A group of thirty content management experts from around the world has announced the formation of CM Professionals, an international community of content management professionals whose purpose is to further best practices based on shared experiences of experts and peers.

CM Pros offers a members-only mailing list, a collaborative website, discussion forums, issue- oriented group blogs, knowledge wikis, syndicated web services, a job board, a professional directory and a calendar of face-to-face meeting opportunities.

CM Pros president Bob Boiko, author of the Content Management Bible and Director of the University of Washington iSchool CMS Evaluation Lab, says, "As the first group of its kind, CM Pros is a membership organization that enables content management practitioners to share information, practices and strategies. This organization is needed to help move the discipline of content management forward, helping practitioners avoid the pitfalls and costly mistakes made by others."

"We also envision a variety of members-only services, including a newsletter, professional discounts and summit-type gatherings devoid of marketing hype," says Tony Byrne, CMS Watch editor and CM Pros treasurer. "CM Pros will raise awareness of content management as an essential discipline that builds value, both financial and human, for companies and organizations," says Ann Rockley, author of Managing Enterprise Content and Secretary of CM Pros.

CM Professionals will hold its first CM Summit, in conjunction with the Gilbane Conference on Content Management Technologies, Tuesday, November 30, 2004 in Boston, Mass. (U.S.A.). www.gilbane.com/CM_conference_Boston_04.html.

For more information about CM Professionals, please visit the website: www.cmprofessionals.org