In collaboration with Microsoft and Best Buy, HP today announced the implementation of a portal that allows Best Buy For Business employees to achieve the Microsoft Small Business Specialist certification. Developed, hosted and managed by HP, the Best Buy For Business Certifications Portal is an effort to provide small business customers with high-quality business solutions. As the first retailer to earn status as a Microsoft Gold Partner, Best Buy combines brick-and-mortar access through select Best Buy stores and a direct reseller channel to bring selection and knowledgeable advice to small business owners and operators. Serving as a site for educating employees, the HP-hosted portal helps Best Buy For Business bring together skills development and learning components from various sources and locations. “Microsoft Certifications are well recognized in the marketplace,” said Mary McCoy, general manager, Education Services – Americas, HP. “With one of the largest Microsoft-certified employee bases in the world, HP was able to share its experiences and build a unique and flexible solution that allows for the growth Best Buy For Business is aiming to achieve.” Working with Microsoft’s e-learning content, non-traditional Microsoft learning products and instructor-led training sessions through HP’s Virtual Rooms technology, employees are guided through automated and accelerated learning paths to achieve required certification goals. HP’s development and knowledge of the virtual training rooms help deliver a successful education solution, which in turn helps Best Buy For Business optimize its investment in people, processes and technology. HP Education Services provides the scheduling, administration and training needed for seamless operation. “The integrated Best Buy For Business Certifications Portal has enabled us to work hand-in-hand with Microsoft and HP to prepare our employees in achieving the certifications required for their positions,” said Hillary Metz, manager, Customer Solutions, Best Buy For Business. Certifications have proven to improve employee effectiveness and retain top talent. With the upcoming Microsoft releases of Vista and Office 2007, small business customers of Best Buy For Business will benefit from a specially trained and certified sales and services staff early in the product lifecycle. More information about the Best Buy For Business Certifications Portal is available at its Web site. More information about HP’s education solutions is available at its Web site.