BOSTON, September 25, 2001 – With one month to go before technology leaders and investors gather in Woodstock, VT for the region’s only executive conference for the tech sector, Future Forward Events, LLC, today announced its final speaker line-up and agenda. The conference, which brings together technology and investment leaders from all six New England states, will be held as scheduled from October 25 – 27 at the Woodstock Inn & Resort in Vermont.

Featured speakers at this year’s event include New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen and Dean Kamen, the president of DEKA Research & Development and founder of the non-profit group FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). Steve Randich, chief technology officer of the NASDAQ Stock Market, will also present. Other conference speakers include:

• Craig Benson, co-founder of Cabletron;
• Bob Davis, founding CEO of Lycos and a partner at Highland Capital Ventures;
• Tim McMahon, CEO of investment bank Adams, Harkness & Hill;
• John Cullinane, president of the Cullinet Group;
• Doug Weaver, president of the Upstream Group;
• Todd Dagres, general partner, Battery Ventures;
• Helen Greiner, President, iRobot;
• Bo Peabody, co-founder, Village Ventures;
• Elisabeth Robert, CEO, The Vermont Teddy Bear Company; and
• Diana Walczak, co-founder, Kleiser-Walczak.

Sessions planned include:

• Fireside chats with New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen and Dean Kamen, president of DEKA Research & Development
• "Machines Become Us: The Next Wave of Robotics," with representatives from iRobot, Advanced Animations, PRI Automation, and Brandeis University’s DEMO Lab
• "Forecasting the Financial Markets," featuring venture leaders from firms such as Battery Ventures, Village Ventures, Lead Dog Ventures, Tuck School of Business and Adams, Harkness & Hill

"Our region and industry is currently facing challenging and uncertain times, with many business leaders evaluating next steps and plans for the coming year. Future Forward is designed to connect these leaders with their colleagues and peers, and ultimately facilitate the strategic discussions that will ensure this region’s future growth," said Shayne Gilbert, co-chair of Future Forward 2001.

Future Forward is an invitation-only gathering where the technology leaders of New England explore emerging technologies and discuss the dynamics that affect tech-oriented businesses. Created by the same group that delivers the sold-out Nantucket Conference each year, Future Forward exists to help make connections between technology investors, executives, and innovators at companies large and small.

Members of the Advisory Committee for Future Forward include Elizabeth Altman, Vice President & Director, Business Development of Motorola Personal Communications Sector; Jesse Devitte, Chairman of Software Association of New Hampshire and Managing Director of Borealis Ventures; Kristen Collins, founder of KMCpartners; Bruce Journey, CEO of MIT's Technology Review; Laura Kent, Founder and Former President of Connecticut Technology Council; Paul LeBlanc, President of Marlboro College; Lew McCreary, Editor in Chief of Darwin magazine and Editorial Director of CXO Media Inc.; Bo Peabody, Chairman and Co-founder of Village Ventures; Brenda Philips, Director of Commonwealth Information Techology Inititative, UMASS; Michael Prince, VP and Chief Information Officer of Burlington Coat Factory; Jerry Schaufeld, President and CEO of Mass Ventures; Alyssa Gilbert, Vice President of Future Forward Events LLC; Scott Kirsner, Contributing editor at Wired Magazine, Fast Company, and Darwin Magazine and the @large columnist for the Boston Globe; and Shayne Gilbert, Founder of Silverweave andauthor of 90 Days to Launch.

More information about the Conference is available at http://www.futureforward.com.

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