Summers will lead Mandiant’s customer success programs and manage the company’s strategic partner relationships

ALEXANDRIA, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Mandiant, the leader in advanced threat detection and response solutions, today announced the addition of Grady Summers to the executive team as vice president, customer success. Summers will be based out of the company’s Alexandria, Virginia office where he will work closely with Mandiant’s customers to improve their incident detection and response strategies and ensure they get the most out of their relationships with Mandiant. In addition, he will be responsible for developing and managing strategic relationships with Mandiant’s consulting partners.

“His addition to the team underscores Mandiant’s commitment to our customer’s success.”

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“As a former CISO in a Fortune 100 company, Grady understands first-hand the challenges our customers face and is uniquely qualified to help them maximize their investment in Mandiant’s solutions,” said Mandiant President and Chief Operating Officer Travis Reese. “His addition to the team underscores Mandiant’s commitment to our customer’s success.”

Summers joins Mandiant from Ernst & Young LLP where he led the information security program management service line. Prior to that, Summers served as the chief information security officer (CISO) at General Electric (NYSE: GE) where he led GE’s global information security program including IT risk management, incident response, identity and access management, security policy and centralized security operations. As GE CISO, Summers also oversaw the development of GE’s first computer incident response team and was a leader of GE’s executive councils for information security, information governance and IT risk.

“The rise of cyber espionage and advanced targeted attacks is placing increased demands on security organizations to better protect their intellectual property and financial assets,” said Summers. “When attacks bypass preventive defenses, security teams need to be the first to know so they can be the first to act. Detecting responding and containing these threats is something organizations must do on a daily basis. I look forward to helping them meet that challenge.”

Summers holds a master of business administration degree from Columbia University and a bachelor of science in computer systems and political science degree from Grove City College in Pennsylvania.

TEMPE, Ariz.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Avnet Technology Solutions, an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), today announced that Jeff Bawol has been named one of CRN’s 2012 Channel Chiefs. This prestigious list of the most influential and powerful leaders in the IT channel recognizes those executives directly responsible for driving channel sales and growth within their organization, while evangelizing and defending the importance of the channel throughout the entire IT industry.

“The 2012 Channel Chiefs list recognizes vendor executives dedicated to driving channel programs in the IT marketplace”

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Bawol has been a driving force in expanding Avnet Technology Solutions’ business in the Americas and creating unique programs, tools and services to help its suppliers and reseller partners achieve profitable growth in high-growth markets. Under his guidance, Avnet Technology Solutions grew its business in the Americas by more than 30 percent during Avnet’s 2011 fiscal year. Bawol also led the charge to strengthen Avnet Technology Solutions’ geographic reach in 30 Latin America countries through the integration of Bell Microproducts and Tallard Technologies. In addition, Bawol continued to concentrate on helping partners create specialization in vertical markets through Avnet’s SolutionsPath® practices.

For the tenth consecutive year, Channel Chiefs were selected by the CRN editorial team based on channel experience, program innovations, channel-driven revenue, and public support for the importance of IT channel sales.

“Jeff is a terrific asset to our organization,” said Phil Gallagher, global president, Avnet Technology Solutions. “His efforts have helped us expand our strategic scale and scope in the Americas, and accelerated Avnet and our partners’ growth in both in new and established markets. Jeff’s passion for evolving the value of solutions distribution is demonstrated every day, and we appreciate CRN recognizing him for his leadership in the industry.”

“The 2012 Channel Chiefs list recognizes vendor executives dedicated to driving channel programs in the IT marketplace,” said Kelley Damore, VP, Editorial Director, UBM Channel. “Our annual Channel Chiefs’ issue is a must-read for IT solution providers evaluating new vendors or looking to expand solution offerings. These are the people, the products and the programs that any savvy solution provider needs to know. We congratulate this year’s Channel Chiefs for their stellar record of business innovation and applaud them for their continued dedication to the partner community.”

