Corporate Leaders Receive Eleventh Annual Emerald Asset Management “E-3 Awards”

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Chief Executive Officers of InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ – IDCC) and II-VI, Inc. (NASDAQ – IIVI) are among the corporate executives named as the recipients of the eleventh annual “E-3 Awards,” presented by Emerald Asset Management at the Eighteenth Annual Emerald Groundhog Day Investment Forum. The Forum was held in Philadelphia on February 2, 2011.

“We created this unique award to recognize leaders who epitomize the qualities that are inherent in the most successful business leaders – qualities that reflect an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to excellence”

Joseph Besecker, President of Emerald Asset Management said, “We created this unique award to recognize leaders who epitomize the qualities that are inherent in the most successful business leaders – qualities that reflect an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to excellence,” adding, “The award’s name – E-3 – reflects these criteria: the Emerald Entrepreneurial and Excellence Award.” Joseph Garner, Director of Research for Emerald, said, “These leaders have taken risks and fueled innovation. They have created jobs and built companies. They have bested their competitors and rewarded their employees and shareholders. They are leaders in every sense of the word.”

Through an intensive multi-faceted process, Emerald’s team of research analysts and portfolio managers identified corporate leaders who have demonstrated:

• A creative “outside the box” approach to corporate achievement;
• An entrepreneurial approach that maximizes human initiative;
• A corporate culture that promotes personal and corporate excellence;
• A demonstrated record of accomplishment: creating jobs, stimulating growth, and enhancing shareholder value; and
• An ability to effectively identify and adapt cutting-edge technologies and processes.

The 2011 winners of the E-3 Award are:

Public Company Executive Award:

• Carl J. Johnson, Ph.D., Chairman, II-VI, Inc. (NASDAQ – II-VI)
• Francis J. Kramer, President & CEO, II-VI, Inc. (NASDAQ – II-VI)

Public Company Science & Technology Company Executive Award:

• William J. Merritt, President & CEO, InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ – IDCC)

Emerald Asset Management is a diversified investment services company that operates through its three subsidiary Advisors: Emerald Advisers, Inc., Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust and Emerald Fixed Income Advisers, LLC. With over $2.0 billion in assets under management, Emerald Advisory Services offers a series of research-driven investment products through institutional separate accounts and sub-advising mutual funds, including the Forward Growth Fund (HSPGX) and the Forward Banking & Finance Fund (HSSAX) within the Forward Funds Group. Emerald is headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with additional locations in Pittsburgh and King of Prussia.