Charlotte, NC — June 16, 2008 — Today, Mariner proudly announced it has won the 2008 Microsoft Partner of the Year award for Information Worker Solutions, Performance Management. The company was chosen out of an international field of top Microsoft partners as delivering market-leading customer solutions built on Microsoft technology.

When asked about this honor, Phil Morris, Mariner co-founder and CEO commented, “This year marks our 10^th anniversary, and this honor acknowledges our efforts over the last decade.   Joe [Guy, co-founder and COO] and I have worked hard, assembled a dynamite crew and focused on our core disciplines. The team’s dedication, solid skills and positive attitude have made all of this possible.”

Joe Guy co-founder and COO, added, “We take great pride in this award because it reflects our goal to be a leading provider of performance management solutions on the Microsoft Platform.  Our experience with Microsoft’s performance management tools began years ago and we’ve evolved with the products.  It is gratifying to offer enterprise class performance management solutions, neatly integrated in Microsoft Office, where information workers, managers and executives live.”

Awards were presented in a number of categories, with winners chosen from a pool of more than 2,000 entrants worldwide. Mariner was recognized for superior technology and innovation in Information Worker Solutions, Performance Management. The Information Worker Solutions, Performance Management Partner of the Year award recognizes exceptional partners that have excelled in offering breakthrough Microsoft Office system solutions that enable organizations to monitor, analyze, and improve business performance. The winning partner’s technology and marketing offerings have increased their customers’ employee productivity, simplified their access to information and people, and enabled a more effective workforce. The winning partner’s innovative thinking has helped to solve a technical challenge or helped to address its customers’ business needs and empower their people, and has had a unique and positive impact on customers’ business pain points.

“We are pleased to see partners like Mariner focused on delivering solutions in education,” said Robert Deshaies, Vice President, U.S. Partner Group, Microsoft Corp. “Microsoft is excited to recognize their technology, which provides schools with the capability to monitor, manage, and analyze school operations and the student body.”

The Microsoft Partner Program Awards recognize Microsoft partners that have developed and delivered exceptional Microsoft-based solutions during the last year.