CEDAR KNOLLS, NJ – September 30, 2007 – Ms. Ranjini Poddar, president of Artech Information Systems L.L.C., was named a finalist for the 2007 E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year® awards. Ms. Poddar was also a finalist in 2001.

The finalists, selected by an independent panel of judges, are chosen based upon their companies' financial trends, level and nature of risks taken and obstacles overcome, as well as the vision, innovation, creativity and persistence demonstrated by the entrepreneurs and their company's future potential. The program recognizes industries in eight categories ranging from Manufacturing to Technology to Real Estate.

An awards banquet will be held on November 15–18 the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort in Palm Springs, CA. This premier event ends with an awards gala hosted by Jay Leno.

Ms. Poddar, 39 years old, is the founder and president of Artech Information Systems, a $100+ million dollar company based in Cedar Knolls, New Jersey. Artech provides IT staff augmentation and consulting services, project management and business process outsourcing services to more than 25 Fortune 500 clients.

Born in India, Ms. Poddar came to the United States when she was eight years old and resided in California for most of her life. She obtained her B.S. in Information and Computer Science at UC Irvine. At just 23 years old, Ms. Poddar was completing her J.D. at Yale Law School when she recognized a hole in the IT consulting marketplace. At that time—1992—the idea of outsourcing was relatively new and somewhat unrefined. With this in mind, Ms. Poddar opened the doors of Artech and pursued her vision: to raise the bar of IT consulting services.

Under Ms. Poddar’s leadership, Artech has exceeded revenue goals, expanded service lines, established a team of nearly 100 support staff and 2,000 employees at 15 national and global locations, and received preferred vendor status with numerous Fortune 500 companies. Artech has been profitable since 1994 and has sustained an annual revenue growth rate of over 35% since 1999. Artech has the distinction of being named to the Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 in New Jersey for four consecutive years, CRN’s Fast Growth 100 (2006 – 2007), the MBN 100 (2006 – 2007), NJBIZ NJ’s Fifty Fastest Growing Companies (2006 – 2007), and Inc.’s Top Companies.

“To create and manage your own successful business,” said Ms. Poddar, “you must find a niche service area, believe in its potential, build a core team of service delivery leaders, continue to reinforce your vision – and never stop looking for opportunities to innovate.”

M s. Poddar has received numerous awards including being named a NJBIZ Best 50 Women in Business, a Top 25 Woman Entrepreneur by the Women Presidents’ Organization, and recognized by the Asian American Business Development Center as one of 50 Outstanding Asian Americans in Business.

Ms. Poddar serves as an Ambassador for the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council and is currently the co-chair of the Development Committee of the Governing Group of the Leadership Forum. She was also on the Board of Directors for the NY/NJ/CT Chapter of the National Association of Computer Consultant Businesses (NACCB) and served a two year term on Wachovia’s Business Banking Customer Advisory Board.