GeoLearning
Encyclopedia
GeoLearning, Inc., is a US company headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa
, offering on-demand Software as a Service
(SaaS) learning management system
(LMS) solutions for corporate internal training
, talent management
and external initiatives
. GeoLearning is a pioneering company in the SaaS-focused approach to learning management.
, president and CEO, and his wife Linda in the basement of their home, GeoLearning has grown to employ 280 people. The company provides services to more than 800 organizations, including more than six million users from 160 countries around the world in 16 languages, in the field of on-demand learning and performance management
platforms and training services. GeoLearning’s approach allows users to seamlessly work with a number of the company’s partner organizations. GeoLearning currently provides customers with a library of more than 20,000 courses from its various content providers via the Internet
.
In February 2008, GeoLearning secured a growth equity investment
of $31 million from Fidelity Ventures
. The funds, which represented the first institutional investment for the company, were utilized to accelerate the company’s sales and marketing efforts, continued building of its international presence and channel partner
network, and potential acquisitions.
On January 5, 2011, Geolearning was acquired by SumTotal.
list of America's fastest-growing private companies for seven consecutive years (2004–2010), six years on the Software 500 list
(2005–2010), "Training Product of the Year" from HR Executive Magazine, several American Business Awards
(including "Most Innovative Company"), and TrainingIndustry.com's list of the "Top 20 Companies in the Training Outsourcing Industry" for six successive years (2004–09).
In 2010, GeoLearning was named a finalist for “Business Innovation of the Year” from the American Business Awards for its Extended Enterprise solution, winner of “Software Company of the Year” at the Prometheus Awards from the Technology Association of Iowa (TAI), finalist for “Best Corporate Learning Solution” at the Codie Awards from the Software & Information Industry Association and named to the “Baker’s Dozen: Top Learning Providers” from Human Resources Outsourcing Today magazine.
Frank A. Russell was named CEO of the Year at the 2009 Prometheus Awards sponsored by the TAI. He was voted to Training Industry's 2007 list of the "Most Influential Training Professionals" by his peers in the industry and was the 2006 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Des Moines Business Record. In 2005, Frank received the Ernst & Young
Entrepreneur of the Year award in the Business Services category for the Central Midwest Region and was named Small Business Person of the Year for the State of Iowa by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Michael Nelson, Senior VP and CFO
Brad Rasmussen, Senior VP and CIO
Allison Wallace, Senior Counsel
Michael Morrison, Senior VP of Corporate Development
Scott Andriano, Senior VP of Sales & Marketing
Robin Salsberry, VP of Human Resources
West Des Moines, Iowa
West Des Moines is a city in Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 46,403; a special census taken in the spring of 2005 counted 51,744 residents and the United States Census Bureau estimated that 53,889 residents lived there in...
, offering on-demand Software as a Service
Software as a Service
Software as a service , sometimes referred to as "on-demand software," is a software delivery model in which software and its associated data are hosted centrally and are typically accessed by users using a thin client, normally using a web browser over the Internet.SaaS has become a common...
(SaaS) learning management system
Learning management system
A learning management system is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, and reporting of training programs, classroom and online events, e-learning programs, and training content...
(LMS) solutions for corporate internal training
Training and development
In the field of human resource management, training and development is the field which is concerned with organizational activity aimed at bettering the performance of individuals and groups in organizational settings...
, talent management
Talent management
Talent management refers to the skills of attracting highly skilled workers, of integrating new workers, and developing and retaining current workers to meet current and future business objectives. Talent management in this context does not refer to the management of entertainers...
and external initiatives
Extended Enterprise
An extended enterprise is a loosely coupled, self-organizing network of firms that combine their economic output to provide products and services offerings to the market...
. GeoLearning is a pioneering company in the SaaS-focused approach to learning management.
History
Founded in 1997 by Frank A. RussellFrank A. Russell
Frank A. Russell was formerly the president, CEO and founder of GeoLearning, a managed learning services company offering on-demand Software as a Service learning management system solutions for corporate internal training, talent management and external initiatives, headquartered in West Des...
