Mass Technology Leadership Council and Massachusetts Network Communications Council Combine to Focus Resources on Driving Innovation and Company Growth

Move Creates the State`s Leading Business Association Representing the World`s
Top Global Tech Brands, Growth Companies and Entrepreneurs
BURLINGTON, Mass.--(Business Wire)--
The Mass Technology Leadership Council, Inc. (MassTLC), and the Massachusetts
Network Communications Council, Inc., (MassNetComms), announced today they would
combine forces to create the state`s leading business association for driving
innovation, entrepreneurship, and company growth across the Commonwealth`s
technology sector.

"We`re creating a single, `go-to council` for the technology industry," said
Steve O`Leary, chairman of the Mass Technology Leadership Council. "This newly
combined organization will have the scope and scale to help spur growth in such
traditional areas as communications, computing, networking and software, and in
emerging growth segments like mobile, cloud computing, digital games, robotics,
video and social media."

The combined organization, which will be known as the Mass Technology Leadership
Council (MassTLC), will bring some of the world`s top global technology brands -
including AT&T, Cisco, Comcast, Google, IBM, Microsoft and Verizon - under one
tent with some of the region`s fastest growing mid-sized companies and high
impact, growth oriented entrepreneurs. Together, the membership represents the
entire technology landscape from infrastructure to application and is
responsible some of the most remarkable innovations taking place in the
Commonwealth.

"These companies are a major part of the Massachusetts economy today," said
Steve Krom, chairman of MassNetComms and vice president and general manager of
AT&T for the New England region. "Working together we can help Massachusetts
seize a disproportionate share of the new tech investment and spending that will
come as the global economy enters recovery."

The combination of MassTLC and MassNetComms will yield the largest and most
diverse technology business association in New England, supporting more than 500
member organizations, including not only technology companies but technology
divisions of major corporations, venture capitalists, educational institutions
and a breadth of service providers. Its expertise will be multidimensional,
ranging from deep infrastructure to end-user applications and from the
technologist to the consumer.

"This partnership is exactly what we need to see more of," said Governor
Patrick. "Collaboration and focus in the tech sector and elsewhere is the way to
meet today's economic challenges."

"As a major technology buyer in the region, I am excited about the combination
of the two Councils," said Mary Finlay, Deputy CIO of Partners HealthCare. "It
is incredibly helpful to have a single organization where I can explore new
technologies and connect with fellow leaders across technology sectors."

"We are excited to be bringing our entrepreneurial communities together," said
James Geshwiler, Chair of the MassTLC`s Entrepreneurial Cluster and Managing
Director of CommonAngels. "With so much innovation occurring in mobile computing
and communications, entrepreneurs will benefit from a broader range of resources
to help them grow their companies."

The combination comes at a critical point in time when the state, its leaders,
its companies and its citizens are looking with renewed vigor to technology
innovation as a crucial driver for the economy.

"Our decision to join together and build scale in a single organization comes at
an important moment in time," said Tom Hopcroft, President & CEO of the Mass
Technology Leadership Council. "By combining, we do more to build a stronger
entrepreneurial ecosystem, invest in workforce development, and foster a
business climate that supports the growth of technology companies."

"The combined Council will build upon the shared goals of each organization,"
said Mark Horan, Executive Director of the Mass Network Communications Council.
"As a driver of innovation, the organization will contribute more significantly
to economic recovery and regional prosperity."

The first major event of the combined organization will be the MassTLC Awards
Banquet on Thursday, November 5th, honoring BBN Technologies founder Leo
Beranek, AVID Technologies founder Bill Warner, and nine other executives and
organizations.

A special landing page with complete information and links related to the
combination is available at www.masstlc.org/massnetcomms. The leaders of both
organizations have also posted thoughts online at blog.masstlc.org and
www.massnetcomms.org.

About The Mass Technology Leadership Council, Inc.

The Mass Technology Leadership Council, Inc. is the only business association
that addresses the critical leadership issues of innovative technology and
technology-enabled companies. Drawing on the rich legacies of Massachusetts
Network Communications Council, the Massachusetts Software Council, and the New
England Business and Technology Association, Inc., the organization is dedicated
to fostering entrepreneurship and promoting the success of companies that
develop and deploy technology across industry sectors. The Mass Technology
Leadership Council conducts educational programs, hosts industry events,
facilitates networking, sponsors research, advocates in favor of technology
policies that promote innovation, entrepreneurship and competition, and
recognizes industry-leading companies and people. For more information, visit
http://www.masstlc.org or http://blog.masstlc.org.

Mass Technology Leadership Council
Tom Hopcroft, 781-993-9000
President
tom@masstlc.org
or
Topaz Partners
Amy Krigman, 781-404-2400

Copyright Business Wire 2009