A value added meat processor achieves a 659% improvement in Net Income compared to the last five year average driven by a $1,800,000 annualized rate of return as illustrated in Exhibit A below.

Early in 2009, a multi-generation food company recognized the need for assistance in building upon and continuing the family legacy of successful operations and customer service. In the face of the economic recession and a changing customer base, the Company recognized that their internal resources were challenged to accomplish everything that was needed to sustain their history of marketplace vibrancy and continued profitability.

After interviewing a series of candidates, the company selected IQity Solutions, LLC, which is a Pittsburgh-based performance optimization company, to assist in its transformation. Recognizing that IQity brought extensive food industry experience, technical capability, and a demonstrated history of delivering results, the Company requested that IQity evaluate their Enterprise and develop a transformation strategy.

Consequently, IQity initiated an analysis and design phase in early 2009. The results of the analysis were eye-opening relative to the Company’s performance compared to industry benchmarks and their internal capabilities. Management realized that they needed IQity’s unique blend of technology and optimization services to implement these insights. Jointly, the Company and IQity crafted a phased implementation approach to drive improvements while simultaneously streamlining the organization structure, training new leaders, and implementing an Adaptive Performance Optimization management process.

Over the next five months, the two partners worked to improve processes by utilizing a Lean Six Sigma-centric approach. IQity brought visibility to the operation while fundamentally changing the lens of performance optimization to perpetuate and sustain the business results. As a result, both throughput and yield improved while the overall unit cost was reduced.

In addition, IQity worked closely with the customer service team to develop a customized adaptive production scheduling and resource planning solution to improve order fill-rates and asset utilization over 15%, while reducing inventory and working capital costs.

The success of the IQity engagement contributed to the Company’s best consecutive period of EBITDA over a 15 year horizon. The CEO noted a new atmosphere and attitude that well positioned the Company for continued ongoing growth and profitability.
The graph below the last three years of that horizon:

In order to protect and lock-in their gains, the company has selected IQity’s IQ-Flex™ post engagement support to provide a flexible, high-quality and lower cost alternative to respond to specific business challenges and support their Value Impact Programs (VIP) on-demand. IQity Solutions is committed to being a “New Breed of Business Partner.”

About IQity Solutions, LLC.
IQity Solutions, LLC is a Pittsburgh, PA-based premier cloud computing and performance optimization firm. IQity Solutions is pioneering the future of Adaptive Performance Optimization (APO) solutions today for businesses worldwide.

Designed by certified Lean Six Sigma practitioners, IQity built a first-to-market, cloud computing business solution known as IQ-Fusion™ delivered via a intuitive web browser. IQ- Fusion™ goes beyond business intelligence by powering “Collective Intelligence” which synthesizes thousands of disparate data points simultaneously from ERP to the execution and control layers of the enterprise, in real-time, utilizing the concept of Operations Research. IQity Solutions delivers business solutions that calculate the enterprise financial Opportunity Value Gap (OVG) in real-time and provide drill-down capability to easily identify value drivers for hyper-managing performance at the point-of-execution. All this and more is delivered with a total cost of ownership (TCO) up to 80% less than traditional license-based software.

Another IQity Solutions’ innovative industry first is IQ-InSight™, an active remote monitoring and collaboration Service that has been called the On-Star® for Business.

IQity combines their heritage of 26 years of business acumen to provide flexible business services on-demand and have a passion for aligning next generation technology with their comprehensive suite of business analytics and optimization services to uncover the value that others have missed.

IQity Solutions, LLC.
3000 Stonewood Drive, Suite 120, Wexford, PA 15090
(724) 933-6133
sales@iqitysolutions.com

If you answered yes to this question then your business could be suffering in Spreadsheet Hell.

So how is it that so many Fortune 500 companies, among others, having invested literally tens of millions of dollars in traditional software licenses and the associated hardware, network connectivity, data integration and internal IT overhead still find their key management personnel more dependent than ever on spreadsheets and one-off databases at the points of execution – where profits are made or lost?

