Avnet Express' Drive for Innovation Awards a New General Motors Chevrolet Volt to Seattle-based Engineer

PHOENIX and SAN FRANCISCO, June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- After nearly a year of traveling cross-country to uncover technology innovation being created by engineers, entrepreneurs, innovators and students, Avnet Express' Drive for Innovation today announced that Seattle-based Engineer Ted T. Yan, at the Boeing Company, has been selected as the winner of a new General Motors Chevrolet Volt as part of the program's sweepstakes. 

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120611/SF21951LOGO )

"After following the Drive for Innovation on its cross country journey for the past year I am in awe with the technology innovations that are taking place across the United States. The vigorous pursuit for technology advancement has led to an improvement in the way we live, work and play," said Yan.  "I am honored to be the recipient of the Drive for Innovation Chevrolet Volt and would like to thank Avnet Express.  The car is an excellent example of American technology innovation and I look forward to driving this cutting-edge vehicle."

The Drive for Innovation is an inspired initiative in partnership between UBM Electronics, the daily source of essential business and technical information for the design engineering and electronics industry's decision makers, and Avnet Express, the e-Commerce engine for Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT).  The year-long, cross-country road trip focused on uncovering innovation in the electronics industry and made in a General Motors Chevrolet Volt will culminate its 12 month journey in June 2012.  The innovation stories have been captured through interviews, blogs and video footage on www.driveforinnovation.com.

"The Drive for Innovation has been created for engineers -- like Ted T. Yan -- who are innovating to solve everyday problems and improve the quality of our lives. Over the past year, I have witnessed many extraordinary feats of innovation and I have enjoyed sharing these stories with the Drive for Innovation audience," said Brian Fuller, editorial lead, Drive for Innovation.  "The Drive for Innovation Chevrolet Volt is a blast to drive. I hope Ted enjoys driving his new Volt as much as I have enjoyed while criss-crossing the country."

"Throughout the Drive for Innovation program, we've uncovered hundreds of stories of American ingenuity, along with featuring the innovation found under the hood of the Chevy Volt," said Beth Ely, senior vice president, Avnet Express. "We congratulate Ted on being chosen as the winner and want to thank him, and all the other engineers who have joined us on this journey."

In addition to the Drive for Innovation sweepstakes winner, Avnet Express will also donate the Chevrolet Volt that Fuller is driving when the program comes to a finish at the end of June 2012.  The Chevrolet Volt will be donated to Chances for Children Arizona. Additionally, members of the Formula Electric Team from the Arizona State University Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering will receive the keys to a disassembled General Motors Chevrolet Volt that was used in a teardown to uncover the many different systems down to the board and chip level. The students will be able to further examine the vehicle, its parts and functionality at the conclusion of the Drive for Innovation program.  Click here to see a time-lapse video of the Chevrolet Volt teardown.

Since July 2011, the Drive for Innovation Chevrolet Volt has been making periodic stops throughout the journey, where Fuller, the driver of the Chevrolet Volt, has been interviewing engineers, entrepreneurs, innovators and students, and blogging and posting video updates about his experiences. The trip details the electronic innovations behind the Chevrolet Volt and the future of plug-in electric cars. The multi-faceted program is anchored by a website that features content from the road trip, a drive tracker and an interactive map that highlights the tour as well as games and prizes to fuel community engagement.

Avnet Express gives design engineers and purchasing professionals online access to the world's largest catalog of electronic component products, which tops five million parts. Avnet Express offers parametric searching capabilities and the ability to upload a bill of materials (BOM) for easier sourcing of products and a consistent global platform of localized content. The site can be accessed in nine languages and 13 currencies.

To learn more about Avnet Express, visit avnetexpress.com.  To follow the "Drive for Innovation" and the Chevrolet Volt as it travels across the United States, visit www.driveforinnovation.com.  Follow the "Drive for Innovation" on Facebook and Twitter.

About Avnet Electronics Marketing

Avnet Electronics Marketing is an operating group of Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. that serves electronic original equipment manufacturers (EOEMs) and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) providers in more than 70 countries, distributing electronic components from leading manufacturers and providing associated design-chain and supply-chain services. The group's website is located at www.em.avnet.com.

About Avnet, Inc.

Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology serving customers in more than 70 countries worldwide. Avnet accelerates its partners' success by connecting the world's leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers by providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended July 2, 2011, Avnet generated revenue of $26.5 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.

About UBM Electronics

UBM Electronics is the global leader in media and marketing solutions for design engineering and the electronics industry.  We deliver results for the key influencers and decision makers involved in the design, development, and commercialization of technology through its market leading brands, peer communities, and professional education services. More than 2.2 million engineering professionals engage with UBM Electronics brands which include EE Times, EDN, Design News, Test & Measurement World, TechOnline, EBN, DataSheets.com, Designlines, and Embedded.com across the globe to accelerate technology sales. The international electronics community gathers at UBM Electronics market leading events such as the Embedded Systems Conferences, DESIGN, DesignCon and ARM Technology Conference to share, learn, discuss, and advance the critical issues and challenges facing the electronics industry. Additionally, UBM Electronics provides end-to-end services ranging from next-generation marketing, integrated media, custom solutions and research. UBM Electronics is part of UBM (UBM.L) a global provider of media and information services for professional B2B communities and markets.

For more information, go to www.ubmelectronics.com; follow us at @ubm_electronics to get the latest UBM Electronics news.

For more information on UBM Electronics please contact:
Felicia Hamerman, Vice President, Marketing
T: 516.562.5652, E: [email protected]

For more information on Avnet Express please contact:
Bethany Helvie, Public Relations, Avnet Electronics Marketing
T:  480.643.7183, E: [email protected]

SOURCE UBM Electronics