Virtual Edge Institute Acquires Engage365

Merger will help Virtual Edge Institute to better serve the growing needs of meeting planners, event designers, learning architects and marketers and build engagement around their programs

Orlando, FL January 14, 2013 VEI – The Virtual Edge Institute, an organization dedicated to advancing engagement around events, meetings, learning and marketing programs through technology and best practices, today announced at Convening Leaders, that VEI is obtaining the engage365 brand, website, membership and community.

VEI will be combining its content, membership and audience under the engage365 brand allowing VEI to better serve the growing needs of meeting planners, event designers, learning architects and marketers as they turn their focus on customer and learner engagement around content and community. The use of technology for extending the life, reach and value of marketing and learning programs is ubiquitous—the challenge is building engagement around those programs.

“We think the future of events, membership, learning, marketing and collaboration is all about engagement and that’s why we’re making a big move in expanding our focus and the engage365 community could not be a better foundation to start building on,” said Michael Doyle Executive Director of VEI. “Donna Sanford a longtime member of the VEI team had been put in charge as the Community Director of the engage365.org site and community.”

Over the last six years, VEI has led the industry in education and building awareness and positioned digital tools as fiend not foe to the events and meetings industry culminating in the creation of the Digital Event Strategist (DES) education and certification program. Now that the hurdle to digital has been overcome and adoption is soaring, it’s time to focus on the ultimate goal—engagement. “With the technology available today around mobile, digital events, collaboration, communities and social media, the question is not if we can do it but how will we do it,” said Sanford. “Technology is going to take a back seat to innovation and creativity. We are mostly in uncharted waters here.”

VEI concluded the agreement to take over engage365 from Pathable, Inc. a supplier of community software which they will continue to supply. “We’re very excited to have VEI pick up the engage365 community and will support their efforts as much as we possibly can,” said Jordan Schwartz, CEO of Pathable. “We think having an independent third party running the organization is the right thing for it to grow and take the leadership role in the growing and critical field of engagement. VEI is used to being on the edge so to speak when it comes to future trends and we’re looking forward to seeing them take on this new initiative.”

Media Contacts:

Virtual Edge Institute

Donna Sanford | dsanford@virtualedge.org

925.600.1001

About Virtual Edge Institute

The Virtual Edge Institute (VEI) is an international organization dedicated to advancing engagement around events, meetings, learning and marketing programs through technology. VEI supports and contributes to research, education, thought leadership, promotion, and professional networking. VEI also produces the Digital Event Strategist educational program and accompanying DES Certification designation. For more information, visit http://www.virtualedgeinstitute.com or engage365.org.

The Virtual Edge Institute (VEI) is an international organization dedicated to advancing engagement around events, meetings, learning and marketing programs through technology. VEI supports and contributes to research, education, thought leadership, promotion, and professional networking. VEI also produces the Digital Event Strategist educational program and accompanying DES Certification designation. For more information, visit http://www.virtualedgeinstitute.com or engage365.org.

340 Mullin Court, Pleasanton, CA 94566 / Phone: (925) 600-1001 / email: info@virtualedge.org

This release was published on openPR.