Live Webinar: Create an Online Learning Destination from Your Conference: Scaling the Autodesk University Experience with Mediasite

MADISON, Wis., April 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sonic Foundry, Inc. (Nasdaq: SOFO), the recognized market leader for rich media webcasting and knowledge management, today announced the company is hosting a live webinar featuring Autodesk, Inc., a world leader in 2D and 3D design, engineering and entertainment software.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 13, 4:00 – 4:45 p.m. CDT

WHERE: To register for this complimentary webinar, visit www.sonicfoundry.com/register/autodesk/?sm=6

Autodesk University (AU) is Autodesk's largest user conference and has traditionally been a face-to-face, 4-day annual event attracting almost 6,000 attendees. While the company has recorded conference presentations in the past, last year for the first time they combined live and on-demand virtual learning and networking. The result: AU Virtual, an online, global complement to the on-site AU experience, which reached 19,000 attendees and moved AU closer to their goal of becoming a year-round learning and networking destination.

AU Virtual attendees watched more than 50 sessions from their desktops with live Q&A and virtual hallway conversations via an innovative Twitter feed. More than 90% of respondents said they would recommend the event to their colleagues, leading Autodesk to plan an even bigger and better AU Virtual 2010.

In this webinar, the presenters will share how they developed their online learning strategy and then leveraged both webcasting technology and web database solutions to extend the AU experience to customers around the world.

They will also share examples of hybrid events built on a scaled-back AU approach, including Autodesk's own One Team Conference, their global training event for sales professionals.

• Learn about the business challenges the AU team had to overcome, including key decision points, lessons learned, best practices for producing hybrid conferences plus tips for measuring success.
• Understand the lifecycle of Autodesk training content - follow the lifecycle of Autodesk webcasts from AU Virtual's simulated live broadcasts with attendee interaction to AU's live streaming keynotes to the ultimate destination: AU's long-term, year-round professional development catalog and networking portal.
• See final implementation of the experience with a showcase of screenshots and explore the technical side of creating online training experiences for both large and small events, including registration integration for both ecommerce and lead generation.

Presenters:

Joseph Wurcher manages Program Development for Autodesk's largest user conference - Autodesk University (AU). During his involvement with AU, the event has grown from a 2000 attendee annual conference into a year-round professional learning experience that now includes a rich online content library and a virtual extension of the program. Joseph shares his passion for AU via his behind-the-scenes AU blog (BLAUG) and on Twitter (@AutodeskU).

Jeff Goke has over fifteen years of experience in technology development, strategic management and web-based systems strategy and is currently VP Development at Digital Cheetah.  Jeff has held executive positions at Elysium Partners, Garden.com, Knowledge Discovery One and Oracle Retail (formerly Retek Information Systems). Throughout his career Jeff has worked with leading organizations worldwide such as the American Red Cross, Association of Junior Leagues International, Hallmark, J. Crew, BHS, Sonae and FNAC to advise and execute their systems strategies.

Moderator:

Cody Kleven, Director of Sales - Event Services, Sonic Foundry

About Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc. is a world leader in 2D and 3D design, engineering and entertainment software for the manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk continues to develop the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art software to help customers experience their ideas digitally before they are built. Fortune 100 companies -- as well as the last 15 Academy Award winners for Best Visual Effects -- use Autodesk software tools to design, visualize and simulate their ideas to save time and money, enhance quality and foster innovation for competitive advantage. For additional information about Autodesk, visit www.autodesk.com.

About Digital Cheetah

Digital Cheetah is a provider of dynamic web applications and database solutions designed to increase the overall effectiveness and productivity of your organization. The Digital Cheetah solution consists of extensive web technology combined with an integrated database solution. Founded in 2001, Digital Cheetah has a trustworthy and consistent track record providing robust web solutions, invaluable expertise, and exceptional client service.

About Sonic Foundry®, Inc.

Sonic Foundry (NASDAQ: SOFO, www.sonicfoundry.com) is the global leader for rich media webcasting and knowledge management, providing enterprise communication solutions for more than 1,800 customers in education, business and government. Powered by Mediasite, the patented webcasting platform which automates the capture, management, delivery and search of lectures, online training and briefings, Sonic Foundry empowers people to transform the way they communicate. Through the Mediasite platform and its Events Services group, the company helps customers connect a dynamic, evolving world of shared knowledge and envisions a future where learners and workers around the globe use webcasting to bridge time and distance, accelerate research and improve performance.

Product and service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of Sonic Foundry, Inc. or their respective owners.

Certain statements contained in this news release regarding matters that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Because such forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, uncertainties pertaining to continued market acceptance for Sonic Foundry's products, its ability to succeed in capturing significant revenues from media services and/or systems, the effect of new competitors in its market, integration of acquired business and other risk factors identified from time to time in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Sonic Foundry, Inc.