REI Teams with PM Solutions to Implement Microsoft Office 2003 Enterprise Project Management Solution.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

HAVERTOWN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 4, 2003

Sophisticated Solution Will Enable REI to More Efficiently Manage Projects and Deliver More High Quality Products to Market

PM Solutions, a Microsoft Office Enterprise Project Management (EPM) Partner, has teamed with Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) to help the leading supplier of specialty outdoor products implement the Microsoft Office 2003 EPM Solution.

The Microsoft Office 2003 EPM Solution includes Microsoft Office Project Server 2003, Microsoft Office Project Professional 2003, and Microsoft Project Web Access with Microsoft Outlook integration. PM Solutions' consultants will use the Microsoft EPM solution to enable REI's project managers to manage project planning, portfolios, and division resources online. In addition, their use of Microsoft Windows(R) SharePoint Services and Microsoft Outlook will enable REI team members to communicate, collaborate, and manage documents.

PM Solutions plans to configure the project management component of this integrated solution, enabling project managers to align all project management tools, tasks, documents, and data in real-time so REI will more efficiently manage projects and develop high-quality products. PM Solutions will implement the Microsoft EPM solution by configuring user profiles, creating and customizing project fields in the newly generated project plans, customizing project views, and creating security measures based on specific REI requirements.

"We have always delivered high quality products; however we need to improve our project management capabilities in order to increase our efficiency, consistency, and capacity," said Kevin Myette, Director of Business Operations for REI Gear and Apparel. "The Microsoft Office 2003 EPM Solution provides all the tools we need, and with its expertise in project management consulting and training, PM Solutions was the ideal partner for implementation and customization. Thanks to PM Solutions, we will be able to use the EPM solution much more effectively."

According to Kristin Ippensen, PM Solutions' Alliance Manager, proper configuration of the Microsoft Project 2003 EPM Solution is key to its success. "The best way for an organization to fully leverage a solution like this is to design it to meet specific business requirements," she said. "By maximizing the solution's portfolio management, document management, resource allocation, and cross-division collaboration features, REI improves project management efficiency and the consistency of product delivery."

About Enterprise Project Management

EPM is a systematic approach to achieving organizational goals through the alignment, prioritization and consistent execution of project initiatives. Organizations that deploy EPM solutions are able to establish business processes and project priorities, mapping them against corporate objectives. Through project portfolio management and analysis, managers are able to maximize resource utilization, eliminate duplicate projects, collect organization knowledge, and institute best practices. Team members benefit from better communication, streamlined resource management, and improved productivity. As a result, project leaders gain the insight necessary to manage diverse and complex projects, ultimately driving corporate strategy.

Together, PM Solutions and Microsoft help organizations boost performance, improve project delivery, better allocate resources, and effectively prioritize projects to achieve the enterprise's business goals.

About REI

REI, founded in 1938 as a consumer co-op by a group of Pacific Northwest mountaineers, is a national multichannel retailer of quality outdoor products. REI sells all of the top outdoor brands for hiking, camping, cycling, paddling and winter sports, including its own line of award-winning gear and apparel. While anyone may join or shop at REI, members pay a one-time $15 fee and receive a share in the company's profits through an annual patronage refund based on their purchases. A portion of REI's profits is set aside each year for support of conservation, outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship causes, with $1.8 million to be awarded this year and more than $9 million since 1976, to such efforts around the country. REI currently operates 68 retail stores in 24 states; two online stores - REI.com and REI-OUTLET.com - and an adventure travel company, REI Adventures.

About PM Solutions, The Project Management Experts(R)

PM Solutions is a management consulting, training, and research firm dedicated to optimizing business performance through project management initiatives. Core services include professional staffing/outsourcing, organizational project management maturity assessments, process and methodology development, project office deployment and enhancement, corporate training, project management technology integration, project portfolio management, and value measurement. PM Solutions' comprehensive approach integrates business strategies with project management practices, enabling sound management decision-making and higher profitability. Headquartered in Havertown, a suburb of Philadelphia, Pa., PM Solutions has built its reputation by providing premier service to clients through the most knowledgeable and expert consultants in project management. For more information, visit www.pmsolutions.com.