Averna celebrates 10 years of success with Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the
Year(R) win

MONTREAL , Oct. 13 /CNW Telbec/ - CEO Pascal Pilon and COO Richard Maltais of Averna, premier provider of test solutions to the world's largest communications and electronics device makers, have won the coveted Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) 2009 Quebec Award, Technology category. This honor coincides with the 10th anniversary of the test engineering company, which has sustained incredible growth since incorporation in 1999.

From humble beginnings and only a handful of engineers, Mr. Pilon and Mr. Maltais have grown the company through a series of successful acquisitions (most recently US-based DAQTron Inc.), by continually enriching the company's intellectual property portfolio, and by establishing a global footprint with offices in the US and Europe , as well as a sales and engineering network spanning 13 countries. They have achieved these feats in fiscally tough times, from the 2002-2003 IT downturn to the current economic crisis. Today, Averna's software and instrumentation solutions help improve the quality of products millions use every day.

"We owe our tremendous growth to the strength of our team, and to how we have helped transform, in the span of ten years, the way communication and electronic devices are tested," said Richard Maltais . "We have brought the benefits of virtual instrumentation to companies who need to do more with less, as wireless and other technologies become more complex, and we help them nurture more productive relationships with their contract manufacturers. We will diligently continue creating scenarios like this, where everybody wins."

The Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards honor outstanding entrepreneurs in all areas of business, in Canada and abroad, with winners chosen by a jury of their peers. In 2007, Cirque du Soleil founder and CEO Guy Laliberté won the Quebec prize, as well as the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award.

The Québec Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards are presented in collaboration with Desjardins. National program sponsors are La Presse, RDI, Global Television Network and the National Post.

About Averna

Averna is a global test engineering solutions company, and a strategic partner for innovative OEMs. Averna empowers high-tech manufacturers to accelerate electronic product development, achieve superior quality throughout the design lifecycle, and maximize productivity. www.averna.com

About the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) Awards

The Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards honour the spirit and contribution of entrepreneurs here and around the world. This year, the Canadian program is proudly celebrating 16 years of honouring Canada's outstanding entrepreneurs from all areas of business. www.ey.com/ca/eoy

For further information: Media requests: Heather Black, Director of Marketing, [phone] ext. 479, [email protected]; Source: Averna