FedEx unveils plan for new software engineering center; Orlando center will strengthen future technology developments

Business Wire, Sept 12, 1996

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 12, 1996--Federal Express Corp. announced today the establishment of a new software engineering center near Orlando, Fla.

Operations are scheduled to begin in late October.

FedEx expects to employ a staff of approximately 60 software engineering and support personnel at the Orlando center by Jan. 1, 1997. That number should increase to more than 300 employees over the next three years mainly through nationwide recruiting efforts. Only limited relocation of FedEx employees from other locations is expected. The company currently employs more than 4,500 personnel in its information and telecommunications division worldwide.

"Creating innovative technology solutions is a major competitive advantage in the express transportation industry," said Dennis H. Jones, FedEx senior vice president and chief information officer. "FedEx intends to maintain its leadership position by attracting the highest caliber of professionals to develop flexible, mass-customized transportation services for our customers around the globe."

In addition to serving as a primary development location for systems software engineering, the Orlando center will eventually house a production data center.

"We believe that the Orlando center will offer a rewarding environment for talented information technology professionals," said Jones. "The team we are building will be challenged with creating value-added, world-class services to meet the needs of the 21st century."

The Orlando center will complement existing software development centers in Memphis, Colorado Springs, Los Angeles and Dallas. Orlando was selected as a site because of its reasonable cost of living, excellent quality of life and the expected strong economic growth of the area.

Trammell Crow Co. owns the Tower Place at The Summit office building. The FedEx center occupies 100,000 square feet on four and a half floors.

Federal Express is the world's largest express transportation company, providing fast and reliable services for more than 2.5 million items in 211 countries each working day. The company employs more than 123,000 people and operates more than 500 aircraft, 36,000 vehicles and over 400,000 Powership(R) and FedEx Ship(TM) automated systems in its integrated global network. Federal Express reported revenues of $10.3 billion for its fiscal year ended May 31, 1996. -0-

NOTE TO EDITORS: Federal Express press releases are available on the World Wide Web at http://www.fedex.com.

CONTACT: Federal Express Corp., Memphis

Sally Davenport, 901/395-3466