Tech Council of Maryland Announces Awards Finalists for its
20th Annual Tech Awards Celebration

(ROCKVILLE, MD) – April 23, 2008 – The Tech Council of Maryland (TCM) announced today the finalists for its 20th Annual Dinner and Tech Award Celebration. Finalists will be honored and the winners announced on May 15th during the Annual Tech Awards Celebration to be held at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Bethesda Maryland.

For 20 years TCM has recognized the outstanding achievements of the IT and biotechnology communities in the state of Maryland. The Annual Dinner and Tech Awards Celebration, known as Maryland's Best Night of Networking, received more nominations this year than any year in its history. This year TCM received 47 percent more nominations than it did last year.

"As the only state-wide trade association for the technology and biotechnology communities in Maryland, we strive, with these awards, to recognize those companies that are helping Maryland lead the way in technology," said Julie Coons, TCM Chief Executive Officer. "We can't wait to reveal the winners at our 20th Anniversary Tech Awards Celebration. This year promises to be special."

The 2008 Tech Awards finalists are:

• Biotechnology Firm of the Year: Alba Therapeutics, CoGenesys, CytImmune, RegeneRx, Vanda Pharmaceuticals
• Emerging Company of the Year: Alba Therapeutics, Dataprise, Earth Resources Technology, NovaVax, Sanaria
• Executive of the Year: Steven Hoffman, Sanaria; Steve Mayer, CoGenesys; Michael Tessler, BroadSoft, Inc.; Darryl Washington, DKW Communications; Edward Woods, IV, TerpSys
• Government Contracting Firm of the Year: Aquilent, Inc., InfoZen, Oberon Associates, Proteus Technologies, TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.
• High Technology Firm of the Year: Barcoding, Inc., Hughes Communications, Inc., Systems Integration & Development, Inc., TeleBright Software Corporation, Vocus

Narrowing nominees down to a few finalists was a difficult job according to Ms. Coons. Finalists were selected by a panel of industry TCM members and service providers from throughout Maryland. The 20th Annual Dinner and Tech Awards Celebrations, Maryland's Best Night of Networking, will be held at The Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center May 15, 2008.

The event is sponsored by:

• Platinum Sponsors: CitiBank
• Award Sponsors: Human Genome Sciences, MedImmune, PNC Bank, SC&H Group, Scheer Partners, TEDCO
• Gold Sponsors: Computech, Grant Thornton, IBM, Kenyon & Kenyon LLP, Lockheed Martin, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Thales Communication, University of Maryland Bio Park
• Silver Sponsors: Biotechnology Industry Organization, CNSI, Comcast, John Hopkins University Montgomery County Campus, Montgomery County Department of Economic Development, Montgomery College, Regent Education Incorporated, Social and Scientific Systems, Transwestern, Watkins, Meegans, Drury and Company
• President's Table Sponsor: Northrop Grumman
• VIP Reception Sponsors: Appits, Gilbert Tweed Associates
• Bronze Sponsors: Amgen, Deloitte & Touche, GenVec, Hughes Network Systems, IBiquity Digital Corporation, Intuitive Business Concepts, Marsh, Middlebrook Pharmaceuticals, Saul Ewing, Lore Internet Systems, M&T Bank, Shulman Rogers Gandal Pordy & Ecker, UK Trade & Investment, Verizon

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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.