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Badgeville for IBM Connections Adds Gamification for IBM Customers

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Redwood City, CA− Jan. 22, 2015− Badgeville, the global leader in business gamification, has announced the launch of Badgeville for IBM Connections, a new product that brings Badgeville’s platform, game design and analytics to IBM Connections’ customers. The new product, available immediately, comes in the form of an accelerator designed to quickly and easily integrate Badgeville’s award-winning gamification technology with IBM Connections. IDC projects that the worldwide market for enterprise social networks will grow to $3.5 billion by 2018 with a compound annual growth rate of 23 percent. IBM is currently the leader in this space with 14 percent of the market. Designed to work with both on-premise and cloud-based deployments, Badgeville for IBM Connections drives social engagement, collaboration and content sharing using Badgeville’s award-winning gamification solution. This new Badgeville product integrates seamlessly with IBM Connections and supports a broad range of features including activities, blogs, communities, files, forums, news, profiles and more. By using Badgeville for IBM Connections, IBM customers can deploy gamification with minimal internal resources while still customizing to match their brand. Badgeville for IBM Connections will enable: Gamification of Social Actions: detect, analyze and reward social actions such as posts, replies, polls, praises, mentions, etc., globally or within specific groups Posting of Rewards: post rewards earned for activity, expertise, peer recognition, etc. automatically to feeds and activity steams User Analytics: capture behavioral analytics on users, usage, collaboration and recognition “We are working with some of the largest IBM Connections’ customers to drive employee engagement and insights,” said Jon Shalowitz, chief executive officer of Badgeville. “Our customers work with us to define specific business goals and then add a gamification layer to meet those goals. We are delighted to be working with IBM to bring this solution to IBM customers."   About Badgeville Founded in 2010, Badgeville is the global leader in business gamification. With hundreds of name brand customers, Badgeville brings game, reputation and social mechanics to industry leaders and innovators. Some include American Express, Oracle, Samsung, Bell Media, Kendall Jackson, Philips Electronics and more. Badgeville is based in Redwood City, CA and New York City.  

NIIT Awarded Managed Training Services Contract with Vestas Wind Systems A/S

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Atlanta, GA – Jan 22, 2015 – NIIT Limited, a global leader in skills and talent development, was awarded a three-year contract to provide managed training services to Vestas Wind Systems A/S, a leading global wind energy company headquartered in Aarhus, Denmark. With this contract, NIIT’s Corporate Learning Group will provide learning administration, strategic sourcing, custom content development and LMS services to Vestas for a period of three years. "Vestas' partnership with NIIT provides our employees access to virtual and classroom "best in class" programs, around the globe,” said Roald Steen Jakobsen, group senior vice president/people & culture at Vestas Wind Systems. “It also aligns with Vestas strategy of flexibility and cost-efficiency, as we move into new regions to support the needs of our wind turbine customers.” “We are very proud to have been awarded this contract by Vestas,” said Sapnesh Lalla, president of NIIT Corporate Learning Group. “We are committed to helping our customers run training like a business with our best-in-class managed training services. Our team is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of training at Vestas while providing the best value through a robust LMS, efficient learning administration, high quality custom content and strategic sourcing.” About Vestas Vestas wind turbines deliver clean energy that supports the global fight against climate change. With wind power from more than 52,700 wind turbines, Vestas reduces carbon emissions by over 60 million tons of CO2 every year. Vestas delivers wind energy in 73 countries and provides jobs for approximately 19,300 people at its service and project sites, research facilities, factories and offices all over the world. With more than 64 GW of cumulative installed capacity worldwide, Vestas is the world leader in wind energy.   About NIIT NIIT, a global leader in skills and talent development, offers multi-disciplinary learning management and training delivery solutions to corporations, institutions and individuals in over 40 countries. NIIT has three main lines of business across the globe - Corporate Learning Group, Skills and Careers Group and School Learning Group.

Learning Tech Company Intrepid Learning, Inc. Officially Launches With New Website

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Seattle, WA — January 22, 2015 — Intrepid Learning, Inc., a next-generation SaaS learning technology provider, proudly announced its official beginning as a new entity with the launch of a new website showcasing its innovative, learner-first, cloud-based flagship products, the Intrepid Learning Hub and Corporate MOOC. “Frankly, we were as tired as our clients of tedious online learning that disrespects learners’ time and intelligence, and fails to achieve results,” says Intrepid CEO Sam Herring, an industry thought leader and past chair of the Association for Talent Development (formerly ASTD). “So we took our vision for a true learner-first experience and created a crisp, simple and engaging technology that has already proven itself many times over with our pioneering clients, achieving astonishingly high completion rates compared to educational MOOCs and other virtual learning methods.” “We’re deeply committed to a learner-first experience, because we believe the best way to drive organizational success in the 21st century is by empowering individuals with deeply engaging learning experiences that change behavior and produce results,” Herring added. “We’ve seen it happen for our clients in professional services, technology, social media and health care already.” “We believe we have just launched the most comprehensive and pragmatic resource for information on corporate MOOCs that exists today,” said Sanjay Advani, vice president of marketing and alliances. “We invite you to explore our new website with its wealth of information on our corporate MOOC and Learning Hub solutions, as well as a rich library of corporate learning thought leadership.”   Intrepid’s new website features comprehensive information about MOOC best practices, modern instructional design methodologies based on brain science, innovation in the 21st century workplace, case studies, demo videos and more.   About Intrepid Learning Inc. Intrepid Learning’s mission is to create the world’s most engaging and impactful learning technology. Intrepid’s SaaS platform empowers organizations to solve critical business challenges with easily configurable and cost effective solutions, provide an integrated social and mobile-first learning experience and connect learning to everyday work. The creation of Intrepid’s flagship solutions, the Intrepid Learning Hub and Corporate MOOC, was formed by solving critical business challenges for clients over the past 15 years when the company was a market-leading training outsourcing and consulting firm. Intrepid’s outsourcing and professional services business was acquired by Xerox in January 2015. Intrepid Learning, Inc. is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.   

