CEA Elects Mitek's Ivey as New Chair, Makes History by Electing First Retailer to Executive Board; Pat Lavelle of Audiovox Elected Vice Chair, Jerry Kalov Re-Elected Industry Advisor

Business Wire, Nov 1, 2004

ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) today announced that Mitek Corp. Chairman and CEO Loyd Ivey has been elected chair of CEA's Executive Board and Audiovox Electronics Corp. President and CEO Patrick Lavelle has been elected vice chair. CEA members also elected John Flanner, president of Flanner's Audio & Video, to serve on the Executive Board, making Flanner the first retailer to join CEA's governing body. Last year, CEA TechHome Division Chair Thomas Callahan, president of Sawyers Control Systems, became the first non-manufacturer to sit on CEA's Executive Board. The Executive Board is responsible for setting the overall strategic direction of CEA's annual budget and annual association-wide goals.

"We are tremendously excited to welcome our new slate of volunteer leaders," said CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro. "Loyd Ivey brings an awesome resume of industry leadership and entrepreneurship. As chair of CEA's new PARA Division, representing specialty audio-video retailers, John Flanner broadens the scope of our Executive Board, underscoring and emphasizing our association's commitment to representing the full spectrum of the consumer electronics industry."

Longtime industry executive and CEA Lifetime Achievement Award winner Jerry Kalov of Kay Associates was reelected Industry Executive Advisor. In this role, Kalov serves as a liaison between the CEA Board and staff.

Other members of the Executive Board include Shapiro; current past Chairman Kathy Gornik, president, Thiel Audio; At-Large Members John Clough, president, Casio Inc.; John Shalam, chairman and CEO of Audiovox Corp.; and Al Silverberg, CEO of Uniden America Corp.; along with the chairs of each of CEA's seven product divisions:

--Accessories - Mike O'Neal, president and CEO, Gemini Industries

--Audio - Gary Warzin, president, Audiophile Systems Ltd.

--Mobile Electronics - Jim Geschke, vice president and general manager, Johnson Controls Inc.

--PARA - John Flanner, president, Flanner's Audio & Video

--TechHome - Thomas Callahan, president, Sawyer Control Systems

--Video - Peter Fannon, vice president, Technology Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Panasonic

--Wireless Communications - Mike Mohr, Celluphone Inc.

Also new to CEA's Executive Board are CEA Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Glenda MacMullin, who was elected Treasurer and CFO, and CEA General Counsel Becky Ellis, who was elected Secretary and General Counsel.

The new Executive Board was elected during CEA's annual Industry Forum and Board of Industry Leaders (formerly the Board of Directors) meetings held in San Francisco and Carmel, CA respectively, the week of October 18, 2004. The new board members will assume their leadership positions on January 1, 2005.

About CEA:

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the consumer technology industry through technology policy, events, research, promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA represents more than 1,750 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of audio, video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information technology, home networking, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, CEA's members account for more than $90 billion in annual sales. CEA's resources are available online at www.CE.org, the definitive source for information about the consumer electronics industry.

CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Defining Tomorrow's Technology. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy.

UPCOMING EVENTS

    Electronic House Expo - Fall
    November 15-18, 2004, Long Beach, CA

    2005 International CES - Defining Tomorrow's Technology
    January 6-9, 2005, Las Vegas, NV

    CEA Winter Summit
    February 17-19, 2005, Lake Tahoe, CA

    HDTV Summit
    March 15, 2005, Washington, DC

    Connections(TM) 2005
    May 11-13, 2005, San Francisco, CA

    2005 PARA Management Conference
    May 11-15, 2005, Coronado, CA

    CEO Summit
    June 22-24, 2005, Colorado Springs, CO