Billed as Maryland's Best Night of Networking, more than 875 technology executives throughout Virginia, Washington, DC and Maryland came together to meet, collaborate and celebrate this year's winners in front of a who's-who audience. The packed room included Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan, Congressman Chris Van Hollen and more than a dozen other elected officials from throughout the state.

The night belonged to technology professionals who were given more time to network than the Tech Council of Maryland had ever provided at its Annual Dinner. The promise of Maryland's Best Night of Networking contributed to the record-breaking year and brought out more C-Level industry professionals, elected officials and education professionals than had ever attended a Tech Council of Maryland event.

"We were 23 percent larger than we were last year and broke our attendance record by nearly 100 people. Everything we do is to promote business and deal making for anyone who does business in Maryland" said Julie Coons, President of TCM. "There is explosive technology growth in this region and our challenge is how harness it," said Coons.

The night was also a technology showcase featuring an awards ceremony for the area's best and brightest. Each company was nominated by its peers for the award and underwent review and certification by a Tech Council of Maryland Awards Committee.

The 2005 Tech Council of Maryland awards were won by the following companies:

• Entrepreneur of the Year Award was won by Mark Anstey, President of DataStream Content Solutions, LLC of College Park, MD.
• IT Product of the Year Award was won by SourceFire, Inc. for its SourceFire 3D Systems in Columbia, MD.
• BIO Product of the Year Award was won by FLAVORx Inc. for its product FLAVORx developed in Bethesda, MD.
• The Firm of the Year was won by Social and Scientific Systems, Inc. of Silver Spring, MD.
• Executive of the Year Award was won by Linda Gooden, President of Lockheed Martin Information Technology in Seabrook, MD and was presented by Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.
• The President's Award was won by MedImmune Inc. for reaching the $1billion dollar mark in 2004 sales.

In addition, the BIO Industry Organization also presented Maryland Delegate Brian J. Feldman with its Legislator of the Year Award for helping to successfully pass Maryland's Research and Development tax credit bill ( SB 217), which had expired in 2004, and passage of a new Biotechnology Investment Incentive tax credit ( HB 664).

About TCM
The Tech Council of Maryland, now in its 18th year, is a non-profit membership consortium open to high technology firms, government laboratories, higher education institutions and business support firms that collectively form Maryland's technology community. A major objective of the Council is to develop linkages among industry, government and higher education institutions. In addition, the Council serves as a united voice for technology in Maryland, encourages entrepreneurship as an economic engine, and works to enhance public understanding of technology and related issues. For more information on the Council, visit www.mdhitech.org