HVCFI - Press Page

VIDEO CONFERENCING CAPABILITIES OFFERED BY HVCFI
TO HUDSON VALLEY BUSINESSES

Lake Katrine, New York, August 1, 2006 – HVCFI, the Hudson Valley Center for Innovation, Inc. regional business development and technology incubator in Kingston/Lake Katrine, New York (www.hvcfi.com), is now offering international video conferencing services to businesses throughout the Hudson Valley region. Les Neumann, Managing Director of HVCFI, announced that HVCFI, located in the Hudson Valley Business Center at 703 Grant Avenue in Lake Katrine, is now wired for IP Video Conferencing Connectivity. “Business owners no longer need to send staff members around the world to conduct meetings and conferences,” explained Neumann. “With this newly-installed video conferencing capability, teams of staff members can see each other faces in every corner of the globe without leaving their individual corners. They can easily see each other’s facial expressions while exchanging thoughts, ideas and information in a face to face video forum.”

Based within a large conference room of the Hudson Valley Center for Innovation, the state-of-the-art video conferencing center provides real time communication capabilities allowing people to speak directly with each other as though they were sitting face to face. “Instead of flying dozens of individuals to one location for a conference, a company can conduct that conference from the comforts of the Hudson Valley.” Utilizing a Polycom® VSX™7000e split system video conferencing system, a business can conduct medium sized conferences from the HVCFI offices in Lake Katrine. “Being able to see other people’s faces and body language is important to effective communications. People’s facial and eye expressions make a significant difference in comfort levels of communications. This capability allows for that type of person to person exchange,” stated Neumann.

HVCFI is a not-for-profit business development facility and business incubator that offers both physical on-site mentoring services, as well as virtual mentoring services. It was established to foster the growth and development of emerging, high value businesses and technology development firms through its Executive Mentoring program. “HVCFI was created” explained Neumann, “through a collaborative effort of business, economic development, academia, and investment organizations throughout the Hudson Valley. With an intention toward economic development, our vision includes the creation of growth-oriented quality jobs by assisting both start-up and later-stage emerging growth companies mature through our accelerated, professionally staffed mentoring program.”

Neumann explained that, “As a regional business development and incubator facility where fledgling and later-stage innovative businesses can receive support from an exceptional pool of business professionals, we are here to connect companies to global strategic resources that will help them mature and accelerate their growth strategies. Our goal is to help these businesses achieve their next level of success.”

HVCFI’s Polycom VSX 7000e video conferencing capabilities are offered via the Internet. The system is IP based therefore it can be accessed at a reasonable cost via the Internet. “This system equates to thousands upon thousands of dollars in savings for companies,” stated Neumann. “A laptop linked to the Internet and the video conference capabilities provides the capacity and capabilities of most hi tech meeting rooms. It offers such options as data sharing, multiple camera and video bridging capabilities. All which can be very expensive to incorporate into a large conference room within a conference center.” The VSX 7000e includes Polycom StereoSurround™ and Polycom Pro-Motion™ for optimal audio, motion handling and video resolution. “Collaboratively, all these systems work to offer the best quality in video conference capabilities.”

This new conferencing services is one of many services offered by HVCFI to companies throughout the Hudson Valley region and New York State. “Our ambition is to connect companies that license with us to other businesses regionally, nationally and internationally. We have licensee companies that are conducting video conferences to Russia and Australia almost every day. They are realizing the tremendous savings of both time and money for their business.”

To learn more about the Hudson Valley Center for Innovation, Inc. business development center and technology incubator (www.hvcfi.com) and video conferencing capabilities, contact Marcia Sherlock, HVCFI Office Manager at 845-943-5660 or via email to msherlock@hvcfi.com.

HVCFI ACCEPTING APPLICANTS FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Licenses Available at HVCFI for Technology Focused Businesses
From Throughout the New York Tri-State Region

Lake Katrine, New York, June 9, 2006 – Les Neumann, the Managing Director of the regional business and technology incubator, the Hudson Valley Center for Innovation, Inc. (HVCFI) (www.hvcfi.com) in Kingston/Lake Katrine, New York, is now accepting applications from start-up and later-stage emerging technology-focused businesses for physical or virtual licensed tenancy with the Center. The distinctive not-for-profit business development facility opened in November 2005 to foster the growth and development of emerging, high value businesses and technology development firms through its Executive Mentoring program.

