SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Dec. 5, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TASER International, Inc. (Nasdaq:TASR), the market leader in advanced electronic control devices, announces that Irene Blomgren and Steven A. Schulz, Ph.D., have recently joined the company as executive vice president of human capital and vice president of research and analysis, respectively.
Ms. Blomgren is charged with recruiting key executives and staff, as well as implementing strategic human capital development programs including targeted training and a new leadership development program for recent college grads. These initiatives will help guide the company's future growth. Dr. Schulz is responsible for all research and analytics addressing the company's products, marketing and target audiences including consumers, law enforcement, military, corrections, and private security.
"The addition of both Irene and Steve are important steps in continuing the impressive growth of TASER International," said Rick Smith, CEO and founder, TASER International. "Irene will continue to apply her expertise in helping us recruit, develop and retain some of the best talent in the world, while Steve brings an impressive history of developing state-of-the-art research programs for some of the most well-known brands in the world."
Ms. Blomgren joins TASER International with more than 13 years as an executive recruiter and human resource consultant in the Silicon Valley. In 1997, she established Technology Resources, Inc. to partner with companies in high growth phases to develop and execute strategic recruitment and retention plans. However, after working with TASER International to hire the most recent executives and staff of the newly opened TASER Virtual Systems Division, she elected to transition out of her own practice and focus full time on building TASER International's future management team. Ms. Blomgren graduated from Westmont College in Santa Barbara with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and is a member of the National Society of Human Resource Management.
Prior to joining TASER International, Dr. Schulz provided strategic insight and direction on some of the most prevalent brands of the last decade including Verizon, Imation, Hewlett Packard, Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay, McDonalds, General Mills, Gateway, Quaker, and Walgreens. He served as a principal at The Gallup Organization leading clients in the Fortune 500 segment. While at Gallup, he served as one of the key architects of the World Poll, an assessment of economic development in more than 100 countries, representing more than 95 percent of the World's population.
A widely published author and presenter, Dr. Schulz obtained his Ph.D. in Marketing from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has served as an assistant professor of marketing and interim chair of the business administration school at Fort Hays State University.
About TASER International, Inc.
TASER International's products protect life. TASER provides advanced Electronic Control Devices (ECDs) for use in the law enforcement, medical, military, corrections, professional security, and personal protection markets. TASER devices use proprietary technology to incapacitate dangerous, combative, or high-risk subjects who pose a risk to law enforcement officers, innocent citizens, or themselves in a manner that is generally recognized as a safer alternative to other uses of force. For more information please call TASER International at (800) 978-2737 or visit our website at www.TASER.com.
Note to Investors
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), including statements, without limitation, regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. We intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking information is based upon current information and expectations regarding TASER International. These estimates and statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, are not guarantees of future performance, and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied, or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. TASER International assumes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release. These statements are qualified by important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those reflected by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include but are not limited to: (1) market acceptance of our products; (2) our ability to establish and expand direct and indirect distribution channels; (3) our ability to attract and retain the endorsement of key opinion-leaders in the law enforcement community; (4) the level of product technology and price competition for our products; (5) the degree and rate of growth of the markets in which we compete and the accompanying demand for our products; (6) risks associated with rapid technological change and new product introductions; (7) competition; (8) litigation including lawsuits resulting from alleged product related injuries and death; (9) media publicity concerning allegations of deaths and injuries occurring after use of the TASER device and the negative effect this publicity could have on our sales; (10) TASER device tests and reports; (11) product quality; (12) implementation of manufacturing automation; (13) potential fluctuations in our quarterly operating results; (14) financial and budgetary constraints of prospects and customers; (15) order delays; (16) dependence upon sole and limited source suppliers; (17) negative reports concerning the TASER device; (18) fluctuations in component pricing; (19) government regulations and inquiries; (20) dependence upon key employees and our ability to retain employees; (21) execution and implementation risks of new technology; (22) ramping manufacturing production to meet demand; (23) medical and safety studies; (24) field test results; and (25) other factors detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, those factors detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Form 10-Qs. The statements made herein are independent statements of TASER International. The inclusion of any third parties does not represent an endorsement of any TASER International products or services by any such third parties.