From Education to Entertainment - Blackboard Founder Seeks to Transform Another Industry

Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) July 22, 2008 -- Today Stephen Gilfus (http://www.linkedin.com/in/stephengilfus), a founder of D.C.-based Blackboard (NASDAQ:BBBB), and serial entrepreneur, announced the launch of Event Innovation, Inc. an innovative new company designed to revolutionize and enhance event experiences for attendees and venues alike.

The company, headquartered in downtown Washington, D.C. is reinventing the way sports, entertainment and performing arts venues interact and communicate with their customers. Event Innovation, Inc. develops products that increase a venue's visibility into their customers' ticket purchasing, event attendance and in-venue spending and allows them to obtain detailed information about attendees to a level that was never before possible.

By leveraging the resulting information, sports and entertainment organizations can create highly-targeted campaigns and promotional offers for event attendees while providing greater on-site benefits and conveniences during the event. The expected effect is an improvement in the overall event experience and the ability to maximize sales, marketing and concession opportunities.

"We are in an unprecedented time period in which internet technologies have the ability to create better connections for organizations and their customers," said Gilfus, Chairman and CEO. "We have identified a unique opportunity to provide greater conveniences for attendees while giving venues insight to their most valuable customers through the combination of proven technologies. The ability to apply proven technologies to the live entertainment industry makes Event Innovation an exciting opportunity."

Joining Event Innovation as a co-founder is Ron Dinwiddie (http://www.eventinnovation.com/ron-dinwiddie.html), a former Blackboard Senior Executive and a well-regarded expert in the ID card and financial transaction business. "This is possibly the greatest time in entertainment venues history," said Dinwiddie, President and COO. "Technology today can provide all sorts of creative ways to enhance the overall experience of attending an event ... and we fully expect Event Innovation to emerge as the leader in that industry. I am incredibly excited to be working with Mr. Gilfus again to advance the capabilities for today's sports and entertainment venues."

Prior to Event Innovation, Stephen Gilfus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Gilfus) was a founder of D.C.-based Blackboard Inc. a global leader in eLearning and educational software and services. Mr. Gilfus was a key executive in the development of Blackboard, born out of a business plan he wrote while at Cornell University. Gilfus is a recognized software designer and inventor of Blackboard's products and author of "The Educational Technology Framework," a methodology used by hundreds of academic institutions and some of the world's leading publishers.

Technologies developed by Gilfus and Dinwiddie at Blackboard have enabled thousands of capabilities for students and faculty through the development of web-based learning environments and student ID (cashless, keyless) applications. Both Gilfus and Dinwiddie left Blackboard in late 2007/early 2008 to explore new and inventive opportunities.

Event Innovation plans to launch its products in selected test markets with venues and attendees beginning in fall 2008.

ABOUT EVENT INNOVATION

Event Innovation is an innovative new company founded in 2007, by Stephen Gilfus and Ron Dinwiddie, formally of Blackboard, Inc. and designed to revolutionize and enhance event experiences for attendees and venues alike. The company is a leading provider of software applications and related services to the sports, performing arts and entertainment industries; by connecting entertainment venues to attendees, and enabling new communication capabilities that can enhance event experiences. Event Innovation is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices throughout the US, Europe, and Australia.

Connect. Communicate. Experience.

Website: www.eventinnovation.com

CONTACT:

Event Innovation - (888) 903-3028

Frank Ganis, x711; Cell: (202) 288-2760

Brotman?Winter?Fried Communications - (703) 534-4600 for Event Innovation

Brian Bishop, x210; Cell: (202) 468-8400

Shaun May, x213; Cell: (240) 676-4607

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