CDW to Open New Corporate Sales Center in Mettawa

CHICAGO -- Governor George H. Ryan today announced that CDW Computer Centers, Inc., will open a new corporate sales and customer service center in Mettawa, Illinois. The 156,000 square foot office building has capacity for approximately 900 people with room for future expansion within the same development.

"The State of Illinois is pleased to be sharing in the continued strong growth of CDW," said Ryan. "This company is committed to its customers, its co-workers and its community in the same way we are committed to growing Illinois businesses and creating high-quality jobs in the technology industry for Illinois citizens."

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA) is assisting CDW with a Large Business Development Grant and through the Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) Program, which provides tax credits based on the salaries of the new employees hired by the company.

"The EDGE program continues to be influential in creating new job opportunities for Illinois residents," said DCCA Director Pam McDonough. "With the economic development tools provided by the Ryan Administration, we will continue to cultivate home grown businesses like CDW, which has shown tremendous allegiance in building up its presence in Illinois."

CDW traces its history back to founder Michael Krasny's kitchen table in Glenview. Since 1984, the company has grown to over 2,600 co-workers and reported net sales in excess of $3.6 billion for the twelve months ended September 30, 2000. The company, which is number 586 in the Fortune 1000, was named to FORTUNE Magazine's "100 Best Places to Work For in America" list in each of the past two years.

The new building, which is near the company's corporate headquarters in Vernon Hills, will initially house sales, customer service, and sales recruiting and training departments. The new facility is scheduled for occupancy in the second quarter of 2001.

"We are gratified that we've found the facilities and support from the governor and the State of Illinois needed to accommodate our growth right here in Northern Illinois," said Michael P. Krasny, CDW's chairman and chief executive officer. "To provide superior service to our customers, we feel it's necessary to provide the best environment possible for our coworkers, and this expansion will help us achieve that goal," he added.

"We are delighted to have CDW in the Village of Mettawa," said Mayor Barry MacLean, "and we look forward to having the company and its workers as neighbors. We are also pleased that they are becoming a single user tenant of that building. It's a strong statement of their support for the Village."