Lastar's News & Awards

DAYTON, OHIO - AUG. 31, 2010

Cables To Go today announced it is offering Web-based training for audio/video technologies. The training helps keep A/V professionals up-to-speed on current trends and technologies and provides them with continuing education credits from InfoComm.

Each one-hour webinar course provides best practice information that can be used during an installation or when preparing, planning and specifying a new project. Successful completion of each class provides the participant with one InfoComm CTS-RU (Certified Technology Specialist-Renewal Unit) credit. It helps current specialists remain up-to-date on technology and provides integrators working with A/V applications continuing education credits. The courses are also open to those individuals interested in learning more about A/V integration.

"CTS certification from InfoComm has been recognized worldwide for more than 30 years, indicating professionalism and excellence in audiovisual applications and installations," said Randal A. Lemke, Ph.D., executive director and CEO, InfoComm International. "We commend Cables To Go for offering affordable professional training to the industry in a flexible, web-based format so that many A/V professionals can be educated in a cost-effective manner."

The courses provided by Cables To Go leverages its 26-year history in the industry to offer professional training at a fraction of the price of other CTS training courses and with all the flexibility associated with web-based training.

The one-hour webinars provide integrators with affordable, flexible options for continuing education. The courses are highly discounted and allow the participant to take courses according to their own schedule without incurring travel costs or requiring extended time away from work. Cables To Go will continually add new courses to the curriculum.

To see a list of available courses or to register, please visit www.cablestogo.com/training. For more information about Cables To Go, please visit www.cablestogo.com.

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DAYTON, OHIO - July 28th, 2010

Cables To Go, the preferred provider of high-performance cabling and connectivity solutions, today announced Sonia Williams, the company's marketing director, has been recognized by Everything Channel's CRN magazine as one of the top Women of the Channel. CRN's annual list recognizes female executives across vendors' channel organizations, distributors and solution providers for their accomplishments over the past year and the far-reaching impact they have on the technology industry.

Williams has more than 16 years experience in building channel programs. At Cables To Go, she works closely with all divisions that are part of parent company Lastar to develop a solid, unified corporate strategy. She also helps coordinate greater alignment across each of the sister companies as they collaborate with their channel partners in developing stronger relationships. Overall, her ability to focus on the task at hand and drive results has helped in this endeavor.

"Sonia has been an integral part in developing our distribution and national accounts marketing strategy as well as helping the organization develop a strategic segmentation of its resellers," said Bill Diederich, president of Cables To Go parent company Lastar. "This has enabled us to develop programs that are relevant and successful for each of the different segments of partners that sell our products."

Kelley Damore, VP, editorial director, Everything Channel, added, "Women hold many prominent executive positions at vendor organizations, distributors and solution provider organizations, providing critical insight and influence when it comes to technology and the channel. We want to honor and congratulate these women for their contributions to the industry and their respective organizations."

This year's Women of the Channel were chosen by the editors of CRN magazine based on their achievements as executives and the amount of influence they wield over the technology channel. A special feature of the Women of the Channel is in the July issue of CRN Magazine and expanded coverage will be featured online at www.crn.com.

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DAYTON, OHIO - JULY 12, 2010

Cables To Go, the preferred provider of high-performance cabling and connectivity solutions, today announced its TruLink^® 60GHz WirelessHD Kit was named a winner in the Network Products Guide Reader Trust Awards. The solution for wirelessly transmitting true 1080p signals received the 2010 Best Products & Services Award in the Wireless category.

This annual award honors products and services that represent the rapidly changing needs and interests of the end-users of technology. Winners in this year's Best Products and Services Awards were selected from among nominations from all over the world.

"Increased end-user awareness and ongoing advances in technology are helping shape better products and services," says Rake Narang, editor-in-chief, Network Products Guide. "Cables To Go is bringing its innovation in cabling and connectivity to the wireless space to provide consumers and businesses with more options and flexibility."

The 60 GHz WirelessHD Kit wirelessly transmits true 1080p video and 7.1 channel surround audio signals from HDMI components such as a Blu-ray player, set-top box, computer or gaming console to a television up to 33 feet away.

The WirelessHD Kit from Cables To Go is a quick and convenient alternative to cable installation, particularly in situations where in-wall cabling is not feasible due to plaster, brick or exterior walls or where it is not desirable such as a rental property. Setup is as simple as connecting the receiver and transmitter to the television and HDMI component.