, president and CEO, and his wife Linda in the basement of their home, GeoLearning has grown to employ 280 people. The company provides services to more than 800 organizations, including more than six million users from 160 countries around the world in 16 languages, in the field of on-demand learning and performance management
Performance management
Performance management includes activities that ensure that goals are consistently being met in an effective and efficient manner. Performance management can focus on the performance of an organization, a department, employee, or even the processes to build a product or service, as well as many...
platforms and training services. GeoLearning’s approach allows users to seamlessly work with a number of the company’s partner organizations. GeoLearning currently provides customers with a library of more than 20,000 courses from its various content providers via the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
.
In February 2008, GeoLearning secured a growth equity investment
Growth capital
Growth capital is a type of private equity investment, most often a minority investment, in relatively mature companies that are looking for capital to expand or restructure operations, enter new markets or finance a significant acquisition without a change of control of the business.Companies...
of $31 million from Fidelity Ventures
Fidelity Ventures
Fidelity Ventures is the venture capital arm of Fidelity Investments. Based in Boston, Massachusetts and London, Fidelity Ventures invests in emerging technology companies in North America and Europe. Their focus is on the go-to-market stage, where companies have products and early customer...
. The funds, which represented the first institutional investment for the company, were utilized to accelerate the company’s sales and marketing efforts, continued building of its international presence and channel partner
Channel partner
A channel partner is a company that partners with a manufacturer or producer to market and sell the manufacturer's products, services, or technologies. This is usually done through a co-branding relationship...
network, and potential acquisitions.
On January 5, 2011, Geolearning was acquired by SumTotal.
Products and Services
- GeoMaestro LMS
- Extended Enterprise SolutionsExtended EnterpriseAn extended enterprise is a loosely coupled, self-organizing network of firms that combine their economic output to provide products and services offerings to the market...
- Talent & Performance Management
- Learning Content Management System
- Authoring Tools
- Reporting and AnalyticsAnalyticsAnalytics is the application of computer technology, operational research, and statistics to solve problems in business and industry. Analytics is carried out within an information system: while, in the past, statistics and mathematics could be studied without computers and software, analytics has...
- Virtual ClassroomVirtual educationVirtual education refers to instruction in a learning environment where teacher and student are separated by time or space, or both, and the teacher provides course content through the use of methods such as course management applications, multimedia resources, the internet, and videoconferencing...
- Social Learning & Collaboration
- Mobile Learning Solutions
- Courseware
- Managed Learning Services
- Custom Content Development
- Learning Consulting
- Implementation & Program Management
- Training & Documentation
- Customer Support/End-User Help Desk
Awards
GeoLearning has been recognized with several awards, including ranking on the Inc. 500/5000Inc. (magazine)
Inc. magazine, founded in 1979 and based in New York City, is a monthly publication focused on growing companies. The magazine publishes an annual list of the 500 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S., the "Inc...
list of America's fastest-growing private companies for seven consecutive years (2004–2010), six years on the Software 500 list
World's largest software companies
Several lists exist that provide an overview of large software companies in the world. Three lists are available to the public. The lists differ by methodology of composition and consequently show substantial differences in both listed companies and ranking of those companies...
(2005–2010), "Training Product of the Year" from HR Executive Magazine, several American Business Awards
Stevie Awards
The Stevie Awards were created in 2002 to honor and generate public recognition of the efforts, accomplishments, and positive contributions of companies and business people worldwide...
(including "Most Innovative Company"), and TrainingIndustry.com's list of the "Top 20 Companies in the Training Outsourcing Industry" for six successive years (2004–09).
In 2010, GeoLearning was named a finalist for “Business Innovation of the Year” from the American Business Awards for its Extended Enterprise solution, winner of “Software Company of the Year” at the Prometheus Awards from the Technology Association of Iowa (TAI), finalist for “Best Corporate Learning Solution” at the Codie Awards from the Software & Information Industry Association and named to the “Baker’s Dozen: Top Learning Providers” from Human Resources Outsourcing Today magazine.
