MURRYSVILLE, Pa., March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 150 people from 60 companies across North America will join Applied Systems Associates, Inc., in Pittsburgh April 4-6 as the company celebrates its 35th anniversary. Every two years, Applied Systems (aSa) invites all of its clients to a "Software Forum" to share ideas and learn more about the company's products. "Celebrate Technology" is the theme for the 2005 forum, in honor of the company's anniversary.

A highlight of the event will be an awards dinner honoring employees, long-time customers, and the company's founders Jim Leib and Elliot Greenman, currently chairman and vice president of aSa respectively.

Founded in 1969 and incorporated February 2, 1970, aSa is North America's leading provider of software for the reinforcing steel industry. The company's very first customer, Gerdau Ameristeel (then Florida Steel Corporation) is still a customer today and will receive a special award at the dinner.

The forum, to be held at the Sheraton Station Square, will include a historical display including old computer hardware, user's guides, sales materials, and other items from the company's past.

"It's amazing to think that we have been developing software since 1969. In the early days, aSa rented processing time on large mainframe computers because the company could not afford to purchase its own computer. As technology advanced from mainframes and punch cards to mini-computers to PCs, our software continued to evolve and improve," says aSa President Scott Leib.

Thousands of users at more than 650 client sites throughout North America and worldwide rely on aSa rebar software. Some notable local projects that utilized aSa software products include PNC Park, Heinz Field, the Fort Pitt bridge reconstruction, and the foundation of the Phantom's Revenge roller coaster at Kennywood.

In addition to its own line of specialty software, aSa supplies accounting solutions by Best Software, Inc., including the MAS 500(R) and Abra Suite(R) product lines. aSa is recognized by Best Software for "Outstanding Sales Achievement and Partnership." aSa is also a value-added reseller of Bentley Systems' flagship CAD product MicroStation(R). aSa maintains a staff of Best and Bentley certified consultants and trainers, as well as a full-service IT department.

The company, a second-generation family business, is headquartered in its own 21,000-square-foot facility in Murrysville, Pennsylvania.

CONTACT: Scott D. Leib, President of Applied Systems Associates, Inc.,
+1-724-733-8700

Web site: http://www.asahq.com/