PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Kristina Kohler
kristina.kohler@beaconfire.com
703-894-0090
Beaconfire Spins Off, Revitalizing Commitment to Nonprofit Organizations
Falls Church, Va., October 15, 2001 — On October 5, 2001, the Nonprofit Practice of Commerce One Global Services spun-off and became Beaconfire Consulting, Inc., a provider of Internet consulting services to nonprofit organizations.
"Re-establishing the nonprofit practice as Beaconfire Consulting is in the best interest of our clients, prospective clients, and our employees," said Beaconfire CEO, Lynn Labieniec, a 20-year veteran of the software and consulting industries. "Our experience in partnering with nonprofit and related organizations began in 1995 as the nonprofit practice of NMP, then AppNet, and Commerce One. Beaconfire is committed to the nonprofit sector and to helping our clients use Internet technologies to make a difference. Being a separate company will ensure we can do that more effectively and for many more years to come."
The Beaconfire spin-off was initiated in order to fulfill ongoing commitments and long-term service obligations to the nonprofit sector. Beaconfire Consulting is a separately capitalized and privately held company. Beaconfire Consulting is not a subsidiary of Commerce One, nor does Commerce One maintain an equity stake in Beaconfire Consulting. Beaconfire Consulting and Commerce One maintain a strategic partnership.
Beaconfire is focused on helping nonprofit organizations to reach their goals and objectives through the smart use of Internet technologies. The company's core competencies are to provide strategic, creative, and technical expertise in support of clients' mission-critical endeavors. Beaconfire, through the provision of strategy and organizational planning, solution architecture, solution development, and ongoing management and analysis services, helps clients with integrated marketing and fundraising, e-communications and advocacy campaigning, public Web site development, knowledge management, data management, and internal operations efficiency.
Part of what differentiates Beaconfire from other service providers is the experience it has in developing solutions for the nonprofit sector that appropriately integrate technology into an organization's business process to create long-term success for client organizations.
"Our work with over 175 nonprofit clients has taught us that effective Internet programs are a combination of people, process, and technology," said Michael Cervino, Vice President. "Our clients are taking advantage of this experience to develop plans for not only the software part of the equation, but the marketing, training, and change management implications the organization will face when the system is turned on. It is a priority for us to ensure client organizations are prepared to maximize the return on their investment and have a roadmap that defines success metrics and guides future investments."
Further, as many full-service Web services providers have shifted to promoting their proprietary products as stand alone solutions, Beaconfire believes there is a need for an objective voice to help nonprofits navigate through these options.
Jeffrey Herron, Vice President of Client Services, stated today, "The technology market for nonprofits has matured substantially. Software packages are readily available, and nonprofits need an objective partner to evaluate solutions and professionals with diverse skill sets to implement them. Beaconfire is that partner."
In addition to providing in-house strategy, creative, and technical development services, Beaconfire has a variety of product and service partners as part of its solution-based approach.
"Beaconfire is a product of our experience in, and continued commitment to, the nonprofit community, as well as an extension of the lessons learned from NMP, AppNet, and Commerce One," elaborated Graham Bouchoux, Director of Client Development. "One of the lessons learned is how powerful partnerships with complementary and competing firms can be in meeting the needs of our clients. Our goal is to provide nonprofit clients with value in the short term, and a sustainable Web strategy over the long term. We know firsthand that working collaboratively with hosting providers, marketing and design firms, and product vendors, among others, will ensure our clients receive 'best of breed' support for their organizational objectives."
"Our clients are incredibly excited about the transition," added Dottie Hodges, Vice President. "They see the value not only in the services we offer, but also our history of dedication to the nonprofit sector. They recognize that three core ingredients -- our passion, the ability to deliver a clear vision for achieving results, and the technical know-how to make it happen -- make up the recipe for a winning partnership."
William Poole, Associate Director of Public Affairs for The Trust for Public Land, highlighted his organization's three-year partnership with Beaconfire. He explained, "We gave the Beaconfire folks a tough problem--to create an integrated national Web site that also included full-function home pages for our state and regional offices. So far, their solution has proven to be both versatile and robust, and they have been responsive in their support as the site has evolved. We look forward to working with them as we move ahead."
About Beaconfire
Beaconfire Consulting serves the nonprofit community with interactive markeing and fundraising, web design and development, internet strategy planning, and technology evaluation services. Beaconfire has guided some of the world's leading nonprofit organizations to achieve something remarkable with Web technologies. Results that shine..