Small Business Technology Institute and Intel Invite Small Businesses
to Take a Day Off

World of Difference Learning and Development Conference Honors Five
Small Business Finalists in Nationwide Contest for $100,000 in
Information Technology Education, Products and Services From Intel


SAN JOSE, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 01/11/06 -- The Small Business
Technology Institute (SBTI) and Intel Corporation invite small
businesses to learn how they can create a profitable and thriving
future at The World of Difference Learning and Development Conference
on January 26-27 at the Hilton New York in New York City. Made
possible through the generous support of Intel, the event is designed
for small business owners, managers and staff, plus the community
partners that are integral to their success, including chambers of
commerce, economic development corporations, state agencies and small
business development centers (SBDCs).


Thursday, January 26 -- Contest Final Presentations and Awards
(invitation only)


More than 2,300 small businesses across the United States entered The
World of Difference contest by developing compelling vision statements
on how information technology will make their business successful.
Small businesses with the top-scoring business cases were selected to
work with an Intel channel member to create a business proposal. The
top five small business finalists from The World of Difference contest
will present their individual business proposal on stage for judging
in an invitation-only program on Thursday, January 26, 2006 at 11:00
a.m. EST. Selected live on stage, the winner will receive a $100,000
credit for free information technology education, products and
services with the partnering Intel channel member, plus a $5,000 cash
prize. The Intel Channel Member will also receive $50,000 in marketing
development funds from Intel.


Community partners also play a role in ensuring that current and
future generations of small businesses have the right tools and
opportunities to continue fueling economic growth. One private,
non-profit, educational or governmental organization will win $25,000
in Intel-based technology, including server and mobility solutions,
for referring the winning small business to the contest.


Friday, January 27 -- Learning Conference (open to the public)


Small businesses can attend in-depth training modules to learn how
server-based information technology can improve small business
success, including:



-- Front and back-office productivity -- Networking, wireless, office

equipment and security for the technology-driven era;

-- Marketing, sales and business development -- Email marketing, online

advertising and search engine optimization for increasing sales and

reaching new markets;

-- Operations, inventory management and collaboration -- E-commerce

business practices to increase efficiency in product and service delivery;

-- Financial management -- Programs for accounting processes including

overviews of online services, online bills payment, invoicing, electronic

transactions, e-commerce, taxes and payroll;

-- General management and executive decision making -- Using technology

to improve profitability and growth and manage customer relationships

through business management applications, collaboration software, web

analytics and overall technology planning guidelines.



An interactive demonstration center provides hands-on examples and
practical demonstrations of more than 20 small business technology
solutions and business scenarios. Training modules and demos will be
presented by technology experts from SBTI and Intel.


"Small businesses represent 99.7% of employers in the United States
and those employers are increasingly using innovative technology
solutions to expand and grow their company," said Andrea Peiro, CEO of
the Small Business Technology Institute. "However, our extensive
research confirms that a majority of small businesses are still not
making adequate use of information technology. The World of Difference
equips them with a unique blend of educational resources to improve
their growth and success."


"To foster and support the rapid pace of growth in the use of
information technology by small businesses, Intel is significantly
increasing our efforts with small business, particularly with
educational initiatives such as the World of Difference," said Will
Swope, Vice President and Director of Intel Enterprise Brand. "We are
excited to work with our hardware and software innovators, and our
sales channel members to help small businesses discover and appreciate
the technologies that can take their business to a higher level of
performance and make them more competitive, locally and globally."


General Registration for January 27


Small businesses can pre-register for the January 27 program online
for $20 ($40 at the door) at http://www.theworldofdifference.org/ny.
Admission includes breakfast, lunch, course materials, access to the
solutions demonstration area, a one-year subscription to Small
Business Technology Magazine and a chance to win door prizes. For more
information, call (408) 494-0212 ext. 107.


About the Small Business Technology Institute


The Small Business Technology Institute (SBTI) is a non-profit
organization that fosters the adoption of information technologies
among small businesses through information technology awareness,
education, counseling and support services for businesses with up to
300 employees. Additionally, SBTI provides technology developers and
vendors with market intelligence and knowledge to ensure the
development of products that meet the needs of small businesses. For
more information, please visit www.sbtechnologyinstitute.org.


Editor's Note: For media interviews, images or to register to attend
The World of Difference event on January 26 and 27, please contact
Nellie Wong at (415) 561-0888 ext. 2306 or nellie@landispr.com.


CALENDAR EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:


WHAT:


The World of Difference Learning and Development Conference presented
by SBTI and Intel


DESCRIPTION:


The World of Difference Learning and Development Conference is the
premier learning event to help improve small business productivity and
prosperity with server-based information technology.


PROGRAM:


In-depth modules explain how information technology can improve:
Marketing, Sales and Business Development; Operations, Inventory
Management and Collaboration; Financial Management; and General
Management and Executive Decision Making. Demonstration center
features more than 20 small business technology solutions and business
scenarios. Winners of The World of Difference nationwide $100,000
contest will be announced prior to opening of the conference.


WHO:


Designed for small business owners, managers and staff of small
companies with up to 100 employees plus community partners who are
integral to their success, including chambers of commerce, economic
development corporations, state agencies, small business development
centers and others.


WHEN:



Friday, January 27, 2006

Visit http://www.theworldofdifference.org/ny for complete schedule of

events.



WHERE:



Hilton New York

1335 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10019



RSVP:


Pre-register online for only $20 ($40 at the door) at
http://www.theworldofdifference.org/ny. Admission includes breakfast,
lunch, course materials, access to the solutions demonstration area, a
one-year subscription to Small Business Technology Magazine and a
chance to win door prizes. For more information, call (408) 494-0212
ext. 107.