UNH MBAs Open Doors for Zakon Group's OpenConf

Conway, NH – June 28, 2006 – A team of MBA candidates from the University of New Hampshire's Whittemore School of Business and Economics have spent a term working to enhance Zakon Group's OpenConf software and managed-hosting service. OpenConf facilitates the management, submission, and review of papers for peer-reviewed journals and events such as conferences, workshops, and symposia. With over four-hundred events using the software in just the past couple of years, Zakon Group is interested in further capitalizing on OpenConf's success, and enlisted the assistance of the Whittemore School to conduct competitive and market analysis.

As part of the graduation requirement, Whittemore MBA students are required to spend a term working as consultants on a real-world project for a business. Companies submit project proposals to the school, which are then evaluated, and those chosen interview interested students. "This program is a tremendous benefit for startup and small businesses, while also providing students with the unique opportunity to make a real impact and be mentored to hone their business skills," said Robert Zakon, Chief Technology Officer of Zakon Group.

MBA candidates Laura Finn and Miranda Miller have spent their last term prior to graduation this June researching and analyzing OpenConf's market and competition, and writing a report that Zakon Group will incorporate into its business plan for OpenConf. Both Finn and Miranda stated the project "provided an invaluable experience," and in presenting their findings indicated OpenConf is well positioned in an emerging market that has tremendous growth potential.

Zakon Group plans to launch its new OpenConf service later this year, incorporating many of the recommendations provided by the consultants.

Zakon Group LLC is a high-tech consulting firm offering services and solutions ranging from Web development and hosting to systems integration and rent-a-CTO consulting. Zakon Group brings together the right mix of technology, experience, knowledge, and innovation, in delivering services and solutions that are customer-centric, on time, reliable, creative, and effective to clients of all sizes. For more information about Zakon Group, visit www.ZakonGroup.com.

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