ANA MARIA STRAMBI GUIMARAES EARNS HONORS ON CERTIFIED INTERNAL AUDITOR EXAMINATION

Altamonte Springs, Fla. -The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) announced today that Ana Maria Strambi Guimaraes has earned a William S. Smith Certificate of Honor Award for outstanding performance on the November 2004 Certified Internal Auditor® (CIA®) examination. The CIA exam reflects the current state of the art in internal auditing and evaluates technical competence in important subject areas related to internal auditing.

The Certificate of Honor is one of the prestigious William S. Smith Awards for Outstanding CIA Examination Performance. The Smith awards are named in honor of the first Chairman of The IIA' s Board of Regents, who was a driving force behind the development of the CIA program. Through the Smith awards, The IIA recognizes the candidates who have submitted the best exam papers for a particular CIA exam administration. Consideration for the Smith awards is based on a candidate's performance on the core parts of the CIA exam (Parts I, II, and III) and is contingent on a candidate's successful completion of the full e in one sitting. The Smith awards include one Gold Medal Award, five Certificate of Excellence Awards, and twenty-five Certificate of Honor Awards, along with a Student Highest Achievement Award.

Administered twice each year in several languages, the CIA exam was given in November 2004 to over 21,000 candidates at 258 sites in 81 countries around the world. Of these candidates, approximately 3,300 have completed the examination requirement and are eligible to become Certified Internal Auditors. The CIA designation is awarded to internal audit professionals who have met the rigorous requirements of The IIA's CIA program, including the four-part examination, as well as high standards of character, education, and experience.

The more than 50,000 Certified Internal Auditors worldwide are members of a recognized professional group and benefit from rapid career advancement and greater acceptance in the role as advisor to management.

Established in 1941, The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) is an international professional association with global headquarters in Altamonte Springs, Fla. The IIA has approximately 100,00 members in internal auditing, risk management, governance, internal control, IT audit, education, and security. The Institute is the recognized authority, principal educator, and acknowledged leader in certification.

Established in 1941, The institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) is an international professional association with global headquarters in Altamonte Springs,Fla. The IIA has approximately 100,000 members in internal auditing, risk management, governance, internal control, IT audit, education, and security. The Institute is the recognized authority, principal educator, and acknowledged leader in certification.

Visit The IlA 's Web site at www.theiia.org

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The Institute of internal Auditors

247 Maitland Avenue

Altamonte Springs, FL

327014201 U.S.A.

Tel: + 1-407-937 -1100

Fax: +1-407-937-1101

E-mail: certification@theiia.org

www.theiia.org