(SACRAMENTO, Calif.)- Training Magazine has named VSP as one of the top 100 companies for employee development and training in North America.

VSP ranked 68 in Training Magazine's recently released survey of the "Top 100 Training Organizations in North America" and is the only Sacramento based employer on the list. The top five included Pfizer (1), Capitol One (2) and IBM (4).

Selection to the exclusive list is based on a wide range of criteria including: the amount of money a company invests in employee development, the type and scope of training programs, the quality of those programs and how closely training efforts are linked to business goals and objectives.

VSP employee development programs include a variety of technical and computer training, career development training, leadership development training, diversity training, and work/life balance training. VSP employees also receive a generous benefit for tuition reimbursement.

According to Training Magazine the top 100 companies spent more than 6 billion dollars on employee training in 2002 despite a climate of economic uncertainty. Training Magazine says each company on the list has a clear understanding of the link between an organization's ultimate prosperity and the extent to which individual employees are encouraged to develop their potential.

A complete list of the top 100 is available at www.trainingmag.com. It will also be published in the March edition of Training Magazine.

VSP is the nation's largest provider of eyecare wellness benefits with nearly 36 million members. Thousands of companies rely on VSP to provide a range of vision programs, from plans that meet overall eye health and wellness needs, to plans that cover advanced correction procedures, including surgery. VSP is headquartered near Sacramento California, with regional offices across the country.

For additional information about VSP visit www.vsp.com.

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