Is it due to the fact that most traditional enterprise level solutions (ERP, BI, SCM, et al.) don’t provide enough actionable information? If so, then what exactly is actionable information anyway? Well actionable information should reveal opportunities for improvement while they are still opportunities for improvement. So actionable information is information delivered in the smallest interval necessary to isolate the root causes of variation while there is time to implement corrective action(s).

And while it’s fair to say that most enterprise and even manufacturing execution systems fall far short of this objective, Spreadsheets and one-off databases don’t do a much better job either; unless of course a significant amount of human capital is poured into the daily and more likely hourly data entry tasks necessary to get only slightly closer to a “real-time” performance reporting interval*.

This sorry state is Spreadsheet Hell. In spite of the heroic efforts of many to keep these so called “decision support” systems up to date, the irony is that while they are intended to manage process and minimize variation, by their very nature, they often only introduce more variation to management perspectives on performance resulting in different versions of the truth that serve to further obscure the total cost to produce product and achieve margins.

Moreover, notwithstanding the excessive time spent maintaining these systems, that incidentally typically only utilize static data and are highly susceptible to error, the output is not usually widely distributed to all who need it. Finally, as your business grows they only become more complex and difficult to manage.

So if you know your business is in spreadsheet Hell, share your perspectives on the particulars of your situation; we would like to hear from you.

*Real-time in high speed processing operations like those found in the petro-chemical industry among others is typically defined in terms of milliseconds or seconds; while in a Hospital or discrete manufacturing environment minutes or fractions of an hour are more the norm. And, while defining the correct performance reporting interval may be highly situational, it is none the less crucial to uncovering the hidden business value where variation persists.

In the hands of a highly skilled practitioner, there is seemingly nothing that cannot be achieved with superior technology. In fact they make it look so easy. But it isn’t so easy is it? In fact, great technology only makes the great practitioner even more effective. At best, lack of expertise renders great technology worthless…unfortunately; the incompetent use of great technology can wreak havoc creating horrific unintended consequences.

There is a reason why we put highly trained pilots in the cockpit of the F-18 on the aircraft carriers. There is a reason why you need a lifetime of study before we let you perform surgery. Even fixing the bathroom sink commands the expertise of a professional plumber. Certainly one can quickly learn the mechanics of the job in a book, and technology can mask the complexity, but only to a point. Superior technology to be superior needs to be harnessed by superior expertise.

It never ceases to amaze me when highly accomplished corporate executives forget this truth of major technology. With nearly 70% of technology projects considered a failure (More see ZDNET blogs http://blogs.zdnet.com/projectfailures/?p=1175) on the short list of many of these failures is “poor requirements” or “poor communication” or “weak project management”. The root cause of all however, links to lack of expertise.

Cloud computing is mainstreaming. There is an explosion of technology available to the world with unbeatable economic considerations. It will become quite easy to acquire very sophisticated enterprise class technology, but it will not be easy to deliver next level business performance. That will require expertise. Wouldn’t it be great if that expertise was also available in the cloud?

To our readers: “Seeing through the Cloud” is an ability and focus developed through a practical process, a superior technology, and wealth of experiences to provide a different perspective. We are curious to also hear your experience…don’t be shy.

IQity Solutions is a premiere Business Process & Performance Management Improvement services firm, whose core competency is creating sustainable business performance improvements. IQity’s principals have over 25 years experience. Mr. Gustovich, Founder and President of IQity Solutions said, “IQity is excited to join BGA, which shares a common goal to help the world’s best closely-held, middle market companies make decisive improvements to create more value for their stakeholders.”

BGA, founded in 2005, is an expanding national alliance of growth advisory and investment banking firms dedicated to providing services to controlling owners of family-owned and closely held middle market businesses. BGA has assembled a strategic mix of market leading firms, which collaborate on client matters, share back office data platforms, and research and business performance analytical tools to provide advisory and transactional services to clients throughout the United States. BGA is currently comprised of fourteen Affiliate Member Firms, with offices in 28 cities throughout the USA, and aggregating a professional team, which by year-end 2009 is expected to be approaching 300 professionals.

