COMNET 2004 Advisory Board Assembled; New Members Bring Expertise and Fresh Ideas to 2004'S First Communications Networking Event.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

COMNET Conference & Expo 2004

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 6, 2003

IDG World Expo, the leading producer of world-class tradeshows, conferences and events for technology markets, today announced the advisory board for COMNET Conference & Expo(R) 2004. Six new IT, networking and security experts will join returning advisors to bring new perspectives and continued focus to the 2004 event. COMNET Conference & Expo, the leading East Coast event and the first of the new year to concentrate on critical networking and communication issues facing the enterprise, marks its 26th year January 26-29, 2004 at the new Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

New additions to the advisory board for COMNET 2004 include:

-- Jim Metzler, co-founder of Ashton, Metzler and Associates

-- Mark Raisch, director of IT at Merrill Lynch 

-- Tim Scannell, president and chief analyst at Shoreline

Research

-- Sondra Schneider, founder and CEO of Security University

-- Shally Bansal Stanley, senior vice president and practice

director of the Network Economics Practice at Greenwich

Technology Partners

-- Steven Taylor, president of Distributed Networking Associates

These new members join COMNET advisory board veterans John Gallant, president and editorial director of Network World, Inc.; Craig Mathias, principal at Farpoint Group; Nathaniel Palmer, vice president and chief analyst at Delphi Group; and Anthony C. Picardi, senior vice president of Global Software at IDC.

"I am quite pleased to be joining the COMNET Advisory Board," said Taylor. "With today's general economic conditions, professional development opportunities are few and far between. COMNET affords attendees the opportunity to interact with a wide range of industry experts in a concise, intensive, cost-effective format."

The COMNET 2004 advisory board ensures that COMNET's conference content, exhibit floor and show attractions focus on the most current educational and development needs of enterprise IT leaders. These seasoned experts will recommend speakers and topics that provide a timely, unbiased view of the challenges COMNET attendees face and of available, immediately applicable solutions. Many advisory board members also take an active role in the COMNET conference program as session speakers and panelists.

"In today's business environment, companies face tough choices, and information technology organizations are often being asked to 'do more with less,'" said Raisch. "COMNET offers IT professionals, as well as IT executives, an opportunity to learn about technologies, vendors, and products that can be leveraged to improve efficiencies and often reduce costs. In addition, COMNET provides a good forum to network with colleagues, discuss common issues and concerns, and share experiences."

"Wireless communications and connectivity have quickly evolved to become the focal point of every enterprise information network strategy," said Scannell. "This is why solutions-oriented events like COMNET are important, as companies investigate existing and emerging technologies and plan for successful and productive local and wide-area wireless deployments. As a board member, I plan to work with the COMNET team to identify key technology areas, and develop a program that is both informative and useful to the executives, technical architects and mobile workers who play a major role in the development of these wireless initiatives."

"COMNET continues to evolve in response to the market, and we continue to keep the event as relevant and personal as possible for companies and IT professionals who need to know what 2004 will bring, and want proven solutions they can implement immediately," said Darrell Baker, vice president of event services at IDG World Expo. "COMNET's diverse advisory board will ensure this happens."

For more information on the upcoming COMNET Conference & Expo, visit www.comnetworldexpo.com.

About COMNET Conference & Expo 2004

COMNET Conference & Expo, produced by IDG World Expo, is a catalyst for buyers and sellers in the communications networking industry to connect with the newest technologies and meet the experts driving the industry to a prosperous future. COMNET empowers network executives, service providers, carriers, suppliers/resellers and government agencies to make informed technology decisions for their network infrastructure at the beginning of each year. COMNET 2004 is a prime opportunity to learn from successful implementations of new technologies, with a special focus on security, Web services, wireless and network infrastructure. For more information, please visit www.comnetexpo.com.

About IDG World Expo

IDG World Expo (www.idgworldexpo.com) produces technology-focused tradeshows, conferences and events for professionals seeking world-class education, peer-to-peer networking and one-stop comparison shopping. As the leading technology event management company, IDG World Expo leverages its experience and knowledge of technology-focused events and conferences, enabling technology companies to capture the attention and loyalty of influential buyers. IDG World Expo's portfolio of conferences and events includes Macworld Conference & Expo(R), LinuxWorld Conference & Expo(R), Bio-ITWorld Conference & Expo(TM), COMNET Conference & Expo(R), Integrated Security Conference & Expo(TM), BiometricsWorld Series and Portable Power Conference & Expo(TM). IDG World Expo is a business unit of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research and event company.

About IDG

IDG publishes more than 300 magazines and newspapers and offers online users the largest network of technology-specific sites around the world through IDG.net (www.idg.net), which comprises more than 330 targeted Web sites in 80 countries. IDG is also a leading producer of 168 computer-related events worldwide, and IDG's research company, IDC, provides global market intelligence and advice through 51 offices in 43 countries. Company information is available at www.idg.com.