Gary Hess, Cables To Go vice president of innovation, said, "As HDMI becomes more ubiquitous, many users are finding that running new cabling is not always the most desirable alternative. We have introduced our WirelessHD Kit now that wireless technology is mature enough to provide a true cable replacement with a reliable, high-definition signal."

For more information about the Cables To Go 60 GHz WirelessHD Kit, please visit http://www.cablestogo.com/wirelesshd.

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DAYTON, OHIO - OCTOBER 13, 2009

Lastar today announced Gary Hess has been promoted to Vice President of Innovation. In this role, Mr. Hess will be responsible for defining products, markets and positioning for the cabling and connectivity company.

Mr. Hess has been with Lastar in a product management function for more than five years. During his tenure, the company has introduced the highly successful and award-winning RapidRun modular cabling system. His experience and expertise have helped the company become more market-focused in its product development and management.

"Gary has attacked his work with great passion and has conquered every challenge he has encountered," said Gregory Billhardt, executive vice president of Lastar. "His tenacity, drive, and focus on self-improvement have raised the bar, and we are a much more capable organization due to Gary's leadership, vision, and efforts. His skills in leadership and business strategy will be much more broadly leveraged in his new role."

Mr. Hess previously worked at Intel for eight years in several product management and marketing functions. At Intel, he was responsible for roadmap creation, feature set definition and product rollout activities for Intel microprocessors and desktop chipsets. Mr. Hess has an MBA from University of California, Davis and a bachelor's degree in computer engineering from Virginia Tech.

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DAYTON, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 22, 2009

Lastar's CFO John Kuhnash was recognized on September 22, 2009 by The Dayton Business Journal as CFO of the Year in the Large Private Company category. The award was presented to Mr. Kuhnash during a luncheon at the NCR Country Club attended by more than 200 local business leaders. The candidates were judged on the following criteria:

1. Nominee's career accomplishments
2. Contributions to a company's growth and success during the last year
3. Commitment to ethics
4. Fiscal integrity and accountability
5. Community involvement.

In accepting his award, Mr. Kuhnash stated, "The way I see it, business is a team sport, and I'm very proud to accept this award on behalf of the broader Lastar team. This team includes the following:

Our founders... Mike Shane, Geoff Hyman and Jeff Fourman. Their drive and commitment through the good and the bad are what allowed us to be where we are today.

The Executive Team. This begins with Bill Diederich, our president, and also includes Sam Pfabe, Gregory Billhardt and Jim Bush. It's my privilege to be a part of this high performance team.

Kari Pfarrer and Duane Rutter. They're my right and left hand in the finance department, and are very capable at what they do. I'm fortunate to have them on my team.

Sonia Williams, our Director of Marketing. Thank you Sonia for nominating me. Her integrity and capability are exemplary, and she represents what's right about the larger team at Lastar."

Mr Kuhnash joined the Lastar team in March, 2007. Prior to Lastar Mr. Kuhnash held several executive positions for a plastic products manufacturer in Monroe, Ohio. Mr. Kuhnash is a 1987 graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

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ORLANDO, FLA. - JUNE 17, 2009

Lastar™ today announced the formation of a Classic Line of audio/video cabling and connectivity products specifically suited for educational institutions. The Classic Line is a collection of cables and wall plates designed for school implementations involving projectors, interactive whiteboards and other audio/video equipment.

The Classic Line features integrated wall plates with various combinations of audio and video pass-through connectors. The aluminum plates are compatible with standard electrical boxes and mount flush with the wall for a clean, professional appearance. Cables in this line were designed with special low-profile connectors that fit better in a crowded electrical box. Cable jackets are plenum-rated for safe installation without metal conduit. Supported signal formats include VGA, composite audio/video, component video, 3.5mm stereo audio, and more.

"We realize there are many times when the school or school district has applications where they may not be as concerned about future-proofing and just need a straightforward, quality connection as provided by the Classic Line. This line illustrates our commitment to serving our customers in the education market with connectivity solutions designed around their specific needs," stated Gary Hess, Director of Product Management for Lastar.

The Classic Line is now available through both Cables To Go™ and Quiktron™ partners.

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DAYTON, OHIO - MAY 18, 2009

The TruLink™ Wireless USB to VGA Adapter Kit from Cables To Go™ added to its accolades today as it received the 2009 Product Innovation Award in the Wireless USB category from Network Products Guide. This prestigious award honors products and services that represent the rapidly changing needs and interests of the end-users of technology worldwide.

