SAN JOSE, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- December 5, 2006 -- Cisco® (
NASDAQ:
CSCO) today announced the
donation of highly secure and flexible network solution packages, worth as
much as $20,000, to five Make Mine a $Million Business program award
recipients. The awardees were recognized October 24 in New York. The goal
of the national Make Mine a $Million Business program is to foster a
community of one million women-owned businesses earning $1 million or more
in annual revenue by 2010.
The Cisco Smart Business Communications packages will be tailored to
include networking products such as Cisco Unified CallManager Express,
Cisco Unity Express, Cisco integrated services routers, Cisco Catalyst®
Express 500 Series Switches, and Cisco Unified IP Phones. Installation,
services, and support of the customized communications technology packages
will be provided by authorized local Cisco specialized channel partners who
are members of the Ingram Micro Services Network, a Cisco Authorized
Distributor.
The Cisco technology packages will help enable the award recipients align
their information technology strategies with their business goals and build
sustainable networks they can expand as their businesses grow. The five
Make Mine a $Million Business award recipients selected to receive the
Cisco Smart Business Communications technology packages include:
-- Bonnie S. Marcus, President
Bonnie's Style Press, based in Westport, Conn.
Business: Fashion-forward invitation and greeting card company
http://www.bonniesstylepress.com
-- Gina Stern, President
D-Parture Spa, based in Newark, N.J.
Business: Full-service spas located in airport terminals
http://www.departurespa.com
-- Nandini Mukherjee, Founder and President
Indian Bread Co., based in New York, N.Y.
Business: Serves fresh and affordable Indian Food
http://www.indianbreadco.com
-- Christie Nightingale
Premier Match, based in New York, N.Y.
Business: Matchmaking service for single professionals
http://www.premiermatchmaking.com
-- Melinda Earl
Stone Impressions, based in San Diego, Calif.
Business: Manufacturing company making decorative natural stone tile
products
http://stoneimpressions.com
The Make Mine a $Million Business Program was founded in 2005 by
Count-Me-In for Women's Economic Independence, a non-profit organization
providing online business loans and resources, and OPEN from American
Express(SM) , the small-business team at American Express.
"I know how Cisco helps solve business problems through network technology,
so we're thrilled they are a sponsor of the Make Mine a $Million Business
program," said Nell Merlino, founder and CEO of Count-Me-In. "Part of
technology is bringing people together to look at how to scale as demand
for business increases. Cisco makes this kind of growth and excitement
possible, particularly because of their generosity as a company."
Cisco and Ingram Micro will collaborate to pair local Cisco authorized
partners with each of these businesses to conduct a Cisco Smart Business
Roadmap assessment to help design an installation plan that best fits their
business needs. Once the assessment has been conducted, the partners will
install the Cisco Smart Business Communications solutions and provide the
connectivity to the appropriate service provider chosen by the Cisco award
recipients.
"Cisco's vision -- to change the way people work, live, play and learn --
is truly made possible through a network of diversity and a culture of
inclusion that connect our workplace to the marketplace," said Lauren
Ventura, senior director for small and medium-sized business marketing at
Cisco Systems. "We at Cisco are so proud to be a sponsor of the Make Mine a
$Million Business initiative and are looking forward to working with our
partners to help the award recipients achieve their goals as their
businesses evolve."
About Cisco Systems
Cisco (
NASDAQ:
CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms
how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco
can be found at
http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to
http://newsroom.cisco.com.
About Count-Me-In
Count-Me-In for Women's Economic Independence is the leading national
not-for-profit provider of on-line business loans and resources for women
to grow their micro businesses into $million enterprises. Find us at
www.countmein.org or call 212-245-1245.
About OPEN from American Express(SM)
OPEN(SM) is the American Express team dedicated exclusively to the success
of small business owners and their companies. The OPEN Team supports
business owners with unparalleled service. With tailored products and
services, the team delivers purchasing power, flexibility, control and
rewards to help customers run their business. Specifically, business owner
customers can leverage an enhanced set of products, tools, services and
savings, including charge and credit cards, convenient access to working
capital, robust online account management capabilities and savings on
business services from an expanded lineup of partners. To obtain more
information about OPEN(SM), visit OPEN.com, or call 1-800-NOW-OPEN to apply
for a card or loan. Terms and conditions apply.
American Express Company (
www.americanexpress.com) is a leading global
payments, network and travel company founded in 1850.
Cisco, the Cisco logo, Cisco Systems, the Cisco Systems logo and Catalyst
are registered trademarks or trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its
affiliates in the United States and certain other countries. All other
trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective
owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership
relationship between Cisco and any other company. This document is Cisco
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Contact Information: Public Relations Contact:
Ray Hadulco
Cisco Systems, Inc.
408 853-6054
Email Contact
Analyst Relations Contact:
Timberly Morrison
Cisco Systems, Inc.
408 853-3167
Email Contact
Investor Relations Contact:
Liz Lemon
Cisco Systems, Inc.
408 527-8452
Email Contact