Compiere, provider of open source business applications, announced the appointment of Dawn Foster as director of community and partner programs. Foster will facilitate the development of Compiere’s open source community committed to providing contributions to enhance Compiere ERP & CRM, the company’s integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) application.

Foster will serve as a liaison between Compiere and the open source community to ensure the company is effectively communicating with the community, while encouraging community contributions to the Compiere ERP & CRM project. She will also be responsible for managing Compiere’s recently expanded partner program and relationships with Compiere partners, many of whom are active participants in Compiere’s open source community. Compiere’s nearly 100 partners worldwide include consulting firms, systems integrators, value-added resellers and application solution providers qualified and trained to provide the services and support necessary to fully implement and customize the Compiere ERP & CRM solution.

Andre M. Boisvert, chairman of the board and chief business development officer for Compiere, stated, “Dawn’s expertise in open source software will provide direction to further establish and develop the Compiere community of users, partners and resellers. Her talent and capabilities will provide a strong complement to Compiere’s team as we look to continue delivering the best open source product on the market, supported by an active community of contributors.”

Foster has more than 10 years of experience in the technology and software industry with extensive expertise in open source software and Web 2.0. Prior to Compiere, Foster held various positions at Intel within the Software and Solutions group which focused on enabling software development tools vendors and open source software. She also worked for The Timken Company, a Midwestern manufacturing company, where she held positions that included Unix system administrator, market researcher and e-business product manager.

“Taking on the responsibility to lead Compiere’s open source community and partner relations was an opportunity I could embrace enthusiastically,” said Foster. “The company has the right mix of technology and resources to further enhance its position as a leader in open source business applications. I am excited about this newly created position and I look forward to contributing to the continued success and growth of the company and its customers and partners.”