Contact:   Mary Jane Palmigiano
Phone:  410.222.7410, ext. 124
Email:  maryjane@chesapeaketech.org

ANNAPOLIS, MD – May 1, 2008 – The Chesapeake Regional Tech Council announced today that Kristen Valerio will serve as Executive Director of the organization, effective May 5, 2008. In her new role, Valerio will be responsible for overall management and operations of the rapidly growing organization.

According to CRTC President, Michael Ryan, “Kristen’s ability to interpret our vision for the future of the CRTC is impressive, and her execution strategy is both realistic and ambitious. We are very excited about the future of the Chesapeake Regional Tech Council and we are very pleased to have Kris direct this organization to the next level.”

Valerio comes to the CTRC from her role as Business Development Director for The Pomerantz Agency, a member and Titanium Sponsor of the CRTC. Pomerantz, a strategic marketing and design firm specializing in technology, recently created the new regional brand for the technology council. Valerio is a seasoned business development professional, who nurtures ongoing relationships within the regional technology community and beyond.  Because of her diverse, long-standing activity in the community Valerio creates profitable relationships that extend into the creative, financial and non-profit sectors.

Prior to Pomerantz, Valerio served as VP of Membership for the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce. There, she developed and coordinated activities that enhanced membership retention and developed partnerships with business organizations throughout Anne Arundel County.

Valerio graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor of Science in Fine Arts and Communication.

About the Chesapeake Regional Tech Council
Founded in 1992 as the Anne Arundel Tech Council, the Chesapeake Regional Tech Council is dedicated to supporting the tri-metro region’s growing technology industry with symposiums, educational seminars and quarterly events all designed to foster an exchange of ideas from the region’s vibrant tech industry. The Tech Council is supported by a grant from the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation, which allows members access to the EDC’s resources and business leaders. More than 250 businesses from the Annapolis/Baltimore/Washington D.C. area are members of the council, including many of the area’s well-known leading technology companies.

For more information, please contact Mary Jane Palmigiano at 410.222.7410, ext. 124 or maryjane@chesapeaketech.org