Avnet Express and UBM Electronics Host a Fireside Chat to Examine the State of Innovation in the United States at DESIGN West

PHOENIX and SAN FRANCISCO, March 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- UBM Electronics, the daily source of essential business and technical information for the electronics industry's decision makers, and Avnet Express, the e-Commerce engine for Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), today announced the Drive for Innovation will host a fireside chat entitled "Innovation is Dead (Not!)" during DESIGN West.

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Brian Fuller, editorial lead of the Drive for Innovation, will host the fireside chat on March 27, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. in the McEnery Convention Center's Civic Center along with Richard Szczepkowski, president and chief operating officer, Swemco; Dave Lentz, supply chain solutions manager, Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas; Jeff Lawson, embedded design engineer, Shockwave Impact; and Dr. James Truchard, president and CEO, National Instruments. Fuller met Szczepkowski, Lentz, Lawson and Truchard during his cross-country road trip. Fuller, and these technology experts, will talk candidly about the myths surrounding high-tech competitiveness and the challenges ahead. Each panelist brings a unique perspective to the boundless amount of innovation going on in North America, whether it's in electronics, manufacturing, embedded, design, supply- and design-chain productivity or leading edge technology research and development.

"As engineering jobs continue to bleed overseas, many believe the very heart of North American economic growth is being threatened," said Fuller. "I'm looking forward to examining this topic along with other technology enthusiasts to see if we can arrive at the most accurate assessment of where we are as a country today in regards to innovation."

"Participating in the Drive for Innovation since July 2011 has given Avnet the chance to uncover the true American innovation that doesn't get as much attention as it deserves," said Ian Basey, vice president, Marketing, Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas. "Holding this panel at DESIGN West will expose the multiple facets of innovation happening right now -- be it in technology, design and even in the way that supply chains are managed."

DESIGN West registration is open at www.ubmdesign.com.

About the Drive for Innovation Program:
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 Fuller 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.  The multi-faceted program is anchored by a website that features content from the road trip, a drive tracker and an interactive map that highlights the tour as well as games and prizes to fuel community engagement.

Avnet Express gives design engineers and purchasing professionals online 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.  To learn more about Avnet Express, visit avnetexpress.com.  To follow the Drive for Innovation and the Chevrolet 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 1.7 million engineering professionals engage with UBM Electronics brands which include EE Times, EDN, Design News, Test & Measurement World, TechOnline, EBN, Datasheets.com, 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, Public Relations, Avnet Electronics Marketing
T:  480.643.7183, E: bethany.helvie@avnet.com

SOURCE UBM Electronics