The SSPA Sets Dates for 2001 Conferences:

“Over the years, the SSPA events have proven to be content-rich, informative sessions that have created immense values for all Attendees,” said Bill Rose, SSPA Founder/Executive Director.

The SSPA San Diego Summit is designed as a series of forums where industry executives can explore and discuss the critical issues facing support services on Operational, Planning and Certification issues. Topics to be discussed include “Hot Topics” in Software Support; “Top Technology For Tech Support”; The “Hottest” Technologies and Companies That Will Guide Us Into The Future Of Technical Support; “Measuring Your Company's ROC”; “Real World” Case Studies; “Hands On” Management Workshops; The SCP Certification Showcase and “Birds of a Feather” Discussion Groups.

The SSPA will announce the 2001 WebStar Service Award winners at a special dinner in conjunction with the SSPA San Diego Summit. The WebStar Service Awards involve a self-nominating process and are open to SSPA and Service Vendor Alliance (SVA) Members.

The SSPA Tech Support Teams Conference is developed as a series of forums where tech support professionals, supervisors and managers can explore and discuss the critical issues facing support services on Team Building, Online Support, Soft Skills and the SSPA Certification areas. Topic areas to be discussed include “Working Effectively Within a Team”; “What Do Customers Really Want?”; “Retention, Motivation and Team Building”; “Dealing With Difficult Customers”; “Improving Your Ability to hire ‘Stars”; “Building Successful Online Training Programs”; “Electronic Communication and Writing Skills”.

One of the highlights of the Tech Support Teams Conference will be the annual Support SuperStars Awards presentations. The SSPA Support SuperStars Award Program is a unique opportunity to recognize all of the individuals in a support center who contribute to the success of that operation. Supervisors and Managers nominate their outstanding staff and these SuperStars are recognized at a special awards dinner at the Conference.

The Horizons 2002 is specifically designed as a series of speaker presentations, panels and Expert Connection Workshops where industry executives can explore and discuss the critical issues facing support services into the 21st Century. The Horizons 2001 Conference is a “think tank” of the best minds in the industry, where support executives can gather together to set the direction of the software support industry.

Topic areas to be presented include: The Future of Customer Service; The Fast Track to eService; Transitioning an IT Help Desk to a Customer Care Center; The Future of the Small Support Center; “Real World” Case Studies; The Future of Web-Based Technology and Customer Service; “Hands On” Management Workshops and “Birds of a Feather” Discussion Groups.

The Software Technical Assistance Recognition (STAR) Awards for 2001 will be presented at special awards dinner. The STAR Awards are given annually to recognize excellence in eight categories of software and technical support. Competing Member companies undergo a rigorous self-nominating process, and winners are selected by SSPA's Advisory Board Members. The STAR Awards have become the coveted prize for winners since the program was established in 1990.

All of the SSPA Conferences offer Sponsor opportunities for some of the key vendors in the IT industry to showcase their products and services, face-to-face, to a select group of executives attending the conference. As a corporate sponsor of a SSPA conference, a company benefits by reaching key executives in the technical support industry, technical support professionals, decision-makers, members who supply resources, services, and products and organizations that are leading the way to the future of customer service.

For more information on all of the SSPA Conferences and Sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.supportgate.com or send an email to info@supportgate.com.