HP Revamps User Group

CHICAGO -- HP business technology user groups Encompass, ITUG and HP-Interex EMEA have approved the vote to consolidate and unveiled its new organization nameConnect. Earlier this year, the users groups announced their intent to consolidate to form the independent, pre-eminent worldwide community of users of HP enterprise technologies. The consolidation was contingent upon the vote of members from all three user groups which took place in April. Connect is HP’s largest user community representing more than 50,000 participants. Current memberships of the three groups will be honored as Connect members until the end of 2008.

Also announced today is the newly elected 2008-2009 Board of Directors to lead and set direction for Connect. The board representation includes members from each of the founding users groups. Nina Buik, former president of Encompass, will lead the Board as president. Margo Holen will serve as vice president, Glen Kuykendall was elected secretary/treasurer, and Scott Healy, former ITUG president, will serve as immediate past president. Newly elected directors include Steve Davidek, Bill Johnson, Jay McLaughlin, Henk Pomper, Joe Ramos, Dr. Michael Rossbach, Gerhard Wedenig and Brad Harwell (HP).

“We are thrilled to bring together the complementary skills of each group to grow Connect into a strong and vibrant global community that garners support from HP and its valued partners, said Buik. “By joining forces, we are able to increase member value while maintaining technology relevance and services to our current members and create a community for new members to be part of for years to come.”

Hewlett-Packard Co.