Galen College Responds to Hospital Trend for Nurses: Announces Innovative New Dual-Track Pathway Allowing Students to Work as an RN While Earning BSN

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Louisville, KY – January 26, 2015 – In response to the landmark Institute of Medicine report recommending that 80 percent of U.S. nurses hold at least a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) by 2020, Galen College has launched a unique pathway to nursing that can make entry into the profession easier for thousands of nursing students. The new initiative will help expand the pool of candidates as hospitals seek to hire more BSN educated nurses, a trend which multiple studies have shown is associated with better patient outcomes, including decreased mortality, according to a paper in Health Affairs. The Affordable Care Act has been projected to expand health insurance coverage to an estimated 30 to 34 million people. However, according to a report by The Heritage Foundation, “American healthcare infrastructure has had workforce shortages for decades…and families will face longer wait times, greater difficulty accessing providers, shortened time with providers, increased costs, and new frustrations with care delivery.” Recent workforce projections anticipate the need for an additional 300,000 to 1.2 million registered nurses by 2020. Galen College of Nursing, a multi-campus and online educational institution based in Louisville, Ky., with campuses in Tampa Bay, Fla., San Antonio, Tex. and Cincinnati, Ohio, is offering the Dual-Track BSN, an innovative pathway to baccalaureate-level nursing. BSN-prepared nurses are often required by hospitals and healthcare institutions to receive special recognition. The Magnet Recognition Program is one such voluntary program that requires progress toward 80 percent of nurses earning their BSN. Galen’s newest nursing pathway prepares students for RN licensure as they work toward their BSN. It provides a unique opportunity for students to advance their education as the demand for BSN-prepared nurses grows, while also keeping in mind that many of today’s students need more flexibility and diverse program options to make higher education possible. “We’re in the midst of a tough economy, but the need for nurses is greater than ever,” said Rob Wolf, president at Galen College of Nursing, Tampa Bay. “We’re anticipating a nursing shortage nationwide as the Baby Boomer population ages and as more patients are treated under the Affordable Care Act. The Dual-Track BSN adds the needed flexibility for our students to earn a nurse’s salary while attending school.” Wolf, who joined the executive team in 2013 as president for the Tampa Bay campus, says he chose Galen due to its high caliber of nursing education. Wolf brings a veteran perspective from previous positions as the senior vice president of Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, as well as vice president for business affairs and campus president for two of their five campuses. Prior to his experience at HCC, he had extensive executive leadership experience at a community college in New York as its vice president for administration. In the Dual-Track BSN, students earn their RN license upon completion of their Associate Degree in Nursing, integrating real-life clinical experiences into their BSN coursework. If they choose to stop, they have no financial obligation or commitment but can return to BSN coursework at a time that best suits their needs. About Galen College of Nursing: Galen College of Nursing is one of the largest private nursing colleges in the United States. With a focus solely on nursing education, Galen College of Nursing offers practical/vocational nursing (PN/VN), associate and online baccalaureate degree nursing programs to over 3,000 students on its campuses in Louisville, Ky., San Antonio, Tex., Tampa Bay, Fla., Cincinnati, Ohio, along with an online campus. Galen is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate degrees.

Leading Edge Selling Tool by Miller Heiman Improves Performance of Sales Professionals

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Reno, NV – January 28, 2015 – Miller Heiman, the leader in global sales performance, announced the release of Advanced ConceptsSM, an on-demand sales training program that delivers relevant and actionable content on best practices to alumni of Miller Heiman’s Strategic Selling® and Conceptual Selling® sales methodologies. “When organizations invest in our sales training methodologies, we want them to know that we are there to support them throughout the whole process—not just during the initial sales training, but well beyond,” said Rich Goldman, director of products at Miller Heiman. “The Advanced ConceptsSM tool provides the necessary discipline to extend the learning event until the processes learned become internalized.” A highly dynamic and interactive training experience that takes just 20 minutes, Advanced ConceptsSM allows salespeople to quickly return to the field armed with customized action plans they can apply immediately. Once enrolled in Advanced ConceptsSM, salespeople get instant access to an array of high-level Strategic Selling® or Conceptual Selling® training tools including a new content related module to work on a live opportunity and various other resources. With so many choices, they are able to select the section most relevant to their work. Each section arms sales professionals with new knowledge and actionable steps. Sales managers receive an exclusive module in every section to help them support their teams through various sales challenges. Those insights equip sales managers with best practices to incorporate in coaching sessions. “From our research, we know that coaching is not always consistent or effective,” said Leigh Hooker, chief operations officer at Miller Heiman. “Because sales managers are the true stewards of any change initiative, we want to provide them with the resources they need to coach and map out strategies with their teams for each opportunity they pursue. Advanced ConceptsSM provides the necessary tools to empower sales managers to drive sustained improvement.”   About Miller Heiman Miller Heiman, a MHI Global Company, is the proven leader and innovator in sales execution. For more than 30 years, the company has helped businesses grow profitable sales by increasing their close rates, lowering the cost of sales and reducing the length of the sales cycle. Miller Heiman’s common framework of easily repeatable methodologies, combined with a tradition of research and thought leadership, helps firms of all sizes win complex sales. Miller Heiman is a worldwide leader in sales performance with programs in 20 languages and corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.   

Pearson Partners with Becker Professional Education to Improve Employability in Accounting

