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Letter from the CEO
Dear Member of the SpeechEasy Community:
As we enter 2005, our thoughts naturally shift to the year-in-review, and all the exciting developments that have occurred here at Janus and among the SpeechEasy community.
We began 2004 by strengthening our relationships with our dispensing SLPs, as well as bolstering our marketing and sales efforts, seizing the opportunity to expand our community and increase SpeechEasy's visibility in general. We also developed enhancements to our SLP certification program, creating a system for all SLPs to qualify on-line as certified follow-up therapists. As a result, our network of certified, referral SLPs available for follow-up therapy is expanding.
Another key event this year was the start of a long-term efficacy study taking place at Auburn University, wherein more than 30 candidates will be evaluated by Dr. Larry Molt, Associate Professor and Chair of Auburn's Department of Communication Disorders. Dr. Molt is an ASHA Board Recognized Fluency Specialist and coordinator of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's Special Interest Division on Fluency and Fluency Disorders, and on the Executive Board of the International Fluency Association. We look forward to hearing his results at the completion of the study.
One of the programs we developed internally was our National Outreach Program, which we launched in late spring. The purpose of the program was to learn more about people who stutter, and to give back to the stuttering community by offering applicants the opportunity to receive anywhere from 60-100% reimbursement on the purchase of a SpeechEasy device. Response to the program was overwhelming, and provided us with an opportunity to connect with the stuttering community like never before. Moreover, one of the most memorable moments of the year was the great pleasure we received by giving away more than $500,000 in SpeechEasy devices and related services to 100 candidates from around the country who applied to the program.
By summer 2004 we launched our new website, creating easier navigational features and providing us the opportunity to keep both our customers and professional community better informed about SpeechEasy developments. We also completed our Extended Warranty Program, and are pleased to announce that we now are able to offer users an opportunity to add extra protection and safety to their device. Under terms of the warranty, if a device fails for manufacturing reasons due to materials or workmanship, within the coverage period, we will repair or replace the device as necessary at no charge. Warranties can be purchased for periods of one to two years.
We also announced in late summer the release of a new software upgrade - a technological enhancement that is designed to improve sound quality and decrease the amount of background noise emphasized by the device. So far the response from our users about the upgrade has been positive. We are dedicated to continuing to enhance the quality of experience for our users, and will continue to provide software upgrades at no charge to our users as we progress.
A member of the SpeechEasy community whose life-changing experience with enhanced fluency resulting from his device unfortunately was cut short due to his untimely death. However, his mother's desire, despite her loss, to donate her son's device to another young user inspired us immensely. As a result, we launched the Sean Anderson Memorial SpeechEasy Scholarship in May, which will yield the donation of one device each year in Sean's honor.
We are very excited about the Annual ASHA Convention this year in Philadelphia. Our Technology Presentation provided us the opportunity to inform the professional community about the benefits of the SpeechEasy device, and also provided professionals the opportunity to receive CEU credits for the session.
On the state and local level, SpeechEasy is now participating at each state's Speech Hearing Association's annual conference. Speech Language Pathologists that are SpeechEasy dispensers are expressing enthusiasm about attending these conferences, which feature a SpeechEasy booth and information about the device. We look forward to continued outreach at these and other trade shows in the coming months.
We also are launching a National SpeechEasy Community, which will be a grassroots effort to provide opportunities for SpeechEasy users to connect with each other as well as to share, support, provide feedback and input into new product development decisions.
Interest in the SpeechEasy story is spreading around the globe. Our press interest this year has reached as far as Australia, and applications for the National Outreach Program were received from as far away as Africa. We are excited about potential press opportunities that are in the works for the coming year, and we ask you to visit our website at www.speecheasy.com for continuous updates.
Thank you for your continued participation and support. We look forward to 2005 as being a banner year in our continued effort to educate, inform, support and enhance opportunities for fluency among the stuttering community.
Best Regards,
Darwin Richards
CEO, Janus Development Group, Inc.
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