UBM TechWeb's HDI Announces New Desktop Support Advisory Board, Expanded
Offering for the Desktop Support Community

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., June 11 /CNW/ -- HDI (http://www.thinkhdi.com), a global association for IT service and technical support professionals and the premier certification body for the industry, today announced two inaugural desktop support advisory groups: the HDI Desktop Support Advisory Board and the HDI Desktop Support Leadership Council.

Desktop support responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the provisioning of hardware, software applications, operating systems, and network connectivity. The mission of the HDI Desktop Advisory Board is to provide HDI guidance in the development of industry standards, best practices, research, and professional development specific to the unique needs and responsibilities of the desktop support community. The HDI Desktop Support Leadership Council will review and provide feedback on initiatives presented by the Desktop Support Advisory Board.

Combined, these two groups represent six countries (Australia, Canada, India, the Philippines, Switzerland, and the United States) and eleven Fortune 500 companies, including Alcoa, Citigroup, FedEx, First Data Corp, Hewlett-Packard, MassMutual Financial Group, Mattel, Pepco Holdings, Texas Instruments, United Health Group, and Williams Companies.

Earl Begley, ITSM Implementation Project Manager for the University of Kentucky, has been selected to chair the HDI Desktop Advisory Board. Other board members include:

    
    Ronald Ables, IT Support Center Manager, EPCO, Inc.
    Earl Begley, ITSM Implementation Project Manager, University Of
     Kentucky
    Thomas Blazek, Regional Infrastructure Delivery Services Manager,
     Alcoa Inc.
    Frankie Bravo, Desktop Support Supervisor, Carnival Cruise Lines
    Shannon Cepica, Managing Director, Texas Tech University
    Eric Decker, Director, US Support and Operations, Merial
    Rosanne Delaney, Senior Vice President, Mesirow Financial
    Malcolm Fisher, Global Manager, IT Services, O-I
    Mark Fitzgerald, Manager, User Services, Boise State University
    Leo Forget, Delivery Director, Technisource
    Gaurav Gupte, Manager, Global Operations and Support, SunGard
    Jean-Christophe Guyot, Manager, Assets and Service Management, Philip
     Morris International
    Lucia Jenkins, Director, IT Support Operations, Network Alliance
    Scott Kessler, Director, Client Management Services, TechTeam Global,
     Inc.
    Phillip Kimball, Service Management Manager, University of Utah
     Hospital
    Brad Kramer, Customer Solution Architect, CA
    Lawrence Lenzini, Senior Engagement Manager, CDC Global Services
    Brantley Lott, Senior Information Systems Technician, EMS
     Technologies, Inc.
    Vince Lyons, PC Services Manager, Corporate /Mid-Atlantic Regions,
     Ricoh Corporation of America
    Kathleen Oden, Information Resource Support Specialist, Texas
     Department of Transportation
    Chris Ohlandt, Director, Division of Customer Support /Center for
     Information Technology, National Institutes of Health
    David Sharp, Director of Network Convergence, LiquidHub
    Kristy Trice, Manager, End User Computing Services, L.L.Bean
    Jason Tryon, Service Desk Delivery Manager, Hewlett-Packard
    Eddie Vidal, Manager, Enterprise Services Support, University of Miami
    

Currently, HDI offers a Desktop Support Technician certification. The training course, available both online and in the classroom, focuses on key support center processes and concepts to improve overall support operations, as well as customer service and interpersonal skills that improve the customer's experience. In addition, HDI members are provided with articles and resources to assist with the advancement of desktop support operations. Future HDI plans include the release of Desktop Support Manager certification and training.

About HDI

HDI is the world's largest IT service and technical support membership association and the industry's premier certification and training body. Guided by an international panel of industry experts and practitioners, HDI is the leading resource for help desk/support center emerging trends and best practices. HDI provides members with a vast repository of resources, networking opportunities, and the largest industry event, the HDI Annual Conference & Expo. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA, HDI offers training in multiple languages and countries. For more information, visit www.ThinkHDI.com or call +1 719.268.0174. HDI is part of UBM TechWeb.

About UBM TechWeb (http://www.ubmtechweb.com)

UBM TechWeb, the global leader in technology media and professional information, enables people and organizations to harness the transformative power of technology. Through its core businesses - media solutions, marketing services, and professional information - UBM TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed brands, applications, and services in the technology market. More than 14.5 million business and technology professionals (CIOs, IT and IT Support managers, Web and digital professionals, software and game developers, government decision makers, telecom providers and business executives) actively participate in UBM TechWeb's communities. UBM TechWeb brands include: global face-to-face events such as Interop, Game Developers Conference (GDC), Web 2.0, Black Hat, and VoiceCon; large-scale online networks such as InformationWeek, Light Reading, and Gamasutra; research, training, and certification services, including HDI, Pyramid Research, and InformationWeek Analytics; and market-leading magazines such as InformationWeek and Wall Street & Technology. UBM TechWeb is part of UBM, a global provider of media and information services for professional B2B communities and markets.

For further information: For further information: Allison Wroe, Executive Director of Marketing of HDI, [phone], [email protected]; Web Site: http://www.ubmtechweb.com, http://www.thinkhdi.com