VAI and Stony Brook University's Center of Excellence in Wireless & Information Technology Partner on IBM Websphere Project

Business Wire, May 27, 2008

RONKONKOMA, N.Y. -- VAI (Vormittag Associates, Inc.) (http://www.vai.net), a leader in enterprise solutions for the distribution, manufacturing, retail and service industries, and an IBM Premier Business Partner, today announced its partnership with Stony Brook University's Center of Excellence in Wireless & Information Technology (CEWIT) (www.cewit.org). Stony Brook computer science graduate students are providing programming resources to aid VAI in the development of several e-commerce applications that utilize IBM Websphere([R]) software.

CEWIT is a $250 million government, industry and academic partnership. Its mission is to conduct interdisciplinary research in emerging technologies, foster new enterprise development, address the technology worker shortage and become a world leader in wireless and information technology.

The partnership provides VAI with sophisticated software development support and services. Stony Brook's graduate students have designed several Web portal applications that will be added to VAI's S2K Commerce Express software package. VAI's e-business solution provides the tools to streamline business operations, create savings and increase efficiencies. Commerce Express is an affordable solution designed to help growing mid-market companies do business on the Web.

VAI and CEWIT's partnership provides an opportunity for university students to gain real-world experience with the potential of securing a job after graduation. In addition, the relationship supplies VAI with access to innovative information and expertise, which translates into additional features and benefits for the firm's software package--directly affecting VAI's customer base.

Russ Cereola, Vice President, VAI, commented, "Stony Brook University is a world renowned educational institution and VAI is privileged to have access to some of the brightest minds in information technology today. The CEWIT partnership has allowed VAI to develop several advanced IBM Websphere portal applications that will be available to our customers at no additional cost. VAI understands that the best way to stay abreast of current technology trends is to utilize those with the most up-to-date knowledge, and this partnership has allowed us to just that."

"For VAI, collaborating with Stony Brook's Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology provides access to a wealth of information and expertise from highly trained Stony Brook graduate students as well as the leadership of a PhD Computer Science Professor, who serves as the CEWIT Project Manager for VAI," said Scott Passeser, Director of Industrial Outreach, CEWIT, Stony Brook University. "Partnering with innovative leaders, like VAI, in the wireless and information technology space, also allows us to provide our students with the knowledge and preparation demanded by real-world employers."

CEWIT's new building, which opens in August 2008, will add 90 new research labs totaling over 1000,000 square feet of active research and development lab space on Stony Brook's campus.

About VAI (Vormittag Associates, Inc.)

VAI is an award-winning software developer and an IBM Premier Business Partner. Designed for the mid-range market, S2K Enterprise is used by a wide variety of mid-sized companies worldwide, with a number of clients in the manufacturing, distribution, retail, metals, food and related service industries. Advanced applications such as Warehouse Management Systems, EDI, CRM and e-Business provide companies the power to leverage their information technology investment. VAI is headquartered in Ronkonkoma, New York, with branch offices in Miami, Orlando, Chicago, Newport Beach and Oroville, California. For more information, please contact 800-824-7776 or visit http://www.vai.net.