ADVISORY/ 'Take Stock in Massachusetts'; The Dot.commonwealth Road Show Travels to Worcester and Central Massachusetts

Business Wire, Feb 26, 2001

Business/Technology Editors

ADVISORY...for Friday (March 23)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

The Dot.commonwealth travels to Central Mass on Friday, March 23rd making its fourth stop in a series of statewide road shows positioning Massachusetts as a center of technology leadership and innovation. This stop will highlight the region as one of the established pockets of technology in Massachusetts. The program is entitled "Accelerating the New Economy." A special focus of the half-day event at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) will be on Internet2 a consortium led by over 180 universities including WPI to recreate the partnership among academia, industry and government that fostered the growth of today's Internet.

The program will kick off with an invitation-only breakfast forum to discuss the role of Internet2 and new economy issues. The program will continue on to Alden Memorial Hall with invited speakers and a series of CEO presentations from the area's hottest companies.

Breakfast Forum Speakers:

Edward Alton Parrish, president, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Elizabeth Ames, director, economic development, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Matt Harris, president, Village Ventures, Inc.

Main Program Speakers:

Congressman James McGovern

Howard Anderson, senior managing director YankeeTek Ventures

Frank Loew, president, Consortium of Worcester Colleges

A Sampling of Regional Companies to Be Spotlighted by CEOs Include:

-- Blackstone Technologies: Blackstone Technologies provides companies ranging from aggressive start-ups to progressive Fortune 1000 firms with a broad suite of information technology services. It's three-pronged approach combines eBusiness, Integration, IT Staffing and IT Infrastructure Services to give its clients reliable, customized and complete IT Solutions.

-- Vitel Software: Vitel Software, Inc. is a provider of commercial and custom software tools for the telecommunications industry, providing performance management and reporting products to manage the voice enterprise, providing an end-to-end solution to monitor voice systems, manage telecommunications expenses and ensure optimal performance. They are a certified women-owned enterprise (WBE).

-- Lightband Communications, Inc.: Lightband Communications, Inc. provides Internet access and data communications services to businesses and institutions throughout the U.S. as well as emerging markets internationally.

About the Dot.commonwealth Coalition:

The Dot.commonwealth Coalition was formed in 1999 and includes the five leading technology associations in Massachusetts: Massachusetts Software and Internet Council, Massachusetts Interactive Media Council, Massachusetts Telecommunications Council, American Electronics Association, New England Council and Massachusetts Electronic Commerce Association. For more information, please visit the Dot.commonwealth's website at www.dotcommonwealth.com.