ADVISORY/Massachusetts Software Council Spring Membership Meeting & Networking Event.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

ADVISORY...for Thursday (May 6)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

WHAT:  Massachusetts Software Council Spring Membership Meeting
        & Networking Event

WHEN:  Thursday, May 6 from 5:30 - 8:30 PM

WHERE: Sheraton Needham Hotel

DETAILS:

    The Massachusetts Software Council's Spring Meeting will feature
    guest speaker Michael Watkins, noted leadership transition expert
    and Harvard Business School Professor. Watkins is the author of
    the soon-to-be released business book Predictable Surprises and
    author of the 2003 bestselling business book The First 90 Days:
    Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels.

    Watkin's presentation will focus on "moving into start-ups,
    leading turnarounds, orchestrating changes, and sustaining high
    performance companies."

    In addition, the Council, along with the Software History Center,
    will pay a special tribute to Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston to
    mark the 25th anniversary of VisiCalc, the first electronic
    spreadsheet for the personal computer. With their invention of the
    first computer spreadsheet software -- which led to the
    expansion of the computer industry, and in turn to the rise of
    entrepreneurialism and the economic expansion of the late 20th
    century -- Bricklin and Frankston transformed business culture and
    had an enormous impact on the world.

    The Council's Education Foundation will also announce the winners
    of the 2004 Above and Beyond Awards, recognizing exemplary
    Baystate middle school math and science teachers.

    As always, many C-level executives from the state's top software
    and technology companies will attend this event.