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New York, NY− January 29, 2015− According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of accountants and auditors is expected to grow faster through 2018 than for all the occupations the bureau tracks. To meet this growing demand, Pearson has announced its partnership with Becker Professional Education, the leading provider of CPA exam preparation materials. Beginning in July 2015, thousands of learners will have access to Becker’s high-quality content, which is integrated within MyAccountingLab® for Intermediate Accounting by Elizabeth Gordon, Jana Raedy and Alex Sannella. MyAccountingLab is an online homework, tutorial and assessment program designed to work with Intermediate Accounting to engage students and improve results. Becker’s content will be used to give students invaluable insight and practice to improve their readiness for the types of questions on the CPA exam. “The vast majority of accounting majors go on to take the CPA exam,” said Jonell Sanchez, vice president, global employability and career success at Pearson. “We are honored to partner with Becker to help more learners prepare for and achieve this critical credential, positioning them for greater career success.” “Pearson is one of the most recognized leaders in learning and this partnership enables us to jointly provide the necessary tools to assist in the education of tomorrow’s CPAs and future business leaders,” said Timothy McClinton, Becker’s vice president of U.S. Accounting. Additional Pearson Employability Initiatives Pearson is also working to improve employability for learners through its annual student contest in collaboration with RED, “The Pearson & (RED) Challenge” and MyITLab Microsoft Office Open Badges. -Pearson & (RED) Challenge: Each year, Pearson hosts a student contest in conjunction with (RED), which provides career development opportunities for marketing students. Students form teams and must create their own (RED) product concept, specifically targeted at the college market. The team must write a marketing plan and create a (RED) campaign with supporting promotional materials. All promotional materials and marketing plans are submitted for online voting and the top ten projects, based on voting, are sent to (RED) to be judged. In May 2015, the winners will be announced and Pearson will send the winning student team to New York to meet with (RED) executives and pitch their idea. -MyITLab Microsoft Office Open Badges: A badge is an online representation of a skill or achievement earned, designed to motivate behavior and establish credibility. Badges capture knowledge, skills and accomplishments that help transfer learning across different industries and help employers find the most unique talent and in-demand skills. MyITLab for Office 2013 and MyITLab for Office 2010 issue Open Badges using the Acclaim system. Acclaim is a platform that gives academic institutions, professional associations and credentialing programs the ability to translate and recognize someone's professional achievements and learning outcomes with Open Badges, which can be shared and validated online. MyITLab badges represent the competencies and skills that learners have not only mastered, but have also demonstrated through their completion of the course. MyITLab, part of the MyLab & Mastering series of online homework, tutorial and assessment products, provides realistic skill-based training and assessment which enables students to practice Microsoft Office application skills using multiple methods of completion. MyLab & Mastering is used by over 11 million students annually. “These additional employability initiatives demonstrate our commitment to providing learners with critical, transferable digital literacy skills along with occupation-specific skills necessary to prepare them for long-term success in the world of work,” said Sanchez.     About Pearson  Pearson is the world's leading learning company, with 40,000 employees in more than 80 countries working to help people of all ages make measurable progress in their lives through learning. For more information about Pearson, visit http://www.pearson.com. About Becker Professional Education Becker Professional Education, a part of DeVry Education Group, is a global leader in professional education serving the accounting, project management and healthcare professions. Nearly half a million professionals have prepared to advance their careers through its CPA Exam Review, ACCA® Courses, CMA Exam Review, PMP® Exam Review, USMLE® Review and Continuing Professional Education courses. For over 50 years, Becker has earned a strong track record of student success through world-class teaching, curriculum and learning tools that enable its students to develop the knowledge and performance skills necessary to stay ahead in an ever-changing business world. For more information about Becker Professional Education, visit http://www.becker.com.  

Qstream Sales Performance Platform Helps illy caffe North America Deliver Customer Value and Enriched Brand Experience

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BURLINGTON, MA - January 29, 2015 -  Qstream, developers of a new mobile platform for igniting high-performance sales teams in minutes a day, announced that illy caffè North America, a provider of super-premium coffee, is using Qstream's enterprise solution to assure associates can deliver quality coffee knowledge and preparation from bean to cup. Using game mechanics and a Harvard-proven approach, the Qstream solution delivered 100 percent engagement and increased essential brand and product knowledge among sales staff as well as quality assurance, technical and administrative team members -- simply by having them respond to scenario-based challenges via their smartphone or mobile device every few days. illy caffè deployed Qstream for the internal North American team, and based on the enthusiastic response, now plans to expand the use of the platform to include its consumer-facing staff at its branded cafés, where in-depth coffee knowledge is important to delivering an authentic brand experience. "We wanted an efficient solution that allowed the sales team to stay in the field and at the same time create a learning methodology that maximizes the level of knowledge retention essential to the illy brand," said Mark Romano, senior director of education, quality & sustainability at illy caffè North America. "Our staff embraced the convenience of Qstream, and there was a general sense of camaraderie and friendly competition among individuals and departments. Our most seasoned associates found value in the way information was presented through the Qstream solution." Using Qstream on any mobile device, users respond to brief Q&A challenges via push notifications, followed by rich-media explanations that reinforce the best responses and strengthen skills. Built-in game mechanics engage users in a competition that's fun and non-disruptive to work time. Qstream's Predictive Insights Engine then sifts and analyzes response data to provide continuous real-time management updates, comparisons and trends on team capabilities, as well as targeted coaching actions that contribute to management's ability to remediate gaps. Through Qstream's dashboards and insights data, illy was able to identify and address the needs of a strategic market segment by reinforcing key product knowledge needed by its team to be successful. "Education and training is core to the illy brand and links directly to the performance of many cafes, restaurants and hotel partners throughout the U.S. that serve illy products," Romano continued. "This is an innovative platform for knowledge reinforcement that we are applying to support our competitive advantage in the marketplace."   About Qstream Qstream is used by leading brands and eight of the top ten life sciences companies to manage the effectiveness of their sales and product teams. Developed at Harvard, Qstream's neuroscientific approach has been validated in more than 20 randomized trials to boost performance and durably change on-the-job behaviors. Available in 14 languages, the SaaS platform is easily deployed at scale in both mobile and desktop environments.

