ACADEMIA

Visual Numerics, Inc., a leading provider of numerical analysis and visualization software, today announced that it has named Suzann M. Sylvester as its Corporate Controller, effective April 7th. Sylvester will be responsible for managing the company's worldwide finances and maintaining principal relationships with banks, lenders, shareholders, and independent accounting/audit firms. "We are very pleased to welcome Suzann to the Visual Numerics team," said Philip Fraher, president and chief executive officer of Visual Numerics. "Her relevant domain experience as controller for a scientific company coupled with her expertise within high-technology and Silicon Valley complement our past and present business focus. Also, Suzann's extensive financial and internal auditing background at larger organizations, and experience taking private companies public, serves as tremendous assets as we move into the next stage of our growth and development." Sylvester joins Visual Numerics from chromatography manufacturer Dionex Corporation where she was responsible for all SEC and audit committee reporting, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance activity, and the consolidation of more than a dozen foreign subsidiaries. Prior to joining Dionex, she was director of finance for Cobalt Networks prior to being acquired by Sun Microsystems. After the integration, Sylvester served as business unit controller in the Network and Security Group of Sun Microsystems where she managed $300M in revenue and expenses and 150 employees. Sylvester has also held controller positions at Applied Signal Technology and Trimble Navigation, and financial positions at ROLM, Clorox and Kraft where she gained expertise in operations and cost control, budgeting and financial planning, SEC filing and compliance, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, process improvement, audit and initial public offerings (IPOs). Sylvester is a Certified Internal Auditor who holds an M.B.A from St. Mary's College and a B.A. in accounting from Michigan State University.