~ TomTom Brings Award-winning Car Navigation Products to Indonesia ~

AMSTERDAM & JAKARTA, Indonesia–(BUSINESS WIRE)–TomTom is launching its award-winning Via and GO 2050 series of PNDs in Indonesia. This complete range of products with models for basic navigation as well as feature-rich devices for more demanding driving is now available at major consumer electronic stores and online.

“We’ve been in Indonesia for a number of years making high-quality maps. We’re really pleased to be delivering PNDs now. We see the potential for business growth here and we look forward to working with our partners to meet this demand and use the industry-leading maps we’ve developed”

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TomTom’s PNDs deliver sophisticated design, smart navigation technology and TomTom’s own maps of seven Southeast Asia countries.

“We’ve been in Indonesia for a number of years making high-quality maps. We’re really pleased to be delivering PNDs now. We see the potential for business growth here and we look forward to working with our partners to meet this demand and use the industry-leading maps we’ve developed,” says Chris Kearney, VP Asia Pacific.

Key features of the new TomTom GPS products include: commercial and residential building search, hands-free calling, advanced lane guidance and a local user interface.

About TomTom

TomTom is a global supplier of location and navigation products and services. We provide consumers and enterprise, government and automotive industry customers with digital maps, traffic intelligence, navigation software, PNDs, automotive systems, fleet management services, smartphone apps, fitness devices, POIs and speedcam intelligence.

Headquartered in Amsterdam, TomTom has over 3,500 employees and operates from 50 locations in 35 countries.

TomTom (AEX:TOM2) is listed on NYSE Euronext. More information can be found at www.tomtom.com. For the most up-to-date route planner, including live traffic information please visit www.tomtom.com/livetraffic

Link to Coalition for Tax Competition Letter:

http://freedomandprosperity.org/2012/letters/second-letter-to-secretary-geithner-on-irs-reporting-regulation/

The letter from the Coalition for Tax Competition expresses the frustration felt by many who would be impacted by a regulation that “will do considerable damage to the U.S. economy and its already fragile banking system,” while serving no domestic tax purpose. The letter also highlights the failure of the IRS “to conduct a cost-benefit analysis on the rule,” most likely “because there is no benefit and they are unwilling to address the considerable evidence regarding the regulation’s high costs.”

In addition to the arguments cited in the letter, the regulation would have serious human rights implications for many living overseas, who turn to the U.S. banking system as a source of security, stability and safe keeping. Exposing the deposit information of citizens from countries such as Venezuala and Mexico to their home governments is often tantamount to placing them and their families in harm’s way.

The IRS has continued to pursue implemention of the rule despite strong bipartisan opposition from Congress, organized under the leadership of Senator’s Rubio, Nelson, Cornyn and Hutchison, as well as Rep. Posey in the House of Representatives.

“The only people who support this regulation are international tax bureaucrats and tax-and-spend zealots in Washington,” notes Andrew Quinlan, President of the Center for Freedom and Prosperity Foundation. “Lawmakers of both parties who are elected to serve the interests of American taxpayers are overwhelmingly against this regulation.”

“This proposed regulation would be the camel’s nose under the tent,” warned Dan Mitchell of the Cato Institute, who added that, “the IRS, if successful with this proposal, will doubtlessly demand reporting of other forms of interest, as well as capital gains.”

Additional comments from Coalition for Tax Competition Signers:

John Berlau, Director, Ctr. for Investors and Entrepreneurs, Competitive Enterprise Institute:

“All at once, this rule would (A) Reduce U.S. competitiveness in attracting foreign capital; (B) harm the safety and soundness of U.S. banks and credit unions; (C) threaten the privacy and safety interests of individuals throughout the world by putting sensitive information in the hands of governments with lax data security systems, in which criminal gangs could access the data to target victims for kidnapping; (D) empower corrupt dictators by giving them access to financial information of dissidents who may hold U.S. accounts.”

Pete Sepp, Executive Vice President, National Taxpayers Union:

“America’s prosperity already suffers because of an uncompetitive tax system, and this interest reporting regulation would make the pain much worse. While Congress must do the heavy lifting on tax reform, the Treasury can and should keep from adding to the burden by canceling this unnecessary and unproductive rule.”

