Blue Sky Research Appoints Alan F. Shugart to Its Board of Directors

Business Wire, March 8, 1999

SOQUEL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 8, 1999--Blue Sky Research (BSR), a photonics innovator and developer of proprietary, micro-optics technology designed to help enable the future of the information industry, today announced it has appointed Al Shugart to its board of directors.

Shugart will play a vital role in helping BSR develop its unique, patented technology and bring high performance optical components to market.

"With an established business base, world-class management team and core technology in place, BSR is taking significant steps toward building awareness in the industry," said Daniel C. Hu, president and CEO of BSR.

"Al Shugart's tremendous expertise and recognition in communications, business and technology will be a great asset to our company. In addition, Al's unparalleled knowledge of the data storage industry perfectly complements the direction in which we're taking our company."

"I'm really excited about the potential I see in Blue Sky Research," said Al Shugart, president of Al Shugart International. "I look forward to being a part of this team, and hope my ideas add value to BSR's efforts."

Al Shugart has more than 45 years of experience in the technology industry and continues to play a key role in determining the future of information technology. Shugart founded Seagate Technology, Inc. in 1979, building the company into the world's largest independent manufacturer of disk drives and related components.

In 1998, Shugart left Seagate to form Al Shugart International, a management/consultant company.

About Al Shugart International

Headquartered in Soquel, Al Shugart International (ASI) is a management/consulting company focused on helping entrepreneurs launch new enterprises. The company provides many forms of assistance to entrepreneurs, either directly or indirectly, including investment, management, public relations, human resources, investor relations, and financial services.

Founded by Al Shugart in 1998, the company's objectives are to maintain active worldwide awareness of technology status and trends, assist entrepreneurial companies with consulting and/or investment, manage a startup/early stage venture capital fund, and operate as a holding company for implementing ideas.

Al Shugart International can be found on the worldwide web at www.alshugart.com.

About Blue Sky Research

Located in San Jose, Calif., Blue Sky Research entered into commerce in 1989, guided by the principle of transforming innovative concepts into high performance products. The company designs, manufactures, and markets electro-optics components, subsystems, and test instruments for industrial, data storage, and telecommunications applications.

More information on Blue Sky Research can be found on the worldwide web at www.blueskyresearch.com.