September 25, 2008

Subject: Reference letter for Ms. Anyck Turgeon

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

This letter confirms my full support of Ms. Turgeon’s business, marketing and technological expertise.

For the last 35+ years, I have been pursuing and implementing the leading-edge technological development of global business solutions that remain critical today. For more than 23 years, I worked at IBM and progressively reached the top echelons of technical and business management at the world’s largest technology provider. As a result of the accomplishments of my research and developments, including creation of the RISC chips and being named “Godfather” of AIX, I rapidly became the youngest scientist ever appointed to the position of IBM Fellow, a lifelong title appointed only to a limited number of accomplished IBM technologists. I also served as President of IBM’s Independent Business Unit (located in Austin, Texas) that created the family of computers now known as the RS6000, as well as IBM’s UNIX operating system.

After leaving IBM in the late 1980s, I have spent the last several years creating and building high-tech companies both as a top-tier venture capitalist and as an entrepreneur – a career that I continue to pursue today. As a venture capitalist, I have had the pleasure of working in the epicenter of Silicon Valley at renowned Kleiner Perkins Caulfield and Byers (KPCB) where I helped start and nurture several well known companies including Rambus and S3. Although we encountered numerous successes which started in the famed Silicon Valley, I decided to return to my beloved Austin, Texas in 1993 where I have resided ever since.

Amongst a large number of business accomplishments, I was the Chairman and CEO of HAL Computer Systems, the Chairman of Smart Technologies, the CEO of Fujitsu/HAL, founding Board member of Rambus, S3, and the Chairman and CEO of ClearCube. As the founder of Heller Associates, I have been able to manage an organization that provides a myriad of services to high-tech startup and mainstream companies. Alongside my network of associates, I continue to deliver a combination of services to early stage startups and established high-tech companies. Services range from investment, marketing, strategy, technology selection and development of companies from early stage to Fortune 100. We also provide hands on, experienced management personnel filling – especially for business-critical/executive roles requiring highly-skilled personnel.

As a result of our joint and leading-edge work, we have been able to go beyond the reach of startups. Heller Associates has been in operation for more than 15 years and has worked with companies in the central Texas area, as well as Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Georgetown, Round Rock, Dripping Springs, etc., along with several Silicon Valley startups, Los Angeles basin startups, San Diego startups, U.S., and Asian Companies, etc. As the founder and as an executive of Heller Associates, I have had the pleasure of delivering consulting services for many of the largest computer, software, and semiconductor companies around the world as well as several governmental agencies including such as the DOE Weapons Laboratory at Livermore (LLNL) and other DOE and NSA facilities.

As the CEO of Heller Associates, CEO of NextQl and as a Board Member of Crossroads Systems, I have had the pleasure of interacting with Ms. Turgeon since 2005. Not only have my wife and I developed a solid business relationship with Ms. Turgeon, but we have also grown to become great acquaintances. As Ms. Turgeon continues in her award-winning accomplishments and contributions to Crossroads and the global IT community, as well as her continued work on leading-edge business opportunities, I recognize her obvious talents and would like to endorse her work. She is a definite asset both to Crossroads and the US community at large.

Ms. Turgeon is one of the small percentages of individuals who has consistently innovated and educated while she has earned sustained recognition, establishing her as a pre-eminent member within the information protection, data management and storage security disciplines. I have no hesitation in recommending Ms. Turgeon, as I am confident that she will continue to serve as a dedicated industry contributor for decades to come.

Feel free to contact me if I can provide further information.

Yours truly,
Andrew Heller
Advisory Board Member – Crossroads Systems
Founder – Heller Associates