e-learning Conference & Expo Draws Over 5,700 Government, Academic and Corporate Professionals to Event in Washington, DC

Business Wire, April 17, 2002

Business Editors

e-learning Conference Expo 2002

SANTA ANA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2002

Rudy Giuliani Delivers Inspiring Keynote Address, e-learning Success

and USDLA Award Winners Announced; Dozens of New Products Introduced

and Thousands Network with Nearly 130 Exhibiting Companies

Last week, over 5,700 corporate, academic and government professionals looking for the newest information and products for e-learning solutions packed the meeting rooms and the exhibit floor of the Washington Convention Center during the 12th annual e-learning Conference & Expo held in Washington DC last week. The event is produced by Advanstar Communications Inc., and drew nearly 130 exhibiting companies showcasing the latest equipment, technologies, applications and services for decision-makers involved in e-learning.

A highlight of the event was the keynote presentation by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Over 2,000 conference attendees packed into the keynote hall to hear him talk about the principles of being a good leader, which include philosophy, belief, courage, relentless preparation, teamwork and communications. The former Mayor and Time Magazine's Person of the Year spoke eloquently about his experiences in running many different size organizations throughout his career, which prepared him to run "one of the biggest and most vibrant cities in the world, especially during the horrific attacks of September 11."

"As Mr. Giuliani said in his inspiring speech: `e-learning is an incredibly valuable and efficient technology tool for any size corporation' and the growth of the market and its potential users was evident during the four-day event," said Joseph Flynn, general manager for Advanstar Communications' Collaboration & e-learning Group. "There was a definite buzz at the event, from the exhibitors and attendees who are seeing the e-learning marketplace expanding into the corporate, academic and military marketplace."

In addition to Mr. Giuliani's speech, there was a stellar line-up of keynote speakers, all of which drew crowds to hear their ideas and insights on e-learning. The event kicked off with keynote speeches by Elliott Masie, Pioneer in the Fields of Technology, Learning and Organizational Development and Founder of The MASIE Center; Frank Hauck, EVP of Global Sales/Services for EMC; Greg Priest, Chairman and CEO of SmartForce; and a panel of directors from several of the country's largest government organizations including the U.S. Department of Commerce; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and the U.S. Department of Interior.

Over 130 exhibiting companies spanned over 40,000 square feet of exhibit space, the largest in the event's history. The vendors that participated showcased the latest in Web-based content, technology and services - from state-of-the-art learning management services (LMS), portals and collaborative software, to complex multimedia simulations and learning-specific hardware and delivery systems. Such companies as Sun Microsystems, Click2Learn, Microsoft, Real Networks, American Council on Education, AT&T, Centra, SmartForce, TANDBERG, Thinq Learning Solutions, and Genesys Conferencing demonstrated their latest technologies for the attendees in the corporate, academic and government and military fields.

The e-learning conference program was designed to provide corporate professionals, educators, and government and military trainers with the full spectrum of e-learning solutions, from networks to hardware to applications as well as from software to content, attendees were equipped with end-to-end solutions. The sessions were divided into the three conference programs addressing Corporate Training, Academic Distance Learning (IDLCON), and the GovLearn Sessions.

For the first time The MASIE Center's 4th annual Busine$$ of Learning event was co-located at e-learning 2002. This two-day executive briefing addressed buying trends, changing market segments, the evolution of the classroom, blended training and e-learning "spaces."

Following the keynote address on Wednesday, the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) Awards were announced. The USDLA Awards were presented by the Board of Directors of the USDLA, and acknowledged the efforts made in distance learning, highlighting those instructors, programs and distance learning professionals who have achieved excellence in the field. Winners in each of the categories were:

             Winners for Excellence in Distance Teaching

1. Higher Education: Dr. Allan Gray, Executive MBA in Agribusiness,
Purdue University

2. Government:  Technical Sergeant Matthew D. Jackson USAF,
Instructor, the Command Post Craftsman Course, 334 Training
Squadron, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi

3. K-12 Education:  Mary Kay Stewart, Distance Learning Instructor II,
StarNet, Texas Education Service Center, Region 20


       Winners for Excellence in Distance Learning Programming

1. Higher Education:  Kinesiology Online Program, UT TeleCampus, The
University of Texas System

2. Government:  The Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir,
Virginia

3. K-12 Education: Florida Virtual School, Orlando, Florida, Executive
Director, Julie Young

4. K-12 Education: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, William White,
Ph.D.

5. K-12 Education: Arizona Telemedicine Program, The University of
Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, Arizona

6. Corporate/Business: AdvanceWork International, Syracuse, New York
for the Professional English Series, "Professional English"


      Winners for Most Outstanding Achievement by an Individual

1. Higher Education:  Marcelo Vera, Ph.D., Director of Distance
Learning, College of Arts & Sciences at the University of South
Florida

2. Government: John Hickok, Defense Acquisition University, Fort
Belvoir, Virginia