Online solutions for small businesses, Network Solutions, welcomes Tim Kelly as the company’s new President as of April 1st. Mr. Kelly joins Network Solutions from Sprint/Nextel where he was the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO).

Roy Dunbar, CEO of Network Solutions remarked, ”I am very excited to have an executive of Tim’s caliber join our team. Tim’s marketing expertise, broad operational acumen and deep experience around the customer, make him uniquely qualified to lead us into the next phase of growth. Under Tim’s leadership we will serve and delight a growing number of small businesses with best in class solutions for success on the internet.� Tim’s responsibilities will include Marketing, Product, Sales, and Customer Support.”

Mr. Kelly added, ”I am most impressed with Roy’s vision for Network Solutions which is to be first in mind for new and existing small business owners seeking to get online as well as those looking to optimize and expand their online effectiveness. Most importantly, I see great opportunity for Network Solutions to become synonymous with small business success through initiatives like the ‘ Small Business Success Index.”’

During a career with Sprint Corporation and Sprint/Nextel Corporation that spanned twelve years, Mr. Kelly made a number of important contributions to the company’s success.� In his most recent role as CMO, Mr. Kelly, led all of the organization’s Marketing and Product initiatives. Prior to this role, he held the top post at several Sprint/Nextel Corporation and Sprint Corporation business units as President of Sprint Consumer Solutions President Sprint Business, President Sprint Mass Markets and President Customer Management.� In his various executive roles at Sprint, Mr. Kelly was responsible for building the Sprint brand, defining and driving its customer acquisition and retention strategy, optimizing customer service and developing Sprint’s product roadmap among other things.

His career at Sprint was interrupted in 1999, by a stint as President of Tickets.com, where he led the organization’s domestic and international operations. Under Mr. Kelly’s leadership, the company successfully executed a number of acquisitions and deployed a new business model which drove the company from a bricks and mortar ticketing software and distribution focus to an Internet based product and distribution strategy.� His accomplishments included implementing new distribution and content partnerships with AOL Digital Cities, Excite, Cox Interactive Media, Yahoo, MP3, etc.� He further refined the brand through innovative ticketing and sponsorship partnerships with top selling artists.

Mr. Kelly began his career in 1985 with Lever Brothers Household Products Division in New York.� He made the transition into the advertising field where he managed national accounts for several top brands including Burger King, Arm and Hammer, Visine, Arm and Hammer Dental, Crest and Scope. Mr. Kelly received his Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of Florida and his. Master of Business Administration, Graduate Management Program, from Nova Southeast University.

Network Solutions is focused on helping small businesses start and market their companies on the Internet by offering a full range of web-based services that include: hosting, Web site design, ecommerce solutions, online security, search engine marketing and domain name registration services.� Drawing on 30 years of experience, we make it simple and affordable for our customers to build and manage an online presence.� Our customers receive the best customer service in the industry, which has been recognized by J.D. Power and Associates Certified Call Center program for providing “An Outstanding Customer Service Experience” for the last four consecutive years. Customers around the globe trust us to manage more than 7 million domains, over 2 million e-mailboxes, and hundreds of thousands of Web sites.

Search engine, Google, after accepting an invitation by PICTI and PITA and working with the U.S.-Palestinian Partnership (UPP), Case Foundation and USAID, hosted a GPals day in Ramallah, providing cutting edge skills to over 300 software developers and entrepreneurs.

Jean Case, UPP co-chair and Case Foundation CEO remarked, ”Entrepreneurs and NGO leaders in the Palestinian Territories are young, well educated and tenacious. Every day they overcome challenges that seem insurmountable. Working with Google’s team and sharing their expertise gives these leaders an opportunity to engage in new ideas, which will hopefully serve to spur economic development and local innovation.”

The GPals day was spread across two days. The first day focused on pushing the boundaries of web applications using Google developer technologies. The day was also about bringing brilliant developers together to share their own ideas. Day two was focused on a full review of Google product demonstrations for small or medium sized businesses to help spur innovation and entrepreneurship in the region. This included a discussion on how to create Arabic content using online tools and how to use free Google applications (such as Google Docs) to better manage businesses.

Supporting the developer community around the world is vital for the future of the internet: an active developer community means constant innovation and growth of the web. Google is committed long-term to providing tools and platforms that make web development easier and more powerful.

Google has been providing similar trainings with local partners around the world. In addition to its acclaimed search engine, Google provides numerous free online applications that allow organization of online groups, shared spreadsheets, presentations and documents and application development. Google has created specialized portals that organize and promote its tools specifically for small businesses, non-profits and governments. And, it provides Google Ad Words grants to non-profits and training on how to advertise online successfully.

The collaboration with Google is the latest in the U.S.-Palestinian Partnership’s efforts to bring investment and opportunity to the West Bank. Since its founding in December of 2007, the Partnership has secured private sector contributions in the West Bank from leading companies and organizations such as Google, Cisco, Intel, Microsoft, Boys and Girls Clubs of America and National Geographic. Through the support of youth centers, job creation, tourism and business delegations, UPP is working to create the economic conditions for peace and demonstrating that the West Bank is open for business.

Launched by the President of United States, Secretary of State and U.S. business leaders following the Annapolis peace talks in December 2007, the Partnership promotes economic and educational opportunities for the Palestinian people. UPP is a critical component in facilitating progress toward a two-state solution, wherein Israel and Palestine can live side by side, in peace, security and prosperity.

The Case Foundation, created by Steve and Jean Case in 1997, invests in people and ideas that can change the world. The Foundation champions initiatives that connect people, increase giving, and catalyze civic action.

With the largest index of websites available on the World Wide Web and the industry’s most advanced search technology, Google Inc. delivers the fastest and easiest way to find relevant information on the Internet. Google’s technological innovations have earned the company numerous industry awards and citations, including two Webby Awards; two WIRED magazine Readers Raves Awards; Best Internet Innovation and Technical Excellence Award from PC Magazine; Best Search Engine on the Internet from Yahoo! Internet Life; Top Ten Best Cybertech from TIME magazine; and Editor’s Pick from CNET. A growing number of companies worldwide, including Yahoo! and its international properties, Sony Corporation and its global affiliates, AOL/Netscape, and Cisco Systems, rely on Google to power search on their websites. A privately held company based in Mountain View, Calif., Google’s investors include Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers and Sequoia Capital.