Skyline Attains Microsoft Gold Certified Status
3/30/06
Green Bay, WI — Skyline Technologies, Inc., Green Bay, today announced it has attained Gold Certified status in the Microsoft Partner Program with competencies in two categories – Custom Development Solutions as well as Data Management Solutions – recognizing Skyline Technologies' expertise and total impact in the technology marketplace. As a Gold Certified partner, Skyline Technologies has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and proven ability to meet customers' needs. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, giving them a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Founded in 1992 by Pat Deprey and Keith Kaufmann, Skyline Technologies has grown into a premier technology firm in the Upper Midwest with headquarters in Green Bay and offices in Appleton. Skyline Technologies provides software development services, staffing and consulting services, web site development, and strategic online marketing services to client-partners ranging from Fortune 50 companies to fledgling small businesses.
"We are extremely pleased to have attained Gold Certified status in the Microsoft Partner
Moving from a Certified Partner status, which we obtained several years ago, to a Gold Certified status demonstrates our continued focus on Microsoft technologies and allows us to clearly promote our expertise and relationship with Microsoft to our customers," said Pat Deprey, Skyline Technologies co-founder and CEO. "The benefits provided through our Gold Certified status will allow us to continue to enhance the offerings that we provide for customers."
Chris Fleming, director of the Microsoft Solutions Practice at Skyline Technologies, agrees. "We look forward to leveraging our involvement in the program to bring innovative solutions to our clients," he said. "This is very exciting for us and very good news for our customers."
"Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities. They need to trust in someone that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners, which have certified expertise and direct training and support from Microsoft, can build a positive customer experience with our technologies," said Allison Watson, vice president of the Worldwide Partner Sales and Marketing Group at Microsoft Corp. "Today, Microsoft recognizes Skyline Technologies as a new Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise in providing customer satisfaction with Microsoft products and technology."
As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified Status, Skyline had to declare one or more specific Microsoft Competencies. Microsoft Competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner's capabilities with specific Microsoft technologies to customers looking for a particular type of solution. Each competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the technology industry.
As a Custom Development Solutions Competency partner, Skyline Technologies provides custom-built solutions for clients that require value-added capabilities to optimize business opportunities. Specializations within the competency are Application Infrastructure Development, Smart Client Development, and Web Development.
"Our developer partners enable us to deliver high-quality solutions and applications to our customers," said Nick Abbott, group manager in the .NET Developer Product Marketing Group at Microsoft Corp. "As the demand for applications built on the Microsoft platform continues to grow, there are more opportunities for providers of custom-developed applications than ever before. The Custom Development Solution Competency provides partners with a way to showcase their expertise delivering custom-built solutions to customers, enhancing partners' revenue opportunities and positioning them for growth."
The Data Management Solutions Competency is designed for Microsoft Certified and Gold Certified Partners that have proved their competency in deploying data warehousing, online analytical processing, data mining, decision support and in-depth reporting solutions. Specializations within the competency are Business Intelligence and Database Management.
"Microsoft Competencies make it easier for our partners to position their offerings to our mutual customers, better align their business with Microsoft's marketing initiatives and form closer relationships with other industry partners," said Bill Baker, general manager of business intelligence for SQL Server at Microsoft Corp. "Through the Data Management Solutions Competency, we can assist our industry partners' proficiency in developing and deploying business intelligence applications more quickly and easily, and help them align with our goal of making business intelligence solutions more pervasive and accessible to everyone."
The Microsoft Partner Program was launched in December 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 Skyline Technologies
Skyline Technologies (www.skylinetechnologies.com), headquartered in Green Bay, Wis., is the area’s leading Microsoft solutions provider. Skyline Technologies uses its proven eFoundation™ framework to jump-start application design and deliver a cost-effective solution that meets customer needs. The company’s experienced associates tailor applications to meet business and technical objectives of customers in a variety of industries, from manufacturing and retail to healthcare, transportation, and logistics. Skyline Technologies is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner with recognized competencies in custom development, data management, and information worker solutions.