“HVCFI was formed,” explains Neumann, “through a collaborative effort of business, economic development, academia, and investment organizations throughout the Hudson Valley. The vision includes the creation of growth-oriented quality jobs by assisting both start-up and later-stage emerging growth companies mature through our accelerated, professionally staffed mentoring program.”

Neumann states that the regionally oriented HVCFI differs substantially from traditional business development incubators. “In addition to being supported by a world-class Board of Directors and a dynamic Board of Advisors, HVCFI offers our licensees the benefits of a full-time Executive Mentoring Team comprised of experienced executives disciplined in finance, business development and marketing. These seasoned professionals work closely with our licensed companies to help ensure their success without sacrificing precious equity they’ve already established, or invested into their company.” We provide these mentoring services to licensed member companies in order to expedite the global commercialization of their technologies and hasten self-sustenance. “

As Managing Director, Neumann provides on-site day-to-day supervision of the HVCFI. “This is a highly distinctive service that ensures that each licensee receives the highest quality and amount of attention necessary to fulfill their goals and those of the Center. HVCFI also offers our licensees the input and advice of two notably accomplished boards of business professionals who help create and maintain meaningful affiliations with regional academic, business, and investment partners as well as other regional, national and international business development incubators.”

“Our ambition is for HVCFI to become a collaborative effort of business and economic development agencies, academia, and investment communities throughout and beyond the Hudson Valley region. We are working to make HVCFI a leader in business development by being a facilitator for technology and innovation. We do this through physical and virtual satellite locations that foster intellectual and knowledge-based expansion. Additionally, we act as a conduit on behalf of our licensees to academic institutions and businesses throughout the New York Tri-State region’s social and professional networking and development communities.”

To enter HVCFI, companies go through a stringent screening process conducted by the facility’s Board of Advisors. The Board is comprised of remarkably accomplished professionals from technology, academic and business arenas in New Jersey, Connecticut and throughout the Hudson Valley. “A company seeking entry,” explains Neumnan, “must first complete the on-line application posted on our website, www.hvcfi.com. The company would then submit its business plan to our Board of Advisors which performs due diligence on the applying company’s technology, products, general business plans, management and goals they hope to accomplish by entering the HVCFI program. Once a company completes close examination by our Board of Advisors, our Board of Directors determines if the company will be offered a licensing agreement for either physical or virtual tenancy, and assistance from our support teams.”

Connecting HVCFI licensees to large companies, capital and corporations across New York State and around the globe is a primary goal of the Center’s boards and executives. “HVCFI was created,” explains Neumann, “to be a regional facility where both fledgling and later-stage technology and innovative businesses can receive support from an exceptional pool of business professionals who work to connect them to global strategic resources that will help them mature and accelerate their strategies. We are attracting both start-up and somewhat more established technology-oriented businesses that need access to financing management, an unsurpassed quality of life in the Hudson Valley region, and to become an integral component of a technology revival in this region.”

To learn about more about applying for licensing in the Hudson Valley Center for Innovation, Inc. incubator, contact Les Neumann, Managing Director, at 845-943-5660, or visit www.hvcfi.com.

BETHESDA CEO NAMED TO MENTORING INCUBATOR BOARD

Bethesda, MD and Kingston/Lake Katrine, New York, April 18, 2006 – Irwin Glenn, a resident of Bethesda, Maryland, Founder and CEO of Learn To Earn, LLC, an educational and investment company, and Chairman of The I2I Foundation, Inc., has been named to the Board of Directors of the recently opened not-for-profit Hudson Valley Center for Innovation, Inc. (HVCFI) incubator in Lake Katrine, NY (www.hvcfi.com). The business and technology incubator was created by the Ulster County Development Corporation (UCDC) in Kingston, NY and the Hudson Valley Technology Development Center (HVTDC) in Fishkill, NY. “The ambition is for the Center to become a collaborative effort of business and economic development agencies, academia, and investment communities throughout and beyond the Hudson Valley region,” states Les Neumann, HVCFI’s Managing Director. “The primary focus of this regional incubator is to foster growth and development of emerging, high value business and technology development firms.”

“We are exceedingly delighted that Mr. Glenn has agreed to join our Board,” states Neumann. “He possesses over 25 years of experience in the high technology and communications industry including networks, wireless, software and, Software As a Service. He is a highly experienced and respected professional in business strategy, product development, product marketing, sales, customer service, and start-up management. His insights are invaluable to the creators and managers of this incubator, and our ongoing, far-reaching efforts.”

