SAN RAMON, CA - May 2, 2007 - The Corporation for Manufacturing Excellence (Manex) and Ascend Strategic Partners (Ascend) have formed a strategic alliance to help clients accelerate growth and maximize enterprise and shareholder value. By combining Manex's proven advisory and implementation solutions and Ascend's investment banking and pre-market value building services, the alliance provides a complete portfolio of services to help clients build wealth, drive business performance, and enhance competitiveness.

"Merging the strengths of Ascend and Manex represents a tremendous opportunity for clients to tap into two dynamic and proven organizations to help them realize their vision," said Michael Friar, President & Principal, Ascend Strategic Partners. "Ascend and Manex, working together, can help enterprises identify business-building opportunities, embrace change, and open the door to very tangible business benefits."

"This alliance positions Manex and Ascend to offer seamless, end-to-end solutions to help take our clients to the next level of success," said Brent Meyers, President & Chief Executive Officer, Manex. "Our combined expertise, broad capabilities, and proven approach help enterprises rapidly achieve increased return on investment and tangible, long-term benefits."

Ascend is an investment banking and pre-market value building firm for the middle market. With over 330 transactions completed in a wide range of industries, Ascend's investment banking team has the experience and expertise to lead business owners through the Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) process and complete a successful transaction that meets their goals. Ascend can work with business owners considering a sale today or looking to raise capital now or in the next few years.

Manex and Ascend, working together, help enterprises build and expand value through this comprehensive set of highly-integrated capabilities and solutions. From strategy through implementation, the alliance will deliver immediate results and position clients for long-term success.

About Manex
Founded in 1995, The Corporation for Manufacturing Excellence (Manex) (www.manexconsulting.com) provides a broad array of proven advisory and implementation solutions exclusively to manufacturers, distributors and their supply chains, enabling them to increase growth, productivity, quality and profitability. Manex delivers high-impact solutions in four key areas: strategy, people, process and performance. Meaningful, rapid impact and ROI are achieved through a modular-yet-holistic approach encompassing corporate strategy and planning, marketing strategy, training and development, lean manufacturing, supply chain and logistics, Six Sigma, ISO and performance management systems.