A Much Beloved Toy Generating New Steam for Christmas, a 'Virtual Plant' Changing the Way Some Industries Do Business, the Citizen Soldier, and 'The CIO of the Year' Featured On 'Business Now' At 10 a.m. Sunday, December 19th On WJLA-TV

Business Wire, Dec 16, 1999

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 15, 1999--

Television business news magazine "Business Now" this week spotlights the resurgence of model trains as a gift for kids of all ages; visits a company which has developed a virtual plant--speeding time to market for industry; reports on the organization looking out for America's citizens soldiers; and introduces viewers to Information Week's Chief Information Officer of the Year.

"Business Now" airs at 10 a.m. Sunday December 19th on WJLA-TV, Channel 7.

The program simultaneously is being broadcast on the "Business Now" web site: www.BusinessNowTV.com.

This week Business Now reports on:

1) MTH Electric Trains, a Columbia, Maryland firm which is leading a

resurgence of interest in the old toy favorite--the model train.

Mike's Train House has combined high tech and imagination to

build a 60-million dollar business. Business Now's Gail Flannigan

reports Mike's Train House is not just for kids; the average

customer is 52 years old.

2) GSE Systems, a Columbia, Maryland company which has developed a

"virtual plant" to speed time to market--changing the way

pharmaceutical, chemical, food and beverage companies do

business. In some cases, GSE's "virtual plant" can speed the

R & D process by two years.

3) The Reserve Officers Association of the United States (ROA), the

organization connecting the American public to the military

through the citizen solider--reservists called to duty in war or

for global peace-keeping operations. From its national

headquarters on Capitol Hill, ROA lobbies vigorously on behalf of

the nation's fighting men and women--specifically looking out for

the interests of reservists.

4) Chief Information Officer of the Year--David Bent of Visteon

Automotive Systems, the 18 billion dollar auto parts subsidiary

of Ford Motor Company. In a partnership with Information Week,

Business Now interviews the CIO who earned the magazine's top

honors.

Business Now is produced by Building America Television, home of the Internet's most extensive library of video-streamed business news at www.BusinessNowTV.com

Business Now is currently preparing stories on VC-backed companies who are mezzanine or pre-IPO. For story suggestions or more information, contact Amanda Cole at 703/787 3533, x33.

Program sponsors include Ernst & Young LLP, Nextel, National Discount Brokers and Silicon Valley Bank.