Frank A. Russell was named CEO of the Year at the 2009 Prometheus Awards sponsored by the TAI. He was voted to Training Industry's 2007 list of the "Most Influential Training Professionals" by his peers in the industry and was the 2006 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Des Moines Business Record. In 2005, Frank received the Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms, along with Deloitte, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers ....
Entrepreneur of the Year award in the Business Services category for the Central Midwest Region and was named Small Business Person of the Year for the State of Iowa by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Management team
Frank A. Russell, President and CEOMichael Nelson, Senior VP and CFO
Brad Rasmussen, Senior VP and CIO
Allison Wallace, Senior Counsel
Michael Morrison, Senior VP of Corporate Development
Scott Andriano, Senior VP of Sales & Marketing
Robin Salsberry, VP of Human Resources
Customers
The following are a sample of organizations utilizing GeoLearning products and services:- FEMA
- United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
- DellDellDell, Inc. is an American multinational information technology corporation based in 1 Dell Way, Round Rock, Texas, United States, that develops, sells and supports computers and related products and services. Bearing the name of its founder, Michael Dell, the company is one of the largest...
- SABICSABICSABIC is a diversified manufacturing company, active in chemicals and intermediates, industrial polymers, fertilizers and metals. It is the largest public company in Saudi Arabia as listed in Tadawul, but the Saudi government still owns 70% of its shares...
- Orbitz WorldwideOrbitzOrbitz Worldwide, Inc. is an Internet travel company headquartered in the Citigroup Center in Near West Side, Chicago, Illinois. Through its primary web site Orbitz.com, Orbitz Worldwide enables travelers to research, plan and book a broad range of travel products, facilitating 1.5 million flight...
- AdeccoAdeccoAdecco S.A. is a human resources company, based in Glattbrugg near Zurich, Switzerland. Adecco employs 700,000 temporary workers and contractors who are supplied to business clients, and has over 32,000 employees and 5,500 offices in 60 countries and territories around the world...
- Cabela'sCabela'sCabela's is a direct marketer and specialty retailer of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor recreation merchandise, based in Sidney, Nebraska. It also has "Trophy Properties LLC , "Outdoor Adventures" , and the "Gun Library"...
- International RectifierInternational RectifierInternational Rectifier Corp. is a manufacturer of power semiconductors , located in El Segundo, California, USA...
- SitelSitelSitel is a telemarketing and outsourcing business headquartered in Nashville, TN. It maintains over 140 call centers in 27 countries.Prior to its acquisition by ClientLogic, described below, it had 70 call centers in 25 countries and over 30,000 employees...
- Kaiser PermanenteKaiser PermanenteKaiser Permanente is an integrated managed care consortium, based in Oakland, California, United States, founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and physician Sidney Garfield...
- Black & DeckerBlack & DeckerBlack & Decker Corporation is a corporation based in Towson, Maryland, United States, that designs and imports power tools and accessories, hardware and home improvement products, and technology based fastening systems...
- FedExFedExFedEx Corporation , originally known as FDX Corporation, is a logistics services company, based in the United States with headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee...
- Wells FargoWells FargoWells Fargo & Company is an American multinational diversified financial services company with operations around the world. Wells Fargo is the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by assets and the largest bank by market capitalization. Wells Fargo is the second largest bank in deposits, home...
- Edward JonesEdward Jones InvestmentsEdward D. Jones & Co., L.P., since 1995 simplified as Edward Jones is a financial services firm headquartered in Des Peres, Missouri which serves investment clients in the United States and Canada, through its branch network of more than 12,000 locations. The firm focuses solely on individual...
- Pilot Travel CentersPilot Travel CentersPilot Flying J is a chain of truck stops in the United States and Canada. The company is based in Knoxville, Tennessee where Pilot Corporation, the majority owner, is based. The company is owned by Pilot, FJ Management Inc., and CVC Capital Partners...