ValueStar Names Dale Pistilli As COO; Accomplished Executive Takes Helm of New Internet Initiatives; Consumer-to-Business and Business-to-Business Transactions Benefit.

OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 4, 1999--

ValueStar Corporation, the nation's leading rater of local service companies, announced today that it has appointed Dale Hunter Pistilli as Chief Operating Officer.

Mr. Pistilli, a seasoned marketing executive and growth strategist, will be leading the development of a massive increase in ValueStar's branded ratings content and the development of a new Internet-based buying system focused on the local service business market.

"Dale has the operational expertise and vision to help guide ValueStar through rapid growth and expansion into new businesses," said Jim Stein, CEO and President of ValueStar. "His ability to direct ValueStar's wealth of entrepreneurial energy toward our common corporate goals makes him a tremendous addition to our senior management team."

"Every once in a while an idea comes along that delivers on a true consumer need. ValueStar's local ratings of service companies (based on customer satisfaction) and delivered over the Internet is vital, valuable content for consumers," said Mr. Pistilli. "I think ValueStar's ratings will do for e-commerce and buyers what portals have done for news and on-line readers.

Prior to joining ValueStar, Pistilli served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing and architect of the Internet strategy for General Time Corporation, the makers of Westclox and Seth Thomas branded clocks. He developed and implemented a new growth strategy at the company, responsible for doubling sales to $115 million though operating in a mature industry.

From 1990 to 1993 he was a strategy consultant in the Telecommunications Group at Coopers & Lybrand. From 1986 to 1988, Mr. Pistilli was an Investment Banking Analyst for Drexel Burnham Lambert. Mr. Pistilli obtained a B.S. in Computer Science and Economics from Duke University (1986) and a MBA in Marketing and Finance from the Wharton School (1990).

About ValueStar

ValueStar is the premier rater of local service businesses in America, helping to facilitate e-commerce with quality-conscious consumers. Consumers look for the ValueStar Certified Symbol when shopping to quickly find the best (top-rated) companies.

With ValueStar's independent customer satisfaction ratings, consumers now have the confidence to shop for relatively unknown companies on-line. To rate each local company, ValueStar conducts a statistically valid number of customer satisfaction surveys and audits their license, insurance and complaint status.

Top-rated companies must qualify to use the ValueStar Certified symbol as a powerful marketing tool to differentiate them based on quality and value.

ValueStar's rating information is unique, branded content unavailable to consumers anywhere else. Besides shopping for local companies displaying the ValueStar Certified symbol in forms of traditional media, consumers may log on to the popular www.valuestar.com site to find top-rated companies by area and industry.

To assure accuracy and an unbiased independent rating, University partners audit the customer satisfaction rating system. For more information about ValueStar Corporation, please call 1-800-310-6661.