VP of Strategy and Operations at CDMdata/Kelly-Bluebook

SAN DIEGO, CA (Tuesday, April 12, 2005) - The Information Storage Industry Center (ISIC) at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) announced today that Trainer Communications, a leading provider of strategic communications and public relations services for emerging high-technology companies and start-up initiatives, is now a sponsor of the ISIC’s StorageNetworking.org Initiative.

StorageNetworking.org is a non-profit, university-based program focused on addressing the educational needs of data storage technology users. The initiative is:

• Creating a community of practice that brings together academia and all industry segments to address the issue of storage management professional education and training.
• Establishing and supporting a global, grass roots Storage Networking User Group (SNUG) model, so that data management professionals can interact with their peers and other knowledge experts in a vendor-neutral, education-focused environment.
• Developing an online portal that empowers storage managers by giving them access to relevant resources, educational information, and expert advice.
• Advocating and facilitating the expansion of university-based educational offerings focused on data storage topics, to better prepare tomorrow’s storage managers.

“We are pleased to sponsor the StorageNetworking.org initiative to educate the end user community on the latest storage advances in the industry, said Sabrina Sanchez, vice president client services and storage practice leader, Trainer Communications. “Trainer Communications’ strong blend of technology, marketing and communications experience has established category leadership for more than 75 start up companies including Brocade, Trigo Technologies (acquired by IBM in March, 2004), Actona (acquired by Cisco in June, 2004, Oblix (acquired by Oracle in March, 2005) and InterSAN (acquired by Finisar in March, 2005). We look forward to partnering with StorageNetworking.org to drive awareness for the stellar work the organization is doing to bring together academia and all industry segments to address the issue of storage management professional education and training.”

The ISIC is one of 22 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Industry Centers at 15 leading universities across the country. “In addition to creating a significant body of observational research about each industry segment, one of the Sloan Foundation’s goals is the application of academic resources to help identify and address industry challenges,” says ISIC Director Dr. Roger Bohn. “Through this initiative, we feel we can begin to address the challenges of data management professional education and knowledge sharing in ways that benefit the entire industry. We are pleased that Trainer Communications has taken a major step in supporting this initiative.”

“Trainer Communication’s support of StorageNetworking.org is extremely positive,” says ISIC Industry Relations Director Ron Durbin. “Their contributions enable us to further support the storage users that are the backbone of our SNUGs and to involve even more universities and affiliate organizations. We are grateful to Trainer Communications for giving back to the industry in such a positive way, and we look forward to ensuring that their gift is a meaningful one.”

The StorageNetworking.org Initiative is funded through foundation grants and charitable gifts to the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Current sponsors include Trainer Communications, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA), Hewlett-Packard, EMC Corporation, Engenio Information Technologies, Inc., Rainfinity, NeoScale Systems, Inc., Storage magazine, InfoStor magazine, and Byte and Switch.

About the StorageNetworking.org Initiative

StorageNetworking.org is a university-based, non-profit initiative created and managed by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Information Storage Industry Center (ISIC) at the University of California, San Diego. Its mission is to address the educational needs of data storage technology users. The initiative is currently stimulating the creation of local and regional storage networking user groups (or SNUGs), so that data management professionals can exchange information with their peers and other knowledge experts. It is also developing a new online resource portal to provide access to user group resources and industry-specific educational opportunities. For more information, including listings of StorageNetworking.org Affiliates, Advisors, and Sponsors, go to http://www.StorageNetworking.org.

About the ISIC

The Information Storage Industry Center (ISIC) at the University of California, San Diego is a social science research program studying the business and economic aspects of the data storage industry. Established in 1998 as an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Industry Center, ISIC conducts research on all segments of this rapidly evolving and highly competitive global industry. ISIC is affiliated with UCSD’s Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies (IR/PS), one of the world’s top international graduate programs specializing in the Pacific Rim. For more information on the ISIC, visit http://isic.ucsd.edu.

About the IR/PS

Established in 1986, UCSD’s Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies (IR/PS) is the University of California’s only professional school of international affairs and the only graduate school in the United States to focus exclusively on the Pacific Rim. More information on the graduate school and its faculty can be found at http://www-irps.ucsd.edu.

Trainer Communications is the premier provider of integrated marketing and high-tech public relations services. Specializing in technology, the agency offers deep domain expertise across data infrastructure, information security, optical and wireless communications, enterprise software, networking, and consumer industries. Trainer represents emerging and high-growth technology companies that lack the market recognition and visibility needed to meet business objectives and is the only agency that guarantees quantifiable results with its Metrics Matter™ methodology. Established in 1995, Trainer has represented more than 200 companies including one-third that resulted in a positive liquidity event. Notable successes include Brocade, Cloudscape, CrossWorlds, G-Log, Itronix, ONStor, Oblix, Sygate, Trigo, Versata, and WhereNet. Based in Silicon Valley with nationwide coverage, the agency has received numerous awards, including: the 2008 Bulldog Award for PR Innovation of the Year, the 2008 Iron Sabre Certificate of Excellence for Product of the Year, the 2008 MarCom Gold Award for Best Publicity Campaign, and the 2007 PRSA Silver Anvil Award for Community Relations Campaign of the Year. For more information, visit www.trainercomm.com. All brands, products, or service names are or may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. www.trainercomm.com.