Boston Chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute Elevates Nationally Recognized Programming and Services; Names 2005 - 2006 Officers and Directors to Build on a Tradition of Award-Winning Initiatives

Business Wire, Oct 4, 2005

BOSTON -- The Boston Chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) today announced its board of directors for the 2005-2006 term. The Boston Chapter is one of the oldest, largest and most innovative chapters in NIRI, a nationwide professional association of corporate officers and investor relations consultants responsible for communication among corporate management, the financial community and the investing public.

NIRI Boston provides innovative monthly programs, often in collaboration with other professional groups, to create a greater understanding of effective and sound investor relations practices. The Chapter has been a finalist for the Best Overall NIRI Chapter award in each of the past four years, winning the award in 2002.

In June 2005, at the NIRI National Annual Conference, the Boston Chapter won a Chairman's award for its joint program with the National Association of Corporate Directors and was named a finalist for more awards than any other large chapter, including Best Overall Chapter, Best Programming and Best External Affairs. For the 2005-2006 season, the Chapter will continue its work to attract nationally recognized speakers. Past speakers at Chapter events have included: Henry Blodgett, former internet sell-side analyst at Merrill Lynch; Jonathan Kraft, Vice Chairman and President of the New England Patriots; Lou Thompson, President & CEO of NIRI; and Walter Riccardi, Head of the SEC's Boston District Office.

The Boston Chapter's eight officers for the 2005-2006 term are:

President - Andrew Kramer

Andrew Kramer is director of investor relations at Interactive Data Corporation (NYSE: IDC), bringing a decade of investor relations and corporate communications experience in both corporate and agency settings. Kramer joined Interactive Data in March 2004 after spending over three years as director of investor relations at Sycamore Networks, where he oversaw the optical networking company's communication initiatives with the investment community, including sell-side analysts, institutional investors, stockbrokers and individual investors. Prior to joining Sycamore, Kramer was director of investor relations for ArrowPoint Communications, a fast-growing networking company that was acquired by Cisco Systems several months after its initial public offering. Before that, he spent more than eight years at Sharon Merrill Associates, New England's largest investor relations consulting firm, where he held a variety of account and senior management positions. He received a BA degree in communication as well as an MBA degree from Boston College.

President-Elect - David Calusdian

David is executive vice president at Sharon Merrill Associates, the largest investor relations agency in the Boston area. David combines broad experience in investor relations, public affairs and media relations with a passion for quality service in providing Sharon Merrill Associates clients with strategic counsel and direct support on projects such as investor perception studies and corporate presentations and events such as investor roadshows and analyst days. He also helps manage executive-level functions within the agency. Prior to joining Sharon Merrill Associates in 1995, David implemented communications programs as an account executive for Jack Walsh & Associates, a public affairs consulting firm, and he has appeared on numerous television and radio programs to discuss political communications strategy. For nearly 10 years, David served as an adjunct instructor of investor relations, public relations and public speaking at Emerson College, where for part of that time he also directed the school's media relations efforts. David holds bachelor of arts and master's degrees in communications from Emerson College.

Communications Chair - Joshua Young

Joshua Young currently has served as the director of investor relations and corporate communications for Aspen Technology, a $333 million software company, since 1998. Young established AspenTech's first internal investor relations and corporate communications program and has worked with its management team to significantly expand the company's institutional ownership and Wall Street research coverage. Before joining Aspen Technology, Young worked in investor relations and corporate communications at Genome Therapeutics (now Oscient Pharmaceuticals), a small-cap biotechnology company. He also performed investor relations, public relations and marketing communications services at KCSA Worldwide, a strategic communications firm and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Young holds a BS from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, an MBA in finance from Boston College and a graduate certificate in Investor Relations from Bentley College's Graduate School of Finance.

Membership Chair - Kristen Galfetti

Kristen is director of investor relations at Genzyme Corporation (NASDAQ: GENZ), one of the worlds leading biotech companies, with revenues over $2 billion. She joined Genzyme in 2001 as an associate director, investor relations and was promoted to director in 2003. An 18-year veteran of accounting/finance positions and investor relations, Kristen has held senior financial posts creating and managing IR programs for corporations in numerous industries, including broadband technology, public transportation, publishing, medical devices and data communications. Her current responsibilities include all aspects of investor relations including cultivating and maintaining relationships with U.S. and international based investors. Kristen earned an MBA with distinction from Bentley College, and a BA in political science from the University of Vermont.