Britannica Launches Civil Aviation-Focused Customer Solutions Department

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Chicago, IL− February 2, 2015 − Britannica Knowledge Systems, maker of the leading commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software, the Fox Training Management System, has erected a new Customer Solutions Department dedicated to ensuring that Fox can most favorably meet the unique training management processing needs of each airline, FTO and training provider. Fox is endowed with innovative training solutions for managing AQP/ATQP, maintaining qualifications and certifications, optimizing scheduling and resources and overseeing grading and assessments. Britannica’s new Customer Solutions Department ensures that aviation training operations optimally reap the qualification, training and learning management rewards that Fox offers. “This department’s development is a natural outcome of Britannica’s business growth in the area of civil aviation,” said Miki Ringelhim, vice president of marketing and business development at Britannica. “These experts have developed a deep understanding of the unique needs of aviation training, which they couple with their system expertise to quickly deliver glove-fitting technology solutions.” Adi Silagy, Britannica’s former chief product manager serving Boeing Flight Services, NASA and the Israel Defense Forces, has been selected to lead the Customer Solutions Department. Engaged in the lifecycle of the project from the first interaction with the prospect through project completion, Silagy firmly believes that their involvement profoundly enriches aviation customer experience. “Access to our leading minds at the very first contact with a prospective airline or aviation training center helps shape the solution more accurately,” said Silagy. “Our professionals even often find themselves offering valuable best practices and internal process improvements to prospects before any decisions are made to purchase Fox.” The department’s uninterrupted project participation results in a reduction in project time. This is due to the ability to get up to speed quickly as aviation-specialized professionals and the flattening of the need for knowledge transfers between internal departments. “Our people can perform just about any role at any customer we serve,” said Silagy. “We leverage our in-depth aviation training management knowledge and expertise to ensure that customers successfully capitalize on the full value of Fox's offering and attain the desired ROI.” Britannica Customer Solutions professionals’ methodologies help them rapidly and deeply understand the business processes, needs, abilities and limitations of each aviation customer’s business unit. In activities such as qualifying a pilot, where the process involves interdepartmental collaboration and the interaction of multiple roles such as schedulers, administrative assistants, curriculum builders, records personnel, standards personnel and even TSA agents, the department’s efforts ensure that there is a smooth, coordinated handoff. They create differing Fox concepts of operation (ConOps) for various departments within a single organization, and they often act as a bridge between internal units and the IT department. The product is the optimal execution of each process in Fox, and the overall result is an efficient, cost-effective operation that ensures safety, proficiency and continuous qualification maintenance.   About Britannica Knowledge Systems Britannica Knowledge Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Encyclopedia Britannica, offers a comprehensive portfolio of integrated training management solutions. The company’s proven track record is based on more than 30 years of hands-on experience in providing ideal solutions for the most demanding training operations in the areas of defense, civil aviation, security, UAS and corporate business. The combination of a robust technology, proven methodologies and unparalleled commitment to quality, all contribute to the company’s success and reputable standing. 

Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Invests in Job Training, Working Families

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WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez today released the president's fiscal year 2016 budget for the Department of Labor, which supports the president's plan to strengthen the middle class and help America's hard-working families reap the benefits of an improved economy. "In his State of the Union address, President Obama said his budget would work to restore the link between hard work and growing opportunity for every American,” said Secretary Perez. “This department's budget expands our investments on behalf of working families; it reinforces our commitment to job training and apprenticeship, fair and equal pay, paid leave, safe workplaces and secure retirements.” The budget provides $13.2 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Labor. This funding level, coupled with new targeted mandatory investments, supports working families and helps them reach their full potential in our growing economy. The budget also makes investments to bolster the enforcement of critical wage and hour, whistleblower, retirement security and worker safety laws. The budget also makes improvements in DOL's programs and infrastructure to ensure they are positioned to meet the needs of the modern workforce and economy. The budget supports working families by including $2 billion for a Paid Leave Partnership Initiative to assist as many as five states that wish to launch paid leave programs, following the example of California, New Jersey and Rhode Island. States that participate in the Paid Leave Partnership Initiative would be eligible to receive funds for the initial set up and half of benefits for three years. The budget also includes a $35 million State Paid Leave Fund to provide technical assistance and support to states that are still building the infrastructure they need to launch paid leave programs in the future. Building on the bipartisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the budget makes investments that connect workers with jobs, prepare workers with the skills employers need, and expand proven models. For those who have lost their jobs, the budget includes an additional $500 million for in-person employment services to help them find a good job or the training or services to prepare for one. This investment would reach one-third of unemployment insurance beneficiaries who are most likely to run out of benefits before getting reemployed, all recently-separated veterans who receive unemployment benefits, and other displaced workers who come into the American Job Center network for help getting back to work and onto a new career path. For workers who need job training to get back on their feet, the budget would double the number of workers receiving training through the workforce development system and focus on industries that are expected to experience significant growth in the coming decades, such as health care, energy and advanced manufacturing. The budget also looks to replicate the successful "learn-and-earn" approaches of our European colleagues, investing more than $2 billion to achieve the goal of doubling the number of Registered Apprenticeships across the country over the next five years. Apprenticeship is a cost-effective pathway into the middle class. According to the department's data, those who complete registered apprenticeship programs earn median wages over $50,000 and more than 90 percent are employed after completion. To help improve the quality of training programs and speed the development of credentials that have real labor market value, the budget provides $500 million for competitive Industry Credentialing and Career Pathways Grants. The funding includes $300 million specifically targeted at information technology jobs, to create employer-validated credentials where they do not exist, drive additional employer uptake of existing credentials and develop curriculum and assessments that help individuals earn credentials. The budget also provides funding for states to remove barriers to employment and entrepreneurship. A $15 million grant fund would help a consortia of states identify, explore, and address areas where licensing requirements create barriers to labor market entry or labor mobility. Building on the success of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training program, the budget continues the work of forming crucial partnerships between community colleges and other training programs and employers by including $200 million for an American Technical Training Fund at the Department of Education. The funding will support the development of job-driven technical training focused on in-demand fields such as energy, manufacturing, health care and information technology. The fund would be jointly administered with the Department of Labor to help ensure that projects are well-integrated into the workforce system. The budget also provides $3 billion to meet the needs of disconnected youth through the Connecting with Opportunity Initiative. The initiative includes $1.5 billion in formula grants for localities to expand summer and year-round job opportunities, as well as $1.5 billion to create educational and workforce pathways for disconnected youth. This program will support disconnected youth in earning high school diplomas, improving their educational attainment and increasing long-term job prospects. The budget includes nearly $1.9 billion for the department's worker protection agencies, putting them on sound footing to meet their re­sponsibilities to defend the health, safety, wages, working conditions and retirement security of American workers. The budget includes: $207 million for the Employee Benefits Security Administration to provide benefit security to the public and increase their confidence that their retirement, health and other benefits will be available when needed. The budget includes proposals that would make saving easier for millions of Americans currently without employer-based retirement plans. $114 million for the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to enforce equal employment opportunity with federal contractors. $277 million for the Wage and Hour Division to ensure workers receive appropriate wages and overtime pay, as well as the right to take job-protected leave for family and medical leave purposes. $592 million for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to foster employer compliance with safety and health regulations and inspect hazardous workplaces, and strengthen its protection of whistleblowers against retaliation for reporting unsafe and unscrupulous practices. $395 million for the Mine Safety and Health Administration to help protect workers in one of our nation's most dangerous industries. For more information on the president's fiscal year 2016 budget for the Department of Labor, visit http://www.dol.gov/dol/budget/. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor 

