CBORD Awarded Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Status for Third Year

For Immediate Release

Ithaca, New York—The CBORD Group, Inc., today announced it has attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program for a third consecutive year, with competencies in Data Management Solutions, Independent Software Vendor (ISV)/Software Solutions, Mobility Solutions, Networking Infrastructure Solutions, and Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and Business Processes. As a Gold Certified Partner, CBORD^® has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and has proven its impact in the technology marketplace. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners possess the highest level of expertise in Microsoft technologies, and as such are granted a rich set of benefits, including access, training, and support, giving them a competitive advantage.

CBORD is the world's leading provider of campus and cashless card systems, food and nutrition service management software, nationwide student discount and off-campus commerce programs, housing and judicial process management software, and integrated security solutions. Microsoft technologies, such as the Microsoft .NET Framework and Microsoft SQL Server 2005, make it possible for CBORD to deliver reliable, state-of-the-art products such as NetMenu^®, NetCatering^®, and NetNutrition^®.

"CBORD's designation, for a third consecutive year, as a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner demonstrates our professionals' unending commitment to achieving the highest levels of expertise and providing unrivaled technologies and services to our customers," said Randy Eckels, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, CBORD.

As a CBORD client, Kane Scott, Manager, Information Technology, ARAMARK Sports and Entertainment, Convention Center and Cultural Attractions Division, appreciates the partnership between CBORD and Microsoft. CBORD's EventMaster^® catering management software, used by ARAMARK, recently moved to the Microsoft SQL Server, and Scott already realizes the benefits.

"The SQL Server database is reliable, requires less maintenance, and is faster and more dynamic than the previous flat-file database," Scott said. "It's also easier to maintain: SQL Server is made to run very large databases, so there's no more archiving data or worrying about the size of the database. The conversion to Microsoft SQL Server is one of the best things CBORD has done," added Scott.

"Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities," said Tom Litchford, U.S. Retail Industry Director, Microsoft Corp. "They need to trust in a company that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans. Today, Microsoft recognizes CBORD for demonstrating its proven ability to build a positive customer experience with our technologies, and we'll continue to work together to help our mutual customers achieve business success."

The Microsoft Partner Program was launched in October 2003 and represents Microsoft's ongoing commitment to the success of partners worldwide. The program offers a single integrated partnering framework that recognizes partner expertise, rewards the total impact that partners have in the technology marketplace, and delivers more value to help partners' businesses be successful.

About The CBORD Group

The CBORD Group serves colleges and universities, healthcare facilities, chain restaurants, supermarkets, continuing care facilities, corporations, and a host of other market segments. CBORD's products are used in food service, catering, nutrition services, online ordering, cashless dining, campus ID card privilege control, access control, integrated security, housing services, and other institution-wide activities. The CBORD Group serves more than 6,000 clients in the U.S., Canada, Europe, South Africa, the Middle East, New Zealand, and Australia.

The CBORD Group was founded in 1975. Today it employs more than 475 professionals. To learn more about CBORD, visit us at www.cbord.com.

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