Neumann explains that Mr. Glenn is one of eight business leaders from multi-million dollar businesses, economic development agencies, academic, legal and financial institutions that sit on this high-powered board. “He is among eight highly-experienced top level professionals from the Hudson Valley area, Connecticut, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. who are providing their notable professional expertise and insights to this new incubator. They are the backbone of this incubator’s structure and success, and they are all greatly appreciated.”

Neumann explains that the HVCFI was formulated to create jobs; assist emerging technology-oriented companies get established and organized through professional mentoring; and once established, encourage those companies to employ area residents, and restore a proud legacy of technology research and development to the New York Tri-State region of NY, CT and NJ. “Our ambition is that this incubator will be a leader in business initiatives by being a facilitator for technology development through our distinctive mentoring services and a series of physical and virtual satellite locations that will foster intellectual and knowledge-based expansion by connecting fledgling businesses to higher learning institutions and businesses throughout the New York Tri State region’s social and professional networking communities.”

In addition to being a Board Member to two startup organizations, including the Hudson Valley Center for Innovation, and a Board of Advisor member for three startup companies, Mr. Glenn is an active “Angel Investor” to 12 startup companies primarily in the high technology industry and the consumer marketplace. He is also the Former Chief Technologist for the Public Sector portion of Salesforce.Com (NYSE:CRM) where he was responsible for building the strategy and technology deliverables of Salesforce.Com’s initiative to deliver their unique software-as-a-service offering to government agencies at federal, state and local levels.

In 1995, he Glenn opened the New York office of Netscape Communications prior to their successful IPO. During his tenure, he held multiple positions in technology and strategic sales to Netscape’s largest accounts. Mr. Glenn was formerly part of the Oracle Corporation’s sales and technology organization that designed and implemented Oracle’s first-ever Global Account Management teams. He was the Principal Technologist for the Massively Parallel group that introduced super computers to the commercial world. He also co-developed Oracle’s product for wireless networking and “go anywhere” database and application access.

Mr. Glenn and his family created The I2I Foundation, Inc. to facilitate the giving of his time, energy, property and money to other charities that directly impact research and services for Neurological afflictions, Education, and the Arts. Currently he is working with three New York and New Jersey charities to make a difference in ending Leukemia; plus funding needed research for stopping Schizophrenia; and fulfilling a wish for children who have lost a parent in the 9/11 tragedy. Mr. Glenn is passionate about the Foundation’s work to help build a Network of Hope and Promise to create a world that works for everyone with no one and nothing left out.

More information on Irwin Glenn is available on the Board of Directors’ page of the Hudson Valley Center for Innovation, Inc. (HVCFI) website (www.hvcfi.com).

SCOTCH PLAINS CEO NAMED TO BOARD OF
REGIONAL BUSINESS INCUBATOR

Scotch Plains, NJ and Kingston, New York, February 13, 2006 – Steven Greenspan, PhD, the Chief Executive Officer/President of Omenti Research LLC in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, has been named to the Board of Advisors of the newly opened, not-for-profit Hudson Valley Center for Innovation, Inc. (HVCFI) business incubator in Kingston, NY (www.hvcfi.com). The regional business and technology focused incubator was formulated by the Ulster County Development Corporation (UCDC) in Kingston, NY, and the Hudson Valley Technology Development Center (HVTDC) in Fishkill, NY. It was launched to foster the development of technology and creation of high-value jobs throughout New York, New Jersey, and the New England region. “HVCFI”, states Managing Director Les Neumann, “is a collaborative effort of business and economic development agencies, academia, and the investment community throughout and beyond New York’s Hudson Valley area. Its focus is to foster growth and development of emerging, high value business and technology development firms in the northeast region of the United States.”

In 2002, Dr. Greenspan helped form Omenti Research as a user-centered technology and market research company to help businesses design and test solutions that anticipate and unify social, technological, and market trends. On the HVCFI Board of Advisors he helps screen companies applying for entry into the incubator. Neumann states, “We have a highly-accomplished Board of Advisors from New Jersey, Connecticut and New York. They are all notably talented professionals in their individual arenas of academia, technology-related businesses, finance and research. They are also the backbone and strength of this incubator, and each has provided this center’s creators and management with a mature infrastructure and leadership that has become the envy of the incubation business community.”

Neumann explains that the HVCFI was formulated to create jobs; assist emerging technology-oriented companies get established and organized through professional mentoring; and once established, encourage those companies to employ area residents, and restore a proud legacy of technology research and development to the Tri-State region. “Our ambition is that this incubator will be a leader in business initiatives by being a facilitator for technology development through a series of physical and virtual satellite locations that will foster intellectual and knowledge-based expansion by connecting fledgling businesses to higher learning institutions and businesses throughout the Tri State region’s social and professional networking communities.”

