Ivy Tech Community College-Northwest hosted Microsoft Across America (MSAM) "Are You Ready for a New Day" event on Monday, August 13 at the Valparaiso Campus, 3100 Valley Drive, sponsored by Chester, Inc. Information Technologies. The tour was part of Microsoft's "Launch 2007" of the new Microsoft software Vista. Pete Peuquet, CEO of Chester, Inc. supports Ivy Tech and wanted to share this valuable technological experience with the college and community.

"The sessions Windows Vista & Microsoft Office 2007 by Steve Deming, senior level Microsoft technician, and Learning the Stages of Custom Workforce Training by Mark Lewers, Ivy Tech Workforce Certification manager were the best," said Gina Rue, computer information systems and technology assistant professor of Ivy Tech.

The remarks included a welcome from Mayor Jon Costas of Valparaiso, and the history and mission statement of Ivy Tech by Delores Haklin, Ph.D., executive dean at Ivy Tech, Valparaiso campus. "Ivy Tech Northwest is a leader in providing technology training in northwest Indiana, said Haklin.

Highlighting the event was the MSAM "bus" which was located in front of the Valparaiso campus entrance for tours and demonstrations of new Microsoft software initiatives. "The Microsoft Across America event was a true success. We are looking forward to working with Ivy Tech in making this an annual event," said Richard K. Shields, business development manager of Chester, Inc. Information Technologies.