HAWTHORNE, N.Y., March 1, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- SmartPros Ltd. (AMEX:PED) Engineering Division, a developer of online exam preparation and continuing education courses for engineers, announced that it has entered into a multi-year contract with Gannett Fleming, Inc., for SmartPros' online PE Exam Review and FE Exam Review courses. Gannett Fleming will use the SmartPros products to train Department of Transportation employees in preparation for the Principles and Practices (PE) exam and the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam.
Under the contract, Gannett Fleming will use these online resources, in conjunction with review sessions led by Gannett Fleming's subject matter experts, to answer specific questions from participants in order to gain their desired level of licensure.
"Gannett Fleming is one of the leading training organizations in the engineering field, said Steve Murtha, vice president of SmartPros Engineering Division. "We are pleased to be working with them to support Department of Transportation training needs."
"These online courses allow us to provide consistent training to employees regardless of location," stated Scott Zeevaart, PE, Highway Design and Construction related trainer at Gannett Fleming. "We can train more employees across a wider area when actual classroom training would not be economical due to the dispersed nature of the course attendees. This results in providing opportunities to meet the needs of individuals and clients with lower training costs and the ability to monitor progress using SmartPros' Learning Management System."
SmartPros recently introduced its proprietary Learning Management System specifically designed for engineering firms and engineering agencies. The system tracks credits (Professional Development Hours) for licensure requirements, prints certificates, allows for student enrollment, and generates a variety of reports to assist firms with the administration of engineering courses. SmartPros has a library of technical courses, business and management courses, and exam preparation courses specifically designed for engineers. For more information, visit the SmartPros Engineering Professional Education Center at http://education.smartpros.com/engineering.
About SmartPros Ltd.
Founded 1981, SmartPros Ltd. is an industry leader in the field of accredited professional education. Its products and services are primarily focused in the accredited professional areas of corporate accounting, financial management, public accounting, governmental and not-for-profit accounting, engineering, and ethics and compliance. SmartPros' customers include over half of Fortune 500 companies, as well as the major firms and associations in each of its professional markets. SmartPros provides education and content publishing and development services in a variety of media including Web, CD-ROM and video. Our subscription libraries feature hundreds of course titles and 1,000+ hours of accredited education. SmartPros' proprietary Professional Education Center (PEC) Learning Management System (LMS) offers enterprise distribution and administration of education content and information. In addition, SmartPros produces a popular news and information portal for accounting and finance professionals that services 300,000+ visitors and 100,000+ subscribers per month. Visit: http://corporate.smartpros.com
About Gannett Fleming, Inc.
Gannett Fleming has evolved from a three-person firm in 1915 to currently employing more than 1,900 highly qualified, dedicated individuals that provide an array of services in the transportation, water/wastewater, institutional/industrial/commercial, environmental, and information technology disciplines. Our more than 50 offices throughout the United States and Canada allow us to provide consulting, engineering, planning, and construction management services in almost every geographical area. Gannett Fleming has completed thousands of assignments in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and more than 50 countries. Visit: http://www.gannettfleming.com
Safe Harbor Statement
This release may contain or identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on assumptions and estimates, which are inherently subject to uncertainty and contingencies that are beyond our control and are based on future business decisions that may change.
For more information, please contact:
Steve Murtha SmartPros Engineering Division 914-517-1131 Shane Gillispie SmartPros Investor Relations 253-863-8280