For over 17 years, Dr. Greenspan has been helping innovative businesses and organizations understand the needs of their customers, their organizational processes, and how customers and employees respond to new technology. As an innovator in user experience and market research, he takes a broad view by working with both product design and understanding the customer and user community. His approach considers technological and market dynamics and closely examines how products and services can be integrated into well-established individual and cultural patterns of behavior.
Working with researchers from Bell Laboratories, major universities, and AT&T executives, Dr. Greenspan has led user-experience research on how businesses and consumers communicate. This work has resulted in over one dozen U.S. patents, technical and cultural analyses of business strategies and organization, and user interface designs for residential and business applications.

In addition to serving on the Board of Advisors of the Hudson Valley Center for Innovation, Dr. Greenspan also serves on the editorial board of User Experience Magazine, a publication of the Usability Professionals Association.

To learn more, visit the Hudson Valley Center for Innovation, Inc. (HVCFI) website www.hvcfi.com.

Mid-Hudson Small Business Development Center Director Joins Regional Incubator

Lake Katrine and Woodstock, New York, January 23, 2006 – Dr. Arnaldo J. Sehwerert of Woodstock, New York, Regional Director of the Mid-Hudson Small Business Development Center in Kingston, NY, has joined the Board of Directors of the recently opened not-for-profit Hudson Valley Center for Innovation, Inc. (HVCFI) incubator in Lake Katrine, NY (www.hvcfi.com). The business and technology incubator opened in November 2005 and was created by the Ulster County Development Corporation (UCDC) in Kingston and the Hudson Valley Technology Development Center (HVTDC) in Fishkill. Les Neumann, HVCFI’s Managing Director states that, “the ambition is for the Center to become a collaborative effort of business and economic development agencies, academia, and investment communities throughout and beyond the Hudson Valley region. The primary focus of the regional Center for Innovation is to foster growth and development of emerging, high value business and technology development firms.”

Neumann explains that the HVCFI was formulated to create jobs; assist emerging technology-oriented companies get established and organized through professional mentoring; and once established, encourage those companies to employ area residents, and restore a proud legacy of technology research and development to the New York Tri-State region of NY, CT and NJ. “Our ambition is that this incubator will be a leader in business initiatives by being a facilitator for technology development through a series of physical and virtual satellite locations that will foster intellectual and knowledge-based expansion by connecting fledgling businesses to higher learning institutions and businesses throughout the New York Tri State region’s social and professional networking communities.”

Dr. Sehwerert has been Regional Director of The Mid-Hudson Small Business Development Center since 2002. The Center is a professional services office that provides general business counseling for small business and entrepreneurs in the Mid-Hudson region. He is responsible for managing clients seeking advice on startups, expansions, funding and finances, business strategies, marketing, etc. within guidelines provided by the State Director of this federally and state funded organization supported by the SBA and SUNY Ulster. He oversees the Center’s budget and manages a team of business counselors while maintaining relations with the business and political communities within a six county area. His responsibilities include generating business contacts, fund raising, and maintaining relations with the media.

HVCFI’s Neumann explains that Dr. Sehwerert is one of eight business leaders from multi-million dollar businesses, economic development agencies, academic, legal and financial institutions that sit on this high-powered board. “He is among highly-experienced top level professionals from the Hudson Valley area, Connecticut, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. who are providing their professional expertise and insights to this new incubator. His notable experiences in various marketing arenas, business strategies, and assisting emerging companies are greatly appreciated.”

Previously, Dr. Sehwerert was President of the DMS-RAPP Collins Direct Marketing agency in Venezuela that is part of the Publinversiones Advertising Group and Omnicom Group’s Rapp Collins Worldwide. Between 1995 and 2001 he directed 15 professionals in strategic planning, creativity, client services, systems and logistics, and administration. He was directly involved in new business development, development of strategic campaigns, and creative positioning on local and regional levels. Dr. Sehwerert was responsible for the financial integrity of the company and bottom line results, and was involved with client management for firms such as Sanofi-Winthrop Laboratories, Hewlett Packard, William Grant & Sons, British American Tobacco, Mobil Oil, Unilever and Honda.

