CMP Media's Institute for Partner Education & Development and Babson College Offer Channel Elite MBA

Customized Executive Education for IT Solution Providers and Business and Technology Integrators

PRNewswire-FirstCall
MANHASSET, N.Y.
May 24, 2004

CMP Media's Institute for Partner Education & Development (IPED), in conjunction with the Babson College School of Executive Education, has created an exclusive program offering information technology (IT) solution providers and business and technology integrators the needed resources and expertise to strengthen all aspects of running and managing their businesses. The new program offers the opportunity to earn a Channel Elite MBA, and features the latest intelligence on building and maintaining solutions and services businesses as well as a complete year's worth of exposure and visibility for 50 qualified participants.

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The yearlong program kicks off in August 2004 with an intensive three-day, high-impact workshop series on Babson's Wellesley, Mass., campus. Channel Elite MBA candidates will participate in the college's dynamic multi-tiered, interactive business simulation program, which provides feedback as a learning mechanism. The focused, intensive management education is tailored to solution-provider business models and uses custom applications to work through and resolve major business decisions.

Additional course categories are financial management, service-centric management, best practices for selling technology solutions and marketing strategies for accelerating business growth.

"Business and technology integrators will sharpen internal and external business practices to benefit both vendor-partner and end-customer relationships," says Toni Clayton-Hine, managing director for the Institute for Partner Education & Development. "Additionally, the program will enhance peer involvement and collaboration as partnering continues to be a major driver of their revenue."

   The Channel Elite MBA program includes:

   *  All access pass to exclusive channel industry events: CRN's Industry
      Hall of Fame, VARBusiness 500 Awards Event, VARBusiness Annual Report
      Card Awards event, CRN Channel Champions and XChange events, with
      heightened recognition as a Channel Elite MBA graduate
   *  Visibility in IPED's yearlong Channel Elite advertising and direct
      response promotions
   *  Invitation to quarterly roundtables and vendor recognition through a
      variety of promotional and merchandizing incentives
   *  Three days of high-impact workshops, August 4-6, 2004, at Babson
      College's executive facilities in Wellseley, Mass.
   *  Complete lodging and meals during the three-day session

Applications must be submitted online at www.iped.com by June 15 to be considered for the 2004 Channel Elite MBA program. Total fee is $9,995, which includes the three-day kick off session and the total year of elite benefits. A 20 percent deposit is required upon acceptance into the program and preferred payment programs are available. Vendors may also include the Channel Elite MBA as an approved element of their MDF or co-op programs. The Channel Elite MBA is not a degree program.

About Babson College

Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., 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, 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:
   Gordon Plutsky
   CMP Media LLC
   (516) 562-7766
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010808/UNEWYLOGO

SOURCE: CMP Media LLC

CONTACT: Gordon Plutsky of CMP Media LLC, +1-516-562-7766

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