“IQity has a passion for aligning technology solutions with their elite blend of professional services and we are excited to have them on-board as a specialty service provider,” said Christian Echavarria, President & COO of Business Growth Alliance, LLC. Additionally, Mr. Echavarria added, “IQity’s specialized industry expertise in manufacturing, food & beverage, technology, and healthcare will help better meet the needs of BGA’s family-owned and closely held middle market business owner clients in those industries.”

”IQity is reinventing the way an organization will manage its business processes to better isolate improvement opportunities and enable real-time monitoring going forward.,“ said James C. Bly, Jr., Co-Chairman of BGA. “As such, IQity is uniquely positioned and qualified to meet the growing business needs of middle market companies to find cost effective advices and tools to help improve operating results,” he added.

ABOUT BGA
Business Growth Alliance, LLC (BGA) (www.bgallc.net believes that family-owned and closely held middle market businesses are materially important contributors to the betterment of regional economies and the social fabric within communities. BGA has carefully selected and organized a National Affiliate Network of seasoned, professional services firms, which are dedicated to providing growth advisory and investment banking services to middle market and family-owned companies and their principals. In addition to their core growth advisory and investment banking services, BGA Member Firms collaborate to address the Three Cornerstones that are needed by most successful middle market companies: Growing Business Value, Managing Capital and Liquidity, and Perfecting Governance and Control. The fourteen current Affiliate Members of BGA include: de Visscher & Co.; Source Capital, Ltd; FOCUS, LLC; JD Ford & Company; The Malibu Group; yet2.com; The Pursuit Group; IQity Solutions, Tenzing Consulting; Alliance Cost Containment; Value Defined Middle Market, LLC; ASHER|Global Leaders in Sales Strategies; US China Business Solutions, Inc; and Herbein Consulting, Inc.

For further information, please contact:
Christian Echavarria
President & COO, Business Growth Alliance, LLC
Telephone: (724)-933-6650
Email: cechavarria@bgallc.net

ABOUT IQity SOLUTIONS
IQity is a Pittsburgh, PA based premier Cloud Computing and Busienss Performance Optimization Services firm pioneering the future of Business Performance Management Solutions today. IQ-FusionTM designed and built by certified Lean Six Sigma practitioners, enables an industry first…IQ-InSightTM…Remote Monitoring and Collaboration Service that has been called the On-Star® for Business. Its principals have over 25 years experience in more than 350 engagements in multiple industries. IQity is uniquely positioned to help optimize business performance results through a comprehensive suite of Business Analytics and Optimization Services. To learn more visit IQity Solutions at www.iqitysolutions.com or contact Chris Visnic – 310-729-3849
chris.visnic@iqitysolutions.com.

MatrikonOPC is proud to announce that IQity Solutions has selected MatrikonOPC’s OPC Servers and products for device level communications.

IQity’s clients operate in a number of different industries, with multiple vendors’ hardware and software architectures. By using OPC as the means for data delivery, IQity is able to seamlessly interface with clients’ systems, regardless of what hardware or software is located on site. MatrikonOPC was selected as the communication mechanism to reliably and securely transmit client data across the Internet due to its ease of use, low complexity and low cost of ownership.” said Mike Anthony, Chief Technology Officer of IQity.

“MatrikonOPC is committed to working with innovators like IQity, helping them deliver superior OPC data connectivity solutions, minimize project risk, and maximize profitability. A win-win scenario for IQity, MatrikonOPC and our clients,” explained Sean Leonard, Vice President, OPC Products at Matrikon.