A Member of the Board of the Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Sehwerert received his Ph.D. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY in 1977; his Master of Science in Management from SUNY Binghamton in 1971; and his Bachelor of Science degree at State College, New Paltz, NY in 1969. He is a Past Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the IAA - International Advertising Association, Venezuela Chapter; Past Member of the board of the Venezuelan Direct Marketing Association and of Marina del Rey Yacht Club.

More information on Dr. Sehwerert is available on the Board of Directors’ page of the Hudson Valley Center for Innovation, Inc. (HVCFI) website (www.hvcfi.com).

Fala Technologies' President & CEO Joins Board of Regional Hudson Valley Incubator; Winner of 2005 “NY State
Small Business Person of the Year”

Kingston and Lake Katrine, New York, January 18, 2006 – Frank S. Falatyn, President and Chief Executive Officer of FALA Technologies Inc. in Kingston, has accepted a position on the Board of Advisors of the newly opened, not-for-profit Hudson Valley Center for Innovation, Inc. (HVCFI) business incubator in Lake Katrine (www.hvcfi.com). In 2005, Falatyn received the “New York State Small Business Person of the Year Award” for his advanced nanotechnology development work in partnerships with leading semiconductor industry consortiums such as International Sematech North and Albany Nanotech. He is joining the recently formed Board of Advisors of HVCFI, the regional business and technology focused incubator that was formulated by the Ulster County Development Corporation (UCDC) in Kingston, and the Fishkill-based Hudson Valley Technology Development Center (HVTDC). The incubator’s ambition is to foster the development of technology and create high-value jobs throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the New England region. Les Neumann, HVCFI’s Managing Director states, “HVCFI was created as a collaborative effort of business and economic development agencies, academia, and the investment community throughout the United States’ northeast region. Our ambition is to foster growth and development of emerging, high value business and technology development firms throughout the country’s entire northeast region.”

Through his leadership, Falatyn has leveraged the award-winning FALA Technologies Inc.’s 60 years of business in systems integration and precision equipment building into providing commercialization programs for the semiconductor, biotechnology and nanotechnology industries. Neumann states that Falatyn was asked to sit on the HVCFI Board to help screen companies applying for entry into the incubator. “Frank is continually helping businesses implement engineering and manufacturing strategies, and he works directly with R&D inventors to help develop their technologies into products. He is among the notably talented professionals from academia, technology-related businesses, finance and research arenas throughout the northeast region who sit on our Board of Advisors and Board of Directors.”

Neumann explains that the HVCFI was formulated to create jobs; assist emerging technology-oriented companies get established and organized through professional mentoring; and once established, encourage those companies to employ area residents, and restore a proud legacy of technology research and development to the New York Tri-State region of NY, CT and NJ. “Our ambition is that this incubator will be a leader in business initiatives by being a facilitator for technology development through a series of physical and virtual satellite locations that will foster intellectual and knowledge-based expansion by connecting fledgling businesses to higher learning institutions and businesses throughout the New York Tri State region’s social and professional networking communities.”

Falatyn is also responsible for the founding of the C9 Corporation, a newly formed, specialty semiconductors and materials manufacturing company that is developing materials to advance high voltage power switching systems and enable faster, higher operating temperature integrated circuit (IC) devices. In his new role as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of C9 Corporation, he also directs the development and operations of manufacturing facilities that will produce patented, silicon carbide-based products resulting from C9’s breakthrough Superlattice™ technology.

Numerous Boards

Frank Falatyn serves on numerous industry boards throughout New York State. He is on the Board of Directors of the Center for Economic Growth (CEG) in Albany, and Vice President of the Council of Industry of Southeastern New York where he also serves as Chairman of the Manufacturing Advocacy Committee. He is a founding member of the Mid-Hudson Technology Council where he serves on the steering committee and is Vice Chair of the Partnerships, Alliances and Interfaces committee. He is also on the State University of New York (New Paltz) Engineering Advisory Board, the Kingston/Ulster Empire Zone board, and he serves as a Metal Trades program advisor for Ulster County’s BOCES Education program.

To learn more about Frank Falatyn and the Hudson Valley Center for Innovation, Inc. (HVCFI), visit www.hvcfi.com.

