Leading Database Architect to Help Build Innovative Web Platform for Churches

Contact: Brian Burch, 616-233-0500

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., June 9 /Christian Newswire/ -- Zondervan, a world leader in Christian communications, today announced that Kyle Geiger has joined The City, the web based community and communications platform for churches.

As the most recent addition to The City, Geiger is a strong testament to the strength of the team. He comes to The City with more than 25 years of experience in the computer industry, specializing in database and Internet technologies. He was the architect of Microsoft's Open Database Connectivity (ODBC). Eighteen years after its launch, ODBC remains a firmly entrenched cornerstone technology of the software industry, and is included as a database connectivity standard in most modern computer operating systems and even in some PDAs and smartphones. Geiger was also the author of the "Inside ODBC," the "Bible" of this technology from Microsoft Press.

Also at Microsoft, Geiger helped lead the Internet Information Server (Web Server) team, where he helped design the Internet Database Connector and later, Active Server Pages. This breakthrough internet technology gave the ability for web pages to connect to databases and present information uniquely for each visitor. This technology is still used by many web sites around the world.

"Kyle has made significant contributions to broadly used technologies and brings a phenomenal wealth of experience to our team," says Zack Hubert, VP and Architect of The City. "We believe strongly that technology can and should be used to help the mission of the church, and Kyle's deep knowledge of databases and internet technologies will help us in our continued effort to build a world class web service for churches around the world."

Hubert himself has significant experience, both as a pastor of IT at a large church and as a former development manager at Amazon.com, where he made significant contributions to numerous initiatives, including creation of patent-pending technologies that enable the Amazon platform.

The City has greatly benefited from its location in Seattle, attracting software development and business management talent from local tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, IBM and T-Mobile.

"Church leaders have realized that they must embrace and use contemporary models and methods of communication and technology if they are to fully engage their congregations and the people in their communities," said Moe Girkins, President and CEO of Zondervan. "The City provides a powerful way for churches to fulfill their mission of reaching all people much more effectively than ever before, and adding Kyle to an already fantastic team of developers will help make significant impact on the Church."

About The City
The City is a division of Zondervan and is located in Seattle, Washington. This innovative web based platform was created in response to the Church's need to improve communication, better engage with members, support small groups, build a stronger church community and free up administrative resources.

The City recently announced that Seacoast Church in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, and Woodlands Church in Woodlands, Texas, are using this unique software to improve communications and build community throughout the week. Over 270 churches in 12 countries around the world have now signed up to use The City.

You can find out more about The City on the internet at www.onthecity.org  

About Zondervan
Zondervan, a HarperCollins company is a world leader in Christian communications and the leading Christian publishing brand. For more than 75 years, Zondervan has delivered transformational Christian experiences through general and academic resources by influential leaders and emerging voices, and been honored with more Christian Book Awards than any other publisher. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., with offices in Seattle, Chicago and Miami, Zondervan publishes its bestselling Bibles, books, audio, video, curriculum, software, and digital products through its Zondervan, eZondervan, Zonderkidz and Editorial Vida brands. Zondervan resources are sold worldwide through retail stores, online, and by Zondervan ChurchSource, and are translated into nearly 200 languages in more than 60 countries. Visit Zondervan on the Internet at www.zondervan.com