ABOUT IQity SOLUTIONS
IQity is a Pittsburgh, PA based premier Cloud Computing and Busienss Performance Optimization Services firm pioneering the future of Business Performance Management Solutions today. IQ-FusionTM designed and built by certified Lean Six Sigma practitioners, enables an industry first…IQ-InSightTM…Remote Monitoring and Collaboration Service that has been called the On-Star® for Business. Its principals have over 25 years experience in more than 350 engagements in multiple industries. IQity is uniquely positioned to help optimize business performance results through a comprehensive suite of Business Analytics and Optimization Services.

To learn more visit IQity Solutions at www.iqitysolutions.com or contact Chris Visnic – 310-729-3849
chris.visnic@iqitysolutions.com.

About MatrikonOPC (a division of Matrikon Inc. [TSX: MTK])
With a collection of more than 500 OPC products and over 100,000 installations worldwide, MatrikonOPC is the world’s largest supplier of OPC connectivity products. Matrikon is a charter member of the OPC Foundation, and has demonstrated a commitment to developing OPC as the industrial connectivity standard.
Matrikon’s international customer base includes a wide range of companies from process to discrete manufacturers in industrial, commercial and military applications. With offices throughout North America, Australia, Europe and the Middle East, Matrikon’s reach is global.
Visit MatrikonOPC at www.MatrikonOPC.com.

As a Major Inventor of the Activplant Universal Factory Data Model (UFDM), Jack commands deep knowledge and hands-on experience in manufacturing shop floor data information systems. Most importantly, his experience creating data information systems based on OPC PLC/HMI technologies makes Jack an excellent addition to the IQ-FusionTM product development team. IQ-FusionTM is the realization of the next generation in cloud computing technology connecting the shop floor to the top floor at the enterprise and operational execution levels in real-time.

IQ-Fusion TM, is a powerful web-based solution which meets the ever increasing demands of the global marketplace. Built with next generation technology, incorporating many Web 2.0 elements, IQ-FusionTM allows customers to harvest business, operational and human intelligence in real-time to Power Collective IntelligenceTM, no matter the business process or workflow, IQ-FusionTM continuously calculates the enterprise Opportunity Value Gap to link financial measures and provides customers access to state of the art and advanced OEE, Cost to Produce, MES and other business process management methodologies to unlock the ‘hidden’ business value; thereby maximizing their existing investments in plant, equipment, technology and human capital.

“As Managing Director, Software Systems Engineering, Jack will play an integral role in IQity’s on-going design and development of patent grade innovations that harvest performance data at the points of execution, and dollarize process variation in real-time, thus providing a complete view of the hidden and recoverable value between management expectations and organizational execution” said Mike Anthony, Co-Founder & CTO, IQity Solutions, LLC.

“We are very excited about having Jack join the IQity Solution’s team to accelerate IQity’s goal of becoming the premier leader in Business Performance Management solutions delivered via the cloud. IQity Solutions is committed to building a diverse team of highly-dedicated resources and partnering our capabilities with our clients’ cultures, operating environments and intellectual capital requirements to integrate relevant business solutions and maximize ROI on strategic initiatives.” said David Gustovich, Co-Founder & President, IQity Solutions, LLC.
Contact: Chris Visnic – 310-729-3849 chris.visnic@iqitysolutions.com

About IQity Solutions, LLC
IQity is a Pittsburgh, PA based premier Cloud Computing and Optimization Service firm pioneering the future of Business Performance Management Solutions today. IQ-Fusion^TM’s Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) to the bottom line is up to 80% less than traditional software making traditional IT investments, expenses and vendor lock-in a thing of the past. Designed and built by certified Lean Six Sigma practitioners, IQ-Fusion^TM enables an industry first…IQ-InSight^TM…Remote Monitoring and Collaboration Service that has been called the On-Star® for Business. With over 25 years and 350 engagements in multiple industries, IQity is uniquely positioned to power business results through a comprehensive suite of Business Analytics and Optimization Services. The IQ-Fusion^TM SaaS platform is hosted out of a U.S. Department of Defense class SaaS 70 Type II Data Center in Pittsburgh.

