Avnet Express' Drive for Innovation Stops in Boston to Shine Spotlight on Electric Vehicles and Massachusetts' Position as Leader in Clean Transportation

BOSTON, Sept. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- UBM Electronics, a UBM company and the daily source of essential business and technical information for the electronics industry's decision makers, and Avnet Express today announced that the Drive for Innovation, which showcases electronics innovation and automotive system design in the United States with a cross country journey in an electric vehicle ― a General Motors Chevrolet Volt, the 2011 Motor Trend Car of the Year, will make a "pit stop" in Boston at a special event. The event highlights Massachusetts' commitment to electric vehicles; revenue streams and jobs being brought into the state by Massachusetts-based electric vehicle suppliers; eco-friendly transportation alternatives; the progress of the Massachusetts' clean energy initiatives and Boston's Complete Streets initiatives; and the technology behind green energy and clean transportation. The event will occur today at 11:30 a.m. in booth #209 at ESC Boston, taking place September 26-29, 2011 at the Hynes Convention Center.

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The Drive for Innovation program is sponsored by Avnet Express, the e-Commerce engine for Avnet Electronics Marketing, an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT). Since July 2011, the Chevrolet Volt has been making periodic stops throughout the journey, where Brian Fuller, Editorial Director of EE Times and the driver of the Chevrolet Volt, has been interviewing engineers, entrepreneurs, innovators and students, and blogging and posting video updates about his experiences. The trip details the electronic innovations behind the Chevrolet Volt and the future of plug-in electric cars.

"Massachusetts is a leader in green energy," said Fuller. "In July, Governor Deval Patrick announced the installation of 94 electric vehicle charging stations in 25 cities and towns across the Commonwealth, demonstrating his administration's commitment to clean energy. In addition, the City of Boston is implementing its own Complete Streets initiative emphasizing green transportation by putting pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users on equal footing with motor-vehicle drivers. Massachusetts is the perfect location to spotlight the Drive for Innovation program, the benefits of electric vehicles and the importance of the electronic innovations behind them."

The event brings together an array of local supporters of clean energy to learn more about the Drive for Innovation program and how electric transportation will boost the Massachusetts economy. Event speakers include:

• Stephen B. Russell, Alternative Vehicle and Fuel Coordinator and Clean Cities Director, Department of Energy Resources (DOER)
• Brian Fuller, Editor Director, EE Times (and driver for Drive for Innovation)
• Mark Strangie, Area Director, Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas
• Andreas Olofsson, CEO, Adapteva, Inc. based in Lexington
• Howard Wisniowski, Automotive Media Relations Programs Manager, Analog Devices, Inc. based in Norwood

As the e-Commerce engine for Avnet Electronics Marketing, Avnet Express gives design engineers and purchasing professionals access to the world's largest catalog of electronic component products, which tops five million parts. Avnet Express offers parametric searching capabilities and the ability to upload a bill of materials (BOM) for easier sourcing of products and a consistent global platform of localized content. The site can be accessed in nine languages and 13 currencies.

Check www.driveforinnovation.com for upcoming locations and to sign up to follow the stories and request that the Volt pull into your town or city for a visit. Upcoming stops on the "Drive for Innovation" road trip include:

• New Hampshire
• Vermont
• New York
• and more

To learn more about Avnet Express, visit avnetexpress.com. To follow the "Drive for Innovation" and the Chevy Volt as it travels across the United States, visit www.driveforinnovation.com.  Follow the "Drive for Innovation" on Facebook and Twitter.

About Avnet Electronics Marketing

Avnet Electronics Marketing is an operating group of Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. that serves electronic original equipment manufacturers (EOEMs) and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers in more than 70 countries, distributing electronic components from leading manufacturers and providing associated design-chain and supply-chain services. The group's website is located at www.em.avnet.com.

About Avnet, Inc.

Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology serving customers in more than 70 countries worldwide. Avnet accelerates its partners' success by connecting the world's leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers by providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended July 2, 2011, Avnet generated revenue of $26.5 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.

About UBM Electronics  

UBM Electronics is the global leader in media and marketing solutions for the electronics industry. UBM Electronics delivers results for the key influencers and decision makers involved in the design, development and commercialization of technology through its market leading brands, peer communities and professional education services. More than 2.2 million engineering professionals engage with UBM Electronics brands, which include EE Times, EDN, EDN China, EDN Asia, EDN Japan, Design News and Test & Measurement World, TechOnline, Designlines and Embedded.com, across the globe to accelerate technology sales. The international electronics community gathers at UBM Electronics market leading events such as the Embedded Systems Conferences, DesignCon and ARM Technology Conference to share, learn, discuss, and advance the critical issues and challenges facing the electronics industry. Additionally, UBM Electronics provides end-to-end services ranging from next-generation marketing, integrated media, custom solutions and research. UBM Electronics is part of UBM (UBM.L) a global provider of media and information services for professional B2B communities and markets.

For more information on UBM Electronics please contact:
Felicia Hamerman, Vice President, Marketing
T: 516.562.5652, E: felicia.hamerman@ubm.com

For more information on Avnet Express please contact:
Bethany Helvie, Senior Marketing Communications Specialist, Avnet Electronics Marketing
T:  480.643.7183, E: bethany.helvie@avnet.com

For more information on the Drive for Innovation, please contact:
Meryl Franzman, M: 617.780.7967, E: franzman@beyondwords.com

SOURCE UBM Electronics