Shining Star: Mitchell International Receives The SSPA's Award For Most Improved Customer Service Organization

Mitchell International recently received the prestigious Software Support Professional's Association's (SSPA) 1999 STAR Award for Most Improved technical support organization. The Software Technical Assistance Recognition (STAR) award was presented to Bob Alexander, senior vice president of Mitchell's customer service organization, at SSPA's Horizons 2000 Conference held in Monterey, California.

"This award is a testament to Mitchell's commitment to providing outstanding customer service and ensuring 'total customer satisfaction,'" said Alexander. "Considering Lucent Technologies, Microsoft Corporation and Decision One were among the winners, I'd say Mitchell is in some pretty elite company."

More than 150 professionals and industry experts of the Information Technology (IT) world met at SSPA's Horizons 2000 conference to discuss the future of customer support services. In addition to offering dynamic educational sessions, the SSPA hosted a dinner where SSPA Advisory Board members announced the winners of this year's awards.

Since 1990, SSPA has recognized companies for outstanding achievement in providing customer satisfaction. To be considered for one of these awards, candidate companies must submit an application that is then thoroughly reviewed by SSPA Advisory Board members -- many of whom are senior support executives from some of the world's leading software companies.

"As a support professional in the industry for many years, it is always gratifying to see a company do something about improving customer support," said Bill Rose, SSPA

Founder/Executive Director. "In just over a year, Mitchell has turned its support organization around, transforming it into the very model of efficiency and service excellence. That is just one of the reasons why we bestowed upon Mitchell the Most Improved award."

About the SSPA

The Software Support Professionals Association (SSPA), was founded in 1989 to provide a value-added forum where service and support professionals in the software industry could share ideas, discuss developing trends and network with their peers. Today, SSPA enjoys worldwide recognition with over 500 member companies. SSPA is dedicated to enhancing the roles of support professionals and serves as a vehicle for growth for the profession of support management.

About Mitchell International

Mitchell International is a leading supplier of information products, software and business solutions for the insurance, property & casualty, medical claims, automotive collision repair, and glass replacement industries. Headquartered in San Diego, California, with offices in Chicago, Milwaukee and Toronto, Mitchell International provides services to businesses seeking to enhance their productivity, profitability and customer satisfaction. Mitchell's parent company, The Thomson Corporation, is a worldwide publishing enterprise. Mitchell is comprised of six Business Units: Electronic Products, Publications, Business Systems, Medical, the E.H. Boeckh Company and National Auto Glass Specifications (NAGS).

About The Thomson Corporation

Mitchell's parent company, The Thomson Corporation (TTC), is one of the world's leading information companies, with interests in specialized formation worldwide and in newspaper publishing in North America. TTC operates mainly in US, Canada and Europe, and has annual revenues exceeding $6 billion (US). The corporation's common shares are traded on the Toronto, Montreal and London Stock Exchanges. For more information, visit TTC'' Internet address at www.thomson.com.