PORTLAND, OR — March 6, 2003
Inspiration Software today announced that it has been named one of Oregon Business magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For. The magazine's 100 Best Companies list recognizes 50 large and 50 small companies for excellence in several categories including employee benefits, organizational communication and working environment. Recognized for the second year in a row, the Portland-based educational software company ranked fourth for employee benefits and career development and 22nd overall in the small company category.

"Inspiration Software has experienced 10 years of profitable growth and is a leader in the K-12 education market. That position can be directly attributed to the efforts of our talented, focused, dedicated team of employees here in Portland," said Don Helfgott, chief executive officer, Inspiration Software.

Founded more than 20-years ago by Helfgott and company president Mona Westhaver, Inspiration Software's innovative employee benefits program includes flexible schedules, excellent health benefits for employees and their families, a computer purchase plan, tuition reimbursement, yoga, health club membership assistance, generous employer matching for 401(k) contributions and generous profit sharing bonuses.

"We have always felt that creating a work environment where people are supported in their work, acknowledged and treated with respect is key to a successful business," said Westhaver. "We foster an atmosphere where people can bring their knowledge and talents to the work place and enjoy their work."

The business benefits of Inspiration Software's work environment are reflected in its employee retention rate of 97 percent and market position in K-12 education. Today, according to market research firm Quality Education Data (QED), a division of Scholastic, more than 60 percent of U.S. school districts use Inspiration Software's products and the company continues to grow and innovate in today's challenging economy.

This latest accolade comes in a year of honors for the privately-held creator of visual learning and thinking software for the education market. The company recently ranked 310 in its first appearance on the Inc 500, the list of 500 of the nation's fastest-growing private companies, and was included in Deloitte Touche's North America 2002 Technology Fast 500 and Oregon Technology Fast 50. The company's two products, Inspiration and Kidspiration, are both finalists for the Software & Information Industry Association's (SIIA) 18th Annual Codie Awards.

The 2003 100 Best Companies survey is Oregon Business magazine's ninth annual study of the top companies in Oregon to work for. The survey is divided into two parts, one for employees and one for management. It covers areas including recruiting and hiring, organizational communication, performance standards, benefits, compensation, and career development. The answers clarify employee and company opinions about their workplaces. Rankings are derived from survey scores, with the top 10 companies data analyzed by a panel of independent judges.

About Inspiration Software, Inc.
Recognized as the leader in visual thinking and learning, Inspiration Software, Inc. develops and publishes innovative software tools that inspire learners of all ages to brainstorm, organize, plan and create. With more than 10 million users worldwide, the company's award-winning software is revolutionizing visual learning in education - inspiring students to develop strong thinking and organizational skills and improve their academic performance. Founded by Donald Helfgott and Mona Westhaver, the company's mission is to support improvements in education and make a positive difference in students' lives by providing software tools that help students learn to think.