New designation distinguishes Berbee Information Networks Corporation as expert in small-business solutions and services.
MADISON, Wis. — August 15, 2005 — Microsoft Corp. today announced Berbee Information Networks Corporation has become the first Small Business Specialist in Madison. To attain this new designation, Berbee has demonstrated expertise in planning and building solutions for small businesses. As part of the Small Business Specialist Community, Berbee will receive a rich set of benefits from Microsoft, including access to training specifically designed for the small-business industry, small-business marketing materials for reuse, special partner offers, and the ability to use the Small Business Specialist logo in marketing materials, which can help give the company a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
“Berbee is extremely pleased with our status as the first Small Business Specialist in Madison,” said Liz Eversoll, vice president of the Berbee Microsoft practice, “For our small business clients, this special designation adds another facet to our award-winning Microsoft practice and extends the value we bring to our client relationships as the go to Microsoft partner in the Midwest.”
The Small Business Specialist Community, available as a competency-like designation as part of the Microsoft® Partner Program, was developed in response to input from customers and partners that expressed a need to build easier connections that enable small-business customers to quickly and easily identify technology partners best suited to support them.
“Small businesses are looking for partner companies that understand their unique business needs,” said Mike Porter, Midwest Area General Manager, Microsoft Small and Midmarket Solutions & Partner Group. “With resources like the Small Business Specialist Community and the partner locator tool on the Microsoft Small Business Center Web site, it will be much easier for Madison’s small businesses to identify local partners that are best able to address their specific needs. We are confident this offering will help Berbee reach its full potential by creating more visibility, opportunity and demand in the local small-business segment.”
As one of the requirements for attaining Small Business Specialist status, Berbee had to pass Microsoft’s Small Business Sales and Marketing Skills Assessment, designed to test the company’s knowledge of the dynamics and dependencies of the small-business market, as well as the value to small business of several software solutions, including Windows® XP Professional, Microsoft Office 2003 and Windows Small Business Server 2003. In addition, at least one individual in the company had to pass a certification exam that measures the ability to design and implement solutions for the small and medium-sized business by using Windows Small Business Server 2003 and the Windows Server System™.
The Small Business Specialist Community was announced earlier this month at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2005.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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For more information, press only:
Berbee Information Networks Corporation
JoEllen Amato – Berbee Madison
608.298.1226