Scotch Plains Business Owner Named to
Board of Regional Business Incubator

Scotch Plains, NJ and Kingston, New York, January 10, 2006 – Steve Crandall, PhD, the Chief Technical Officer of Omenti Research LLC in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, has been named to the Board of Advisors of the newly opened, not-for-profit Hudson Valley Center for Innovation, Inc. (HVCFI) business incubator in Kingston, NY (www.hvcfi.com). The regional business and technology focused incubator was formulated by the Ulster County Development Corporation (UCDC) in Kingston, NY, and the Hudson Valley Technology Development Center (HVTDC) in Fishkill, NY. It has been launched to foster the development of technology and creation of high-value jobs throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the New England region. “HVCFI”, states Managing Director Les Neumann, “is a collaborative effort of business and economic development agencies, academia, and the investment community throughout and beyond New York’s Hudson Valley area. Its focus is to foster growth and development of emerging, high value business and technology development firms throughout the northeast region of the United States.”

A physicist, Dr. Crandall was asked to sit on the HVCFI Board of Advisors to help screen companies that apply for entry into the incubator. Neumann states, “We have a highly-accomplished Board of Advisors who hail from New Jersey, Connecticut and New York. These are all notably talented professionals in their individual arenas of academia, technology-related businesses, finance and research. Dr. Crandall and our Board of Advisors and Board of Directors are the backbone and strength of this incubator, and each has provided this center’s creators and management with a mature infrastructure and leadership that has become the envy of the incubation business community.”

Neumann explains that the HVCFI was formulated to create jobs; assist emerging technology-oriented companies get established and organized through professional mentoring; and once established, encourage those companies to employ area residents, and restore a proud legacy of technology research and development to the Tri-State region. “Our ambition is that this incubator will be a leader in business initiatives by being a facilitator for technology development through a series of physical and virtual satellite locations that will foster intellectual and knowledge-based expansion by connecting fledgling businesses to higher learning institutions and businesses throughout the Tri State region’s social and professional networking communities.”

Dr. Crandall was asked to join the HVCFI Board of Advisors due to his more than 20 years of research experience ranging from fundamental physics to wireless network architectures to the human use of technology. In 2002 he and three former executives from AT&T Research founded Omenti Research, a user-centered technology and market research company. They created the company to bring technical and social expertise together to understand how people use technology and they specialize in how people communicate with each other, organizations and machines. The company was formed to help businesses design and test solutions that anticipate and unify social, technological, and market trends.

While at AT&T Labs Research and Bell Laboratories, Dr. Crandall did pioneering work in photolithography, automatic defect inspection, wired and wireless high-speed access technologies, high-quality multimedia transmission and its social use, ultra-efficient radio, location-based services and presence. He also was interested in digital music and became involved in several music projects ranging from a system that tried to name the tune being sung to it, to AAC music compression and sound field reconstruction, to an early online music store for independent musicians. He became associated with Oberlin College and initiated a long-term study of the use of music by students that ran from 1995 to 2004 and spans the pre-Napster to current iPod periods. In 2000, he shifted his focus to geo-aware messaging systems and very low bandwidth, very low power communications, sound field reconstruction for conference rooms and technology for the elderly and handicapped.

To learn more, visit the Hudson Valley Center for Innovation, Inc. (HVCFI) website www.hvcfi.com.

Marist Dean Named to Board of Directors of Hudson Valley
Business Incubator in Kingston

Poughkeepsie and Kingston, New York, January 13, 2006 – Dr. Andrés Fortino, Dean of the School of Management at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY, has been named to the Board of Directors of the newly opened not-for-profit Hudson Valley Center for Innovation, Inc. (HVCFI) incubator in Kingston, NY (www.hvcfi.com). The business and technology incubator was formulated by the Ulster County Development Corporation (UCDC) in Kingston and the Hudson Valley Technology Development Center (HVTDC) in Fishkill. Thomas G. Phillips, Executive Director of HVTDC states that the ambition is for the new Center to become a collaborative effort of business and economic development agencies, academia, and investment communities throughout and beyond the Hudson Valley region. “The primary focus of the new Center for Innovation is to foster growth and development of emerging, high value business and technology development firms.”

Dr. Fortino is one of eight business leaders from multi-million dollar businesses, economic development agencies, academic, legal and financial institutions that sit on this newly created high-powered board. HVTDC’s Phillips states that, “Dr. Fortino is one of eight highly-experienced top level professionals from the Hudson Valley area, Connecticut, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. who are generously providing their professional expertise and insights into the launch of this new incubator for emerging technology businesses. His extensive experiences in academic and business arenas are greatly welcomed and appreciated.”

