Monday, January 24, 2000

Ernst & Young IT Professionals - Press Release

Ernst & Young Introduces Net-Strike Worldwide
A Virtual Deployment Center for IT Professionals
Internet Start-Up Expects 100,000 Mission-Ready Consultants

"There is no higher priority than ensuring
that we have the best people in place
everywhere we do business."
William L Kimsey CEO, Ernst & Young International

(Irvine, CA - January 24, 2000) - Ernst & Young today announced the launch of its latest subsidiary, Net-Strike Worldwide, a virtual command, training and deployment center which will recruit and train independent information technology professionals for worldwide engagements. Net-Strike is the first virtual IT deployment center of its kind, integrating various labor market services and applications to create a full-service hiring and employment solution.

Michael A. Willner, President and CEO, is responsible for this major strategic initiative start-up. His mandate is to redefine the concept of IT sourcing for E&Y and other clients on a global basis. Mr. Willner provides strategic direction and creates the operating principles and practices for the Company.

“We are creating a world-class virtual community of independent IT consultant resources,” explains Willner. “We will provide essential qualification and learning processes designed to deliver superior client satisfaction. Our specialized service insures an esprit de corps among our consultants based on the powerful principles of knowledge, proficiency and accountability.”

Using the unique power of the Internet http://www.netstrikeworldwide.com creates a competitive advantage against traditional recruitment methods, offering access to more independent consultants, better information management, and faster cycle times, all in a 24/7 format.

With the vast changes in the e-recruitment market, analysts predict that in the next two to three years, e-recruitment revenues will more than double, rising to 2-3 billion dollars by 2003. This trend has resulted in a strong shift in market focus from “media” mentality job boards toward on-line “transaction” oriented search and selection models.

Net-Strike’s exclusive virtual command and deployment center provides independent IT professionals with a dedicated venue to search for global consulting opportunities, communicate and network with other Net-Strike Associates, and gain access to professional development and training on-line. Employment opportunities in every major industry that touches technology will be offered using the latest market segment tools and development environments.

Net-Strike is offering IT professionals top compensation, on-going engagement options, advanced training and certification, awards based on technical expertise and positive net impact on assignments, 24/7 availability via the virtual headquarters, and an unbeatable community of peers. All qualified Net-Strike candidates receive rigorous training using proprietary E&Y methodologies and processes that allow them to fortify current project teams.

Net-Strike clients will benefit from the Company’s professionalism and service. “The consulting world is filled with people who exaggerate their skills or claim skills that they don’t have, and when its time for them to prove their mettle the client finds out they don’t have what it takes. We at Net-Strike are a surety, a guarantor, against these calamities,” says Willner. “ Our IT professionals come from the deep end of the talent pool.”

Net-Strike provides complete outsourcing capabilities for entire subcontractor programs. The Company facilitates all agency operational activities such as recruiting, screening, deployment, invoicing, billing, time card submission, and reconciliation of invoices. It also manages all administrative activities including qualification regarding legal documentation (i.e., incorporation papers, proper insurance coverage, tax filings, IRS and INS verification), and associated cash flow.

Net-Strike’s web site is poised to emerge full-blown in the on-line recruiting arena. The Company’s goal is to have a database of 100,000 mission-ready professionals to provide the efficiency, dedication and technical expertise necessary to make a positive impact in every client engagement.

“Net-Strike has created a “branded” concept that can draw people to it because it possesses the right ingredients for success: Opportunity, Challenge, Growth, Reward and Respect,” explains Willner. “Net-Strike positions itself to be the consulting services leader in the connected economy, taking an active role as an e-recruiting technology leader, supplying the technical independent professional resources needed to help clients achieve their dot.com goals.”

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