Consumer Electronics Association (R) Elects 2006 Board of Industry Leaders; Circuit City's McCollough, Best Buy's Anderson and Radio Shack's Hamilton Join CEA Volunteer Leadership.

LAS VEGAS -- The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) yesterday elected the 2006 CEA Board of Industry Leaders at its annual meeting held in Las Vegas, Nevada. The meeting occurred during CEA's 2005 Industry Forum running in Las Vegas through today.

"This slate of industry executives brings considerable expertise, energy and vision to our Board of Industry Leaders," said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CEA. "I'm honored to work with them in the coming year as we continue in our mission to grow the consumer electronics industry. The support and dedication from these industry volunteers is central to CEA's success."

In line with CEA's continuing effort to represent the full breadth of the consumer technology industry, the association added top executives from three of the nation's largest consumer electronics (CE) retailers to its volunteer leadership, electing Circuit City Chairman and CEO Alan McCullough, Best Buy Vice-Chairman and CEO Brad Anderson and Radio Shack Senior VP-Chief Merchandising Officer Jim Hamilton to its Board of Industry Leaders.

"We are thrilled to add the perspectives and insights of these market leaders into the wide range of activities CEA develops for the end-to-end interests of the CE industry," said Shapiro. "Having Brad, Alan and Jim join our volunteer leadership makes CEA stronger and the industry more united."

CEA first opened its membership to retailers in 2003. The following year, John Flanner, president of Flanner's Audio & Video, was elected to serve on CEA's Executive Board, making Flanner the first retailer to join CEA's governing body.

In addition to Anderson, McCullough and Hamilton, new members of CEA's Board of Industry Leaders include: Stephen Baker, president, Denon; John Banks, president, Audio Center; James Bazet, president and CEO, Cobra Electronics; Greg Bosler, EVP - North America Profit Center, TCL/Thomson Electronics; Paul D'Arcy, executive vice president, Sanyo Fisher Company; David Epstein, president, Sound Solutions; John Godfrey, vice president, Government & Industry Affairs, Pioneer; Jeff Hipps, senior vice president, marketing, Sherwood America; Bob Law, senior vice president, Consumer Electronics Division, Sirius; Dr. Paul Liao, vice president and CTO, Matsushita Electronic Corporation of America and president, Panasonic Technologies Company; Keith Lehmann, vice president, Car Electronics Division, Kenwood; David Lorsch, president and CEO, DBL Distributing; James Minarik, president and CEO, Directed Electronics; Jay McLellan, president, Home Automation, Inc; Henry Muyshondt, general manager, MOST Corporation; Mike O'Neal, president and CEO, Philips Accessories & Computer Peripherals; Larry Richenstein, president, Unwired Technologies Company; Sam Runco, CEO, Runco International; Grant Russell, president, Stratus; Paul Sabbah, vice president, Business Development, Techcraft Manufacturing; Brian Smith, vice president, Technology Policy & Standards, Philips Electronics; Ron Stone, director, DTS Inc.; Rich Tosi, president, Uniden; Skip West, president, MAXSA Innovations, LLC and Gary Yacoubian, president, Myer-Emco AudioVideo.

As its principal duty, the CEA Board of Industry Leaders officially elects members of the CEA Executive Board, which governs CEA. Beyond determining CEA policies and managing the association's affairs, the Executive Board defines the qualifications, procedures and dues for membership and approves all applications for CEA membership.

Members of the Board of Industry Leaders are elected, for a one-year term, by the general CEA membership. The 2005 Industry Forum, which occurs October 17-19, is a premier CE industry event that offers educational and research sessions as well as networking events and CEA member meetings.

About CEA:

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the consumer technology industry through technology policy, events, research, promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA represents more than 2,000 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of audio, video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information technology, home networking, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, CEA's members account for more than $121 billion in annual sales. CEA's resources are available online at www.CE.org, the definitive source for information about the consumer electronics industry.

CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Defining Tomorrow's Technology. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy.

UPCOMING CEA EVENTS

    --  EHX Fall 2005
        November 7-11, 2005, Anaheim, CA

    --  CES New York Press Preview
        November 15, 2005, New York, NY

    --  CES Unveiled: The Official Press Event of CES
        January 3, 2006, Las Vegas, NV

    --  2006 International CES
        January 5-8, 2006, Las Vegas, NV

    --  Winter Summit 2006
        March 2-4, 2006, Vail, CO