Tech Council of Maryland Honors the Winners of the
Sixth Annual Frederick County Technology Awards

(ROCKVILLE, MD) – March 27, 2008 – Winners of the Sixth Annual Tech Council of Maryland (TCM) Frederick County Technology Awards were announced last night before a packed house at the Lynfield Event Complex in Frederick, Maryland. The Frederick County Awards honor the achievements of the most influential and innovative technology leaders and firms in Frederick County. More than 150 technology professionals enjoyed the night of networking as they celebrated the accomplishments of Frederick County's technology community.

Awards were given to companies and executives who, during the past year, exhibited leadership, growth and strong ties to the community in the following categories: Small Business of the Year, Firm of the Year, Executive of the Year and Technology Leadership Award. The awards were presented by John Wasilisin, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and Ron Kaese, Senior Program Manager, Showcases, Federal Lab Partnerships, of Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO), the events platinum sponsor, and Laurie Boyer, Executive Director, of the Frederick County Office of Economic Development.

The award winners are:

• Small Firm of the Year: Akonni Biosystems was recognized by the judges for its molecular diagnostics solutions and its ability to work closely with organizations like the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to protect the public. Its TruDiagnosis system helps those in the health, forensic and bioterrorism markets.
• Firm of the Year: Regent Education Incorporated has revolutionized how financial aid is dispersed and analyzed, helping financial aid departments run more efficiently and effectively. Leading the way in financial aid software, Regent has seen a growth of over 300 percent and its employee count grow to 37.
• Executive of the Year: Mark Gaver, president and chief executive officer, founded GTI Federal in 1998, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Under his leadership, the company has enjoyed double digit growth every year since it inception. Mr. Gaver's high level of customer service and commitment to his clients shows, as his first customer is still a customer today.
• Technology Leadership Award: SAIC-Frederick was recognized for their long standing of excellence in the technology community and community service in Frederick County. SAIC-Frederick is the operations and technical support contractor for the National Cancer Institute in Frederick. It was voted as one of the Frederick County's Top Ten Family Friendly Businesses.

"Frederick County's technology community is one of Maryland's fastest growing tech centers," said Rick Harris, Executive Director of TCM's Tech Alliance. "Each year the judging of these awards becomes more difficult as a result of the increased number and quality of companies that now call Frederick County home."

Frederick County winners are automatically nominated for TCM's state-wide awards which are presented at TCM's annual dinner, being held May 15, 2008 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.

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ABOUT THE TECH COUNCIL OF MARYLAND, INC.
The Tech Council of Maryland (TCM) is the largest technology trade group serving the advanced technology and biotechnology communities of Maryland. TCM's mission is to advocate for the interests of the technology community, further the role of technology in the Maryland economy, and nurture an environment where technology companies can collaborate, grow and succeed. For more information, visit www.techcouncilmd.com.