Nashua, New Hampshire - Laser Focus World and Strategies Unlimited (Mountain View, California) will present the 15th annual Laser and Optoelectronics Marketplace Conference on Monday, January 22, 2001, at the San Jose Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, California, featuring speakers from Cisco and Intel. The Conference continues a long-standing tradition of bringing together business leaders, investors, and technology analysts for a close look at the changing laser a nd optoelectronics markets.

The focus for 2001 is on optical communications, and the Conference features a suite of speakers from that industry. Jacek Chrostowski, Technical Deputy of Optics in the Office of Chief Technology Officer of Cisco Systems (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), will offer an overview on the growing role of optoelectronics in communications. Tom Willis, director of optical communications investments at Intel Capital (Hillsboro, Oregon), will speak on private equity financing in optical communications. Mar ket trends and product evolution of laser diodes in telecommunications will be addressed by Tom Hausken, Senior Analyst of Optical Communications at Strategies Unlimited. Richard Mack, VP and general manager at market research firm KMI (Newport, Rhode Island), will look at worldwide investment trends in fiber optic communications infrastructure.

Exciting developments

The day-long agenda also includes a review of the global laser marketplace by associate publisher and editor-in-chief of Laser Focus World Stephen G. Anderson, and an overview of the market for semiconductor lasers that will be presented by Robert Steele, Director of Optoelectronics at Strategies Unlimited. Both reviews are based on the annual worldwide market survey conducted by Laser Focus World in conjunction with Strategies Unlimited.

On the medical front, Scott Baily, VP of research at Bluestone Capital (New York, New York), an investment banking and brokerage firm, will provide a close look at the medical laser market. Notes Baily, "There are some very exciting developments in laser technology which show promise in medical applications." One of these is photodynamic therapy, which this year has been approved for use in treating macular degeneration.

A focus on the market for industrial lasers and applications will be provided by David Belforte, editor of Industrial Laser Solutions. John Day, President and founder of Strategies Unlimited, will round off the day's market presentations with a personal perspective on the future of laser diode applications.

Move to Monday with a new name

A note to regular attendees:  The usual meeting day has been moved from Wednesday to Monday to preface Photonics West.

Previously billed as the "Laser Marketplace Conference," the name of the 2001 event has been expanded to reflect the broader scope of the agenda. The "Laser and Optoelectronics Marketplace Conference" will be held concurrently with Photonics West in order to provide show visitors with the opportunity to find out more about the latest developments, forecasts, and trends in the laser and optoelectronics markets.

Dinner to follow

This year's Conference will conclude with a new dinner event intended to provide attendees with a networking opportunity that has not previously been available and featuring keynote speaker Philip Van Hooser (Ocala, Florida). Certified speaking professional, trainer, and author on topics such as "common-sense leadership," team building, and motivation, Van Hooser has been called "one of America's premiere business speakers" by the Princeton TimesLeader.

For more information about the Conference, please contact Sharon MacCleod at Laser Focus World, phone (603) 891-9224; fax (603) 891-0574; email sharonm@pennwell.com  -- Valerie C. Coffey, Associate Editor.