The Future of The Support Executive Presented at SSPA Savannah

(San Diego, CA September 18, 2002) – The Service & Support Professionals Association (SSPA) announced today the featuring of Five Tracks each with five focused sessions for a total of 25 sessions guaranteed to unlock the secrets to mastering the future of customer service and support for the SSPA Savannah Conference to be held September 30-October 2, 2002 in Savannah, Georgia. The SSPA Savannah Conference is "the" event where the future of the Service and Support industry comes together in a fusion of visionary key note addresses, vibrant tracks and workshops, interactive forums, fun networking events, informative exhibits and a special dinner featuring the SSPA STAR Award winners -- all in the heart of America's most magical city, Savannah Georgia.

“By creating specific content tracks, the new SSPA Savannah Conference agenda format allows the attendees to choose the most applicable presentation for their needs,” said Bill Rose, SSPA Founder/CEO.  The Future of the Support Executive track offers three different perspectives featuring a roundtable discussion focused on issues unique to executives

The Five Tracks on the second day of the Conference will include:

Track 1: The Future of Support Technology; Track 2: The Future of Customer Demands; Track 3: The Future of the Support Executive; Track 4: The Future of Managing People; Track 5: Delivering World Class Service in the future.

Track 3- The Future of the Support Executive
These sessions will include individual experience presentations and a roundtable discussion in an open forum with idea sharing and “group think”- all focused on issues unique to executives.  Attendees should have a title of Director or above.

Session # 1- The SSPA Support Industry Benchmark Study
“Where Are We Today?  Where Are We Heading Tomorrow?”
Bill Rose, SSPA Founder/CEO

Session # 2- The Role of The Support Executive- 2003 and Beyond
Thomas J. Sweeny, Director, SSPA Research

Session # 3- Future Trends and Present Dimensions in the Software Support Marketplace
Tony Adams, Principal Analyst- Gartner IT Services

Each session will be presented once in the morning and repeated again in the afternoon.

The opening day of the SSPA Conference at Savannah will be highlighted by 3 keynote presentations by Brian Little, Ph.D., Harvard Lecturer and Affiliate of the Radcliffe Institute; Alex van Dijk, Senior Director, Americas Operations- Oracle and Mark Perry, Senior Director, Windows Engineering Services Group- Microsoft Corporation.

Day Three will feature Five Informative Workshops giving attendees the opportunity to learn from the top leaders in the industry on some of the most important aspects of success the future of support services.

Workshop 1: Making Customer Satisfaction Benchmarks Work For You
Workshop 2: Management Overview of Certification Programs for Your Center and Staff
Workshop 3: ROI Workshop: Turning Training Investment into Organizational Savings
Workshop 4: Support Center Practices (SCP) Best Practices User Forum
Workshop 5: Marketing Your Services: The New Wheel of Fortune

Day Three is finished off with the attendee’s choice of a round of golf at the pristine Club at Savannah Harbor Golf Course, next to the Westin Savannah Harbor Resort. - or a tour of America's most magical city- Savannah.

Those who attend the SSPA Conference at Savannah will be well equipped to master the future of customer service.  To view additional details of the Conference and to register, please visit www.supportgate.com/savannah

About SSPA
Founded in 1989, SSPA represents over 18,000 service executives in over 2200 support centers worldwide.  SSPA gives service and support professionals opportunities to share ideas, discuss developing trends and network with their peers.  SSPA offers its members conferences, seminars, specialized training, executive forums, certification programs and a variety of publications.  SSPA resides at the web portal of Supportgate at www.supportgate.com.  Through these ‘gates’ you will find the Membership Communities of the Service & Support Professionals Association (SSPA), the SSPA Europe, the SSPA Asia Pacific, the SSPA Service Vendor Alliance, (SVA) and the SSPA Professionals Membership.

For more information regarding the SSPA and other related divisions, log on to www.supportgate.com or send an email to info@supportgate.com.