Distinguished Software Developer and Mainframe Integration Expert Rejoins DataDirect...

Distinguished Software Developer and Mainframe Integration Expert Rejoins DataDirect Technologies

Peter Schaeffer, Original Architect of the DataDirect(R) Shadow(R)
Mainframe Integration Platform Returns to the Company as Principal
Architect; Joins Top-Talent Product Development Team
BEDFORD, Mass.--(Business Wire)--
DataDirect Technologies, the unparalleled leader in data
connectivity and mainframe integration and an operating company of
Progress Software Corporation (Nasdaq: PRGS), today announced that
Peter Schaeffer returns to DataDirect Technologies as principle
architect of the DataDirect(R) Shadow(R) mainframe integration
platform. An acclaimed software architect and entrepreneur, Schaeffer
is credited with founding NEON Systems and building the original
Shadow ODBC to DB2 data connectivity product - the first viable
middleware for direct mainframe data connectivity. NEON Systems was
acquired by Progress Software in 2006 and is now part of the
DataDirect Technologies operating company. Schaeffer brings to
DataDirect Technologies an unparalleled understanding of mainframe
integration, technical innovation and proven leadership skills.

As principal architect of the Shadow product, Schaeffer joins a
first-rate product development team comprised of the industry's
foremost experts in mainframe SOA enablement and data connectivity.
This group includes recently hired senior director of research and
development, Asher Aremband, who came to DataDirect from CA where he
held various titles including architect and chief architect for
OPS/MVS and Shadow chief architect Gregg Willhoit, who along with
Schaeffer was responsible for architecting several commercially
successful software products including the ShadowDirect(R)
ODBC-to-mainframe data product for DB2, IMS, VSAM, CICS and Adabas.
Together, these accomplished and highly regarded industry innovators
will apply their vast experience, superior skills and deep
understanding of mainframe systems to ensure the continued growth and
technical leadership of the Shadow product.

"I'm delighted to be back with the Shadow team at such an exciting
time for the product," said Peter Schaeffer. "The team is stronger
than ever and we're extremely well positioned to continue reshaping
the landscape for mainframe integration. This will be incredibly
rewarding both personally and professionally."

A successful entrepreneur, Schaeffer co-founded MVS Software, a
privately held software development company and an industry leader in
systems automation. There, Schaeffer served as vice president of
technology responsible for authoring OPS/MVS. The company was later
acquired by Goal Systems International, Inc. where Schaeffer authored
the second-generation version of a mainframe workload automation
restart and tracking software package. He left Goal Systems
International Inc. in 1991 to begin NEON Systems Inc., a leading
provider of enterprise access and integration software where he served
as founder, president and CEO for the first five years before moving
into the role of CTO. Most recently, Schaeffer has held the position
of fellow at the venture capital firm JMI, Inc.

"Schaeffer's remarkable career and outstanding reputation as a
leading mainframe architect is an invaluable addition to the company,"
said John Goodson, vice president and general manager of DataDirect
Technologies. "His vast mainframe knowledge and creative spirit will
without a doubt propel the Shadow product to the next level. We are
delighted to have him on board."

With a 20-year history and position as the world leader in data
connectivity and mainframe integration, DataDirect Technologies
recruits and retains the most sought-after and respected talent in the
mainframe and data access disciplines. Adding to its marketing team,
DataDirect has appointed Jeff Overton, senior product manager for the
Shadow product line. Overton started his career on the technical side
as a mainframe programmer, analysts and database administrator before
moving into product marketing. He has held positions with BEA Systems,
Quest Software, BMC Software, NEON Systems and most recently RenewData
Corp.

DataDirect Shadow offers a single, unified integration
architecture that allows organizations to redeploy and reuse existing
mainframe assets. The product supports all major industry standard
requirements for integrating mainframe data, business logic and
screens with service-oriented architecture (SOA) and composite
application initiatives. Version 7 of the DataDirect Shadow product
incorporates new patent-pending technology that uniquely exploits
IBM's specialty engines to provide users with the ability to
dramatically reduce mainframe total-cost-of-ownership (TCO) and
significantly improve SOA performance.

About DataDirect Technologies

DataDirect Technologies is the software industry's only
comprehensive provider of software for connecting the world's most
critical business applications to data and services, running on any
platform, using proven and emerging standards. Developers worldwide
depend on DataDirect(R) products to connect their applications to an
unparalleled range of data sources using standards-based interfaces
such as ODBC, JDBC(TM) and ADO.NET, XQuery and SOAP. More than 300
leading independent software vendors and thousands of enterprises rely
on DataDirect Technologies to simplify and streamline data
connectivity for distributed systems and to reduce the complexity of
mainframe integration. DataDirect Technologies is an operating company
of Progress Software Corporation (Nasdaq: PRGS). For more information,
visit www.datadirect.com.

DataDirect, ShadowDirect, and Shadow are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Progress Software Corporation or one of its subsidiaries
or affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Java and all Java based
marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems,
Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Any other trademarks contained
herein are the property of their respective owners.

Media:
DataDirect Technologies
April Harned, 646-246-0484
april.harned@datadirect.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008