CA, Dell, Google, Hitachi Data Systems, IBM and Fast-Growing Startups Choose Midmarket CIO Forum to Generate Pre-Qualified, Face-to-Face Meetings

IT Business Edge has announced the preliminary roster of current sponsors for its second Midmarket CIO Forum, to be held from November 14-16, 2010 in Orlando, Florida. The innovative event series re-imagines the technology conference model, applying the company’s successful lead generation approach to a live setting. The Midmarket CIO Forum connects pre-qualified IT executives with vendors and peers in a series of face-to-face meetings in small group sessions, allowing C-level and executive-level midmarket IT professionals to source technology solutions, build professional relationships, and refine best practices.

The unique relationship-building event brings strong benefits for sponsor companies wishing to interact with midmarket executives that are actively reviewing solutions to meet their immediate purchasing needs. Preliminary sponsors that are confirmed for the Orlando event include CA Technologies (NASDAQ:CA), Dell (NASDAQ:DELL), Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), Hitachi Data Systems (NYSE:HIT), IBM, Instantis, Rackspace Hosting (NYSE:RAX), SAS Institute, Sentrigo, TriGeo Network Security and Webroot.

Designed to maximize every minute and deliver information, strategies and results, Midmarket CIO Forum attendees and sponsor companies hit the ground running with a series of productive and efficient meetings that fill multiple days. IT Business Edge has taken its online model of matching technology decision makers with vendors from a virtual to physical process, delivering no-nonsense, in-person meetings that allow attendees to drill down into technology, share best practices and potential pitfalls in a rapid-fire set of 30 minute meetings over multiple days. All attendees are pre-qualified based on purchase-decision-making power and organizational profile, and then flown to Orlando, where they meet in groups of 10 to 12 with vendor sponsors. Vendors and IT executives also have opportunities to schedule one-on-one meetings, and IT executives participate in peer-to-peer roundtables and attend keynote speeches throughout the three-day event.

IT Business Edge continues to connect IT buyers and IT sellers through B2B strategies that bring value to technology decision makers and technology vendors. The company re-launched their flagship IT Business Edge site in early 2009, seeing profitability and increased ad revenues while other online publishers faced losses. After rolling out multiple network sites to serve CIOs and IT executives throughout 2009 and into 2010, the company premiered the first Midmarket CIO Forum event in March of this year. Based on feedback, the format encourages a level of information exchange that is difficult to match in the traditional marketing process.

“Since IT Business Edge hand selects, prequalifies and actually delivers IT executives that are actively looking to purchase needed solutions, sponsors see the Midmarket CIO Forum as a highly efficient way to jump-start their sales process and consolidate what would normally be months of travel and logistics into a solidly scheduled three days of closed door meetings,” said Phil Branon, president, IT Business Edge. “CIOs and IT executives see the Forum as a one-stop source to query vendor executives directly with their specific requirements, accomplishing specific research and building relationships in a focused setting. Both sponsors and attendees see quantifiable benefits to the format, providing a win/win situation for marketers, sales executives and midmarket technology decision makers looking for solutions.”

In additional news, IT Business Edge has partnered with Info-Tech Research Group for the upcoming Midmarket CIO Forum. Info-Tech is a leading analyst firm that provides action-oriented advice, practical recommendations and real solutions to IT leaders and their teams globally. The top ten-ranked research group serves over 8,000+ IT departments subscribing to their IT research and advisory services, with topics focusing on midmarket and enterprise issues. During the three day event, Info-Tech will be heavily involved in educational sessions, available to discuss research in one-on-one sessions with attendees, and provide guidance to midmarket executives to help shape their decision processes.

“We’re pleased to partner with Info-Tech Research Group as our analyst partner for the November Midmarket CIO Forum and look forward to working with them closely as we ramp up to the event,” continued Branon. “We know both our attendees and sponsors will gain significant knowledge from Info-Tech analysts that will be on-site, and are excited to have them engaged in our Forum activities.”

For more information on the IT Business Edge Midmarket CIO Forum, or to register for consideration as an attendee at the November event, visit www.MidmarketCIOForum.com. Senior technology executives interested in applying for an invitation can also contact Hilary Badoian at 502-415-7597, extension 101. Technology vendors interested in sponsorship opportunities should contact Rose Booth at 502-515-6468.

About Info-Tech Research Group

Info-Tech Research Group (www.infotech.com) is a global leader in providing tactical, practical Information Technology research, analysis and consulting. Info-Tech has been addressing the needs of IT professionals for over 10 years, and is one of North America’s fastest growing full-service IT analyst firms.

About IT Business Edge

Published by Louisville-based NarrowCast Group, LLC, IT Business Edge delivers an intelligent approach to business technology information that is focused, practical, and concise. The site allows high-level technology decision makers to gain up-to-the-minute analysis of evolving issues and strategies, solve problems, download tools, and choose cost-effective approaches for their IT needs. A series of network sites provide strategic IT decision makers with technically-focused information to create strategies, plan and deploy new technologies. The company’s events business innovates the way IT vendors and buyers meet and interact by providing small group and one-on-one settings.

To join the IT Business Edge community, visit www.itbusinessedge.com. To register for consideration as an attendee at the November Midmarket CIO Forum, visit www.MidmarketCIOForum.com.