Major Procurement Training & Assessment Force Created as ISM and ADR North America Unite

Two Strong Names Will Expand Their Global Reach with an Integrated Program
TEMPE, Ariz. & ANN ARBOR, Mich.--(Business Wire)--
Two powerhouses of supply management knowledge, learning resources and
professional development are joining to create one major force behind training
and assessment in procurement. Tempe, Ariz.-based Institute for Supply
Management (ISM) and ADR North America are combining resources to provide
organizations with tools to lead them to increased profitability, enhanced staff
competence and sustainable cost improvements.

The integration of ISM and ADR assessment and training programs will offer
clients a long list of expanded opportunities including:

* A wide range of services, including customized in-company training, and online
and blended learning programs
* Assessment and diagnostic tools for supply management skills
* Global reach with multi-lingual instructors
* Professional development on every level from buyers to executives

ADR North America, led by CEO Bill Michels, C.P.M., is a consulting firm that
focuses on procurement and has a track record of success when it comes to
delivering significant changes in purchasing processes.

"The ISM/ADR alliance will provide the opportunity for many companies to assess
and improve their team competency, build custom development programs tailored to
their businesses, generate cost and value improvement, strengthen supply
management and achieve extraordinary performance from ordinary people," said
Michels.

ISM is an international leader in the field of supply management with more than
40,000 members worldwide. ISM CEO Paul Novak, CPSM, C.P.M., A.P.P., is also
enthusiastic about the potential for growth and development as these two
organizations merge their outstanding training capabilities.

"The ISM/ADR partnership will help both organizations broaden both their
training and assessment offerings and will enhance the ability to train in
various parts of the world in indigenous languages," said Novak. "With this
partnership training can be delivered wherever it is requested without moving
trainers around the world."

About Institute for Supply Management (ISM): www.ism.ws

As the largest supply management institute in the world, the mission of
Institute for Supply Management™ (ISM) is to lead supply management. By
executing and extending its mission through education, research, standards of
excellence, influence building and information dissemination - including the
renowned monthly ISM Report On Business® - ISM continues to extend the global
impact of supply management. ISM is a not-for-profit membership association
serving more than 40,000 supply management professionals in 75 countries. ISM
offers credentialing to professionals around the world with the Certified
Professional in Supply Management® (CPSM®) qualification. ISM is a member of the
International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM).

About ADR North America: www.adrna.com

ADR North America is a consulting company that helps clients transform the way
they purchase to lower costs and bring higher value from their supply chains.
ADR analyzes client expenditures, sourcing and purchasing effectiveness, and
using web-based tools, can deliver significant positive impact to a client`s
bottom line. ADR was one of the first specialist procurement consultancies when
it was created in 1986 by a team of highly experienced practitioners. The
company has evolved to remain at the forefront of purchasing and sourcing.

ADR clients include many Fortune 500 companies as well as emerging businesses.
They are often companies with worldwide operations in the automotive,
manufacturing, construction, financial services, telecom, pharmaceutical and
retail space. ADR North America is located in Ann Arbor, Mich. It is affiliated
with ADR International, which also has offices in the United Kingdom, South
Africa and Australia.

ISM Public Relations
Lindsey Yentes, 800-888-6276, ext. 3087
lyentes@ism.ws
or
ADR North America
Robert Rossbach, 313-402-9831
bob@rossbach.tv

Copyright Business Wire 2009