CMP Media's Institute for Partner Education & Development Kicks Off Channel Elite MBA Program

CMP Media's Institute for Partner Education & Development (IPED), in conjunction with the Babson College School of Executive Education, today launched its exclusive program offering information technology (IT) solution providers and consultants needed resources and expertise to strengthen all aspects of operating and managing their businesses. An exclusive group of Channel Elite Members will be attending three days of high-impact workshops, August 4-6, 2004, at Babson College's executive facilities in Wellseley, MA. This will be followed by a yearlong program of continuing business education and exposure for their companies through the marketing vehicles of CMP Media, publishers of CRN and VARBusiness Magazine.

The focused, intensive management education tailors to solution-provider business models and uses custom applications and business simulation programs to work through and resolve major business decisions.

"Only the highest caliber solution providers qualified for this program," says Toni Clayton Hine, IPED managing director. "These companies understand how critical it is to invest in making their business as strong and stable as possible to ensure their growth and long term sustainability," she added.

The class of 2005 Channel Elite Members include senior executives from Acropolis Computers, Alvaka Networks, Boulder Corp., Burwood Group, Data Processing Sciences, Data Technique, Emtec, GTSI, IgniEte, Infospectrum, Meridian IT Solutions, Pronto Solutions, Reliant Tech, Roundstone Systems, RS Pacific, Seamless Tech, Sequel Data Systems, Inc., SpyderWeb, Structured Data Systems, Symetriq, Inc., Via Technology, Web Commerce and Xact Solutions.

Members have received generous support from vendors who sponsored their partners and added the Channel Elite MBA as an approved element of their MDF (Market Development Fund) programs. The Channel Elite MBA is a certificate- based program.

About Babson College

Babson College in Wellesley, MA. is recognized internationally as a leader in entrepreneurial management education. Babson grants B.S. degrees through its innovative undergraduate program, and grants M.B.A. and custom M.S. and M.B.A. degrees through the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College. Babson School of Executive Education offers executive development programs to experienced managers worldwide. More information can be found at the college's Web site, http://www.babson.edu/.

About IPED

The Institute for Partner Education & Development (IPED) is a business unit of CMP Media's Channel Group, publishers of CRN and VARBusiness magazine; host of ChannelWeb, the gated Internet community for solutions providers; and organizers of the XChange Conferences. With 20 years of experience and institutional knowledge about the channels of distribution for IT products, the Channel Group is recognized as the premier source of information on the channel, including news and analysis, research, Internet tools, face-to-face events, and training and education. Additional information on IPED is available at http://www.iped.com/.

  Contact:  Toni Clayton-Hine
            IPED
            tclayton@cmp.com
            212-600-3113

SOURCE: CMP Media LLC

CONTACT: Toni Clayton-Hine of IPED, +1-212-600-3113, tclayton@cmp.com

Web site: http://www.iped.com/
http://www.babson.edu/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/181993.html