Englewood Company Honored at National Inventors Hall of Fame

W. L. Gore & Associates is a company with a local presence of approximately 75 employees in Englewood, Colorado, at its Tetrad facility and Bob Gore, the son of the company's founders and the person who discovered the material that Gore-Tex uses in all its products, has been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Robert W. Gore, Ph.D., Chairman of W. L. Gore & Associates,is being honored for his discovery of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, or ePTFE. The building block for thousands of life-enhancing products, ePTFE is remarkably versatile and used today in products as diverse as aneurysm treatment devices and the popular GORE-TEX® fabric that bears his name. Of U.S. patents issued since 1975, Bob's ePTFE patents are among the 10 most often cited by other inventors.

Dr. Gore is in elite company- Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn, who pioneered Internet protocol (TCP/IP), Ali Javan, who invented the helium-neon laser, Robert Langer, inventor of a method of controlled drug delivery, and George Smith, who invented the charge-coupled device (CCD), will all join Dr. Gore in the 2006 induction class

Every year, the National Inventors Hall of Fame honors through induction the men and women responsible for the great technological advances that make human, social and economic progress possible. The 2006 induction ceremony will take place May 6 at the Hall's permanent home in Akron, Ohio.

These six scientists will join the ranks of the 221 men and women currently honored in the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Inventors must hold a U.S. patent to be considered, and the invention must have contributed to the welfare of mankind and have promoted the progress of science and the useful arts. A National Selection Committee selects inductees.

Innovation
Boulder Mom and Her Family Debut Their Latest Designs that Snap into the Holes of Crocs® at the World Shoe Show in Las Vegas This Week

Jibbitz, which debuted handmade snap-on accessories for Crocs® (NASDAQ: CROX) six months ago has added major retail stores such as Nordstrom, Hallmark, Van Maur, Coach House and Brown Shoe Fit Company offering Jibbitz (www.jibbitz.com) in all different shapes and sizes from holiday symbols, sports gear, American flags, happy faces, flowers, awareness ribbons, rhinestones and inspirational messages such as "be happy," "love," and "smile." The newest Jibbitz designs were shown at the World Shoe Show in Las Vegas this last February.

In response to customer demand, Jibbitz also recently introduced a new, locking one-piece design that simply snaps into the holes of waterproof clogs and are easily interchangeable. Owners of waterproof clogs, like Crocs®, can express their individual style and creativity by simply interchanging the Jibbitz they want to wear that day. Jibbitz can even be traded from clog to clog like friendship pins.

"With Crocs® becoming more and more popular, we have seen our sales rise right along with them," said Sheri Schmelzer, owner and creator of Jibbitz. "Thousands of customers have now bought Jibbitz through our web site, and in response to demand we now have retail locations in almost every part of the country. It's thrilling to share this experience with my family and friends and to feed on the enthusiasm of our customers and their constant feedback. We are having a blast!"

Jibbitz was born when Schmelzer decided to personalize her children's Crocs. After testing and filing several patents with her inventor/husband she started the business in her basement with only a few Jibbitz designs to share with her kids and their friends. In six short months Jibbitz now has over 2 million pieces of inventory and hundreds of designs. Jibbitz are sold individually for $1.99-$2.50.

"We love Jibbitz and they have become such a fun accessory for our customers," said David Hill, owner of Kids Sports World in St. Louis. "Almost every time we sell a pair of Crocs, a package of Jibbitz goes right along with them. They've really been a hot seller and we are excited about the new designs that are debuting at the World Shoe Show this week."

About Jibbitz - "So, that's what the holes are for!"
Jibbitz™ LLC, is a family-owned business based in Boulder, Colorado, that sells personalized accessories for Crocs®. Jibbitz are handmade, patent-pending accessories that come in all shapes and sizes, with designs such as peace signs, flowers, sports gear, and letters that spell out "Love", "Smile", and more. Jibbitz snap into the holes of Crocs® and are easily interchangeable. For more information about Jibbitz, visit www.jibbitz.com.

