TBTF Launches Online Training Portal to Address Skills Needs of Fast Growing High Tech Employers

New portal, created in collaboration with Intelladon and Roger West Creative, is latest initiative designed to benefit members as well as the region’s economy

Tampa, Fla. (May 17, 2012) – The Tampa Bay Technology Forum, Florida’s largest and most influential technology association, today announced the launch of a new portal that offers an extensive selection of the most in-demand online technology certification training courses at reduced rates for member companies. All current TBTF member companies and their employees are eligible to sign up for and access the training programs.

"We are thrilled to be able to provide IT certifications at a reduced cost to our member companies,” said Heather Kenyon, CEO and president of TBTF. "We are continually looking for ways to better serve our members and provide value for their participation. When our members told us that topping the list of their challenges was keeping their employees’ skills up to date and bringing on new talent with the required skills they need to stay competitive, we knew we had to act to help them. We believe this program will go a long way toward solving those challenges and delivering the kind of value that our tech community has come to expect from TBTF.”

Features of the new portal, which can be found at elearning.tbtf.org, include:

· Over 2300 highest quality courses and the most sought after certifications from Cisco, Microsoft IBM, Redhat, Adobe, Sun Microsystems, VMware, Linux, Novell, Oracle, and CompTIA

· Continually updated coursework that’s developed with the largest IT companies in the world and sanctioned by the certifying organizations. As new vendors join the channel, TBTF members will find their current training immediately available

· Self-paced training format that allows participants to study anytime, anywhere their schedule permits

· Access to vLab® – virtual labs that offer hands-on experience in a risk-free environment) – so that techs can test their skills on live equipment without risk to their company’s or customers’ hardware

· Single source, multiplatform compatibility that saves time and standardizes training – regardless of whether users are accessing the training from PCs or Macs

· Budget friendly, flat rate pricing per tech for unlimited access to coursework and virtual labs.

TBTF member companies Intelladon and Roger West Creative collaborated with TBTF board and staff to customize the portal for the organization. Intelladon is a premier provider and integrator of an array of learning and talent management solutions. The company’s team of experts combines best-in-class performance and learning management systems, tools and content from multiple providers to deliver end-to-end solutions that address the unique needs of their clients. Roger West Creative is a full service creative and technology agency. Both firms are headquartered in Tampa.

About Tampa Bay Technology Forum
Founded in 2000, the Tampa Bay Technology Forum (TBTF) is a non-profit membership association committed to connecting and growing the technology community in Tampa Bay. TBTF’s 300+ member companies represent technology entrepreneurs, business and community leaders, investors, government representatives, researchers and educators. For more information, visit www.tbtf.org.

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