WEST DES MOINES, IOWA, December 20, 2005 -- GeoLearning, Inc., the leading provider of Managed Learning Services and hosted learning platforms, announced today Merrill Gardens has selected the GeoExpress Learning Management Suite (LMS) to deliver and track online training content for its 2,700 team members as part of a 3-year learning services contract.
Merrill Gardens, headquartered in Seattle, Washington, will implement the GeoLearning solution to centralize and automate training management throughout its 70 geographically distributed retirement communities. With communities located in 12 states, the company required a system capable of streamlining and unifying compliance training and reporting. General Managers located at each community will also participate in a curriculum of professional development courses that address leadership, management and coaching. Special "training computers" have also been set up at each site to provide team members with easy access to the system´s training content.
"We are pleased to be implementing the GeoLearning platform for our team members across the county," said Morei Lingle, Director of Training at Merrill Gardens. "We also expect significant results from the consulting and services areas within GeoLearning. In addition to providing a comprehensive LMS solution, GeoLearning will be instrumental in converting several of our custom training videos to e-learning courses."
Merrill Gardens evaluated several LMS providers before choosing GeoLearning. A group of 12 General Managers within Merrill Gardens were thoroughly impressed during a pilot of the GeoLearning system that sealed the selection. Merrill Gardens´ executives also cited GeoLearning´s powerful Dynamic Reporting Engine and commitment to customer service as deciding factors.
In addition to the GeoExpress learning management platform, Merrill Gardens will also deploy the following GeoLearning modules:
Dynamic Reporting Engine to provide the ability to transform raw LMS data into actionable analysis and meaningful business measurements.
MyPlan Competency Management Tool to track and manage individual team member´s development plans.
Web-based Class & Event Scheduler to manage traditional instructor-led training.
GeoLearning´s award-winning Software as a Service (SaaS) model means the GeoExpress platform is delivered entirely over the Internet, eliminating all the headaches, hassles and risks associated with traditional hardware and software implementations. The Internet-hosted learning management platform enables organizations to capture, create, manage and share knowledge to improve workforce productivity, accelerate critical business processes, and drive organizational performance. The system centralizes and automates the entire learning management process, making the administration of enterprise learning and development both effective and efficient.
GeoLearning will also provide Internet hosting, security and maintenance services, vendor management, professional services, and 24x7 Help Desk support for Merrill Gardens´ team members and administrators as part of the 3-year learning services contract.
About GeoLearning, Inc.
GeoLearning is the leading provider of Managed Learning Services and hosted learning technology. The company´s products and services are used by corporations, government agencies and non-profit organizations to manage human capital development, accelerate critical business processes and drive organizational performance. GeoLearning´s Software as a Service model means there is no hardware or software for clients to install. As a result, the company´s Web-based GeoMaestroTM and GeoExpressTM learning management platforms can be deployed quickly, allowing clients to efficiently manage enterprise-wide learning, development and knowledge acquisition. Additional information is available at www.geolearning.com.
About Merrill Gardens
Merrill Gardens is one of the top owner/operators of independent and assisted living retirement communities in the country. The company consists of 70 retirement communities in 12 states with the capacity to serve over 8,000 residents. With 2,700 employees, it is the industry´s second largest privately held company. The company has been recognized as one of the Puget Sound Business Journal´s Fastest Growing Private Companies for the past four years. The Better Business Bureau of Washington and Oregon named Merrill Gardens Business of the Year in the large business category for 2004. Merrill Gardens is also the Washington State Family Business of the Year. Merrill Gardens was honored as one of the Best Companies To Work For in the 2004 Washington CEO Magazine survey. The company was conceived in 1993 with the acquisition of the first community in Seattle, Washington. Additional information is available at www.merrillgardens.com.
Media Contact:
Will Hipwell
VP of Marketing
GeoLearning, Inc.
(515)222-6259
willh[at]geolearning.com