ITA Announces Recipients of Eighth Annual CityLIGHTS Awards

Business Wire, April 16, 2007

More than 500 gather at sold-out event to honor Illinois' best and brightest

CHICAGO -- The Illinois Information Technology Association (ITA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2007 CityLIGHTS Awards.

ITA presented the awards on Thursday, April 12, at the CityLIGHTS Awards Gala at the Drake Hotel. More than 500 from across the state attended the event to celebrate Illinois' fast-growing technology community and to honor the following outstanding information technology companies, executives and advocates.

This year's honorees are:

-- CityLIGHTS Award: Given to an individual that has made a
   significant impact on the Illinois technology community.
     -- Dick Reck, President, Business Strategy Advisors

-- CEO of the Year Award: Given to the CEO who has driven his company
   to new heights in the past year.
     -- Robert Post, President and CEO, TravelCLICK

-- Lighthouse Award: Given to the company that best represents the
   region's growing stature as home to world-class information
   technology companies.
     -- Initiate Systems (www.initiatesystems.com)

-- Rising Star Award: Given to the company that has emerged from its
   start-up phase to distinguish itself in the technology marketplace.
     -- Authentify (www.authentify.com)

-- Spotlight Award: Given to the CIO/CTO for leadership and
   outstanding contributions in the application of information
   technology.
     -- William Farrow, EVP and CIO, Chicago Board of Trade

-- Newcomer Award: Given to the company that has the strongest
   potential to emerge from its start-up phase and distinguish itself
   in the technology marketplace.
     -- Cleversafe (www.cleversafe.com)

"This year's CityLIGHTS winners exemplify the level of excellence in the Illinois technology community," said Fred Hoch, president of the ITA. "The tremendous energy and enthusiasm at the event is a direct testament of the growth and solidarity of an industry with a promising future."

Sponsors of this year's CityLIGHTS Awards include Premier Sponsor Grant Thornton; Platinum Sponsors IBM Corporation and Oracle Corporation; Gold Sponsors Aladdin Knowledge Systems, Fastroot Technology, Lakeview Technology and McGuireWoods; and Event Sponsors Authentify, Chase Bank and Lantern Partners.

About the ITA

With roots dating back to 1982, the Illinois Information Technology Association (ITA) represents the interests of a diverse membership of more than 400 companies in Illinois that create, deploy and utilize information technology as a core part of their organization. By connecting members with industry peers and participants, providing the latest strategic information, market research and critical market insight and by promoting key thought leaders to raise visibility and gain a greater market awareness and presence, ITA is focused on building and developing the Illinois technology community through collaboration. Additional information is available at http://www.illinoistech.org/.>

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