ARLINGTON, Va. --(Business Wire)-- June 2, 2006 -- Today, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA(R)) announced the formation of the Digital Imaging Division--a new membership division for companies with interests in the digital imaging category. To date, digital imaging has been represented within CEA as a special interest group (SIG) formed in May 2004 with 17 founding members. The exploratory Digital Imaging SIG has been elevated to a full CEA division in order to better serve CEA members with interests in digital imaging.

The digital imaging division of CEA will serve as a home for members who manufacture, distribute or sell digital imaging products and services. The division's mission is to support the growth and profitability of the digital imaging industry by fostering industry dialogue, educational programs, unified messaging and technical standards development.

"Digital imaging is one of the fastest growing and most ubiquitous product categories in consumer electronics today," says Michael McDougall, chair of the new CEA Digital Imaging Division and director, product & services, worldwide public relations, Eastman Kodak Company. "This division will be taking on a host of issues and projects in the next few years as digital imaging continues to converge with almost every consumer electronics category represented by CEA. I'm delighted to represent the existing and future members of this Division as we get to work alongside CEA's eight other divisions."

"The Digital Imaging SIG has accomplished a significant amount of work in its two-year existence ranging from market research studies to online consumer and retailer education," says John Clough, outgoing CEA Digital Imaging SIG chair. "The group clearly has demonstrated the need for representation within CEA as a full-fledged membership division and it will be exciting to see what the new division tackles next."

As chairman, McDougall will represent the division on CEA's Board of Industry Leaders. In addition to McDougall, members of the Digital Imaging Board include: Matthew Chilton, product marketing manager, Datacolor; Charlotte Christou, CEO, Digital Frames Inc.; Kanika Ferrell, marketing manager digital camera solutions, Texas Instruments Inc.; Richard Glomb, vice president, business development, Lucidiom Inc.; Scott Nelson, director of product development, Casio Inc.; Grant Russell, president, Green-Clean USA and Heather Mackenzie, vice president and client services, Siberra.

For interested members or those looking to join the division, please contact the Digital Imaging Division liaison, Allyson Pahmer at [email protected].

About CEA:
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the consumer technology industry through technology policy, events, research, promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA represents more than 2,100 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of audio, video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information technology, home networking, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, CEA's members account for more than $125 billion in annual sales. CEA's resources are available online at www.CE.org, the definitive source for information about the consumer electronics industry.

CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Defining Tomorrow's Technology. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• The 10th Annual Consumer Electronics CEO Summit
  June 21-24, 2006, Southampton, Bermuda
• 2006 SINOCES
  July 7-10, 2006, Qingdao, China
• 2006 CEA Summer Technology and Standards Forum
  July 24-28, 2006, Coronado, CA
• CEA Industry Forum
  October 16-18, 2006, San Francisco, CA
• 2007 International CES
  January 8-11, 2007, Las Vegas, NV