J. Bradley Jansen, Director, Center for Financial Privacy and Human Rights:

“It is no secret that tyrannical regimes in history have used bank and tax information for gross violations of human rights. The IRS simply cannot guarantee that information will not be shared with any country that will now or in the future abuse the information, and thus must rescind the proposal.”

Palmer Schoening, Director of Federal Affairs, American Family Business Institute:

“Pushing capital overseas will harm the family businesses which rely heavily on its availability. At a time when the economy is still struggling to recover and generate jobs, it is foolish to make it harder for family businesses to expand and add workers.”

Bill Wilson, President, Americans for Limited Government:

“The IRS is creating a mountain of paperwork to report interest income of foreign persons that is not even taxable under current law. There is simply no upside for a regulation that will have the same effect as a tax on such income, which is to drive foreign investment out of the U.S. What was the IRS thinking?”

Seton Motley, President, Less Government:

“We have spent the last sixty plus years ratcheting up the taxes and regulations on businesses. We then act surprised when they leave for other, more friendly countries in which to do business. President Obama’s answer to this government-induced problem is – more government. Preventing this latest reporting regulation from being effected is an important step towards returning to tax and regulatory sanity – and increased domestic employment.”

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Text of Letter and List of Signers

February 20, 2012

Hon. Timothy F. Geithner

Secretary of the Treasury

1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20220

Dear Secretary Geithner:

We are troubled by the Treasury Department’s failure to withdraw a rule that faces near universal opposition, provides no benefit to the U.S., and threatens to drive billions in much needed foreign investment out of the economy. We are therefore writing again to express our opposition to the nonresident alien deposit interest reporting regulation (REG-146097-09), and ask that it be withdrawn.

As has been argued by both members of Congress and financial experts, the regulation will do considerable damage to the U.S. economy and its already fragile banking system. There is no requirement under existing tax treaties that this information be reported, nor any obligation to impose regulatory burdens for the purpose of enforcing other nations’ laws.

Moreover, the IRS has failed to conduct a cost-benefit analysis on the rule, presumably because there is no benefit and they are unwilling to address the considerable evidence regarding the regulation’s high costs.

At a time when lawmakers remain focused on increasing employment, it is imprudent for the IRS to consider regulations that would drive job-creating investment out of the country. We ask again that this regulation be withdrawn.

Sincerely ,

Andrew F. Quinlan ~ President, Center for Freedom and Prosperity Foundation

Grover Norquist ~ President, Americans for Tax Reform

Pete Sepp ~ Executive Vice President, National Taxpayers Union

Phil Kerpen ~ Vice President for Policy, Americans for Prosperity

R. Bruce Josten ~ Executive Vice President Government Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

J. Bradley Jansen ~ Director, Center for Financial Privacy and Human Rights

John Berlau ~ Director, Ctr. for Investors and Entrepreneurs, Competitive Enterprise Institute

Karen Kerrigan ~ President & CEO, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council

Terrence Scanlon ~ President, Capital Research Center

Eli Lehrer ~ National Director and Vice President, The Heartland Institute

Erika Nolan ~ Executive Director, The Sovereign Society

Wayne Brough ~ Chief Economist and Vice President of Research, FreedomWorks

David Williams ~ President, Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Carrie Lukas ~ Managing Director, Independent Women’s Forum

Jim Martin ~ Chairman, 60 Plus Association

Tom Giovanetti ~ President, Institute for Policy Innovation

Lew Uhler ~ President, National Tax Limitation Committee

Thomas A. Schatz ~ President, Citizens Against Government Waste

Bill Wilson ~ President, Americans for Limited Government

Stephen J. Entin ~ President and Executive Director, Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation

Seton Motley ~ President, Less Government

Palmer Schoening ~ Director of Federal Affairs, American Family Business Institute

Mario H. Lopez ~ President, Hispanic Leadership Fund

Charles Sauer ~ President, Market Institute

Ninth annual “Introduce a Girl to Engineering” program benefits hundreds of middle school students

•Close to 1,000 students across the country participate in hands-on activities

•Middle school students interact with role models at 13 ExxonMobil locations

•Program sparks students’ curiosity in the science, technology, engineering and math fields

IRVING, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–ExxonMobil Foundation is collaborating with National Engineers Week for the ninth consecutive year to present “Introduce a Girl to Engineering,” where ExxonMobil employees will host students at 13 company locations across the country. The program seeks to promote curiosity among middle school students, and help shrink the gender gap in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.