Top 10 for IMC Learning Suite in Latest 2015 Top 50 LMS Ranking

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Saarbruecken, Graz− February 3, 2015− Craig Weiss, named the most influential person for e-learning on the industry's “Top Ten” annual list globally, has published his annual State of the LMS Industry Report for 2015 on his blog “E-Learning 24/7 Blog”. His report contains an independent analysis of 645 Learning Management Systems from all over the world. IMC has again secured a position within the top ten rankings for LMS providers. Analyzing the Learning Management Systems over different verticals, Weiss has ranked the IMC Learning Suite as the number one solution for governmental organizations and the healthcare industry. Weiss ranks the IMC Learning Suite in second place for large businesses (10,000+ employees). The ranking is based on different criteria such as support and service, user interface and general features. "An all-around super performer! One of the real strengths of this LMS is its completely intuitive and easy to use user interface in combination with the powerfulness of the solution itself,” said Weiss. “One can easily configure and use it according their level of experience and needs.” Weiss lists the Learning Suite's product strengths, amongst others, as: No charge for APIs. Robust in mobile including the branding of the mobile app. Ideal for 10,000+ internal and B2B / B2C. “This ranking reflects our leading position in the LMS market,” said Dr. Tobias Bickle, board member of IMC and responsible for research and development, about Weiss's assessment. “Our numerous customers appreciate it. We see this announcement as a clear recognition of our innovative and dedicated approach to the development strategy of the Learning Suite.”  For more information please visit us at: www.im-c.com. About IMC: IMC is an international leading full-service provider for digital learning. The product and service portfolio ranges from bespoke e-learning content, authoring and publishing solutions to learning and talent management suites. Multimedia and video productions as well as business process guidance and compliance solutions are also an integral part of IMC´s offering. Worldwide, IMC´s all-embracing technologies and services support more than 1,000 companies, public institutions and educational establishments of all sizes and in all sectors in the planning, developing and implementing of mature HR development strategies. On the MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) platform www.opencourseworld.com, interested parties from students to managers benefit from free publically available academic teaching. The company has its headquarters in Saarbruecken, branches in Munich and Freiburg and subsidiaries in Australia (Melbourne), Great Britain (London), Austria (Graz), Romania (Sibiu) and Switzerland (Zurich). IMC is also represented with partner offices in numerous other countries.  

PE-backed Blackboard to acquire Schoolwires

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WASHINGTON −Feb. 4, 2015— Blackboard Inc. announced a definitive agreement to acquire Schoolwires, one of the leading educational website, hosting and content management providers to K-12 schools and districts. The acquisition of Schoolwires will better position Blackboard to improve the student experience through an unmatched combination of K-12 solutions and services focused on communication and engagement. Following the acquisition of ParentLink last year, the announcement represents the next step in Blackboard’s plan to provide a comprehensive set of solutions that address the needs of all K-12 stakeholders including students, teachers, parents and administrators. It also will help Blackboard deliver on its strategy to offer technology innovations that help prepare students with the necessary experience and skills for higher education and job success. Schoolwires provides a suite of technology products and related services to more than 11 million users and 1,700 districts and educational entities in the U.S. and China. Its solutions include an integrated website and content management system, a social learning and networking system, a family of mobile applications and an enterprise technology platform. Through this acquisition, Blackboard will further establish its position as a leading provider of school websites and parent notification solutions. “Now, more than ever before, we are aggressively driving toward our mission of advancing students’ education journey and positioning them for success across their lifelong learning experience, which begins at the K-12 level,” said Jay Bhatt, CEO of Blackboard. “An informed and engaged K-12 community is the foundation for improved teaching and learning, and school websites and apps are the natural way that process begins each day. With Schoolwires, we will help schools meet the evolving needs of their community and improve outcomes for their students.” “Today’s news marks a great milestone for Schoolwires and we couldn’t be more excited to join the Blackboard team,” said Christiane Crawford, president and CEO of Schoolwires. “We are eager to merge these two industry-leading teams and continue our pursuit of helping students be more successful, improving the educational experience in K-12 and investing in the future of this industry.” Blackboard has provided website hosting and content management solutions for school and district websites since it merged with Edline in 2011. The addition of Schoolwires’ best-in-class solutions and apps will enhance Blackboard’s parent and community engagement solutions, advance the company’s overall strategy for K-12 and expand its partner ecosystem. Subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions, the transaction is expected to close later this year. About Blackboard Inc. Blackboard is the world’s leading education technology company. We challenge conventional thinking and advance new models of learning in order to reimagine education and make it more accessible, engaging and relevant to the modern day learner and the institutions that serve them. In partnership with our customers and partners in higher education and K-12 as well as corporations and government agencies around the world, our mission is to help every learner achieve their full potential by inspiring a passion for lifelong learning.  

Global B2B Sales Training Firm, The Brooks Group, Announces Details for Annual Sales Leadership Summit

