SMART achieves platinum status again in Canada’s 50 Best Managed
SMART honored for sustained, superior performance in all areas of business
CALGARY, Alberta --- December 13, 2006 --- SMART Technologies Inc. announces it has again qualified for Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies Platinum Club for its continued excellence in all areas of its business. This prestigious national award, the country’s highest honor for ongoing business performance, is sponsored by Deloitte, CIBC Commercial Banking, the National Post and Queen's School of Business. Platinum Club status recognizes outstanding Canadian-owned and managed companies that have qualified in the 50 Best program for at least six consecutive years. SMART was first named one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies in 1996 and achieved Platinum Club status in 2004. This latest award marks the eighth consecutive year the company has been awarded the 50 Best distinction. All 50 Best companies are evaluated on how they balance risk and opportunities, develop long-term executable strategies, predict and adapt to changing domestic and global business environments, innovate and extend their value proposition to both customers and employees, and cultivate and preserve a sense of purpose throughout their organization. Forty-four elite companies across Canada have been awarded Platinum Club membership for the first time this year, and 84 companies have requalified. Honored companies will be recognized at a ceremony on February 12, 2007 in Toronto, Ontario.
SMART introduced the world's first interactive whiteboard in 1991 and has maintained its position as a global market leader ever since. SMART has introduced more than 250 new and upgraded products to the world market since winning its first 50 Best award ten years ago. More than 400,000 SMART Board™ interactive whiteboards have been installed in classrooms, offices and training rooms around the world – more than any other interactive whiteboard manufacturer. Earlier this year, the company achieved $1 billion in cumulative sales and has sustained a compound annual growth rate of 38 percent over 10 years. SMART products are sold through resellers and distributors in more than 100 countries worldwide. With a growing team of more than 800 employees, the company recently announced the construction of a 260,000 square foot assembly and distribution facility in Kanata, Ontario, and new world-headquarters to be housed in a 185,000 square foot building in Calgary. SMART has also been recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Canada Export Award from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
“Achieving the highest level of business performance over the long-term is only possible when organizations embrace a culture of aligning every activity and resource with building value for their stakeholders,” says John Hughes, Deliotte Partner with the Private Company Services Group and national leader of the Best Managed program. “All companies strive for business success; what distinguishes Platinum Club and requalified members is their ability to sustain that success.”
“The renewal of our 50 Best Managed Companies Platinum Club designation validates SMART’s vision, commitment to constant improvement, teamwork and world-class products,” says Nancy Knowlton, SMART’s president and co-CEO. “As a Canadian company, we are proud to be a global leader in providing interactive collaboration tools and contributing to a whole new technologically-driven world, that makes life richer, more collaborative and more meaningful for people of all ages.”
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 6 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 www.canadas50best.com.
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For more information, please contact
Public Relations
SMART Technologies Inc.
1207 – 11th Avenue SW, Suite 300
Calgary, AB T3C 0M5
CANADA
Phone +1.403.802.2558 Fax +1.403.228.2500
pr@smarttech.com
www.smarttech.com
Please note that SMART is written in all capital letters.