As Dean of the Marist School of Management, Dr. Fortino leads the School as chief academic and fiscal officer. He was selected to this position for his entrepreneurial leadership abilities and his vision to advance distinctive programs and expand new relationships with academic and corporate constituents. Les Neumann, HVCFI’s Managing Director, states that these are qualities that are very attractive for reaching the goals of the incubator’s founders. “In addition to becoming a leader in business initiatives throughout the Hudson Valley and facilitator for technology development, we hope this incubator will foster intellectual and knowledge based expansion while working as a conduit for higher learning institutions. With such influential and highly experienced professionals as Dr. Fortino on our Board, we foresee that the incubator could quickly become a center for connecting the social and professional networking communities throughout the Valley.”

Dr. Fortino has a rich background in education both in the academic environment and in industry. Most recently he was Associate Dean for Academic Development at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. As an administrator and professor in GMU’s School of Management, he pioneered several innovative programs including a master’s in bioscience management, a master’s in technology management, and an MBA program for Northrup Grumman executives. He holds bachelors and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the City College of New York, and received his PhD in electrical engineering from the City University of New York.

Throughout his career, Dr. Fortino has lectured extensively on technology worldwide and has led more than 180 high technology seminars for Learning Tree International, a company specializing in worldwide hands-on training for management and technology professionals. He worked with the IBM Corp. in its advanced technology division where he filed several patents and numerous invention disclosures, and received IBM’s first invention level award for his work in semiconductor research. Dr. Fortino is president of the Technology Management Educational Association, a Senior Member of the IEEE Engineering Management Society, and member of the Academy of Management. He is also a Fulbright Candidate in the Senior Specialists Program.

More information on Dr. Andres Fortino is posted on the Board of Directors’ page of the Hudson Valley Center for Innovation, Inc. (HVCFI) website (www.hvcfi.com).

President of SUNY Ulster Named to Board of Regional
Business Incubator

Stone Ridge, New York, January 3, 2006 – Dr. Donald C. Katt, President of SUNY Ulster County Community College in Stone Ridge, has been named to the Board of Directors of the newly opened, not-for-profit Hudson Valley Center for Innovation, Inc. (HVCFI) incubator in Kingston, NY. The business and technology focused incubator was formulated by the Ulster County Development Corporation (UCDC) in Kingston, NY, and the Hudson Valley Technology Development Center (HVTDC) in Fishkill, NY. It has been opened to foster the development of technology and creation of high-value jobs throughout the Hudson Valley region. Les Neumann, HVCFI Managing Director states, “HVCFI is a collaborative effort of business and economic development agencies, academia, and the investment community throughout and beyond the Hudson Valley. Its focus is to foster growth and development of emerging, high value business and technology development firms from throughout the Tri-State region.”

Dr. Katt is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Ulster County Development Corporation and UCDC President Straub continues, “I have had the privilege of working cooperatively with Dr. Katt for numerous years as our offices are within the Ulster County Community College. It is a true honor to have him on our board because his accomplishments epitomize the American Ladder of Success. He will bring his many years of knowledge, determination, vision and support to the startup companies we are welcoming into the Hudson Valley Center for Innovation small business incubator.”

The reasons that Dr. Katt joined the HVCFI Board of Directors, is because, “One of SUNY Ulster’s strategic goals is to provide leadership in the economic development, civic engagement, and enhancement of life in Ulster County. When IBM left Kingston in the early 90’s, SUNY Ulster created a Business Resource Center in the Town of Ulster that included a generic small business incubator and the College-sponsored Mid-Hudson Small Business Development Center which counsels free of charge small business owners starting out and those wanting to expand their businesses. My involvement with the Hudson Valley Center for Innovation is one more way the College can assist the business community and overall economic climate of the region. Ironically with our IBM history, I firmly believe that computer-related technologies will be the industry that leads Ulster County’s economic development in the early 21st Century.”

Dr. Donald Katt was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Ulster County Community College by the SUNY and College Board of Trustees in 2001. From 2000 to 2001 he had been appointed Interim President when the college’s previous president retired. From 1996 to 2000, he served as Vice President and Dean of Faculty after being Chief Academic Officer and administrator in charge during the absence of the President. His responsibilities included internal College functions that emphasized instructional and academic support programs.

The journey to President of Ulster County Community College began for Donald Katt in 1968 when he was teaching liberal arts and business classes, advising students, and presenting seminars in a variety of management and government conferences and workshops. In 1968 he was appointed Director of Student Activities, a position he held until 1972. From 1973 to 1975, he was Director of College Activities; and Assistant to the President for College Development from 1975 to 1981. From 1981 to 1985, he was the Director of Institutional Advancement; Acting Dean of Faculty from 1985 to 1986; and Dean of Institutional Advancement from 1986 to 1989.

