Rapid growth fuels sustained hiring activity
CALGARY, Alberta --- April 23, 2007 --- SMART Technologies Inc. announces that it has surpassed the 1,000 employee mark. In response to the growing demand for SMART’s innovative products, the company has embarked on an aggressive expansion strategy over the past six months. This strategy has included hiring new employees at all levels of the organization and building new corporate headquarters in Calgary, Alberta, and assembly facilities in Kanata, Ontario. SMART, best known for its award-winning line of interactive whiteboards, is in the midst of rapidly expanding of its product offerings. Over the past year, SMART’s growth has accelerated around the world – the company has generated more than CDN$1 billion dollars in cumulative sales, and more than 500,000 classrooms worldwide are now equipped with SMART Board™ interactive whiteboards.
SMART introduced the world’s first interactive whiteboard in 1991, and since then has maintained its position as a global market leader, consistently introducing new and enhanced products, accessories and services. SMART products are sold in more than 100 countries worldwide through resellers. In 2006 SMART added offices in Shanghai and Chicago to its growing list of international offices that include Bonn, Tokyo, New York City and Washington, DC. This year, the company will open a new 260,000 square foot (24,154 sq m) assembly facility in Kanata, Ontario, and construction has begun on a 185,000 square foot (17,187 sq m) world headquarters in Calgary, Alberta. In addition to new offices and facilities, the company is positioning itself for accelerated global expansion this year. SMART is adding to its executive and management teams and hiring new employees in all departments.
“Global adoption of our products in the education and corporate sectors is rapidly accelerating,” says Nancy Knowlton, SMART’s CEO. “Reaching the 1,000 employee milestone means that we can effectively expand the range of our products and services to reach more people with specific collaboration needs in more parts of the world.”
