Meridian Knowledge Solutions, a VIP Company, Earns Top Honors
from Gartner, eLearning Guild

Folsom, CA – June 2008 - In the space of one month, Visionary Integration Professionals’ (VIP) Talent and Learning Management practice – dba Meridian Knowledge Solutions - earned the top cumulative score from the eLearning Guild, and was positioned in the “visionaries” quadrant of Gartner, Inc.’s 2008 Magic Quadrant for Corporate Learning Systems report . Meridian received both honors for its learning management system (LMS), which gives managers an easy-to-use software platform for putting training programs in place, carrying out employee performance reviews and building online business communities.

The eLearning Guild score was the result of an independent survey which polled 1,252 e-Learning professionals from around the world about their views on learning management systems – software for delivering and analyzing training via the Internet. In May 2008, the Guild published its findings in a 220-page report titled “Guild 360º Report on Learning Management Systems.”

On an 11-point scale – with one representing the best rating and 11 the poorest – Meridian scored first, second or third in 19 of 20 categories covered in the Guild’s report. Survey respondents gave Meridian first-place ratings for ease of use for learners and administrators; integrating with LCMS (learning content management systems); support for different models of learning; support for complex business process models; helping people perform their jobs better; support for talent management; and support for immersive learning simulations. Meridian also garnered above-average to top ratings in categories such as usability and living up to promises.

In June, Gartner positioned Meridian in the “Visionaries” Quadrant of the 2008 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Corporate Learning Systems (CLS). The Magic Quadrant positions vendors in a particular market segment according to their completeness of vision and their ability to execute that vision. It provides a synopsis of, and advice about software firms that deliver, analyze and manage training via the web.

"Our goal has been to develop an LMS that is not only incredibly easy to use and upgrade but also gives training professionals Web 2.0 technology - such as online collaboration software - that extends the reach of learning," said Paul Somerville, VIP’s Chief Learning Officer. "Our vision has always been to take a learning-comes-first approach, which focuses R&D on learning technology - our core offering. Along with offering what's arguably the market's newest model LMS, we're integrating our product with the best compensation and recruiting software."

About the Magic Quadrant
The Magic Quadrant is copyrighted 2008 by Gartner, Inc. and is reused with permission. The Magic Quadrant is a graphical representation of a marketplace at and for a specific time period. It depicts Gartner's analysis of how certain vendors measure against criteria for that marketplace, as defined by Gartner. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in the Magic Quadrant, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors placed in the "Leaders" quadrant. The Magic Quadrant is intended solely as a research tool, and is not meant to be a specific guide to action. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

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About Meridian

Meridian Knowledge Solutions, Inc. (Meridian), a wholly owned subsidiary of Visionary Integration Professionals, is a leading provider of enterprise learning and knowledge management products and services. Its flagship product, Meridian Global LMS, integrates learning content management, workforce analytics, knowledge management and competency modeling in one learning management system (LMS).

Meridian serves 4.5 million users at more than 200 public- and private-sector employers. Its software is used by companies from >100 to 900,000 employees. Clients include AutoZone, Panera Bread, Sodexho, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, Whirlpool and more than 80 federal, state and local governments. Meridian is the number one ranked learning-technology company for customer loyalty. For more information, please visit www.meridianksi.com.

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About VIP

Established in 1996, Visionary Integration Professionals (VIP) is a global technology and outsourcing firm that has provided solutions to over 900 clients in multiple industries as well as federal, state and local government. VIP helps companies challenge boundaries and uncover new possibilities to increase productivity, maximize revenue, improve performance, mitigate risk, and reduce costs. With nearly 1,000 staff companywide, VIP offers expertise in areas of Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing, SAP Integration and Consulting, Technology Integration and Operations, Talent and Learning Management, Quality Management, and Management Consulting. VIP’s corporate headquarters is located in Folsom, California with offices in Sacramento, Minneapolis, Dallas, Denver, New York City, Alexandria, Houston, and Bangalore, India. More information can be found at www.vipconsulting.com.