The Cables To Go Wireless USB to VGA Adapter Kit provides a wireless connection between a computer and a display device. It enables users to wirelessly transmit video content from a computer to a remote monitor, projector or television up to 30 feet away. It provides a secure wireless connection ideal for classroom or conference room presentations and is also capable of displaying content from a laptop to a home entertainment system.

"Innovation is clearly an important factor for greater success and has the most impact on staying competitive," says Rake Narang, editor-in-chief of Network Products Guide. "The Wireless USB to VGA Adapter from Cables To Go demonstrates the type of innovation that helps organizations improve their productivity with a simple, affordable product.

The Wireless USB to VGA Adapter Kit supports multiple association methods between the transmitter and receiver. It is already paired or associated out of the box and has an auto discovery feature making it easy to add new devices.

Gary Hess, Director of Product Management, added, "One of the great advantages of the Cables To Go Wireless USB to VGA Adapter Kit is how easy it is to set up and use. Other products require a cable connection between the transmitter and receiver to make the original association. This is extremely limiting when switching among multiple laptops, particularly in a conference room or classroom environment where the receiver may mounted with a projector to the ceiling."

For more information about the Cables To Go Wireless USB to VGA Adapter Kit, please visit Cables To Go. Network Products Guide is a Silicon Valley Communications publication and a world leading publication on technologies and solutions.

About Cables To Go

Cables To Go is a division of Lastar, Inc, a leader in computer, datacomm and audio/video connectivity solutions since 1984. The company delivers connectivity products renowned for quality, value and innovation and are backed by Cables To Go's uncompromising commitment to customer service. For more information regarding Cables To Go, visit www.cablestogo.com.

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DAYTON, OHIO - APRIL 3, 2009

For the second consecutive year, Lastar™ has been named by the Dayton Business Journal as one of Dayton, Ohio's 25 fastest growing companies. The study, conducted by the Dayton Business Journal, evaluates local businesses based upon percentage of revenue growth over the previous year.

"We are proud to have made the Dayton Business Journal's list for the second consecutive year and appreciate the recognition", stated Mike Shane, Lastar's CEO. "Despite the economic downturn in Q4 we still posted very strong growth over 2007. This affirms that our mission of providing an extraordinary customer experience will be successful even in the most challenging of times. We still anticipate growth in 2009, albeit at a tempered pace."

Lastar delivers connectivity products renowned for quality, value and innovation and are backed by an uncompromising commitment to customer service. The company distributes connectivity products and solutions through two main operating divisions: Cables To Go™, which provides end-to-end connectivity solutions for the A/V, PC and enterprise markets; and Quiktron™, which focuses on the manufacturing and distribution of data communication cabling.

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DAYTON, OHIO - MARCH 16, 2009

Lastar today announced the company was named one of Dayton's "2009 Best Places to Work" by the Dayton Business Journal. Winners were honored at an awards banquet March 12 at the Schuster Center in downtown Dayton, and each company was featured in the March 13 edition of the Dayton Business Journal.

Lastar was one of fifteen companies named to the list. Employees from each participating company took an online survey about their workplace. Survey results were used to give each company a score from which the companies were ranked and winners selected.

"Lastar has received many awards and recognition over the years, but being named a 'Best Place to Work' based on our employee feedback and comments is especially rewarding," said Bill Diederich, Lastar president. "We strive to create an environment where employees see Lastar as not just a job but as a lifestyle with great people who enjoy working together and are recognized for their success."

In the article, the Dayton Business Journal noted Lastar's focus on its employee's personal development. The company has developed a customer feedback program where feedback from customers goes directly to the employee as opposed to their boss. Employees then summarize the feedback for their supervisor, where they can identify strengths and weakenesses for personal development.

Each year the company also takes its top 10 percent of performers on a weekend getaway with a guest of their choice in order to recognize the employee's efforts as well as the sacrifices made by family and friends. Other activities include annual health fairs and quarterly meetings with all employees to talk about the business and enable employees to call out and recognize the accomplishments of their peers.

Lastar delivers connectivity products renowned for quality, value and innovation and are backed by an uncompromising commitment to customer service. The company distributes connectivity products and solutions through two main operating divisions: Cables To Go™, which provides end-to-end connectivity solutions for the A/V, PC and enterprise markets; and Quiktron™, which focuses on the manufacturing and distribution of data communication cabling.

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