West Monroe Partners Launches New Interactive Map for Taste of Chicago

Consultant Partners with Microsoft to Create an Innovative Solution Utilizing
New Technologies to Enhance Event Visitors' Online Experience.

CHICAGO, June 16 /PRNewswire/ -- West Monroe Partners, a full-service business
and technology consultancy, today announced that it has created and launched
an innovative, interactive map utilizing Microsoft's new cloud platform,
Windows Azure, to support the City of Chicago's annual Taste of Chicago event.
From start to finish, the project took less than two weeks, culminating in
launch of the map on June 5 to support the city's intensive preparations for
Taste of Chicago, which begins on June 26, 2009.

To develop the interactive map appearing on the official Taste of Chicago
website (http://tasteofchicago09.cloudapp.net), West Monroe Partners utilized
Microsoft Silverlight, which delivers next-generation .NET-based media
experiences and rich interactive applications for the Web. Additionally, the
team selected Windows Azure to host the application, which is Microsoft's
cloud platform that is currently in the community technology preview stage.

Working closely with Microsoft to address the City of Chicago's needs for
enhanced planning features, West Monroe Partners used Silverlight and its Deep
Zoom technology to create the interactive map, which helps Taste of Chicago
guests to plan their visit in advance. Employing a user-friendly interface
that accommodates all levels of Internet experience, the map's interactive
features enable visitors to zoom in and out of the event layout, search by
date and time of their visit, sort by vendor and venue, and print customized
maps to take with them to the event.

In addition to developing the interactive Taste of Chicago map, West Monroe
Partners and Microsoft also partnered to create a hosting solution that could
handle the web site's user load-including half a million views. The hosted
Microsoft Windows Azure solution provides the equivalent capacity of 25
purchased servers, with no infrastructure investment required by the City of
Chicago.

"We are pleased to have this opportunity to support the City of Chicago and
one of its flagship events," said Cory Chaplin, Technology Solutions Practice
Lead for West Monroe Partners in Chicago. "Our strong partnership with
Microsoft, in combination with our expertise in user-experience design,
enabled us to respond quickly with a solution that not only addresses the
city's needs, but also provides a useful resource for the many visitors to
Taste of Chicago."

West Monroe Partners is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. The two
organizations regularly work together to develop creative, custom solutions
for specific client needs.

"Microsoft is delighted to be involved with this effort and to be able
showcase our new Windows Azure platform as part of the official Taste of
Chicago website," said Geoff Nyheim, Vice President, Central Region Enterprise
Sector. "The short time frame for developing and launching the interactive map
is an excellent example of the potential for cloud computing, which can help
organizations reduce the need for up-front technology purchases and help
developers get new applications up and running quickly."

"West Monroe Partners demonstrated resolve, creativity, and real commitment in
delivering this new interactive application in just nine days," said Megan
McDonald, Executive Director for the City of Chicago. "Their professionalism
and ability to understand and respond to expectations has enabled us to meet
our goals. We are excited about this new resource that we are able to provide
to Taste of Chicago visitors and are confident it will enhance their
experience even further."

Launched in July 1980, the Taste of Chicago has changed the way Chicago
celebrates the Fourth of July. Now in its 29th year, the multi-day,
free-admission event features more than 50 restaurants from around the city
and attracts more than 3 million visitors.

About West Monroe Partners

West Monroe Partners is a full-service provider of business and technology
solutions with offices in Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Montreal, New York,
Seattle, and Toronto. Our nearly 200 consulting professionals partner with
clients across a range of industries, harnessing our collective experience to
produce better business results. Named one of Consulting Magazine's "Small
Jewels," West Monroe Partners offers a refreshing, flexible approach tailored
to our clients' priorities, budgets, capabilities, and environment. Visit our
website at www.westmonroepartners.com.

West Monroe Partners, LLC
175 West Jackson Blvd, Suite 2200
Chicago, Illinois 60604
tel 312.602.4000
fax 312.602.4010
www.westmonroepartners.com

SOURCE West Monroe Partners

Michelle Ryckman of West Monroe Partners, +1-312-602-4000