itSMF USA and UBM TechWeb's HDI Announce Joint Production of Service Management Conference

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- IT Service Management Forum USA (itSMF USA), a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the advancement of service management good practices through professional and academic practitioners, researchers, and leaders, together with HDI, a global association for IT service and technical support professionals and the premier certification body for the service support industry, today announced a collaboration agreement to produce IT service management conventions in 2011 and 2012. The Fusion 2011 conference, scheduled for September 11–14, 2011, will be held at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, MD.

Both itSMF USA and HDI previously hosted separate service management conferences during the fall season. Under this new model, customers will realize unprecedented choice and flexibility in one larger, more comprehensive educational venue, thus enabling the Fusion conference to stake its claim as the premiere global service management conference.

"We're extremely pleased to join forces with HDI, a solid leader in the IT service management space," said Jay Stuart, president of itSMF USA. "This partnership brings the best of two similar and specialized events into one setting, and we're certain our members will benefit from this collaboration."

Craig Baxter, global brand director for HDI, echoed those sentiments: "By uniting both HDI and itSMF USA resources, vendors, and audiences for the Fusion 2011 conference, we are confident that we will provide the service management community with an unparalleled educational experience."

While jointly producing the Fusion 2011 and 2012 conferences, itSMF USA and HDI will continue to operate as distinct businesses.

For more information, contact Phyllis Drucker, 954-475-4916 or [email protected].

About itSMF USA

Founded in 1997, Information Technology Service Management Forum (itSMF) USA connects IT industry leaders with technology and expertise to help them learn about cutting-edge Service Management concepts (www.itsmfusa.org). The rapidly growing non-profit membership organization is dedicated to the advancement of ITSM best practices and standards in the provision and management of IT services through knowledge sharing, education, and networking opportunities. Current membership is over 8,900 individuals, with affiliated Local Interest Groups serving 43 cities and regions nationwide. itSMF USA is affiliated with itSMF International, which was formed in 1991.

About HDI

HDI is a global IT service and technical support membership association and the industry's premier certification and training body. Guided by an international panel of industry experts and practitioners, HDI is the leading resource for IT service and technical support emerging trends and best practices. HDI provides members with a vast repository of resources, networking opportunities, and the largest industry event, the HDI Annual Conference & Expo. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO, HDI offers training in multiple languages and countries. For more information, visit www.ThinkHDI.com or call +1 719.268.0174. HDI is part of UBM TechWeb.

About UBM TechWeb (http://www.ubmtechweb.com)

UBM TechWeb, the global leader in technology media and professional information, enables people and organizations to harness the transformative power of technology. Through its core businesses—media solutions, marketing services, and professional information—UBM TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed brands, applications, and services in the technology market. More than 14.5 million business and technology professionals (CIOs, IT and IT Support managers, Web and digital professionals, software and game developers, government decision makers, telecom providers and business executives) actively participate in UBM TechWeb's communities. UBM TechWeb brands include: global face-to-face events, such as Interop, Game Developers Conference (GDC), Web 2.0, Black Hat, and VoiceCon; large-scale online networks, such as InformationWeek, Light Reading, and Gamasutra; research, training, and certification services, including HDI, Pyramid Research, and InformationWeek Analytics; and market-leading magazines, such as InformationWeek and Wall Street & Technology. UBM TechWeb is part of UBM, a global provider of media and information services for professional B2B communities and markets.

SOURCE itSMF USA