FIRST-ROUND BUSINESS PLAN WINNERS ANNOUNCED BY
ROCKVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Women Entrepreneurs to Receive Cash Prize Award at Women in Business Conference on March 11

Rockville, Maryland (March 7, 2005)— Three DC-area women entrepreneurs will each be awarded a cash prize at the sixth annual Women in Business Conference on March 11 at the Montgomery County Conference Center in North Bethesda. The winning finalists took part in the region-wide StartRight! business plan competition for women entrepreneurs sponsored by Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) and the Rockville Chamber of Commerce.

“We congratulate all of the women who participated in the competition and applaud their courage, determination and vision in developing the framework for their business,” said Sally Sternbach, Executive Director for REDI. “The business plan competition was designed to encourage and help guide women who are considering launching a business and to accelerate the start-up process for women-owned businesses in the region.”

The finalists are Cindy Crump with Lovettsville, VA-based AFrame Digital, LLC, which produces automatic monitoring devices for senior citizens; Nancy Shulman with Germantown, MD-based Experience America, Inc. (EAI), an international student exchange program between the United States and Spain; and Susan Bowen and Kim Groark with Rockville, MD-based Thrive Yoga, a yoga studio for adults and children.

The annual StartRight! business plan competition is open to businesses that are at least 51% women-owned, active and in business for two years or less, and qualified to do business in Maryland, the District of Columbia or Virginia.

Participants in the StartRight! competition have an opportunity to win one of several cash prizes and supplies and services from sponsors, while receiving invaluable advice and support from an experienced panel of judges. The first place winner will be awarded a $4,000-cash prize sponsored by Comcast Cable Communications, Inc.; the second place winner will receive a $2,500-cash prize sponsored by EagleBank; and the third place winner will receive a $2,000-cash prize sponsored by Chevy Chase Bank and Taliesan Associates.

The competition was first introduced as part of the 2004 Women in Business Conference. The award went to Meena Tharmaratnam, owner and founder of Ibhana Creations, a women’s accessories import company.

For further information about the StartRight! business plan competition for women entrepreneurs, contact REDI at (301) 315-8096 or visit www.RockvilleREDI.org. Information can also be obtained through the Rockville Chamber of Commerce at (301) 424-9300 or at www.RockvilleChamber.org.

NOTE TO EDITORS: About the StartRight! Business Plan Competition Finalists

AFrame Digital, LLC, based in Lovettsville, Virginia and owned by Cindy Crump, provides health monitoring to eldercare market through the development of wireless remote sensor applications. The company’s product, Aframe Digital Mobilecare Monitor, provides non-instrusive and automatic health and medical alert monitoring of the independent and active senior citizen’s wellbeing both at home and on the go.

Experience America, Inc. (EAI), based in Germantown, Maryland, is an international student exchange program between the United States and Spain established by Nancy Shulman. EAI’s purpose is to introduce students from Spain to the linguistic, cultural, and historical experiences the Washington, DC metropolitan area has to offer. The program will provide high school students from Spain with the opportunity to live with a North American family and enhance and perfect their English skills, in both written and spoken modes through classes offered twice weekly..

Thrive Yoga LLC, based in Rockville, Maryland, is a start-up yoga center focusing on high-quality instruction and full-service offerings to meet the needs of new and practicing yoga students in Montgomery County. Thrive Yoga was formed by yoga instructors Susan Bowen and Kim Groark. The yoga studio offers adult and children group yoga classes to beginners and continuing students, private yoga sessions and workshop, and features a boutique of yoga products and yoga clothing.

About the Women in Business Conference and Tradeshow

The sixth annual Women in Business Conference and Tradeshow will be held at the Montgomery County Conference Center, 10200 Rockville Pike in North Bethesda, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on March 11.

Sponsored by the Rockville Chamber of Commerce, the event features business seminars, exhibitors, a keynote luncheon, and networking sessions. The conference draws women business owners and professionals from Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. For further information on the Women in Business Conference and Tradeshow, contact the Rockville Chamber of Commerce at (301) 424-9300 or visit www.Women-in-Business.org.

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The mission of Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) is to strengthen and broaden the economic base of Rockville. As part of that mission, REDI promotes Rockville as a great place to work and live; assists businesses looking to relocate or expand in Rockville; facilitates the site selection, permitting and licensing processes; serves as a liaison to the people and programs in other levels of government; and maintains and disseminates information on the community, workforce and economic climate of Rockville, where we are “Known for the Companies We Keep”.