Think Services' HDI 2009 Annual Conference & Expo Announces Dynamic Lineup of Keynote Presenters

Largest industry event for technical service and support professionals to feature World-renowned economist Todd Buchholz; Titanic discoverer Robert Ballard; Best-selling author Patricia Russell McCloud; Teamwork and Life Coach Ken Carter; and CEO Daniel Burrus.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Think Services' HDI(R) (http://www.thinkhdi.com), the world's largest technical service and support membership association and the industry's premier training and certification body, has announced five prominent keynote presenters for the HDI 2009 Conference & Expo (http://www.thinkhdi.com/hdi2009). The event will take place April 6-9, at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, with more than 3,000 technical support professionals, managers, directors and executives expected to attend.

The 2009 keynote lineup will feature: World-renowned economist Todd Buchholz; Titanic discoverer Robert Ballard; Ph.D, Best-selling author Patricia Russell McCloud; Teamwork and Life Coach Ken Carter; and CEO Daniel Burrus.

Todd Buchholz is an Internationally-known commentator on the world economy, financial markets, and politics. In his keynote, Todd will offer guidance on getting through this chaotic time, and will recommend fixes that could make America lean and muscular again.

Robert Ballard, Ph.D, Scientist, Oceanographer, and Titanic Discoverer, will share his incredible story of the significant discovery of the Titanic, and how he turned his dreams into reality by taking risks and turning failure into success.

Patricia Russell McCloud is an orator and Best-selling author. In her keynote, she will uncover how the attributes of wisdom, wit, fortitude, willpower, persistence, and common sense can help in achieving the impossible.

Ken Carter, Teamwork and Life Coach, will discuss his real-life story, upon which the movie "Coach Carter" was based. During the course of his keynote, Ken will offer hard-hitting advice about accountability, integrity, teamwork, and leadership.

Daniel Burrus, CEO of Burrus Research, has established a worldwide reputation for his exceptional record of accurately predicting how technological, social, and business forces are converging to create opportunity. In his presentation, Daniel will offer valuable insights into present and future opportunities that are made possible by rapid advances in technology.

"We're excited to have secured such outstanding speakers" said Fiona Henderson, HDI executive director of events. "Each of our keynote presenters has shown perseverance and resilience, and their stories and advice will provide our attendees with solid wisdom they can apply to their own unique situations."

Now in its 9th year, this annual event provides help desk, customer service and IT support professionals with education, insight and thought leadership. Seminars, case studies, in-depth round table discussions and workshops are led by industry experts, representatives from top solution providers and seasoned practitioners.

For media and analyst registration, contact Allison Wroe at awroe@thinkhdi.com or 1-800-248-5667.

About HDI

HDI, a Think Services company, is the world's largest IT service and support membership association and the industry's premier certification and training body. Guided by an international panel of industry experts and practitioners, HDI is the leading resource for help desk/support center emerging trends and best practices. HDI provides members with a vast repository of resources, networking opportunities and the largest industry event - the HDI Annual Conference and Expo. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA, HDI offers training in multiple languages and countries. For more information, visit http://www.thinkhdi.com or call +1 719.268.0174. (Think Services and HDI are not affiliated with Customers International Limited or HDI Europe.)

About Think Services

Think Services connects specialized communities worldwide using educational events, consulting, training, certification, and innovative media. Providing comprehensive opportunities for people to learn from, network with, and inspire each other, Think Services builds strong brands and works within communities to foster a unique affinity with its products and services. The division's flagship products include the Game Developers Conference, the Webby Award-winning Gamasutra.com, Game Developer magazine, the International Customer Management Institute (ICMI), and HDI. Think Services is a subsidiary of United Business Media, a global media and marketing services company with a market capitalization of more than $1.6 billion. To learn more, visit www.think-services.com.