Annual Report 2008 - (Page 4) From the CEO Bentley’s May 2008 Annual Report demonstrates both continuity and change. As the world’s leading provider of comprehensive software solutions for the infrastructure lifecycle, Bentley realizes the vital role infrastructure must play in sustaining our society and the environment. We understand that the business of infrastructure is made up of long-term commitments. As a result, the imperative for sustaining infrastructure — to empower designing and building infrastructure assets that perform better over a long and useful life — continues to be the central driving force behind Bentley’s strategies. Our annual reports to date underscore not only our own long-term commitment to this mission, but also the growth and success this has produced. With the changes you’ll see in the pages that follow, we’ve now made this longstanding commitment to sustaining infrastructure quite explicit. At the same time, we’ve undertaken to increase our external visibility, with a new logo, new corporate website, and new “professional networking” site for our user communities. For a company that has achieved consistent growth with a comparatively “quiet” approach to telling our story, one might ask, “Why change now?” The answer is simple: We believe circumstances are opportune for Bentley to become a vocal and effective advocate, on behalf of the infrastructure professional community, for our uniquely indispensible contributions to “sustainability” in all its aspects. Every day we hear about the risks associated with aging infrastructure in the developed world, and how investing in infrastructure can yield both high returns and economic stimulus. We can see the salutary results from investing in major infrastructure priorities in the developing world, in the form of rapidly improved living standards. The precipitous rise in the cost of energy compels both increased efficiencies and new sources. Natural and man-made disasters bring into sharp focus the requirements for infrastructure resilience. Globally, there is the growing understanding that enabling sustainable growth through wise investment in infrastructure is not a luxury, but a fundamental necessity. Consequently, the backlog of infrastructure work continues to grow, amidst a shortfall of new infrastructure professionals entering the workforce. At Bentley, our position of responsibility — as the leading dedicated information technology provider — has spawned our new resolve to promote the work our users do, and the sustainable benefits for everyone, from investment in infrastructure. Though we have a new look and intended higher external visibility at Bentley, our commitment and dedication to the infrastructure professional community is a constant. I thank you for your interest in our company, and I thank you for your own vital part in “sustaining infrastructure.” Greg Bentley, CEO 5
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