“We can inspire our nation’s youth to pursue STEM careers by capturing their interest at an early age”

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“We can inspire our nation’s youth to pursue STEM careers by capturing their interest at an early age,” said Suzanne McCarron, president, ExxonMobil Foundation. “By building confidence through role models and engaging activities, our program helps address STEM career stereotypes and allows young women to explore and appreciate the engineering profession.”

ExxonMobil employees will lead fun hands-on activities that connect math and science to real life while also reinforcing classroom instruction. Example activities include demonstrations on how the energy industry uses 3D technology to search for oil and natural gas; water purification experiments; bridge-building with straws; exploring the science of manufacturing cosmetics; and panel discussions with ExxonMobil engineers.

“National Engineers Week is committed to getting kids engaged in math and science, especially girls who are not well represented in these fields,” said Leslie Collins, executive director of National Engineers Week. “It’s because of the outstanding support and partnership from the ExxonMobil Foundation and ExxonMobil employees that we are able introduce thousands of young students to a fulfilling future in engineering.”

The need to engage girls in math and science studies, and eventually careers, is critical. According to the National Science Foundation, women make up half of the workforce, yet hold only 13 percent of engineering jobs.

More than 4,000 students have participated in math and science activities conducted at ExxonMobil facilities or had a classroom visit from a company volunteer since ExxonMobil began the program more than a decade ago.

About ExxonMobil Foundation

ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of the Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States. The Foundation and the Corporation engage in a range of philanthropic activities that advance education, health and science in the communities where ExxonMobil has significant operations. In the United States, ExxonMobil supports initiatives to improve math and science education at the K-12 and higher education levels.

Globally, ExxonMobil provides funding to improve basic education, promote women as catalysts for economic development, and combat malaria and other infectious diseases in developing countries. In 2010, together with its employees and retirees, Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), its divisions and affiliates, and ExxonMobil Foundation provided $237 million in contributions worldwide, of which $110 million was dedicated to education. Additional information on ExxonMobil’s community partnerships and contributions programs is available at www.exxonmobil.com/community.

About National Engineers Week

National Engineers Week (eweek.org), founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers among young students and by promoting pre-college literacy in math and science. Engineers Week also raises public understanding and appreciation of engineers’ contributions to society and is among the oldest of America’s professional outreach efforts. For more information please visit www.eweek.org.

Avon banned tests on animals in 1989 following PETA’s very public “Avon Killing” campaign—a play on the company’s “Avon Calling” brand. Mary Kay eliminated animal tests the same year after the company was lampooned by cartoonist Berkeley Breathed in his Bloom County strip in a series called “Night of the Mary Kay Commandos.” Estée Lauder eliminated animal tests the following year. These companies’ bans on the use of animals for product testing began a new marketing era for consumer products, and dozens of other companies soon prohibited all tests on animals and began marketing their products as cruelty-free.

“Avon, Estée Lauder, and Mary Kay have regressed a generation: Their products are once again being dripped into rabbits’ eyes and smeared onto animals’ abraded skin,” says PETA Vice President of Laboratory Investigations Kathy Guillermo. “Fortunately, consumers don’t have to backslide with them—we can still choose to purchase products from the more than 1,000 companies on PETA’s list of companies that do not test on animals.”

PETA is financially supporting the efforts of the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS.org) to promote the Chinese government’s acceptance of non-animal testing methods that are in wide use in the U.S. and the E.U. IIVS is spearheading an international consortium to represent companies that wish to market in countries where tests on animals are required.