An entrepreneurial sales leader of software technology companies, Chris has proven success in building global sales channels. Chris has led business growth strategies for technology companies and startups from of his alma mater, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) by leveraging his extensive network at major design and manufacturing corporations worldwide. Chris’ technical acumen of product development processes coupled with his diverse experience in software startups provides IQity with a unique addition to its leadership team.

“I joined IQity Solutions from a promising startup out of CMU, because I recognized that IQity’s technology, IQ-FusionTM, is 3 to 5 years ahead of its competition. More importantly, the Management’s Vision to provide premium business optimization services via Cloud Computing to the untapped, global marketplace of small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) is the right business strategy at exactly the right time. To me, IQity is defining a new breed of business partner for our customers and marketplace. It is a first mover in real-time, optimization at the operational execution level of the Enterprise. I believe it will be the Salesforce.com in this space.” said Chris Visnic.

IQ-Fusion TM, is a powerful web-based solution which meets the ever increasing demands of the global marketplace. Built with next generation technology, incorporating many Web 2.0 elements, IQ-FusionTM allows customers to harvest business, operational and human intelligence in real-time to Power Collective IntelligenceTM.
To learn more about IQ-FusionTM please visit us at http://www.iqitysolutions.com/iqfusion/

“I am very pleased to have Chris join IQity Solutions as our Partner. Chris will play a lead role in IQity’s business development and growth strategy. Chris brings a tremendous amount of industry experience and understands the many exciting challenges of a rapidly growing company. Chris also provides important connections to Carnegie Mellon University here in Pittsburgh, especially as we continue to develop relationships with the schools’ of Computer Science, Operational Research and Human Computer Interface. Chris’ experience will help IQity to develop what is considered an early adopters marketplace as we pioneer Business Performance Management via Cloud Computing.” said David Gustovich, Founder & President, IQity Solutions, LLC.

About IQity Solutions, LLC
IQity is a Pittsburgh, PA based premier Cloud Computing and Optimization Service firm pioneering the future of Business Performance Management Solutions today. IQ-FusionTM designed and built by certified Lean Six Sigma practitioners, enables an industry first…IQ-InSightTM…Remote Monitoring and Collaboration Service that has been called the On-Star® for Business. With over 25 years and 350 engagements in multiple industries, IQity is uniquely positioned to power business results through a comprehensive suite of Business Analytics and Optimization Services. To learn more visit IQity Solutions at http://www.iqitysolutions.com or contact Chris Visnic – 310-729-3849 chris.visnic@iqitysolutions.com

In two weeks, VHA Georgia, Inc., a statewide network of community hospitals, will recognize Southern Regional for its improvements in patient-care efficiency.

Southern Regional will accept a Leadership Award for Operational Excellence during VHA Georgia’s 2009 Leadership Expo, which will take place at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park on Sept. 2.

According to Pam Vuecker, vice president of member networks and education for VHA Georgia, the organization serves as a support network for 60 not-for-profit hospitals in the state which, collectively, account for 50 percent of the state’s hospital admissions. She said Southern Regional’s award serves as peer recognition for implementing processes which save money while improving patient care.

“We provide programs, products, and services to help members achieve clinical and economic improvement,” Vuecker said. “Each year, VHA Georgia, on a regional level, asks its members to submit [their] best practices. Their application was recognized by peers across the state … it impressed them and made them feel that they could take that [information] back to their own organizations.”

Dr. Willie Cochran, vice president of medical affairs for Southern Regional, said the hospital implemented “IQity Solutions cloud computing solution” to increase our through-put, by utilizing a powerful web-based application. He said the effort to “streamline hospital operations” was started after a survey of the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) revealed that the unit needed more bed capacity.

“Because we had a high amount of patients that were in the ICU, with a lot of decreased bed capacity, one of the only ways we would be able to improve that system would be to make the patients flow more efficiently,” Cochran said. With the IQity Through-Put Project, “we try make sure that as soon as the patient comes in, we try to think about what needs to be done, so when it is time for discharge … they don’t have to stay in the hospital a day longer than they have to.”

