MALVERN, Pa.--Sept. 20, 2005-- IKON Office Solutions, the world's largest independent channel for document management systems and services, today announced it has joined the Technology Professional Services Association (TPSA) as a founding member. Michael E. Kohlsdorf, senior vice president of IKON Enterprise Services and Information Systems, collaborated with other industry leaders to help form the association, and has been named a founding member of the Advisory Board. TPSA is chartered to identify, develop and define best practices for professional service organizations delivering technology solutions, enabling those companies to facilitate successful implementation and adoption of technology by customers. "For several years, IKON has been transitioning from an equipment-centric business model to a services and solutions approach to best meet the needs of our customers," said Kohlsdorf. "In the process, we established a strong professional services organization at IKON to help lead the transition. Through the Technology Professional Services Association, we will be able to share our best practices with other companies that are just starting down the path of forming a professional services organization, while also learning from those who have been providing these services for many years. More important, we can share best practices to help our customers better utilize technology and services to increase efficiency and manage costs across their enterprises." As a founding member, IKON will work with other members to formulate the association agenda, develop best practices guidelines, and advise and review proposed initiatives to ensure that every aspect of the organization is optimized to address all the challenges and opportunities in technology professional services. "In the history of technology professional services, I can't think of another initiative that has come forward with this level of executive support and commitment," said Thomas E. Lah, well-known industry expert and author, who has been named executive director of TPSA. "IKON has done an exceptional job of building a professional services organization to meet the needs of its customers for assessment services and fully integrated document management solutions. I'm looking forward to IKON's contributions to the technology professional services field through TPSA." In addition to IKON, TPSA founding members include BEA Systems, Computer Associates, Convergys, Genesys Telecomm Labs, GlassHouse Technologies, Hitachi Data Systems, Hyperion Solutions, Juniper Networks, Mercury, Mentor Graphics, Parametric Technology, Peregrine Systems, Progress Software, QuickArrow, Salesforce.com, SBI Group, Software AG USA, Sterling Commerce, and Sun Microsystems. Leveraging its influential membership, TPSA will serve as a key thought leader and issues advocate, providing insights and trends analysis to the media, industry and business community-at-large on all matters related to technology professional services. The organization will hold its first conference April 10-11, 2006 in San Diego. For TPSA community resources including industry news and key financial trends, TPSA programs and member benefits, visit www.tpsaonline.com.