itSMF USA and UBM TechWeb's HDI Extend Contract for Joint Production of Service Management Conference

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Feb. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- IT Service Management Forum USA (itSMF USA), a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the advancement of service management good practices by professional and academic practitioners, researchers, and leaders, together with HDI, the leading technical service and support membership association and the service industry's premier certification and training body, today announced the extension of their collaborative agreement to produce IT service management conferences through 2014. Building on the success of their first joint effort—FUSION 11, which took place in September 2011—itSMF USA and HDI have renewed their commitment to producing the largest service management conference in North America.

Prior to 2011, itSMF USA and HDI each hosted separate service management conferences during the fall. With the advent of FUSION 11, customers and solution providers alike were able to enjoy more choice and flexibility by attending one larger, more comprehensive educational event. The success of the FUSION brand has inspired its hosts to continue to provide the excellence in service management education that characterizes this premiere global conference.

"We are happy to be able to extend what has turned out to be a very successful partnership," said Doug Tedder, itSMF USA's board president. "FUSION distills the very best of service management education into one comprehensive event, and now we can continue to offer this unique joint presentation to our members."

Craig Baxter, HDI's managing director, added, "Combining our resources with itSMF has allowed us to provide the service management industry with a signature fall event, without forcing our members to choose between our respective offerings. This enables us to bring the best speakers, vendors, and networking opportunities to itSMF and HDI members alike."

"Our experience with FUSION 11 and planning for FUSION 12 in October has made us very confident that the FUSION event brings something unique to the world of service management," says Michelle Frilow, HDI's director of events and conferences. "With the renewal of our partnership, we can extend that confidence into the future."

Though itSMF USA and HDI jointly produce the FUSION conferences, the two entities continue to operate as distinct businesses. Both organizations are looking forward to what the future looks like in 2013 and 2014 for the FUSION Conference & Expo.

About itSMF USA
Founded in 1997, Information Technology Service Management Forum (itSMF) USA connects IT industry leaders with the technology and expertise to help them learn about cutting-edge service management concepts (www.itsmfusa.org). This rapidly growing nonprofit membership organization is dedicated to the advancement of ITSM best practices and standards in the provision and management of IT services, through knowledge sharing, education, and networking opportunities. Current membership is over 8,000 individuals, with affiliated Local Interest Groups (LIGs) serving forty-three cities and regions nationwide. itSMF USA is affiliated with itSMF International, which was formed in 1991.

About HDI

HDI is the leading professional association and certification body for technical service and support professionals. Facilitating collaboration and networking, HDI hosts industry conferences and events, produces comprehensive publications and research, connects solution providers with practitioners, while certifying and training thousands of professionals each year.

HDI serves a community of over 110,000 members, followers, customers, solution providers, and contributors throughout the service industry, supporting sixty local chapters across North America. Guided by an international panel of industry experts and practitioners, HDI is the community's premiere resource for best practices and emerging trends. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO, HDI offers training in multiple languages and countries. For more information, visit http://www.ThinkHDI.com or call +1 719.268.0174. HDI is a 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, telecommunications 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.

CONTACT:  Melanie Adamich, +1-719-251-1506, [email protected], for itSMF USA

SOURCE itSMF USA