A Tradition of Leadership; Digital Networks Introduces Executive Team; Digital Networks Became an Independent Company on September 25, 2000.

Business/Technology Editors

ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 5, 2000

Digital Networks, a leader in providing innovative solutions for the complete workgroup and wiring closet needs of enterprise customers announces the appointments of the senior executive team.

Digital Networks is born out of years of experience. It is a profitable business with all the ingredients for continued success and future growth. The company has thousands of loyal customers worldwide, is 100% channel focused with a well-established network of distributors, extremely promising products under development, and a highly skilled and professional workforce.

"For more than 20 years Digital's networking products have led the evolution and revolution of network technology helping customers build long-term value into their network infrastructures. We plan to continue in this tradition of leadership by delivering innovative networking solutions that protect customers' network investments while enabling migration to new technologies," said Bill Burger, President, Digital Networks. "I am pleased to announce an outstanding group of executives. Each member of the Digital Networks team brings valuable perspective and varied experience to achieving our goals. Together we will continue to build Digital Networks business and guarantee its success."

Bill Burger, President of Digital Networks

Bill has over a 20-year career within telecommunications, networking, and computer technology companies. Before joining Digital Networks, Bill held several key positions at Cabletron Systems. He was the VP of Marketing for the Digital Network Products Group, responsible for maintaining the business of Digital end user customers and channel partners through the company transition from Digital Equipment Corporation to Cabletron Systems. Bill was the Senior Director of Marketing at Cabletron Systems responsible for leading Cabletron into the service provider market, and responsible for product management and marketing for Cabletron's Wide Area Network portfolio. From 1984 through 1998, Bill held positions of increasing responsibility in Digital Equipment Corporation's network businesses, including Internetworking Business Manager and Solutions Marketing Manager. Before Digital, Bill was with AT&T Bell Laboratories. Burger holds an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Dana Lariviere, Vice President of Worldwide Sales

With more than 10 years of worldwide experience in International Sales, Lariviere has a proven record of U.S., UK and Western European channel development, merger integration, major account negotiation, and extensive recruitment and sales management. Prior to joining Digital Networks, Lariviere's held several key positions with Cabletron Systems. He was Vice President of Digital Product Sales responsible for worldwide sales of a $100 million product line. As the Senior Operations and Sales Director in the UK, Lariviere broke company records managing the transition of Cabletron's direct to indirect sales model, resulting in first year channels sales from $0 to 12 million. Additionally, he was the Regional Sales Manager for Cellular One, closing one of the largest deals in the history of the company. Lariviere holds a BS in Business Administration from New England College.

Lee Knoch, Vice President of Worldwide Marketing

Lee Knoch is the Vice President of Worldwide Marketing for Digital Networks. He is responsible for marketing strategy, marketing programs, branding, collateral and the channel partner program. Prior to Lee's current position, Lee was Sr. Director of North American Channels Marketing at Cabletron Systems and the Director of Marketing for Digital Equipment Corporation's Network Product Business in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) where he led the successful rollout of marketing and channel development programs. Lee has over 25 years of data communications and networks experience in the IT and Manufacturing industries. He has worked for IBM, Monsanto Company, Digital Equipment Corporation and Cabletron Systems. Lee has a Masters in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA. He is a member of the IEEE.

Gary McCoy, Vice President of Engineering

Gary has over 20 years of experience in the development of high-tech products. His experience includes the development of network components and windows based layered products. Early in his career while working for Digital Equipment Corporation, Gary worked on the diagnostics for one of the first Ethernet products. He has worked on all major networking technologies and recently was Cabletron's Director of Wireless Networking.

Throughout his career he has provided leadership in efforts ranging in scope from terminal servers to windowing software. He has managed the development of network layer two switches, network routers, and network management software.

Gary studied Chemistry for two years at Davis and Elkins College. He completed the Ground Control Radar course at Fort Monouth, NJ and worked at the Electronic Warfare College at Fort Huachuca, Arizona as a member of the military. He is also a graduate of Control Data Institute in New York City.

Jim Wendell, Vice President of Services

Jim has over thirty years of worldwide experience in service operations (P&L) management, service product sales, services marketing, strategic planning and business development. Prior to joining Digital Networks, Jim was the Marketing Vice President for Global Network Technology Services at Cabletron Systems, responsible for profit and loss for the company's technology and professional service business unit. Additionally, Jim has held senior management positions in global services marketing and sales at Nortel Networks, Enterprise LOB, Stratus Computer, Inc, Wang Laboratories, Inc and Digital Equipment Corporation. Wendell studied business management at West Virginia University and Fisher College. Master electronic and MIS training received through U.S. Navy.

Dick Cheever, Vice President of Operations and CFO 

Dick has over 20 years of experience in various operations roles in the high tech industry. He has specific background in materials management, manufacturing, supply chain integration, and logistics. Before joining Digital Networks, Dick was with Cabletron Systems as the Account Director for Compaq Computer Corporation, Cabletron's largest customer at that time. Previous to this, he was with Digital Equipment Corporation for over twenty years serving in various management positions. The last of these was the Director of Business Operations and Logistics for the Network Products Business. Dick also served a five-year term at Digital's European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, managing Digital's European manufacturing operations. Dick holds an MBA from Babson College and a BS in Management Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI).

Charles Henrickson, Vice President of Product Management

Charles has over twenty years of worldwide experience in the development and manufacture of computer and networking products. Most recently he served as Director of Product Management for Switch Products at Cabletron Systems, Inc, during which time he led the introduction of the highly successful 10/100/1000 Mbps Workgroup Switch product family. Before joining Cabletron Systems, Charles was a Senior Engineering Manager in the Network Products Business at Digital Equipment Corporation, responsible for New Product Introduction and Total-Life Cycle Management of all networking products. His career experience includes Management positions in Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, Quality, Vendor Partnerships and Customer Services. Charles holds a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from WPI in Worcester, MA and has also completed advanced studies in Operations and Supply Management while in the Manufacturing Management Program at General Electric Company and at Northeastern University.

About Digital Networks

Digital Networks is focused on providing innovative solutions for the complete workgroup and wiring closet networking needs of enterprise customers. Digital Networks offers multi-technology solutions that interconnect servers, desktops, office and manufacturing floor devices to support traditional business and web-based applications for commercial, manufacturing, and government customers For more information on Digital Networks, please visit http://www.dnpg.com or call 1-877-341-9594.

Digital Networks is the trade name of DNPG, LLC and is not affiliated with Compaq Computer Corporation. DIGITAL, the Digital Logo and DEC are used under license from Compaq Computer Corporation.