Monster's Product Area Managers (PAMs) play a pivotal role in the company as they help to research, develop, and refine our products. Here they are to tell you all about the newest products they've unleashed at CES:

Our press conference Wednesday morning was a resounding success, with over 200 reporters and bloggers in attendance. Monster Cable founder and CEO Noel Lee introduced exciting new products – such as a new green power centers for home theaters that fully shut-down electronic devices when not in use – preventing what is known as "vampire load" energy – as well as the M2000 Hyperspeed cables for HDMI, our most potent cables yet.

We also shared our new Turbine In-Ear Speakers with the assembled media, so expect to see some reviews soon.

Monster always has a surprise up its sleeve, and this year was no different. Rapper Ludacris joined Noel Lee on-stage at the press conference to talk about the new high-definition version of his latest album, "Theater of the Mind", that Monster is building with him under its Monster Music record label. Ludacris had this to say about the partnership:

And as soon as I heard the High Definition Surround demo they sent over, I was like "whoa, this is what I want for my album!" It was an opportunity to make history, the first rap record to be released in HDS, and I always want to be pushing into new things.

All the assembled press got an opportunity to listen to, and walk away with, a short demo DVD of the music playing in full surround sound.

The Discovery Science Channel was at CES checking out all the latest and greatest in technology, and they stopped by Monster's booth. Their feature airs January 11th – look for the segment about Monster's Wireless Digital Express and record-breaking M2000 Hyperspeed cables for HDMI – the first and only hyperspeed cable to be verified by Simplay Labs

The Discovery Channel's "West Coast Customs" show was also at our booth today as they unveiled their latest creation! Monster Cable founder and CEO Noel Lee loaned his car to West Coast Customs to tweak. When it came back, it was transformed into a cobalt blue marvel of engineering. The roof now sported a tiled pattern of Monster Cable's logo, and each seat had a speed badge emblazoned on it.

Of particular interest, West Coast Customs had created a special spot for Noel to mount his trademark Segway.

Monster's annual Retailer Awards and Concert was the hot ticket for those attending CES 2009. The ballroom at the Paris Hotel was filled to capacity with four thousand guests attending the festivities in honor of the Most Monsterous Dealers of the Year Awards. A concert by superstar Diana Ross followed the awards presentations, during which winners received Monster Retailer Awards in a variety of categories. The top awards, "The Gold" and "The Global Gold," were presented respectively to Ultimate Electronics of Thornton, CO and P.C. Richard & Son of Farmingdale, NY.

Those nominated for awards were selected as the best Monster Retailers in their particular categories, standing out as among the highest achievers in growth, highest percentages of total Monster product sales, and dollars-per-store sales. Each nominee reflects the highest standards of business procedure in today's retail environment. To win, however, retailers must also have done something "above and beyond" Monster's ordinary business processes. Winners were painstakingly chosen from among the selected nominees, with final decisions coming down to interviews with Monster reps, sales managers and trainers.

The Gold Award, bestowed on a single retailer from among all the "Most Monsterous" nominees and winners, is Monster's most prestigious presentation. It represents the Most Monsterous retailer in Monster's largest market, recognizing outstanding accomplishment throughout the year. The Global Gold Award winner is given to that retailer who demonstrated an extraordinary ability to implement Monster programs on a global basis.

Complete list of winners



The audience rose to its feet to honor representatives from two worthy charities who were presented with "Hero Awards" at the Monster Retailer Awards and Concert.. Immediately following the retailer awards portion of the evening and just prior to Ms. Ross' performance, Doug Weinstein of the Elf Foundation, which creates entertainment centers in children's hospitals, shelters for abused children and other centers throughout North America, was presented with a Hero Award by Head Monster Noel Lee. The award, in recognition of Mr. Weinstein's exemplary work for children, was accompanied by a check from Monster for the Foundation in the amount of $5,000.

In another particularly stirring moment, Jerry Kerr of Segs4vets, along with several disabled veterans on Segways, joined Mr. Lee onstage. Lee, himself disabled and a regular Segway user, then presented Kerr with the second Hero Award of the evening, along with a donation of four Segways to Segs4Vets, which benefits disabled U.S. veterans who have been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.

After the presentations, Mr. Lee invited the audience to join him in opening their hearts and their wallets by donating to these worthy causes. The concert by Ms. Ross then followed. About the Elf Foundation