Rocket Builders Announces First Annual "Ready to Rocket 25" List to Reveal Silver Lining to I.T. Sector  Despite forecasts for flat growth for the I.T. sector, Rocket Builders highlights growth hotspots and names 25 B.C. companies with high growth potential in 2003  VANCOUVER, BC - January 20, 2003 - Rocket Builders has released its first annual "Ready to Rocket 25" list along with its annual "I.T. Outlook" report. The "Ready to Rocket 25" list names twenty-five B.C. companies who are best positioned to capitalize on the information technology (I.T.) trends that will contribute to faster growth than the I.T. sector as a whole. "With the recent economic downturn, analysts are predicting low or no growth for the I.T. sector," said Reg Nordman, Senior Partner at Rocket Builders. "It's critical for people with a vested interest in growth to understand that there are emerging technologies and market categories that are experiencing double digit growth despite this. There is a silver lining to the technology sector."  Rocket Builders recently presented its I.T. Outlook for 2003 to leading investors and advisors to the local technology industry. The analysis examined the top market inhibitors as well as leading market drivers. Examples of the market drivers are continued innovation and investment by Intel and Microsoft and key emerging technologies such as Web Services, Smart Handheld Devices and Wireless technologies like Wi-Fi local area networks.  "In our analysis, we observed that mobility is a major theme of industry trends and we found that many B.C. companies are well positioned to leverage this growth potential," said Dave Thomas, a Senior Partner at Rocket Builders working closely with the wireless segment of the I.T. sector. "In particular, Wi-Fi technology is a real market mover." The report also presented a 5 Pillar Model to help explain the context of strategic I.T. decision making in 2003. Key to this model is the understanding that reducing costs and managing risk are the dominant decision making factors and that new business capabilities from technology need to contribute to business in real-time, automate entire business processes, and facilitate business to business connections.  "The managers of enterprises today are looking for ways to make business work better, and this means putting business first and technology second," said Geoffrey Hansen, the Senior Partner at Rocket Builders responsible for the 5 Pillar Model. "The technology companies who succeed will be able to express their value proposition in terms of immediate impact to essential business processes."  The process of choosing the twenty-five companies for the "Ready to Rocket 25" list involved mapping hundreds of technology companies against the key trends indentified in the "I.T. Outlook 2003" report.  "Our selection methods identify potential, and it will be interesting to see how these companies capitalize on this potential in the coming year," said Mark Watts, a Senior Partner with Rocket Builders who hosted the recent I.T. outlook presentation to investors and advisors. For details on the "Ready to Rocket 25" list and an overview of key findings of the "I.T. Outlook" report, please visit http://www.rocketbuilders.com/r2r2003.index.html About Rocket Builders  Rocket Builders is a consulting group focused on helping technology companies identify and capitalize on market opportunities. Based on past success in driving the growth of technology companies, Rocket Builders are experts in building revenue through proven sales methodologies, building market capabilities through partnering programs, and building processes that lead to winning products. For more information, visit http://www.rocketbuilders.com Media Contact:  Reg Nordman, 604-240-4105 rnordman@rocketbuilders.com  Rocket Builders