DELL, NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS ANNOUNCE NATION’S TOP 10 TECHNOLOGY USERS IN SMALL BUSINESS

ROUND ROCK, Texas, March 30, 2006 – The top 10 finalists in the third annual Dell/NFIB Small-Business Excellence Award range from the maker of theatrical draperies to an international logistics provider, the two organizations announced today.
The finalists, selected by members of the Herb Kelleher Center for Entrepreneurship at The University of Texas at Austin, also span from California to Florida to Illinois. But what each has in common is an innovative use of information technology that provides a competitive advantage in delivering value to their customers. “Our 10 small-business finalists have a remarkable understanding of the importance of technology to their company’s productivity and customer service,” said Frank Muehleman, vice president of Dell’s home and small-business organization. “Small business is a key growth area for the country and we are pleased to be recognizing these small businesses as examples to entrepreneurs nationwide.”
The award winner will be announced June 19 at the 2006 NFIB National Small-Business Summit in Washington, D.C.
“Small businesses are the cornerstones of America’s economy, and we applaud these entrepreneurs for their focus on finding new and better ways of serving their customers, ” said NFIB President and CEO Todd Stottlemyer. “The 2006 finalists for the Dell/NFIB Small-Business Excellence in Customer Experience Award have implemented technology to deliver the highest level of service possible to their clients, and NFIB is proud to honor them through this partnership with Dell.”

The 2006 finalists are:

• AMAD Corp., Miami, an international freight forwarder and logistics company serving Central America
• DataCert Inc., Houston, a fast-growing supplier of electronic invoicing and corporate legal spend-management solutions
• Errand Solutions, Chicago, which provides customized concierge and convenience services to health care, hospitality, residential properties and corporations
• Harrison’s Roof Truss L.L.C, Coleman, Okla., which builds commercial and residential roof rafters and floor members along with grade-stake production
• Micro Technology Services Inc., Richardson, Texas, which develops and manufactures electronic products for a wide variety of customers, from entrepreneurs to large businesses
• National Association of System Administrators Inc. (NASA), Crystal Lake, Ill., serves hospitals, county governments and small to mid-sized businesses with a 24-hour web-based customer portal through which clients can track service calls, and on-site parts storage
• Ntelicor L.P., Dallas, an information-technology consulting and staffing firm
• Pipal Research Corp., Chicago, a team of strategists and investment bankers who provide research and analytical services to global companies
• Sew What?, Rancho Dominguez, Calif., a theatrical drapery manufacturer and custom sewing service working specifically with the entertainment industry, special events and trade show circuits.
• TRS Consultants Inc, San Ramon, Calif., a multidisciplinary engineering and construction management firm that provides a broad spectrum of services to public agencies, municipalities and private companies in the western United States.

To learn more about the Dell/NFIB Small Business Excellence Award and the 10 finalists, please visit www.dell.com/ceaward.

About NFIB
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is one of the nation’s largest small-business advocacy groups. A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1943, NFIB represents the consensus views of its 600,000 members in Washington D.C. and all 50 state capitals. For more information on NFIB, visit www.NFIB.com.

About Dell
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services they trust and value. Uniquely enabled by its direct business model, Dell sells more systems globally than any computer company, placing it No. 28 on the Fortune 500. Company revenue for the last four quarters was $56 billion. For more information, visit www.dell.com. To get Dell news direct, visit www.dell.com/RSS.

# # #
Dell is a trademark of Dell Inc.
Dell disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.

Click to view a PDF of The Dallas Morning News 'Small Business Report' page from May 2nd, 2006 for more. [Requires Adobe Acrobat 5.0 or higher to view]