Jibbitz™ is a trademark of Jibbitz LLC. The Jibbitz products are patent pending.
Crocs® is a wholly owned trademark of Crocs, Inc. and is not affiliated in any way with Jibbitz™ LLC.

When Giving is Good

Northern Trust Grants Record $13 Million to Nonprofit Organizations in 2005
Northern Trust Corporation announced that its 2005 corporate philanthropy program awarded over $13 million in cash contributions to numerous nonprofit organizations worldwide, an increase of 15.7 percent over the previous year.

Northern Trust's goal is to donate approximately 1.5 percent of its pre-tax profits to charities every year. The majority of the funds were directed to human service organizations that provide critical services-housing, food, child care and health care-to low- and moderate-income families striving to build better lives.

Additionally, Northern Trust's employee and corporate disaster relief donations, particularly in support of victims of Hurricane Katrina and Tsunami relief efforts, exceeded $1 million.

"At Northern Trust, we recognize that strong, healthy communities benefit all who live and work in them," said William A. Osborn, Northern Trust Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Northern Trust's philanthropic mission is to improve the lives of people by providing educational opportunities, building inclusive communities, and promoting cultural outreach and understanding."

About Northern Trust
Northern Trust Corporation (NASDAQ: NTRS) is a leading provider of investment management, asset and fund administration, fiduciary and banking solutions for corporations, institutions and affluent individuals worldwide. Northern Trust, a multibank holding company based in Chicago, has a growing network of 84 offices in 18 U.S. states and 11 international offices. As of December 31, 2005, Northern Trust had assets under custody of $2.9 trillion, and assets under investment management of $618 billion.

Northern Trust, founded in 1889, has earned distinction as an industry leader in combining high-touch service and expertise with innovative products and technology. For more information, visit www.northerntrust.com.

Growth Is Great
Longmont Posts Record Numbers For The State
The Longmont Area Economic Council (www.longmont.org) has released a summary report on job growth in Longmont for 2005. The results, the city's best in six years, reveal that the Longmont area added jobs at a rate two-and-a-half times the job growth rate of metro Denver, and more than twice that of state-wide job growth in Colorado.

"We're ecstatic about the job creation numbers for Longmont in 2005," stated John Cody, President and CEO of the Longmont Area Economic Council (LAEC). "With the jobs added this year and the upcoming opportunities we're aware of for 2006, we look forward to a continuing improvement in the local economy."

LAEC's fourth quarter economic report notes that 631 net primary jobs were created in 2005, exceeding the organization's goal of 450 new primary jobs. This job growth was the result of 10 new companies that moved into the Longmont area, along with the expansion of 88 existing employers.

The new companies are diverse, ranging from advanced technology products such as Earthmap Solutions (remote sensing), encryptX Corporation (digital security software) and Optware Corporation of America (holographic data storage) to manufacturing firms such as Advanced Fabrication and MoJo Labs.

During 2005, LAEC worked with 62 new prospects. In the organization's 2005 Existing Industry Report, survey results indicate the potential for 981 new jobs, $88.4 million in capital investment and use of more than 625,400 additional square feet of space over the next three years. The technology sector accounts for 53 percent of the estimated new investment, and the percentage of companies planning growth (59 percent) continues to increase annually.

For more information, including the organization's complete 2005 Existing Industry Report and fourth quarter economic report, visit www.longmont.org.

Additional Positive Economic News from Longmont
Commercial Real Estate Vacancy Down

Longmont's vacancy rate for primary employer space declined in the fourth quarter of 2005, to 18.4 percent, down from 19.6 percent a year ago. The area's vacancy rate continues to decline from its high of 24 percent in the third quarter of 2003. With a number of prospects in the pipeline, LAEC is hopeful that net absorption will continue to grow in 2006.

Cornice Expands with Huge Capital Investment
Cornice Inc., an innovator in consumer storage solutions, has secured $97 million in venture debt and equity financing. The equity round includes the company's major previous investors and brings on a new lead investor, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. The Company has also entered into a new lending relationship with Hercules Technology Growth Capital for structured mezzanine debt capital.