REMINDER/New England's Future Small Business Luminaries To Gather at SBANE's `Innovation Reception'.

Business Editors

REMINDER...for Wednesday (Mar. 24)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

SBANE 

WHAT:       Guests of honor at this high-profile Innovation Reception
            are fast-track companies nominated for the SBANE 2004 New
            England Innovation Award program. Joining them will be
            past Innovation Award winners and finalists, this year's
            corporate sponsors and judges, and hosting SBANE officers
            and members. Credentialed members of the media can enjoy
            refresh-ments on the house as they socialize with the
            region's latest crop of budding business hot shots.

WHEN:       Wednesday, March 24, 2004
            5:30 pm to 8:30 pm

WHERE:      1601 Trapelo Road, Reservoir Place Office Park; The Atrium
            Waltham, Mass. (home of SBANE). Directions: Trapelo Road
            exit #28 off I-95/Rte. 128. Enter Reservoir Place and
            follow perimeter road to the central building (look for
            clock tower).

WHO:        More than 75 successful, growing companies have been
            nominated 2004 SBANE New England Innovation Award. They
            represent a cross section of industries, including
            technology, life sciences, retail, entertainment, food,
            service, and others.

            Sponsors include:
            --  Barron & Stadfeld
            --  Executive Resources International (ERI)
            --  Hale and Dorr
            --  Massachusetts Technology Development Corp. (MTDC)
            --  Morse, Barnes-Brown & Pendleton, P.C.
            --  Morton Financial Strategies Group
            --  Perkins, Smith & Cohen
            --  Staples (New England Innovation Award winner in 1988)

DETAILS:    SBANE (Smaller Business Association of New England;
            www.sbane.org) established the New England Innovation
            Awards program in 1986 and has recognized more than 100
            companies who have succeeded primarily through innovation
            and thought leadership. Finalists will be announced on
            April 9 and this year's winners will be revealed on May 20
            at a gala "Evening of Innovation" at the Newton (Mass.)
            Marriott.