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February 9, 2015­­— Anticipating one of the most monumental events in company history, award-winning corporate sales training and assessment solutions company, The Brooks Group, is pleased to announce details for its upcoming annual Sales Leadership Summit to be held August 24-26, 2015  in Chicago, Ill. The dynamic, three-day conference will feature a carefully curated selection of sales leadership talks from some of the most inspirational and influential personalities in the industry. The goal of the Sales Leadership Summit is to bring together extremely passionate senior sales leaders from various markets around the world and provide an engaging experience for speakers and participants alike that fosters networking, collaboration, education and growth. Topics range from establishing an unshakable sales approach, to identifying the latest customer acquisition trends, forecasting new technologies on the horizon and everything in between.     “Our action-packed agenda each year includes a very diverse lineup of keynote speakers and experts within their field to give attendees very practical insights, which translate to immediate real-world value,” said Jeb Brooks, CEO of The Brooks Group. “It’s a very high-energy atmosphere with plenty of high-payoff information that’s a trademark of this event.”    Enrollment for the Sales Leadership Summit is available to any senior executive responsible for guiding their organization’s sales effort who is seeking improved sales performance and stronger sales effectiveness. This experience has helped businesses not just maneuver through today’s evolving sales climate, but stay ahead of it. Tickets to the event are limited, so anyone interested can reserve a spot now. “We pride ourselves on making each and every one of our live events better than the last,” Brooks said. “How do we know that? Because there are always people in attendance who have been to past events. They get so fired up to go back and share all the new information with their organizations.” For more information including this year’s speakers and agenda, or to purchase tickets, visit the Sales Leadership Summit website at www.SalesLeadership2015.com   ABOUT THE BROOKS GROUP Founded in 1977, The Brooks Group is an award-winning B2B sales training company focused on bringing practical, straightforward solutions to your sales force selection and training challenges. The Brooks Group’s sales and sales management training programs are taught and reinforced in a way that guarantees clients realize a return on their training dollars. The Brooks Group’s clients get the best available resources for screening, training, developing and retaining sales and sales management talent customized specifically to their organization’s needs.     

MicroTek Renovates Orlando Facility To Include Virtual Training Rooms

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(January 16, 2015—Chicago, IL) MicroTek, a global provider of on-demand business training and meeting solutions, has renovated its 11,000 square foot training facility in Orlando, Florida, to include virtual training and meeting rooms. Each of the center’s nine computer classrooms now has the capability to offer a blended learning environment of instructor-led training with virtual participants. The enhancements make MicroTek’s Orlando’s facility among the most technologically advanced hybrid training centers in Florida. “MicroTek’s virtual training products support the evolution of the learning experience by harnessing innovative collaboration solutions to expand the reach of the classroom. This is a powerful and easy-to-use solution designed to combine the best of both teaching modalities, live onsite facility based classroom training for local and remote students.  We are committed to our customer’s success and having these enhancements now in Orlando, along with our other U.S. locations provides us the additional capacity and expertise to support hybrid learning into all of our customer's student locations. Having well-designed training sites in popular major metropolitan locations supports our industry- leading service teams that manage these elearning products by providing a total training solution” said Hugh McCullen, MicroTek President. The aesthetic components of the renovation included the installation of new café flooring, carpeting, light fixtures and furniture. The facility was also painted to a brighter, more energizing color scheme. “Over the past two years, MicroTek has been in the process of renovating our facilities to a new contemporary design and open floor plan, one that is much more conducive to the modern training environment,” said Bill Taylor, Vice President, Facility Resources. The facility boasts a full-time hospitality staff, an around-the-clock technical support person and a full-range of guest amenities. Each of the facility’s classrooms is equipped with high-speed fiber internet connections and premium bandwidth. Renovations are also scheduled for MicroTek’s LA, Chicago and New York training facilities this year, guaranteeing that all centers will have been updated by the end of 2015.  “We’re very excited about our new look, and have been getting tremendous feedback from instructors and students about our new training facilities,” said Bill Taylor, Vice President, Facility Resources. The space, which is open and fully operational, is located at 2145 Metrocenter Boulevard, suite 150, in Orlando. To schedule a tour, please contact a MicroTek representative at 1.800.207.9620. ABOUT MICROTEK Since 1991, MicroTek has been the industry's leading, single-source provider of training and meeting solutions. With a base of 12 major metro learning campuses nationwide and a network of over 3,000 fully vetted training sites worldwide, MicroTek is equipped to manage and execute any sized training program—anywhere in the world. MicroTek's end-to-end training and meeting solutions include virtual platforms, event management, instructor deployment, courseware management, scheduling and project implementation. MicroTek was named a Top Training Company for the sixth consecutive year by Trainingindustry.com. ###

Game based Learning Playing Games During Work Hours

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Saarbruecken, Graz− February 16th 2015 −“Game-based learning” is the topic on everyone’s lips in 2015. The Game Boy generation who grew up with video games is becoming ever more present in the workplace. These “digital natives” expect more from current media than standard lengthy and unvaried learning sequences with multiple choice tests. Companies need to respond to this challenge. “Companies who are thinking about how to shape their education and training, can’t afford to ignore the topic of ‘digital game-based learning,’” said Christian Wachter, member of the IMC Management Board. Since 1996, full-service e-learning provider, IMC, has been conducting research on how learning is changing and how it is likely to look in the future. The creative ideas resulting from this research are often incorporated into IMC’s wide-ranging product portfolio. To make these innovative options and ideas more easily communicable and appealing to those interested, IMC has recently refreshed its e-learning content website. The new design puts the idea of fun at the forefront and interested parties can find out more information about the creative and innovative approaches IMC have to offer, such as their Web-Based Comic Training or the IMC Knowledge Challenge. For more information please visit us at www.im-c.com.

Leading Insurance Company Partners With KnowledgePool to Help Transform Their Learning

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February 12, 2015− KnowledgePool wins a £3m, three year contract to design, supply, and implement a transformational Managed Learning Service for one of the UK's leading insurance businesses. This flagship company has appointed KnowledgePool as its principle provider of learning services. KnowledgePool will act as their Managed Service Provider (MSP), managing all learning activity and operations through a single channel to maximize return on their training investments and ultimately improve the performance of its employees. As one of the UK's leading insurance businesses with multiple brands, products and distribution channels, learning and development (L&D) is invaluable to them. With this in mind, all external training for their 13,900 UK employees, will be sourced, managed, administered and evaluated by KnowledgePool, freeing up their in-house L&D team to focus on the more value-added and strategic tasks. This flexible and secure partnership will enable this new client to increase their effectiveness and maximize their L&D budget. Solution highlights include: Independent training procurement objectively advising on best-of-breed solutions, negotiated with consistent terms and preferential rates to save money Efficient learning administration, providing a one-stop-shop specialist technology, including the people and processes necessary for consistent data capture and reporting 70:20:10 'ethos' providing professional advice and guidance to encourage the use of informal and blended learning Using learning analytics expertise to make sense of the activity and evaluation data collated to provide learning optimization with future activity "We will help to streamline processes, save costs and ensure the business has the learning and development that's required. It's a mutually beneficial relationship,” said Russell Kenrick, business development director at KnowledgePool. "This is a great way to start the year and we are extremely proud to be partnering with another flagship company,” said Al Bird, managing director at KnowledgePool. “Our success is testament to the passion and enthusiasm of our people combined with our unique and highly-effective approach to managed learning." This new contract further adds to KnowledgePool's flagship client list which also includes Aviva, EE and Virgin Media.

