SLFI Sterling Financial (MM)

Emerald Asset Management has announced that Sterling Financial (NASDAQ: SLFI) will present at 14th Annual Emerald Groundhog Day Investment Forum. Emerald also announced that Jim Cramer of TheStreet.com will kick off the Forum as keynote speaker at breakfast, scheduled for Thursday, February 1, 2007 at the Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia. Jim Cramer is scheduled to speak at the annual investment forum at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday in the Grand Ballroom of the Radisson. Cramer is a director and co-founder of TheStreet.com, Inc. where he contributes daily market commentary and serves as an adviser to the company�s CEO. Cramer is also the host of CNBC�s �Mad Money� and the author of several books, including Mad Money: Watch TV, Get Rich and Jim Cramer�s Real Money: Sane Investing in an Insane World. �Energy and passion are hallmarks of the Emerald Annual Groundhog Day Investment Forum. It is only fitting that we should start the day with one of the most energetic and passionate people in the investment field. We look forward to Jim Cramer�s insight into the MAD, MAD world of investing,� said Emerald Founder and CEO, Joseph E. Besecker. The Forum will showcase investment opportunities in some of the Mid-Atlantic region�s fastest growing companies, as well as industry leaders from across the country. Senior management from several public and private companies are scheduled to make 30-minute formal presentations during concurrent sessions. The Emerald Groundhog Day Investment Forum provides a unique opportunity for portfolio managers, analysts, and investment industry professionals to interact with senior executives representing a wide array of industries ranging from banking & financial services, capital goods, consumer goods, life sciences, technology, and transportation. In addition, analysts from Emerald will be sharing their views on the most compelling growth opportunities for the coming year. This year�s Forum is being sponsored by Boenning & Scattergood, Inc., Pepper Hamilton LLP, Forward Funds, Stevens & Lee Lawyers & Consultants, Griffin Financial Group LLC, Sturdivant & Company, Commerce Bank, Avondale Partners, Greentree Brokerage Services, Trout, Ebersole & Groff LLP, and Susquehanna Financial Group, LLP. Emerald Asset Management is a diversified investment services company that operates through its wholly owned subsidiary Emerald Advisers, Inc. With over $2.6 billion in assets under management, Emerald Advisers, Inc. offers a series of research-driven investment products through institutional separate accounts and sub-advising mutual funds, including the Forward Emerald Growth Fund (HSPGX), Forward Emerald Banking & Finance Fund (HSSAX), and the Forward Emerald Opportunities Fund (HSYTX) within the Forward Funds Group. Emerald is headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and operates satellite offices in King of Prussia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and San Diego, California. Additional information on the Forum, including registration information, can be found at http://www.teamemerald.com/groundhog. 2007 Emerald Groundhog Day Investment Forum Presenting Companies: � Ansoft Corporation (ANST-NASDAQ) Community Banks (CMTY-NASDAQ) Hill International (HINT-NASDAQ) Innovative Solutions & Support (ISSC-NASDAQ) InterDigital Communications Corp (IDCC-NASDAQ) International Fight League (IFLI-OTCBB) Integra Life Sciences (IART-NASDAQ) Middlesex Water Company (MSEX-NASDAQ) Neoware (NWRE-NASDAQ) Nobel Learning Communities (NLCI-NASDAQ) PolyMedix (PYMX-OTCBB) Psychiatric Solutions (PSYS-NASDAQ) Safeguard Scientifics (SFE-NYSE) Sandy Spring Bancorp (SASR-NASDAQ) Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (SWHC-NASDAQ) Sterling Financial (SLFI-NASDAQ) Tasty Baking Company (TSTY-NASDAQ) TheStreet.com, Inc. (TSCM-NASDAQ) VIASYS Healthcare (VAS-NYSE) York Water Company (YORW-NASDAQ)