GeoLearning's Frank Russell Named 2009 CEO of the Year

GeoLearning leader gets nod from the Technology Association of Iowa for his leadership, vision, financial stability and company growth during chaotic economic times.

Frank Russell, president and CEO of GeoLearning, Inc., was named CEO of the Year at the 2009 Prometheus Awards sponsored by the Technology Association of Iowa (TAI). Winners were announced in 17 categories at an evening ceremony on March 3 at the Meadows Convention Center in Altoona, Iowa. Over 500 industry leaders from business, education and government attended the event.

CEO of the Year is not the first time Russell and GeoLearning have been recognized by the Technology Association of Iowa. GeoLearning was named Software Company of the Year in 2008, Top Growth Company of the Year in 2007 and Technology Company of the Year in 2006.

TAI's Prometheus Awards are Iowa's most prestigious information technology awards and were created to celebrate and help promote excellence within Iowa's high-tech industry.

These are the academy awards of the technology industry, said TAI president Leann Jacobson. Prometheus Awards are given to the best and brightest in the industry: inventors, innovators, researchers and educators whose work is helping drive Iowa's economy forward, even in challenging economic times.

Under Russell's direction since its founding in 1997, GeoLearning has grown to be the leading provider of on-demand learning and performance management platforms and training services to corporations and government agencies around the world. Some of the achievements that led to Russell being recognized by the Technology Association of Iowa include:

GeoLearning sales grew 38% year-over-year in 2008 at a time when many organizations are facing flat or declining growth.

More than 500 companies and government agenciesóincluding high-profile brand names like Dell, Palm, Adecco, Google, and Cabela'sóhave deployed GeoLearning's Internet-based learning management platform, and rely on its learning services to drive employee and organizational performance.

The company secured a growth equity investment of $31 million from Fidelity Ventures in 2008. The funds, which represented the first institutional investment for GeoLearning, have been utilized to accelerate the company's sales and marketing efforts, add positions to support continued growth, and continue to build its channel partner network.