The honor recognizes the January 2006 kickoff meeting, "Now and Next," developed for Sun Microsystems, an industry leader in network computing solutions for servers, data storage, software and services. ProActive and Sun were recognized in the area of theme.

CHICAGO, Ill., August 7, 2006 - Strategic communication and events agency, ProActive, Inc., has been awarded an Award of Excellence from Meeting Professionals International (MPI). The honor recognizes the January 2006 kickoff meeting, "Now and Next," developed for Sun Microsystems, an industry leader in network computing solutions for servers, data storage, software and services. ProActive and Sun were recognized in the area of theme.

The meeting united two merging sales teams in the wake of Sun Microsystems' 2005 acquisition of StorageTek, a data storage company. About 1,200 North American sales people gathered in Denver for the multi-day event, anxious about what was happening right now in the present as well as what was going to be happening next over the long term.

"This meeting was mission critical to the success of this acquisition," said Sun's Manager of Events and Field Communication Brooke Sommers, CMP, CMM. ProActive President Tony Lorenz, CMM, commenting on the project, said, "By employing objective measurement tools and thoughtful creative in response to strategic needs, Sun and ProActive created the perfect communication platform to guide the sales team's future. 'Now and Next' is an exemplary model of the power of meetings. This recognition clearly reinforces that statement."

Survey results guided all aspects of the meeting\'s content and creative development. Pre-conference surveys revealed that employees were hungry for information about the acquisition's impact on their jobs, their customers, the product line, their future and the future of the company. A post-conference survey revealed that all objectives were met, producing an increased understanding of the merged company's goals by more than 100 percent. Judges praised the event\'s theme concept, "Now and Next," used to meet Sun Microsystems' objectives.

This distinguished MPI Global Paragon Awards program is the industry's most prestigious and, notably, is a peer award bestowed by more than 20,000 members of MPI. Winners exemplify how meetings and events contribute to an organization's mission and goals. Judging is based on measurable goals, objectives and quantifiable results.

The 2006 Global Paragon Award winners were announced at MPI's World Education Congress in Dallas, July 9th. This is ProActive's second MPI award, having received the Global Paragon Award in 2003.

About ProActive Inc.: Founded in 1992, ProActive provides best-in-class, integrated, strategic communications to global organizations in virtually every major industry sector. ProActive delivers the creation, development and production of live events, business meetings, trade shows, corporate training and other communication-based programs. Headquartered in Chicago, with an office in New York, ProActive's clients include many of the world\'s leading brands.

About Sun Microsystems: A singular vision—"The Network Is The Computer"—guides Sun in the development of technologies that power the world's most important markets. Sun's philosophy of sharing innovation and building communities is at the forefront of the next wave of computing: the Participation Age. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries.

About MPI: Established in 1972, Meeting Professionals International is the largest association for the meetings profession with more than 20,000 members in 68 chapters and clubs across the United States, Canada, Europe and other countries throughout the world. As the global authority and resource for the US$122.3 billion meetings and events industry, MPI empowers meeting professionals to increase their strategic organizational value through education and networking opportunities.

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