WASHINGTON, D.C., October 2, 2007 — V-Empower, Inc. tops the list of the fastest growing technology companies in Maryland as recognized by Deloitte & Touche LLP at an award event held October 2 at The Sequoia in Georgetown.  Called the “Maryland Technology Fast 50,” the annual award program ranks technology companies located in Maryland by revenue growth.  The awards in Maryland and Virginia are sponsored by Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, NASDAQ and SmartCEO Magazine.

“Deloitte’s Virginia Technology Fast 50 companies have shown the strength, vision and tenacity to succeed in today’s very competitive technology environment,” said Mr. Gary H. Tabach, Managing Partner for Deloitte’s Greater Washington Practice.  “We applaud the successes of V-Empower, Inc. and acknowledge it as one of the very few to accomplish such an impressive growth rate over the past five years.”

“The success of this year’s ranked companies in Maryland prove technology strength across the state. These Maryland companies compete with companies across the nation and are able to grow at an impressive rate, which demonstrates the economic fitness of the state,” said Mr. William J. Perlstein, co-managing partner of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP.  Congratulations to these companies for this accomplishment and their continued growth.”

Winners are selected based on percentage revenue growth over five years from 2002 to 2006.  To be considered, Technology Fast 50 entrants must:  have operating revenues of at least $50,000 in 2002 and at least $5,000,000 in 2006; be headquartered in Maryland; be a “technology company,” defined as a company that owns proprietary technology that contributes to a significant portion of its operating revenues; or devotes a significant proportion of revenues to the research and development of technology.  Using other companies' technology in a unique way does not qualify.  Subsidiaries and divisions are not eligible, unless they have some public ownership and are separately traded.

The Technology Fast 50 company rankings are as follows:

Also this year, Deloitte's 2007 Technology Fast 50 Awards program will premiere the Technology Fast 50 Business Diversity Awards.  The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Business Diversity Awards acknowledge the growing importance of an innovative group of local small technology businesses in Maryland and Virginia that are owned and managed by individuals classified by the U.S. Small Business Administration as having one or more of the following small business designations: Minority-Owned, Woman-Owned, Veteran-Owned, Service Disabled Veteran-Owned, Small Disadvantaged Business, and HUBZone. 

Companies receiving this award include (in rank order):

The Maryland Technology Fast 50 program is hosted by Deloitte & Touche LLP, along with WilmerHale, NASDAQ and media sponsor SmartCEO magazine. 

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About Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
WilmerHale is widely recognized as a leader in advising technology and life sciences companies. More than 70 lawyers hold degrees in scientific or technical fields, including information technology and life sciences.  As a result of a longstanding focus on entrepreneurial and technology companies, WilmerHale represents more venture-backed companies in the eastern half of the US than any other law firm.  WilmerHale's other premier practices include, antitrust and competition; aviation; bankruptcy; civil and criminal trial and appellate litigation (including white collar defense); communications; corporate (including public offerings, public company counseling, start up companies, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, and licensing); defense and national security; financial institutions; intellectual property counseling and litigation; international arbitration; life sciences; securities regulation, enforcement and litigation; tax; and trade. 

WilmerHale was formed in May 2004 through the merger of two of the nation's leading law firms, Hale and Dorr LLP and Wilmer Cutler Pickering LLP.  With a staunch commitment to public service, the firm is renowned as a national leader in pro bono representation.  The firm has more than 1,000 lawyers and offices in Baltimore, Beijing, Berlin, Boston, Brussels, London, Munich, New York, Northern Virginia, Oxford, Palo Alto, Waltham and Washington, DC.  For more information, please visit http://www.wilmerhale.com/.

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