CompTIA Recognizes Excellence in Professional Development.

Business Editors

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 26, 2002

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) announced today Award of Distinction winners in its Excellence in Professional Development program. This program is designed to recognize organizations that have helped to improve the career potential of employees, members of the community, and students through education and the certification of marketable skills.

"It is not uncommon for an HR manager to receive hundreds of resumes for each new job posting," said John Venator, president and CEO, CompTIA. "It's equally the case today that employers seek ways of improving employee productivity. Human capital development through education and certification of skills answers both these needs. On a resume the achievement of certification in a valuable skill is a career milestone and sets a person apart. And every study we've seen indicates that productivity increases when an individual has demonstrated mastery of knowledge by passing a comprehensive certification exam.

"The CompTIA Excellence in Professional Development Program calls attention to the benefits of education and certification by telling the stories and by recognizing those companies that have gone above and beyond."

The 2002 Award of Distinction recipients are:

- Bell Industries Tech.logix Group, Indianapolis, Ind., for its volunteer work with high school students including mentoring, equipment donation, career advice.

- The Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, San Antonio, Texas, for development of an extensive employee training effort opening the door to pay increases and additional paid leave.

- Countrywide Home Loans Servicing Systems Development, Simi Valley, Calif., and Plano, Texas, for an innovative employee retention program focusing on skills and core values.

2002 Certificate of Excellence recipients are:

- Springfield Technical Community College - Center for Business

and Technology, Springfield, Mass., for its comprehensive

computer skills curriculum.

- Advantec Solutions Ltd., Nicosia, Cyprus, for a program where

close to 100 percent of its technical staff hold computer

related certifications.

- Anything IT, Fort Lee, N.J, for the positive impact trained

and certified employees are having on customers.

- Calgary Police Service, Calgary, Alberta, for motivating

employees to succeed in a challenging computer related

curriculum.

- Hyland Software, Inc., Westlake, Ohio, for training and

certifying close to 100 percent of its employees in the

intricacies of document imaging technology.

- Street Tech, San Pablo, Calif., for its work with the

disadvantaged, giving them the skills and confidence to enter

the workforce in entry-level computer related jobs.

- Texas Engineering Extension Service, College Station, Texas,

for implementing internationally recognized standards of

technical instruction.

For more information on the human development potential through education and certification visit www.comptia.org.

About CompTIA

CompTIA is a global trade association representing the business interests of the information technology industry. For more than 20 years, CompTIA has provided research, networking and partnering opportunities to its members, developing standards and best practices and influencing the political, economic and educational arenas that impact IT worldwide. More information is available at www.comptia.org.