Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Former Gartner CFO Joins Paladin Associates”

September 2007

John F. Halligan has joined Paladin Associates Inc., where his strong finance, mergers and acquisitions, operations, and technology background compliments their expertise in strategic sourcing and other functional cost reduction programs.Halligan is currently Managing Partner and co-founder of SI Ventures, an early stage venture capital firm specializing in IT, security, infrastructure, and communications companies. He provided strategic direction and operating oversight for over 20 SIV portfolio companies, while serving on the Board of Directors of eight. He continues to serve on several of the portfolio company Boards.Earlier, he was Executive Vice President, CFO, and Treasurer of Gartner, Inc., the world’s leading information technology research and advisory company, for 9 years. Halligan lead that company’s 1994 IPO as well as completing more than 20 acquisitions and dispositions.

Previously, Halligan spent 22 years with General Electric in senior financial and operating positions in the communications and services, major appliances, international operations, industrial motors, and power equipment sectors. He became Staff VP Finance of GE Communications and Services Sector in 1988.

As a Senior Associate with Paladin Associates, he assists clients with Financial Management and Information Technology, including Interim CFO Engagements, as well as IPO Positioning, and Merger & Acquisitions Assessments.

“John Halligan expands our capabilities further into Finance, Technology, and Mergers and Acquisitions. His broad expertise and success position him to help our clients, from start-ups to major corporations,” said Donald J. Hoeppner, a Paladin Partner.

“John’s merger and acquisition expertise boosts our growing practice in this area. His skill sets compliment and supplement Paladin, and his leadership will serve us well as we continue to grow”, remarked Bob Matthews, also a Paladin Partner. “Now we can better help clients deal with acquisitions and dispositions, in addition to consulting in Sourcing, Telecommunications, Finance, Marketing & Sales, IT, Manufacturing and HR. Paladin now offers Interim C-level Management in Manufacturing, as well as Interim CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, CPOs, CTOs, CMOs, CSOs, and CHROs.Mr. Halligan can be reached at JFHalligan@PaladinAssociatesInc.com.

About Paladin Associates Inc.:

Paladin Associates is an Atlanta-based management-consulting firm led by a team of former
GE executives with over 500 years of financial and operating experience in a variety of industries,
specializing in productivity and profitability improvement. Paladin offers Strategic Sourcing, Telecommunications Sourcing, Marketing & Sales Productivity, Financial Management, Six Sigma Quality Management, Mergers & Acquisitions Support, HR Productivity, and Interim C-level Management.

For more complete information, visit: www.PaladinAssociatesInc.com

Press contact:

Patrick J. Horgan, Partner
pjhorgan@PaladinAssociatesInc.com
770-395-9156 or 404-276-4506(cell)