Company's Earliest Partners Contribute to Customer Success, Product Innovation

LAS VEGAS, March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) today will honor an elite group of value-added resellers (VARs) during an awards ceremony held at the company's annual sales and channel event, One Team Conference , and acknowledged their 25 years of outstanding sales and superior customer service. All seven companies partnered with Autodesk shortly after the company introduced its flagship AutoCAD software that brought sophisticated computer-aided design (CAD) capabilities to the PC at an accessible price. These VARs are part of Autodesk's global network of 1,700 channel partners responsible for delivering Autodesk's digital design innovation technologies to customers across multiple industries, including architecture, engineering and construction, manufacturing, automotive, utilities and government, telecommunications, gaming, TV and film.

"The best part about being an Autodesk partner for 25 years is being involved from the very beginning, seeing their software evolve from basic lines, arcs and circles to the powerful 3D modeling tools they are today," said Claire Botkin, President at Autodraft, one of the VARs celebrating its silver anniversary.

Today, these Autodesk VARs continue to help customers take advantage of Autodesk's software innovation and adopt forward-thinking capabilities such as digital visualization to help gain insight on the impact and function of their design ideas before they are real.

    The value-added resellers celebrating 25 years with Autodesk include:

    * Applied Software Technology, Atlanta GA
    * Autodraft, Inc., Calgary CANADA
    * CADD Centers of Florida, Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, FL
    * IRISCO, Quebec CANADA
    * Kelar Corporation, San Diego, CA
    * KETIV Technologies of CA, Inc., Fullerton, CA
    * Robotech CAD Solutions, Inc., Hoboken, NJ

"These extraordinary resellers have been remarkable in their efforts to implement best-in-class Autodesk design solutions that address customers' needs and that grow with customers as their businesses evolve," said Steven Blum, senior vice president, Americas Sales, Autodesk. "These partners have provided Autodesk with invaluable insight that has been essential to our own growth. Without them, Autodesk would not be where it is today."

Veteran VARs Influence Sales, Software Innovation

The companies honored are pioneers in software sales, breaking new ground with support for technology designed for vertical industries, and adopting what are now proven best practices in customer service and support -- such as giving Autodesk early and ongoing insight into customers' business needs and day-to-day use of technology, helping Autodesk to identify prospective areas for product research and development.

"Kelar has been part of the technological revolution that has changed the design profession -- it is the innovation that has kept the adrenaline going," said Mo Mansouri, president of Kelar Corporation. "We, as part of a group of pioneers, have significantly increased productivity, accuracy, and proficiency for our customers while selling Autodesk solutions. In the last 7 years alone we have grown our Autodesk business approximately 500 percent."

Autodesk supports its global partner network through a number of initiatives including establishing a distinguished reseller recognition program, implementing a customer engagement program which has helped increase partner solutions sales, investing in channel capability through immersive training, and creating a channel partner Web portal designed to provide resellers fast, easy access to a wealth of materials, program information and news.

"Year after year Autodesk has challenged us by raising the bar that defines success," said Kanwar Anand, Principal of KETIV Technologies. "Meeting that challenge has been rewarding, and we feel the best is yet to come."

Autodesk designates VARs based in part on their proficiency in promoting, demonstrating, installing and supporting Autodesk products. The companies celebrating their silver anniversary with Autodesk have helped set the standards that resellers must meet to become Autodesk-authorized VARs.

About Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc. is the world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has developed the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art digital prototyping solutions to help customers experience their ideas before they are real. Fortune 1000 companies rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance quality and foster innovation. For additional information about Autodesk, visit http://www.autodesk.com.

Autodesk and AutoCAD are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

(C) 2008 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contact: Angela Simoes, 415-547-2388
Email: angela.simoes@autodesk.com

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SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.

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