Cion further Distinguishes Itself by Earning a Microsoft Competency in Data Management Solutions and ISV/Software Solutions
TORONTO, November 19, 2009 – Cion, today announced it has attained Gold Certified
Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program with a competency in Data Management
Solutions and ISV/Software Solutions, recognizing Cion’s expertise and impact in the
technology marketplace. As a Gold Certified Partner, Cion has demonstrated expertise with
Microsoft technologies and a 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 channel.
Cion specializes in providing technical knowledge, software solutions and hands on service
specifically tailored to the commercial, industrial, retail, and corporate real estate sectors.
We offer the following services:
• Drawing & Document Management Services
• Area Certification & CADD Services
• Building Sustainability Consulting
• TIMS3 Document Management solutions
• Custom Data Management Solutions
• Custom Web Solutions
"We are extremely pleased to have obtained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft
Partner Program. This achievement provides clear testimony to the capabilities, dedication and
professionalism of the Cion team", said President and CEO, Victor Smith. "The benefits
available through the Gold Certified Partner status will allow us to continuously enhance the
services that we offer to our customers".
“Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business
demands and technology capabilities,” said Allison Watson, corporate vice president of the
Worldwide Partner Group at Microsoft Corp. “They need to trust in a company 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. Today, Microsoft recognizes Cion
as a new Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise in providing customer
satisfaction using Microsoft products and technology.”
As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified Partner status, Cion had to declare a
Microsoft Competency. 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. Within select Competencies, there are Specializations that focus on specific solution
areas that recognize deeper expertise within that Competency. Serving as a specialized path to
earning those Competencies, Specializations give direct access to the tools and resources that
support that specific area of focus.
The ISV/Software Solutions Competency recognizes the skill and focus partners bring to a
particular solution set. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners that have obtained this competency
have a successful record of developing and marketing packed software based on Microsoft
technologies.
“Solutions competencies are an important way for Microsoft to better enable ISVs to meet
customer needs,” said Walid Abu-Hadba, corporate vice president of the Developer and
Platform Evangelism Group at Microsoft Corp. “They allow ISVs to keep and win customers
through their deep knowledge of solutions-based Microsoft platform technologies. Microsoft
has a long history of working closely with ISV partners to help them deliver compelling
solutions and applications to our mutual customers, and the Microsoft Competencies are an
important step in continuing to enhance vital relationships with ISVs worldwide.”
The Data Management Solutions Competency is designed for partners that have proven their
competency in end-to-end data-management reporting and analysis solutions based on
Microsoft technologies, including Microsoft SQL Server, Windows Server, and Microsoft Office
System client tools. These partners have also proven expertise in implementing solutions
focused on delivering migration tools and services, database- administration tools and services,
and performance tools using SQL Server technology.
“Through the Data Management Solutions Competency we can assist our industry partners’
proficiency in helping them develop enterprise solutions that range from industry specific line
of business applications to next generation Software + Services solutions and applications for
the mobile workforce,” said Mark Jewett, director of SQL Server marketing at Microsoft Corp.
“Only SQL Server 2008 provides dynamic development to accelerate time to solution, supports
all data types, and provides pervasive business intelligence, accessible to everyone.”
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.
Cion is the technology services division of the Ingenium group of companies. The Ingenium
Group of companies comprises a dedicated team of professionals whose strategic vision is to
provide integrated consulting, design-build and partnership solutions from a single source
provider. Ingenium is headquartered in Toronto, Canada with additional offices in Toronto,
Ottawa, Montreal, Kingston, Calgary, Vancouver, Detroit, Sacramento, Tampa, Dillon, Abu
Dhabi, Dubai and Moscow.
For more information please contact:
Evan Shkolnik, Director of Operations
T: 416 926-4334
E: Evan.Shkolnik@cion.com
or
Budd Karunaratne, Product Manager
T: 416 798-5645
E: Budd.Karunaratne@cion.com
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