VIP’s Meridian Expands Content and Course Library to “Widest Selection Available”

Chantilly, Va. - October 9, 2008 - Visionary Integration Professionals’ (VIP) Talent and Learning Management practice – dba Meridian Knowledge Solutions - has entered into a non-exclusive relationship with e-learning provider SkillSoft (NASDAQ: SKIL) that boosts the size of Meridian's online library to more than 15,000 e-learning courses.  Employers can tap Meridian's "Virtual Library" to train employees on topics ranging from acquisition and contracting to work-life balance. 

Meridian, which makes learning management systems (LMS) for analyzing and delivering training via the Internet, began building its Virtual Library last May by signing agreements with a select group of providers of training content and online assessments. 

"Our Virtual Library is arguably the LMS industry's most comprehensive," said Roy Haythorn, Vice President at VIP.  "Whether your organization is a private-sector employer or government agency, we now have the widest selection of easy-to-access training content to meet your needs."

Each course Meridian offers through its Virtual Library will run on either the company's flagship LMS - Meridian Global - or the software-as-a-service (SaaS) version of Meridian's LMS.  The courses, which are available in more than 15 languages, conform to the latest e-learning standards, including SCORM 2004.  

With the SkillSoft Open Learning Services Architecture (OLSA), a software platform that supports a range of Web services, Meridian will have a simple way to deliver SkillSoft's learning assets.  Meridian's customers can purchase content via their Meridian LMS, or visit the company's Virtual Library and work with a content expert to pick and choose their training. 

"People can visit our web site or call a Meridian content expert, buy the courses they need and begin delivering training via their Meridian LMS in a matter of a few hours," said Haythorn.

"One of the most significant challenges faced by LMS users is finding the right content and making sure it is fully interoperable with the platform," said Bryan Chapman, learning industry analyst and Chief Learning Strategist for Chapman Alliance.  "The agreement between two leading providers like Meridian and SkillSoft is great news for those who want to take full advantage of the value proposition of a learning platform, which no matter how sophisticated - is still just a conduit for what learners really want: courses. Meridian is giving its LMS customers the widest possible selection of training, while removing the barriers."

"We're making sure our clients can find courses for any segment of their workforce or customer base, and buy these courses as they need them," said Haythorn.  "Our aim is to provide our customers with one-stop shopping, whether that means giving them the widest selection of courses or simply a single, targeted course."

To help customers get started, a Meridian content expert will assess a client's training needs and help them select the courses to best meet their requirements. 

Customers can learn more by visiting http://www.meridianksi.com/courseware/library/

###

About Meridian
Meridian Knowledge Solutions, Inc. (Meridian), a wholly owned subsidiary of Visionary Integration Professionals, is a leading provider of enterprise learning and knowledge management products and services. Its flagship product, Meridian Global LMS, integrates learning content management, workforce analytics, knowledge management and competency modeling in one learning management system (LMS).

Meridian serves 4.5 million users at more than 200 public- and private-sector employers. Its software is used by companies from >100 to 900,000 employees. Clients include AutoZone, Panera Bread, Sodexho, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, Whirlpool and more than 80 federal, state and local governments. Meridian is the number one ranked learning-technology company for customer loyalty. For more information, please visit www.meridianksi.com.

###

About VIP

Established in 1996, Visionary Integration Professionals (VIP) is a global technology and outsourcing firm that has provided solutions to over 900 clients in multiple industries as well as federal, state and local government. VIP helps companies challenge boundaries and uncover new possibilities to increase productivity, maximize revenue, improve performance, mitigate risk, and reduce costs. With nearly 1,000 staff companywide, VIP offers expertise in areas of Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing, SAP Integration and Consulting, Technology Integration and Operations, Talent and Learning Management, Quality Management, and Management Consulting. VIP’s corporate headquarters is located in Folsom, California with offices in Sacramento, Minneapolis, Dallas, Denver, New York City, Alexandria, Houston, and Bangalore, India. More information can be found at www.vipconsulting.com.