WHEELING, NOV. 13, 1997

HGO Technology,Inc. president and co-founder James O’Malley believes West Virginia’s economic development and business growth will be directly linked to the success of the state’s technology initiatives.

"I am honored and excited about being selected to work with this prestigious group," O’Malley said.

O’Malley is one of 10 appointed members of the new WV Science & Technology Advisory Council. The Council is a think tank with a goal of expanding business and jobs through the application and support of new technologies.

"This is a focused effort to involve technology experts across the state with creating a strategy and pinpointing measures to grow high tech products and services in
the state," O’Malley said.

O’Malley, whose firm is the state’s premier computerization systems integrator, believes the emphasis on private and public sector collaboration is the key to WV’s future.

"HGO has been performing technology transfer between Government and commercial environments for the past eight years" he said. HGO’s founders were honored as
Ernst & Young Technology Entrepreneur of the Year this year, and have received a host of other business and technology awards over their 11 years in operation.

"WV is already on the path of becoming a technology hub. The Science & Technology Council’s mission is to provide input and direction from their various areas of
expertise to build a bright future for WV under Governor Underwood’s leadership," O’Malley said.

HGO Technology, with four offices and 80 employees, provides computerization services for NASA, Centers for Disease Control, Miles Corp., the FBI, Wheeling
Pittsburgh Steel, Martin Marietta, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Treasury, NGK Spark Plug, U.S. Census Bureau, WesBanco, Jamboree USA, and others.