Carousel Industries honored as Avaya’s #1 Business Partner of the Year !
Receives top award from Avaya for second consecutive year

October 13, 2006, Peace Dale, RI – Carousel Industries announced that it has been named the Overall Avaya Business Partner of the Year in 2006. Avaya Inc. (NYSE:AV), a global leader in business communications applications, systems and services, made the announcement this week at its Global Sales and Partner Conference in New Orleans. This is Avaya’s top award for Business Partners and honors a company that has achieved outstanding customer service and significant revenue growth during the fiscal year. In 2006, Carousel achieved triple-digit, year-over-year growth in total revenues including sales of strategic applications, services, and convergence solutions. This is the second consecutive year that the Carousel Industries has taken top honors from Avaya.

“Through partner companies like Carousel, Avaya is able to expand its reach and help organizations of all sizes meet their most critical challenges,” said Ken Archer, Avaya vice president of North America Channels. “We recruit and train partners who are skilled at helping businesses tap into the power of Intelligent Communication solutions—offering customers flexible choices in how they buy and delivering true value to their bottom line. Carousel represents the best of the best and works as a seamless part of our extended Avaya sales team.”

In winning this award, Carousel is the top company out of over 1,300 Business Partners who represent Avaya products and services in North America. To be considered for Business Partner of the Year awards, companies must achieve a 90 percent customer satisfaction rating, demonstrate industry leadership and outperform key strategic goals.

“We have a great team at Carousel and I am extremely proud of our accomplishments this year”, said Carousel CEO Jeff Gardner. “To receive this award two years in a row is really a credit to our employees in every facet of the business. We work very hard to find and keep great people and that’s what keeps us successful year after year.”

“We take care of our customers – that’s’ the bottom line”, according to National VP of Sales, Jim Marsh. “When you deliver on your promises, customers come back, and that has been one of our keys to success through the years.”

In 2006, Carousel acquired Nicom Technologies, adding offices in Syracuse, Memphis, Atlanta and Louisiana. That growth trend will continue in 2007. In addition, Carousel continues to add new products and services to its portfolio, including a new managed services offering. Plans are underway to open a new corporate headquarters with a state of the art Network Operation Center and Demo Room and training facilities.

Jeff Gardner is looking forward to 2007. “We have the best people, loyal customers, a strong partnership with Avaya and a tremendous future. This award confirms that we are doing the right things to be successful. “