstner@cic-tech.org or by phone at 410-224-2030.

Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) is a not-for-profit corporation that provides economic development services for Anne Arundel County, MD. AAEDC manages local revitalization projects, supports existing employers, recruits new employers, provides and facilitates loans to new and expanding businesses and provides advice, information and services related to business and economic development in Anne Arundel County, MD. Additional information about AAEDC is available on the Internet at www.aaedc.org.