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

Business Wire, March 19, 2001

Business/Technology Editors

ADVISORY...for Friday (March 23)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 19, 2001

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 at Alden Memorial Hall with invited speakers and a series of CEO presentations from the area's hottest companies. The morning event, which is open to the public and begins at 9:00 a.m., is free of charge. Registration is required by contacting Katherine Mahoney at kmahoney@wpi.edu or by calling (508) 836-7020, ext. 617.

Program Speakers Include:

Congressman James McGovern

Howard Anderson, senior managing director YankeeTek Ventures

Frank Loew, president, Consortium of Worcester Colleges

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.

-- Mosaicad.com: Mosaicad.com has created a mosaic tile production system utilizing the power of modern computer technology. The company produces mosaics ranging from large public murals and monuments to smaller mosaics and insets that help customers personalize their architectural surfaces with a beautiful, durable and very unique medium.

-- InterGlobal Services, Inc. (IGS): InterGlobal Services, Inc. is a telemarketing and customer care company with a focus on delivering value added customer services anytime and anywhere through global communications channels. It provides intelligent help desk, call center and teleservices (eServices) for organizations seeking to improve customer retention and loyalty.

Also to be spotlighted are the Center for Advanced Fiber Optics Applications, Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives, the Massachusetts Innovation Center and the Worcester InfoTech Corp.

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.

                     "TAKE STOCK IN MASSACHUSETTS"
                   THE DOT.COMMONWEALTH(TM) ROAD SHOW
            TRAVELS TO WORCESTER AND CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS

                          Schedule of Events
                        Friday, March 23, 2001


8:30-9:00 AM    Registration and Continental Breakfast
                Alden Memorial Hall
                Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
                100 Institute Road
                Worcester, MA

9:05-9:10 AM    Welcome by Edward Alton Parrish, President WPI
                Welcome by Tom Hoover, Worcester City Manager

9:10-9:20 AM    Formal Presentation
                Joyce Plotkin, co-founder of the Dot.commonwealth
                Coalition and president of Massachusetts Software &
                Internet Council

9:20-9:35 AM    Spotlight:
                Internet2 Demonstration

9:35-9:55 AM    Formal Presentations
                Joseph D. Gormley, Massachusetts Biomedical
                 Initiatives
                Mark Love, Worcester InfoTech Corp.
                Robert Ansin, Mass Innovation Center (Fitchburg)
                Martin Drexhage, Center for Advanced Fiber Optics
                 Applications (CAFA)

10:00-10:20 AM  Keynote Speaker
                Howard Anderson, senior managing director,
                 YankeeTek Ventures

10:20-10:45 AM  Formal Presentations
                Frank Loew, president, Consortium of Worcester
                 Colleges
                Ron Ranauro, CEO, Blackstone Technologies
                Tana Scouras, president and CEO, Vitel Software
                Thomas McGovern, CEO, Lightband Communications, Inc.
                Lance McKee, CEO, Mosaicad.com
                Wallace Andrews, CEO, InterGlobal Services, Inc.

10:45-10:55 AM  Congressman James McGovern D-Worcester

10:55-11:00 AM  Closing Remarks and Networking
                Coffee and refreshments to be served