Northwest Cadence Attains Gold Certified Partner Status in Microsoft Partner Program
Northwest Cadence Further Distinguishes Itself by Earning a Microsoft Competency in Custom Development Solutions and Learning Solutions
Kirkland, WA, USA – 9 January, 2009
Northwest Cadence, www.nwcadence.com, today announced it has attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program with a competency in Custom Development Solutions and Learning Solutions, recognizing Northwest Cadence’s expertise and impact in the technology marketplace. As a Gold Certified Partner, Northwest Cadence 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.
Northwest Cadence provides consulting, coaching, and training on Visual Studio Team System and Application Lifecycle Management. With careful attention to both the present and the future, Northwest Cadence provides sound solutions that can be implemented, metrics that can be measured, and knowledge-transfer to ensure sustainable success. “This Gold designation helps tell the story of who we are. We are extremely pleased to be recognized as a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. Although this Microsoft designation is quite an achievement, we are especially proud because it represents who we strive to be, every day” said Lori Borg, President of Northwest Cadence. “At Northwest Cadence, our mission as a team is to listen and be responsive to our customers and attaining this Gold status will enable us to continue to better serve our VSTS community.”
“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 Northwest Cadence as a new Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise in providing customer satisfaction using Microsoft products and technology.”
As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified Partner status, Northwest Cadence 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.
The Custom Development Solutions Competency is designed for technology partners providing custom-built solutions for clients that require value-added capabilities to optimize business opportunities.
“Our developer partners enable us to deliver high-quality solutions and applications to our customers,” said Nick Abbott, group manager in the .NET Developer Product Marketing Group at Microsoft Corp. “As the demand for applications built on the Microsoft platform continues to grow, there are more opportunities for providers of custom-developed applications than ever. The Custom Development Solutions Competency provides partners with a way to showcase their expertise delivering custom-built solutions to customers, to enhance partners’ revenue opportunities and positioning them for growth.”
Microsoft partners with the Learning Solutions Competency specialize in delivering high-quality training and full-service learning solutions to help customers maximize their investment in Microsoft technologies. Earning this competency identifies partner members of Microsoft’s premier commercial training and delivery channel, making it easier for partners to expand their scope of services and market potential. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners with the Learning Solutions Competency deliver a comprehensive range of information technology and developer training services, including skills assessment, technical training, student mentoring, and Microsoft Certified Professional exam preparation.
The Microsoft Partner Program was launched in October 2003 and represents Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to the success of partners worldwide. The program offers a single, integrated partnering framework that recognizes partner expertise, rewards the total impact that partners have in the technology marketplace, and delivers more value to help partners’ businesses be successful.
Northwest Cadence specializes in Visual Studio Team System and Application Lifecycle Management. Deeply committed to the VSTS and ALM space, Northwest Cadence is committed to ensuring its clients have an exclusive advantage based on the company’s product expertise and ability to bring it all together. Northwest Cadence is involved in the current and future Microsoft product development of VSTS and employs a team of consultants and trainers who are designated as Microsoft VSTS MVP’s, VSTS Advisory Council Members, and Certified Trainers. Northwest Cadence is proud to be a part of Microsoft’s respected VSTS Inner Circle program.
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For more information, press only:
Lori Borg, Northwest Cadence, (206) 947-0967, Lori.Borg@nwcadence.com