Avatech Hiring Extensively to Capitalize on Industry Growth

Avatech Plans Expansive Hiring of Customer-Focused Professionals Over Six Months

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - January 17, 2006 - Avatech Solutions, Inc. (OTCBB: AVSO.OB), the recognized leader in design and engineering, product lifecycle management, and facilities management solutions, today announced that their growth plans for 2006 include the aggressive hiring of industry-focused sales and technical people. These new Avatech experts will augment the existing 175 professionals working for the firm across the United States.

"Our growth strategy is twofold," said Scott Harris, President and COO at Avatech. "First, we are looking to grow organically by attracting new customers and expanding existing customer relationships with more solution offerings. Secondly, we are actively looking for acquisition opportunities that expand our national footprint and increase our service capacity."

Avatech employees are recognized as leaders in industry and technical product knowledge. "Our team members enjoy the challenges and rewards of consulting and training customers, and stay with the company for the long-term," says Harris. "Avatech is seeking individuals that will fit our culture of innovation, leadership, professionalism, and customer focus."

Positions key to Avatech's growth plan include application engineers in mechanical and civil engineering, facilities management, and building design, as well as sales professionals in all of these areas. "We are looking for superior sales and technical people who have deep industry and product experience in the markets we serve," said Harris. "We want our new staff to hit the ground running. This means finding people already working in the field who want to broadly apply their experiences across many customers and who can help customers apply technology as a competitive tool to profitably grow their businesses."

Client demand for expertise in 3D modeling, the requirement for engineers to share data and collaborate throughout their organizations, and the need to interact outside the enterprise is driving growth at Avatech and throughout the design and engineering industries. "Our customers no longer design in isolation. They need to create, manage, and share information throughout and outside their company in order to realize their ideas," said Harris.

Avatech achieved a 37% increase in revenue over the prior year's first quarter ending September 30, 2005. "The increased need for consulting and implementation services with the adoption of 3D modeling and data management places Avatech in a positive position for the future," adds Harris.

About Avatech Solutions 

Avatech Solutions, Inc. (OTCBB: AVSO.OB) is the recognized leader in design and engineering technology with unparalleled expertise in design automation, data management and process optimization for the manufacturing, engineering, building design and facilities management markets. Headquartered in Owings Mills, Maryland, the company specializes in consulting, software systems integration and implementation, standards development and deployment, education, and technical support. Avatech is one of the largest integrators of Autodesk software worldwide and a leading provider of Product Lifecycle Management solutions. The company's clients include industry leaders from Fortune 500 and Engineering News Record's Top 100 companies. 

www.avatech.com

  Get a free CADinfo news feed here...