ANN ARBOR – Merit Network, Inc. today announced that ADVA Optical Networking has accepted an invitation to become a Merit Community Supporter. The Merit Community Supporter program selects commercial organizations on an invitation-only basis that share Merit’s core values of Community, Innovation, People and Integrity.

“Merit is pleased to welcome ADVA Optical Networking as a Merit Community Supporter,” said Don Welch, Merit’s president and CEO. “As a true innovator in networking technology, ADVA Optical Networking will be a real asset as we grow Merit’s Membership moving forward.”

“ADVA Optical Networking has been a strong supporter of the Research and Education Community for more than a decade,” said Elwood Downing VP of member relations, services and communication for Merit. “That makes them ideal candidates for a program like Merit Community Supporter.”

Merit’s Membership is made up of higher education, K-12 school systems, Libraries, governmental agencies, healthcare and other nonprofit leaders in the state. Organizations like these make up what is often referred to as the Research and Education (R&E) Community. Collectively, they are the heart-beat of Michigan’s technology engine.

The Merit Community Supporter program is more than a simple sponsorship program. It forms a bridge between the Merit community and select organizations.

“Merit Community Supporters help our members navigate today’s economy,” explained Downing. “Through the program, Merit will ensure that all of our Members will have access to professional learning and technical forums.”

One goal of the Merit Community Supporter program is to help fund Merit Members’ attendance at Merit Member events, including the Merit Member Conference and Merit Professional Learning opportunities. These events offer an opportunity for the IT leaders in our state to collaborate, network and stay current on today’s new technologies.

“The ADVA Optical Networking team is honored to participate in the Merit Community Supporter program. We look forward to working with Merit Network staff, members and REACH-3MC sub-recipients to facilitate high-performance optical network connectivity for the education, non-profit and state and local government communities throughout the state of Michigan.”

ADVA Optical Networking is an established leader in innovative networking technologies. The company is a long-time supporter of Internet2. They have also collaborated with R&E networks in Arkansas (ARE-ON), Missouri (MOREnet), Illinois, Georgia (PeachNet), Alabama and Texas (LEARN) to develop state-of-the-art broadband access networks that allow Research & Education organizations to tie into Internet2 and other high-speed R&E networks around the US.

As a Merit Network Community Supporter, ADVA Optical Networking will also work closely with Merit’s REACH-3MC broadband stimulus project. Merit will leverage ADVA Optical Networking’s insight and experience to help connect many more organizations to Merit’s high-performance backbone, and also to tie Merit’s network with other regional R&E networks.

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