To learn more about Dr. Katt, visit the Board of Directors’ page of the Hudson Valley Center for Innovation, Inc. (HVCFI) website www.hvcfi.com.

Connecticut Technology Executive Named to Board of Regional Business Incubator

Wilton, CT and Kingston, New York, January 3, 2006 – Rick W. Diehl, Principal of Strategic Technology Group (STG) in Wilton, CT, and a member of the Connecticut Technology Council, has been named to the Board of Directors of the newly opened, not-for-profit Hudson Valley Center for Innovation, Inc. (HVCFI) incubator in Kingston, NY. The business and technology focused incubator was formulated by the Ulster County Development Corporation (UCDC) in Kingston, and the Hudson Valley Technology Development Center (HVTDC) in Fishkill, NY. It has been launched to foster the development of technology and creation of high-value jobs throughout the New York, Connecticut and New Jersey tri-state region. Les Neumann, HVCFI Managing Director states, “HVCFI is a collaborative effort of business and economic development agencies, academia, and the investment community throughout and beyond the Hudson Valley. Its focus is to foster growth and development of emerging, high value business and technology development firms from throughout the New York Tri-State region.”

Neumann refers to Rick Diehl’s experience in alliances, business spin-offs and financing of fledging businesses as “a perfect match for the ambitions of this distinctive new incubator for startup companies.” Diehl is currently Co-Chair of the Missile Defense Agency Standing SBIR Review Board; serves on the National Science Foundation SBIR Review Committee; is a member of the Board of Advisors of Technologies & Devices International, Inc. in Silver Spring, Maryland, and the Optodot Corporation of Boston. He is also a founding member of the Board of Directors of the recently formed seven-state consortium that will include Connecticut and Rhode Island, the “Technology Transfer & Insertion for Growing Rural Economies” (T21GRE) Hub headquartered in New Mexico. "Contributing to HVCFI’s Board,” states Diehl, “is of particular interest to me because of the motivation and vision of the founders. My objective is to see more of our nation's young technology companies reach market sooner through alliances with larger companies. We are instituting review practices and direct technology management assistance to the young companies in the Hudson Valley Center for Innovation that will advance the state-of-the-art in technology incubator management.”

Neumann explains that the HVCFI was formulated to create jobs; assist emerging technology-oriented companies get established and organized through professional mentoring; and once established, encourage those companies to employ area residents, and restore a proud legacy of technology research and development to the tri-state region. “Our ambition is that this incubator will be a regional leader in business initiatives by being a facilitator for technology development through a series of physical and virtual satellite locations that will foster intellectual and knowledge-based expansion by connecting fledgling businesses to higher learning institutions and businesses throughout the Tri State region’s social and professional networking communities.”

Rick Diehl has over 40 years experience in all aspects of developing new businesses that leverage new technologies. His experience includes corporate executive positions in new business and technology development with a F100 industrial corporation. He has co-founded several technology firms and served as board member/advisor for eight young technology companies in power generation, energy storage, flat panel displays, computer workstation development, experimental aircraft development, RF & power semiconductors, electronics thermal management, air and water security systems. He specializes in bringing proprietary advances in new materials and new processes to market, and in identifying and structuring industrial alliances for the more rapid commercialization of new technology in the U.S. His focus is to create maximum impact and shorter time to market by creating partnerships between Fortune 1000 industrials and the developers of technology.

In 1982 Diehl founded the Strategic Technology Group (STG) to originate and establish large industrial corporations’ exclusive access to the power of pacing innovation found in young U.S. technology companies. STG is unique in its success in discovering “below-the radar” young company market-ready technology that brings competitive advantage to the larger company. The company’s unique strength is in knowing when a technology can bring sustained advantage in key emerging markets of today, and in attracting cooperation across companies and from investment capital.

During the past 20 years, Diehl has successfully conducted cross-company integration of new materials, materials process and device technology in structuring, negotiation and integration work with over 50 small to mid-sized firms and over 40 Fortune 500 industrials, including Textron, United Technologies, Union Carbide, GE, Olin, Engelhard, TRW, Lockheed Martin, Rohm & Haas, Occidental Chemical, General Dynamics, Rockwell, 3M, Owens-Corning, Armstrong World Industries, Lubrizol, Uniroyal, Mobil, Shell, AlliedSignal, Goodyear, Champion International, Black & Decker, Praxair and Parker Hannifin.