ANAREN TO CO-SPONSOR THE SBA’S
2010 OPERATION: START-UP & GROW
CONFERENCE AIMED AT SUPPORTING
VETERANS’ BUSINESSES

March 18, 2010 conference to be held at Onondaga Community College is the premier regional event for veterans and members of the military who want to start or expand their small business.
Anaren, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANEN) is proud to be a corporate sponsor of the 2010 Operation: Start-up & Grow veterans business conference hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration (Syracuse District Office). Aimed at helping veterans or members of the military who want to start or expand a small business, the conference will be held on Thursday, March 18 in the Gordon Great Room at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, NY. The event is offered by the SBA in association with the NYS Small Business Development Center at Onondaga Community College, New York Business Development Corporation, and Onondaga Community College. M&T Bank joins Anaren as the event’s other corporate co-sponsor.

“As a company who has seen first hand how an entrepreneurial mindset can make good things happen for our community, we’re very excited to support this event,” says Anaren government relations manager, John Hoeschele, reflecting back on Anaren’s founding in Syracuse in 1967 by two entrepreneurs. “As a defense contractor, we see this event as an opportunity to give something back to those who’ve done their duty for our country.”  

According to the SBA, the conference will feature a full day’s worth of presentations, workshops, exhibits, networking opportunities, awards, and other content of interest and use to current or would-be veteran entrepreneurs. Highlights will include:
            > a keynote address by US Army Lt. Colonel Stacy Garrity;
            > presentations from veteran entrepreneurs:
                        - Justin Bajema, retired Corporal, USMC; spokesman for the Coalition to
                          Support America’s Heroes and principal of Grand Rapids, MI-based Access
                          Property Management Group
                        - Collins White, retired US Air Force; President & CEO of Syracuse-based
                          Defenshield
            > awarding of the Top SBA Syracuse District Veteran’s Lender Award for 2009
            > awarding of the 2010 Veteran-Owned Business Achievement Award
            > exhibits from over two dozen businesses and agencies offering services of interest to
                veteran-based businesses 

Those interested in registering for the event or learning more can visit the SBA's website or call 315-471-9393.