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Press Release

Pacific Northwest Clean Tech Open Names Mary Sullivan Marketing Co-Chair and Founding Partner

May 8, 2009 – The new expansion region of the Clean Tech Open in the Pacific Northwest was inaugurated at an official launch event in Seattle on April 15, 2009. The region covers Idaho, Oregon and Washington. KickStart's Mary Sullivan, who is now located in the Portland, Oregon area is the region's Marketing Co-Chair and is part of the founding team in the Northwest.

The Clean Tech Open is a business competition for clean tech startups that originated in California in 2006. Last year, the U.S. Department of Energy gave the Clean Tech Open a grant to expand nationally. For 2009, there are two new expansion regions, the Pacific Northwest and the Rocky Mountain. The new regions will each award $50,000 prizes to three winning teams in 2009, with $25,000 of that in cash and the remainder in services. Regional winners will compete for the 2009 National prize of $250,000 in cash and services. Additional regions will be added next year.

Mary is the primary Oregon liaison for the Pacific Northwest Clean Tech Open, recruiting Oregon contestants, mentors, judges and sponsors in addition to her marketing activities on behalf of the group. She is also developing partnerships with other technology competition groups in Oregon.

About Mary Sullivan
Mary Sullivan is a co-founder of KickStart Alliance and leads KickStart's clean tech practice. She helps clients launch new products and product lines through her uniquely customer-focused product marketing plans and execution.