SMART Technologies Inc. inducted into Canada's 50 Best Managed Platinum Club
SMART recognized for world-class best practices and leadership in business
Calgary, AB --- December 9, 2004 --- SMART Technologies Inc. announces it has been inducted into Canada's 50 Best Managed Platinum Club for its standard of excellence and leadership in all areas of business practices. This prestigious national award, sponsored by Deloitte, CIBC Commercial Banking, the National Post and Queen's School of Business, recognizes outstanding Canadian companies that have qualified in the 50 Best Managed program for at least six consecutive years. Before joining the Platinum Club this year, SMART was awarded the 50 Best Managed distinction for seven years running. 50 Best Managed companies are evaluated on how they manage key challenges such as new technology adoption, globalization, branding, leveraging and developing core competencies, facilitating growth and managing the new generation of people entering the labor market. Twenty-one elite companies across Canada have been awarded Platinum Club membership this year.
Since winning its first 50 Best award in 1996, SMART has increased overall sales by 1,527 percent, introduced almost 200 products or product upgrades and opened offices in Bonn, Tokyo, New York City and Washington, D.C. The company continues to achieve an average annual growth rate of 42 percent and currently sells its products through resellers in more than 75 countries worldwide. SMART is the global market leader in interactive whiteboards, with a growing installed base of more than 200,000 units (as of June 2004) - more than any other interactive whiteboard manufacturer in the world. SMART's diverse product installations include many high-profile organizations such as NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Mission, CTV and TSN SportsCentre, the Los Angeles Lakers, the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Disney Imagineering and Harvard University, as well as classrooms, boardrooms and briefing rooms around the world.
“SMART clearly demonstrates innovation, leadership and a focus on their employees and customers,” says James McSherry, executive vice president and managing director of CIBC Commercial Banking, a national sponsor of the 50 Best Managed program. “Their example illustrates that focusing on the fundamentals while maintaining a clear vision yields outstanding results.”
“Remaining a 50 Best Company is another manifestation of our deep commitment to constant improvement,” says Nancy Knowlton, SMART's president and co-CEO. “We are pleased to receive this honor and dedicated to continuing to serve our sizable worldwide customer base.”
About Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies
Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies (50 Best Managed) is a national awards program recognizing the 50 best managed businesses from a wide range of industries that have implemented world-class best business practices. The program, established in 1993 and now entering its 12th year, recognizes 50 well-managed Canadian companies based on a rigorous and wide-ranging interview process designed to assess and examine its management practices. Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies program also recognizes Platinum Club companies who have qualified for the 50 Best Managed program for the past six consecutive years. National sponsors of the program are Deloitte, CIBC Commercial Banking, the National Post, and Queen's School of Business. Information about Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies is available online at http://www.canadas50best.com/.
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For more information, please contact:
Public Relations
SMART Technologies Inc.
300, 1207 - 11th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB CANADA T3C 0M5
Phone +1.403.802.2595 Fax +1.403.228.2500
pr@smarttech.com
Please note that SMART is written in all capital letters.