SOMERSET, N.J. - Monday, Nov. 25, 2002 - Netilla® Networks, Inc. has been honored as 2002 "Early Stage Company of the Year" by the New Jersey Technology Council (NJTC) at its Seventh Annual Awards Gala on Nov. 22. This NJTC award recognizes the early-stage New Jersey-based technology company judged to have the highest potential for continued growth and long-term success.

"I am honored that NJTC, the bellwether organization promoting technology innovation in our state, has recognized Netilla as early-stage company of the year with this award," said Reggie Best, Netilla's co-founder, president and chief executive officer. "The distinction is that much greater because of the other outstanding young companies that were also selected to be finalists. I view this award as a validation not just of our technological vision, but also of how we're executing that vision."

"We're delighted to recognize the contribution Netilla Networks is making - to both the technology industry worldwide and to the New Jersey economy in particular - with this award," said Maxine Ballen, founder and chief executive officer of NJTC. "Reggie Best is an excellent example of a leader whose technological vision is matched by his ability to create a vibrant young business that creates jobs and revenues for our state."

Best founded Netilla in 1999 with the vision of enabling companies to use the Internet to provide secure "anytime, anywhere" access to corporate applications. The Netilla Security Platform, launched in July, 2001, lets enterprises easily provide their remote or mobile workers with secure access over any Web browser to both Web-based and non-Web applications on the corporate network. Industry analysts are projecting a compound annual growth rate for this market of well over 100 percent for the next several years, leading to a nearly $1 billion market opportunity by 2005. Netilla has more than 150 customers, including healthcare organizations, manufacturing companies and financial services firms.

Best has more than 20 years of experience in engineering, marketing and business management. He began his career at AT&T Bell Laboratories, where he developed integrated voice and data technology for digital loop carrier systems and later managed AT&T switched service offerings. His first entrepreneurial venture was the co-founding of Teleos Communications, a video-networking company that was acquired by Madge Networks. His second start-up was AccessWorks Communications, an Internet and remote access company acquired by 3Com Corporation. Following that acquisition, he directed 3Com's Remote Access Products business as vice president and general manager. Best has a B.E. degree in electrical engineering from City College of New York and an M.S. degree in electrical engineering from Columbia University.