Global Knowledge and Firefly Pioneer
Data Center Virtualization Solutions that Drive Market Success for
Cisco Channel Partners and Customers
Cary, N.C. – January 26, 2009—Two highly respected technology
companies, Global Knowledge and Firefly, are providing data center
education and consulting solutions to Cisco channel partners and
customers through a worldwide alliance announced today. The
companies’ consulting and training services will blanket the entire
new technology lifecycle, from early adoption to late market
maturity.
Global Knowledge is a leader in IT
training, with a robust portfolio of courses and a strong,
worldwide marketing and sales foothold. Firefly offers targeted
consultative education and professional services that help its
customers continually evolve their IT architectural strategies to
take advantage of new technologies rapidly, while ensuring that
technology decisions remain aligned with their business
objectives.
“We’ve launched a ‘one world’ alliance
with Firefly,” said Global Knowledge President and CEO Joseph Cece.
“It’s a connection that recognizes the talent, infrastructure, and
commitment required to enable the use of cross-functional and
interoperable technologies that empower the success of our
customers.”
Manufacturers, value-added resellers
(VARs), customers, and educators need to work together throughout
the technology lifecycle, especially in the innovator and early
adopter stages. "The best ideas flourish in an environment where
collaboration is the driving force,” said Firefly CEO Pat Bodin.
“What we’re trying to achieve with this partnership is to help
manufacturers, VARs, and customers achieve a solid grasp of their
mutual goals and keep up with the fluidity and pace of our industry
throughout the technology lifecycle," he added.
Global Knowledge, a worldwide Cisco
Learning Solutions Partner award winner, will employ its marketing,
sales, instruction, and training course delivery tools and
techniques to drive the market infusion of the latest in converged
data center virtualization training solutions.
Firefly targets its services to
manufacturers and channel partners that are engaged in developing
and delivering new products to market. As an education and
consulting services organization, the company mentors early adopter
customers and their channel partners.
Global Knowledge/Firefly Alliance – cont.
“Through this collaboration, we will
accelerate the adoption of technology by helping our customers
bridge the gap between their business requirements and technical
solutions,” said Bodin. “Once that happens, customers can rely on
the proven ability of Global Knowledge to deliver volume training
worldwide to drive mainstream adoption,” he said.
“This alliance offers positive,
bottom-line results for our customers that can be directly
attributed to combining Firefly’s mentoring and consultative
relationships with our worldwide IT training delivery mechanisms,”
added Cece.
Currently, Global Knowledge and Firefly
are collaborating on the design and development of integrated
virtualization solutions training from leading technology companies
including Cisco and VMware.
About Global Knowledge
Global Knowledge is the worldwide leader
in IT and business training. We deliver via training centers,
private facilities, and the Internet, enabling our customers to
choose when, where, and how they want to receive training programs
and learning services. Our more than 700 courses span foundational
and specialized training and certifications. Founded in 1995,
Global Knowledge employs more than 1,200 people worldwide and is
headquartered in Cary, N.C. The company is owned by New York-based
investment firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson, and Stowe. For more
information, visit www.globalknowledge.com.
About Firefly
Firefly Communications, LLC is the leading global provider of
advanced technology training and consulting solutions. Offering
expert-led classroom instruction, state-of-the art remote lab
access, and educational consulting services, Firefly has developed
and delivered innovative learning solutions for numerous Fortune
500 and FTSE 250 companies. For more information, visit http://www.fireflycom.net.
Contacts
Linda Palmer
Marketing Communications Director, Global Knowledge
+1 (919) 460-3269
Linda.palmer@globalknowledge.com
Rene van der Zeeuw
EMEA Product Marketing Manager
+31 (0)30 60 89 460
Rene.van.der.Zeeuw@globalknowledge.net