Laird Technologies, Inc. CEO Martin L. Rapp Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® 2007 Award Winner

Award Recognizes Entrepreneurial Excellence in Electronics Category

St. Louis, MO, July 5, 2007 – Laird Technologies, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of critical components and systems for advanced electronics and wireless products, today announced that Martin L. Rapp, CEO, received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2007 Award in the electronics category in the Central Midwest region.  According to Ernst & Young, the award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic, growing businesses.  Mr. Rapp was selected by an independent panel of judges and the award was presented at an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year gala event at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City on June 28, 2007.

“I am honored to receive this prestigious award,” said Martin Rapp. “I am pleased to accept the award on behalf of Laird Technologies and all of our  employees. We all work hard every day to ensure the success of this great company.”

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards program celebrates its 21st anniversary this year and continues to honor entrepreneurs who have demonstrated excellence in such areas as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. 

“Ernst & Young is honored to recognize extraordinary business leaders, such as Martin Rapp, and the companies they have built,” said Randy Buseman, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year partner.

As a Central Midwest regional award winner, Mr. Rapp is now eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2007 national program.  Award winners in several national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California on November 17, 2007.  The national Entrepreneur of the Year celebration is part of Ernst & Young’s Strategic Growth Forum.  The overall national Entrepreneur of the Year award recipient is then considered for the world event held in Monte Carlo.

About the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards

The Entrepreneur of the Yearâ awards program was created and is produced by professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP. As the first award of its kind, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Yearâ Award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic and growing businesses.  The program, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2006, honors entrepreneurs through regional, national and global award programs in over 125 cities and 40 countries.

About Laird Technologies

Laird Technologies designs and supplies customized performance-critical products for wireless and other advanced electronics applications.

Laird Technologies is a global market leader in the design and supply of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, thermal interface products, signal integrity components, wireless antennae solutions and recently established a growing position in the design and supply of complete radio frequency (RF) modules and systems. These performance critical products, co-designed in conjunction with customers, are essential in enabling and protecting the functionality of electronic devices and wireless applications.

Custom products are supplied to all sectors of the electronics industry including telecommunications, data transfer and information technology, as well as to the automotive, aerospace and defense, consumer electronics, medical and industrial markets.

For more information contact:

Lisa Ptasienski
Phone: 001-636-561-6968
lisa.ptasienski@lairdtech.com