Sitecore Chooses MicroTek To Facilitate Nationwide Training Schedule in 2015

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February 13, 2015—Chicago, IL− MicroTek, a global provider of on-demand business training and meeting solutions, is excited to announce that Sitecore has selected MicroTek as their partner of choice to provide training facilities and meeting solutions in 2015. Sitecore needed a powerful solution to effectively deliver its public training courses in 11 locations across the U.S. Each training event would require four to five onsite training days as well as wireless access points and premium bandwidth assurance services. Sitecore sought to streamline the process of investigating and booking multi-city, technically-equipped training venues. As a leader in the technical training space, Sitecore knew MicroTek could manage the entire process from beginning to end, enabling Sitecore to focus their attention on other responsibilities within the company. “We are proud to support Sitecore, the industry’s leading provider of web content services focused on customer experience management,” said Hugh McCullen, president of MicroTek. “Sitecore’s complete program of education services for marketers, business users, administrators and developers is in part supported by MicroTek’s Learning Experience Services and we are focused on their continued success.” Sitecore used MicroTek to deliver training venues and meetings solutions in 2014. Impressed by the quality of their facilities, easy-to-use scheduling system and quick response times, Sitecore chose to continue the partnership and outsource their entire training schedule to MicroTek in 2015. ABOUT MICROTEK Since 1991, MicroTek has been the industry's leading, single-source provider of training and meeting solutions. With a base of 12 major metro learning campuses nationwide and a network of over 3,000 fully vetted training sites worldwide, MicroTek is equipped to manage and execute any sized training program, anywhere in the world. MicroTek's end-to-end training and meeting solutions include virtual platforms, event management, instructor deployment, courseware management, scheduling and project implementation. 

Former Richardson CEO David DiStefano Joins PeopleLinx Executive Team

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Philadelphia, PA− February 17, 2015– PeopleLinx today announced that David DiStefano has joined its executive team as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). The move unites one of the most respected leaders in sales training and performance with one of the fastest-growing players in the emerging area of social selling. “PeopleLinx is defining the future of sales and sales enablement,” said DiStefano of his decision to join the company. “Social networks are transforming the way people buy and sell, and sales teams need help. PeopleLinx stands alone because it has technology that integrates social into sales process and CRM.” DiStefano also said PeopleLinx’s customer list factored into his decision. “PeopleLinx is working with the Fortune 100, the Big Four accounting firms, the Am Law 100. They’re getting customer traction you’d expect from a much bigger and older company.” DiStefano was CEO of Richardson, one of the world’s leading training firms for sales performance, where he worked with senior leaders in sales and sales enablement at hundreds of blue-chip clients. During his 20-year tenure with Richardson, he was instrumental in the firm’s sustained growth and rise to international prominence in the sales performance field. “No one knows more about sales methodology, process and enablement than David DiStefano,” said PeopleLinx CEO Kevin O’Nell. “His decision to join PeopleLinx is a watershed event. It highlights the growing importance of social to the sales process, and it further strengthens PeopleLinx’s standing as a leading provider of social selling solutions to large enterprises.” The DiStefano announcement came two weeks after PeopleLinx achieved another milestone: the launch of its new social selling app in the Salesforce AppExchange. “The PeopleLinx app really impresses me,” DiStefano said. “By tying into Salesforce, the app tells each rep exactly what to do on LinkedIn and Twitter based on their book of business—what to put on their profile, whom to connect with, what to share. It’s amazing.” Industry observers praised the move as an indicator of significant growth potential for sales enablement as a technology category. “At Aragon we’ve been saying for a while that sales enablement is one of the fastest growing software categories and that suggests that firms such as PeopleLinx have a bright future,” said Aragon Research founder and CEO Jim Lundy. “David Distefano is well known with sales leaders around the world. He helps round out a solid management team at PeopleLinx, whose social selling platform is making an impact in the market.” About PeopleLinx PeopleLinx makes social selling easy. Founded by early LinkedIn employees, PeopleLinx guides sales professionals to build relationships, attract qualified leads and drive upsells using online social networks. Our technology maps to your sales process, integrates with CRM and measures results. A Gartner Cool Vendor, PeopleLinx’s customers include Fortune 500 leaders in financial services, high-tech and professional services. Visit www.PeopleLinx.com for more information.

Ardent Learning and Nissan North America Win Leading Quality Organization Award

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Rochester, NY−February 17, 2015− Ardent Learning, a leader in tailored training solutions has won, for the second time, The Outstanding Human Performance Intervention from the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI). The 2015 award recognizes outstanding results derived from the successful application of Human Performance Technology to human performance problems, needs or opportunities. In partnership with Nissan North America (NNA), Ardent Learning developed a comprehensive automobile service curriculum and performance support program for Nissan dealerships’ Service Advisors and Service Managers called Nissan-SERV (Service Excellence Retail Venue). The program supports Nissan’s strategy to increase customer service loyalty and retention, particularly in out-of-warranty situations and also to increase customer satisfaction, parts and service sales. Working together, Ardent Learning and Nissan identified the following performance results and outcome metrics: Improved customers’ overall service experience Improved customers’ likelihood of returning to the Nissan dealership for their next service visit Nissan - SERV knowledge retention Increase in service customer retention at Nissan - SERV dealerships “The Ardent team understood our specific requirements for Nissan-SERV and delivered a program that was very innovative and aligned to our strategy,” said Ed Hibma, senior manager, Aftersales Training at Nissan North America. “The data shows that Nissan-SERV delivered statistically significant improvements in our key metrics, particularly in customers’ intent to return for future service. We are delighted the program has been recognized by ISPI.” Ardent Learning develops custom training solutions that focus on identifying behavior and result gaps. Based on Binder’s Six Boxes® categories, N-SERV impacts KPI metrics accounting for gaps in all six areas including service process improvement, in-dealer training, coaching workshops and elements to sustain behavior change. “To have Ardent Learning recognized is great and to have ISPI provide us the award for a second time shows we can consistently deliver results for our clients.” said Rich Fox, Ardent President & CEO. “With the Nissan-SERV solution, we are fulfilling our company’s goal to be the learning partner who delivers impactful, systematic approaches to making employees more productive. With Nissan we are helping them be more competitive and that makes us very proud.”   About Ardent Learning Founded in 1992, Ardent Learning is a leading provider of custom learning and performance improvement solutions. Throughout its history, Ardent has provided innovative solutions to the automotive, financial services, retail and other industries. Using a variety of delivery methods including classroom, web based, e-learning courses and technology based products, Ardent applies instructional design to practical real world problems.

