Circuit

Don’t know much about history, but I do know that I love Mario Bros. II
Rep. Ralph Regula (R-Ohio) and the Federation of American Scientists held an event last week to urge government investment in toys and games to help train the U.S. workforce.

The event offered a preview of video game prototypes aimed at teaching tomorrow’s workers the skills they’ll need to compete in the global economy.

New releases include:

• Immune Attack: a video game that teaches human immunology to students at the ninth-grade through college levels.


• Discover Babylon: a cultural game that transports players to ancient Mesopotamia, which was located in what is now modern Iraq.


• Multi Casualty Incident Responder Training: a high-stress, real-time training simulation for firefighters that could serve as a national model for first-responder training.

Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) offered an amendment during a House debate June 6 on the fiscal 2007 appropriations bill for the Homeland Security Department. Garrett wanted to ban funds for “puppet and clown shows, gym or fitness expenses, adult entertainment, bail bond services, jewelry, weapons or fines for prior traffic violations.”

Garrett’s amendment lasted all of four minutes before the House withdrew it by unanimous consent. One can only imagine Garrett’s response: “Just kidding, guys!”

The appropriations bill passed the House in a 389-9 vote without Garrett’s amendment but with his support. It went to the Senate for consideration the next day.

Local tech CFOs take the spotlight
This month, Sprint Nextel’s Paul Saleh and iDirect Technologies’ Jorge Forgues were named local chief financial officers of the year by the Northern Virginia Technology Council, Tech Council of Maryland and the D.C. Tech Council.

The annual Greater Washington Technology CFO Awards honor CFOs for their contributions to the region’s technology community.

Saleh, CFO of Sprint Nextel, won Public Company CFO of the Year for the part he played in the merger of Sprint and Nextel Communications in 2005. Forgues, senior vice president and CFO of iDirect Technologies, won Private Company CFO of the Year for his leadership during the company’s acquisition last year by Singapore Technologies.

Arlington Capital Partners was named Financier of the Year for its numerous transactions last year, including four acquisitions, three add-on acquisitions and the sale of portfolio company Apogen Technologies. The award honors a venture capitalist or an investment, merchant or commercial banker who has contributed to the economic development of the region’s technology community.

Michael Mancuso, CFO of General Dynamics, was given the Michael G. Devine Hall of Fame Award upon his retirement for his service to the technology community throughout his career.

Kevin McNerney, a partner at Updata Capital, received the Community Service Award for his role as chairman and co-founder of Swing for the Cure, a charity dedicated to supporting breast cancer research.

Got a tip? Send it to asternstein@fcw.com.