SkillsNET Selects Meridian Project Systems' GigaPlan for Project Management

Workforce Consultant Leader Standardizes on New Web-based System

FOLSOM, Calif. (July 29, 2002) Meridian Project Systems (MPS), leading software and application service provider of project management solutions, announces GigaPlan - an enterprise-wide project and resource management solution that enables distributed teams to manage tasks, resources, schedules, costs and other project-related data in real time via the Internet.

"Meridian Project Systems' GigaPlan provides a user-friendly platform for distributed project management and collaborative workspace for all departments in my company," said Michael L. Brown, founder and CEO of SkillsNET, a workforce consulting firm. "We needed to standardize project management schema across multiple projects for our diverse client base. GigaPlan allowed us to do that, enabling project team members to share documents, collaborate and manage our diverse set of projects." Brown also appreciates MPS' adaptable software configurations, ranking the option to self-host the system as a key factor in his decision to select GigaPlan.

Founded in 1993, MPS has provided project management applications to contractors, architects and engineers in the construction industry.

With GigaPlan, MPS is expanding its market reach to IT and other industries. "GigaPlan's technology is truly valuable to all project teams - no matter the industry, no matter the number of people or companies involved," said John Bodrozic, MPS president and founder. "Today's corporate teams need to schedule timelines, manage documents, control costs, allocate resources and collaborate with up-to-the-minute data. GigaPlan gives teams access to project information from any computer with an Internet connection."

Bodrozic believes the companies that turn to cutting-edge technology to manage today's distributed project teams will realize substantial success. "Forward-thinking companies like SkillsNET understand how using Internet technologies can reduce project cycle times, limit paperwork and significantly increase return on investment."

Skillsnet recently secured a contract with the Navy to provide job profiling and learning plans for three hundred thousand enlisted personnel and to establish the Navy's authoritative skills database. SkillsNET will utilize GigaPlan's project management applications for these projects, as well as for the EU Technical team to pilot five demonstration sites in Europe to establish an EU-Wide competency management system and cross-boarder worker certification system.

"GigaPlan will enable SkillsNET to provide advanced project management solutions," Brown said. "It is an example of the new business model, whereby organizations optimize their respective competencies to meet emerging business and industry needs."

For further information on SkillsNET, see www.SkillsNET.biz. For further information on GigaPlan, visit Meridian Project Systems' website at www.MPS.com.


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About Skillsnet:
SkillsNET is a leading Skills Application Service Provider (ASP) offering industry, education and government innovative "point-and-click" workforce development applications and data mining tools, all of which are mapped to the innovative SkillObject™ database. Using its' revolutionary SkillObjects "common language" framework, SkillsNET customers can build job/skill profiles, determine precision learning targets, generate workforce development reports, and use numerous data mining tools for its' National SkillObjects Library which includes data for over 1,300 key industry occupations.


About GigaPlan:
GigaPlan, from Meridian Project Systems, allows distributed project teams to collaborate across organizational boundaries for complete task and resource management. Completely web-based, GigaPlan is ideal for project teams that need to create, update, modify and share schedules on the Internet, Intranet or a corporate network. GigaPlan integrates with Microsoft Project, Primavera P3 or SureTrak, but no desktop software is required to use the system - users need only a browser with Web connection. GigaPlan can be deployed in either a hosted (ASP) or self-hosted method.

About Meridian Project Systems:
Meridian Project Systems, a provider of comprehensive project management solutions, debuted on Inc magazine's INC 500 as the 56th fastest growing company in the United States in 2000, and has appeared on the prestigious list two years in a row. More than 70,000 professionals from Fortune 500 corporations, government agencies, manufacturers, and AEC firms use MPS products. In the Business of Projects since 1993, MPS offers both software and ASP-based tools, including award-winning Prolog Manager, ProjectTalk.com and GigaPlan products. MPS is headquartered in Folsom, Calif., with offices in Düsseldorf, Germany; Vancouver, British Columbia; and St. Petersburg, Russia. Visit www.mps.com for further information.

Media Contact:
Mindy Matullo
Meridian Project Systems
(916) 294-2072
mmatullo@mps.com