Erickson Coaching International Partners With Growth Engineering to Launch New Online Academy

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Vancouver, BC – February 18, 2015 – Erickson Coaching International, the leading Canadian coaching and training organization, has teamed up with award-winning learning technology company Growth Engineering to launch the new online academy for The Art & Science of Coaching. Building on the organization’s history as the first to market for true webinar-based training, Erickson will be integrating the latest adult learning theory and principles with Growth Engineering’s technologically advanced Learning Management System (LMS), ranked the best NextGen LMS in the world by e-learning expert Craig Weiss. "We're very excited about our partnership with Growth," said Marilyn Atkinson, founder of Erickson. "The breadth of the tools and offerings of its Academy LMS mean we can really enrich the learning environment for our students. We're especially excited about the opportunity to offer interactive technologies which make the entire learning process more engaging and enjoyable." Erickson’s new Online Academy is a next generation educational portal using Growth Engineering’s gamified social LMS to create vibrant, engaged learning communities. It enables learners to comment, rate content and post videos and images. It also incorporates gamification features such as badges, achievements and leader boards, which help to engage and motivate them to take an active role in their own learning and development. Learners rate it very highly in terms of both enjoyment and effectiveness of learning. Growth Engineering has proven success in securing learner engagement and delivering sustained educational change for other global institutions, such as CISCO and HP. This partnership will enable Erickson to continue its reputation as a global leader in the coach training space. “As our first client within the Canadian market, Erickson Coaching International is a thrilling opportunity,” said Juliette Denny, managing director of Growth Engineering. “We are excited to be focusing on the fast-growing Higher Education sector with a prestigious brand such as Erickson and are looking forward to making it a tremendous success.”   About Erickson Coaching International: With more than 40,000 graduates in more than 36 countries, Erickson Coaching International has been a pioneer in transformational coach training and business leadership programs since 1980. Courses are available in coach training, accelerated learning, leadership development and coaching excellence at international and satellite locations around the world. Erickson College's The Art & Science of Coaching is an International Coach Federation Accredited Coach Training Program and is one of the leading and fastest growing training programs in the world. For more information, visit http://erickson.edu/. About Growth Engineering: Growth Engineering are the arch-enemies of dull online learning. We work towards challenging every preconceived notion of e-learning to establish a new and refreshing experience for learners. We aid and inspire learning by creating innovative learning designs and using modern technologies. 

Global Engagement Agency BI WORLDWIDE Uses Qstream to Maximize Training Investments of Major Enterprise Clients

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Burlington, MA−February 18, 2015− Qstream, makers of a mobile enterprise solution for igniting high-performance sales teams, announced that BI WORLDWIDE (BIW), a recognized leader in employee and customer engagement and sales force effectiveness, is using the Qstream platform to power its new Got !t sales reinforcement solution across a range of industries in 14 languages -- to help clients boost knowledge retention and transform selling skills. With headquarters in Australia, Canada, China, India, Latin America, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States, BIW provides custom training solutions designed to change behaviors for sales and employee audiences. Today their customers include many of the Global 2000. By partnering with Qstream, BIW can leverage the latest in mobile technology, gamification, big data and neuroscience to help clients achieve their strategic business goals. "The problem is that people forget stuff,” said Peder Jacobson, vice president of learning at BIW. “Learning content must be remembered before it can make a lasting impact. By working with Qstream, our Got !t solution helps squeeze every last drop of effectiveness out of learning investments to dramatically increase retention and change on-the-job behaviors. We now have BIW Business Development Directors selling the solution and are already delivering our first Got !t project. Together with our own Chameleon 2.0 e-learning platform, Got It! provides a powerful approach to ensuring that newly acquired sales skills get put to work in the field." Developed at Harvard, Qstream's solution has been scientifically proven in dozens of clinical trials to change selling behaviors with impact to the bottom line. Using Qstream, reps respond to brief scenario-based challenges pushed to their phone or mobile device every few days. Built-in game mechanics engage reps in an experience that's fun and non-disruptive to selling time. Qstream's data engine then analyzes response data in real-time to deliver predictive, actionable insights to sales managers, such as highly targeted coaching opportunities and sales confidence indicators. Unlike solutions that tether client conversations to rote presentations, Qstream equips sales reps for dynamic, value-added business conversations and behaviors that drive revenue and keep pace with market change. Peer-reviewed research shows that the platform's interval reinforcement approach increases retention by up to 170 percent and can durably change on-the-job behaviors. "The science behind how humans commit vital information to long-term memory shows how difficult it is to create sales training programs that are conducive to the way our brains really work without a solution like Qstream," said John Calcio, vice president of channel development for Qstream. "Recognizing BI WORLDWIDE's commitment to helping clients and their brands to engage with socially connected, global and multi-cultural audiences, we are delighted to welcome them to our expanding global network of Qstream-based solution providers." About BI WORLDWIDE BI WORLDWIDE is a global engagement agency that uses the principles of behavioral economics to produce measurable results for its clients by driving and sustaining engagement with their employees, channel partners and customers. Supporting 120 countries through seven global headquarters and operating in 22 languages, BIW continues to bring best in class solutions to its global and regional customers. About Qstream Qstream is used by leading brands and eight of the top ten life sciences companies to manage the effectiveness of their sales teams. Developed at Harvard, Qstream's neuroscientific approach has been validated in more than 20 randomized trials to boost performance and durably change on-the-job behaviors. Available in 14 languages, the SaaS platform is easily deployed at scale in both mobile and desktop environments. To learn more, visit Qstream.com.
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