Cochran said that through a revamping of the hospital’s patient-care procedures, doctors began ordering X-rays, lab work and any other necessary tests, or any nursing home stays, immediately, or soon after, a patient arrives at the hospital. He said since the program was implemented last year, the hospital has seen a 7 percent increase in the number of patient discharges and has not had to divert any patients to other hospitals.

“On average, our patients are in the hospital a little more than four days,” Cochran said. “Last year, our average length of stay was much higher. We have been able to reduce that time almost by a day and a half by looking at those processes.”

A representative with IQity Solutions, LLC, said the purpose of the “Through-Put Project” was to enable the hospital to “add more patients without adding cost.” He said since last year, the hospital has experienced a “complete transformation” in the way it deals with patients.

“They were frequently on ambulance diversion and they had a hard time getting people out the door,” the IQity Solutions representative said. “The hospital hasn’t had a day of ambulance diversion since we started the program, which is good for the community. The doctors are happier … the patients are happier. It’s one of the situations where everybody looks like a winner.”

Vuecker said VHA Georgia’s Sept. 2 Leadership Expo will allow Southern Regional to share its processes with other hospitals in the state.

“It’s not only to present awards, but it is an opportunity for hospitals to present, so that there can be that information exchange and hospitals around the state can improve some of their best practices,” she said. “Community hospitals serve as the safety net of their community. With decreasing federal subsidies, it is more important than ever for community hospitals to be as efficient as possible.”

Pittsburgh, PA, – IQity Solutions, LLC a Cloud Computing and Optimization Service firm pioneering the future of Business Performance Management Solutions today is proud to announce that it has secured a Round A investment from the C-Level suite of a multi-national industry leader.

David Gustovich, President and CEO of IQity Solutions commented, “The fact that we closed our Round A investment in less than one day reinforces the fact that IQity Solutions is delivering a unique and powerful business solution to the marketplace. The financing will give IQity the extra resources needed to expand our customer base and build our market presence, along with providing access to Executive Leaders who have the experience of leading the growth of a small business into a multi-billion dollar global leader. IQity is committed to aligning ourselves with thought leaders and delivering business value to our customers in a smarter, richer and cost-effective way.”

“We chose to invest in IQity Solutions because we believe the company has a disruptive technology and business model representing the next chapter in business services. As CEOs, Presidents, and COOs we are looking for ways to significantly reduce non-core competency costs and having the granularity of fact-based data necessary to make the critical business decisions in real-time at the points of execution. IQity Solutions is the only company we have seen that goes well beyond BI in a powerful web-based solution at a much lower price point than traditional approaches.” said a representative from the investor group.

Built by Lean / Six Sigma champions, IQ-Fusion^TM is a powerful web-based solution which meets the ever increasing demands of the global marketplace. Built with next generation technology, incorporating many Web 2.0 elements, IQ-FusionTM allows customers to harvest business, operational and human intelligence in real-time to Power Collective Intelligence^SM.

To learn more about IQ-Fusion^TM please visit us at http://www.iqitysolutions.com/iqity-fusion.php

ABOUT IQity SOLUTIONS
IQity is a Pittsburgh, PA based premier Cloud Computing and Busienss Performance Optimization Services firm pioneering the future of Business Performance Management Solutions today. IQ-Fusion^TM designed and built by certified Lean Six Sigma practitioners, enables an industry first…IQ-InSight^TM…Remote Monitoring and Collaboration Service that has been called the On-Star® for Business. Its principals have over 25 years experience in more than 350 engagements in multiple industries. IQity is uniquely positioned to help optimize business performance results through a comprehensive suite of Business Analytics and Optimization Services. To learn more visit IQity Solutions at www.iqitysolutions.com or contact Chris Visnic – 310-729-3849
chris.visnic@iqitysolutions.com.