ETM Attains Gold Certified Partner Status in Microsoft Partner Program

ETM Further Distinguishes Itself by Earning a Microsoft Competency in ISV/Software Solutions Competency

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA--(Marketwire - May 25, 2010) - ETM today announced it has attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program with a competency in ISV/Software Solutions Competency, recognizing ETM's expertise and impact in the technology marketplace. As a Gold Certified Partner, ETM has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and a proven ability to meet customers' needs. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, giving them a competitive advantage in the channel.

"We've made great strides in becoming a solver of business problems for our clients," said Larry Kane, ETM's president. "But this achievement proves we continue to hone our IT chops. This is a feather in the cap of our development shop. We're proud of our entire IT staff. And we're grateful to Microsoft for recognizing their achievements with this milestone."

As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified Partner status, ETM had to declare a Microsoft Competency. Microsoft Competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner's capabilities with specific Microsoft technologies to customers looking for a particular type of solution. Each Competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the technology industry. Within select Competencies, there are Specializations that focus on specific solution areas that recognize deeper expertise within that Competency. Serving as a specialized path to earning those Competencies, Specializations give direct access to the tools and resources that support that specific area of focus.

ETM's Wings Plus was Microsoft tested and approved in March. The company achieved its ISV/Software Solutions Competency in April by meeting testing requirements for its software, its operating system, and other components – and by receiving the required number of customer references. In addition, ETM earned 120 partner points in these categories: Microsoft Competencies, Microsoft Certified Professionals, Microsoft Tested Products, Customer Reference, Customer Satisfaction Survey, and Additional Competency & Designations.

"Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities," said Allison Watson, corporate vice president of the Worldwide Partner Group at Microsoft Corp. "They need to trust in a company that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners, which have certified expertise and direct training and support from Microsoft, can build a positive customer experience with our technologies. Today, Microsoft recognizes ETM as a new Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise in providing customer satisfaction using Microsoft products and technology."

"Solutions competencies are an important way for Microsoft to better enable ISVs to meet customer needs," said Walid Abu-Hadba, corporate vice president of the Developer and Platform Evangelism Group at Microsoft Corp. "They allow ISVs to keep and win customers through their deep knowledge of solutions-based Microsoft platform technologies. Microsoft has a long history of working closely with ISV partners to help them deliver compelling solutions and applications to our mutual customers, and the Microsoft Competencies are an important step in continuing to enhance vital relationships with ISVs worldwide."

About ETM
ETM is a development firm that specializes in providing financial reporting and tax-compliance services. ETM is dedicated to financial processing and reporting, making its clients more efficient, consistently accurate, and uniformly compliant. For more information, please visit www.byetm.com, call (800) 975-3245, or e-mail sales@byetm.com.