Connect Plans to Open Seven New Chapters Worldwide on First Year Anniversary

HP User Group Also Names Recipients of Volunteer of the Year and the HP Recognition Award

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Connect, HP’s largest user group with more than 50,000 members including HP business technology customers, partners and industry experts, announced today that it will add seven chapters to the existing 31 chapters worldwide by the end of 2009.

“We are fortunate to have a group of customers so passionate and dedicated to HP as Connect members and I am honored by their recognition.”

The announcement, made at HP’s Technology Forum & Expo, marks the first anniversary of former HP user groups Encompass, ITUG and HP-Interex EMEA coming together to form Connect. The new chapter openings include Austin, Fresno, Las Vegas and Sacramento, as well as international chapters in Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

“This is a tremendous time to be part of the Connect organization,” said Nina Buik, Connect, President. “The growth Connect has seen over the last year is a testament to the value customers and vendors have realized through membership. Our goal is to continue to provide members with ongoing technology education and awareness, peer-to-peer networking and a community voice program dedicated to achieving organizational business objectives and driving personal career advancement.

Recognizing leaders in the community

Each year Connect recognizes two individuals for their dedication to the organization by awarding a Volunteer of the Year and an HP Recognition Award. This year the Volunteer of the Year award went to Jill Bourman from the Anoka County School District in Anoka, Minnesota. Bourman was distinguished for her outstanding and exemplary service to Connect and its members, as well as the development and leadership of Connect’s chapter in Minnesota.

In addition, Deborah Nelson, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Technology Solutions Group, received the HP Recognition Award in appreciation of her commitment to Connect’s mission. Since the formation of Connect, Nelson has been a vocal supporter and advocate for the HP user community, serving as an essential resource to the Connect leadership team.

”Marketing is all about meaningful conversations between HP and its customers, and Connect is one of the best ways for us to foster that vital dialogue,” said Deborah Nelson, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Technology Solutions Group, HP. “We are fortunate to have a group of customers so passionate and dedicated to HP as Connect members and I am honored by their recognition.”

About Connect

Connect is the largest user community of HP business technology customers in the world with over 50,000 members worldwide. An independent membership organization, Connect was formed in 2008 from the consolidation of three former HP user groups: Encompass, which originated as a group for users of the former Digital Equipment Corp., ITUG, which represented users of HP’s NonStop fault-tolerant systems, and HP-Interex EMEA, a Brussels-based affiliate of the former Interex. More information about Connect is available at http://www.connect-community.org.

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