Corporations cannot afford to abandon their investment in their workforce — and customer-base — education. Even in times that call for frugal decision-making, it's vital not to reduce core investment in the future of the enterprise. Recently, we saw Ben Stein, the actor and conservative political and economic commentator, on the CBS "Good Morning" show and at first it sounded like he was singing our song. While I can't say that I typically agree with Mr. Stein's assertions, I often find them provoking.

Stein recounted how the president scolded AIG executives for continuing with plans for a conference at an expensive hotel using taxpayers’ money. From there, Stein concludes that it's President Obama's fault that companies across America are cancelling conferences and business meetings — leaving a rising tide of struggling or failing hotels, restaurants and airlines.

Does he really have a clue? Could it be that they are also concerned about the economy? How can this be hard to admit in the face of rising unemployment numbers, foreclosures, a decline in consumer spending and a tidal wave of bankruptcies? Certainly one has to consider that these signs just might indicate that companies across the board are struggling to meet revenue objectives and are cutting costs in many areas.

Next, Stein suggested that this significant drop in corporate spending on travel-related business events is impeding the ability of their employees to get the information they need to do their jobs. That, without such face-to-face interactions — only made possible by $200 hotel rooms, $40/plate dinners and $300 roundtrip airfare for each attendee — the average American professional is challenged to get the training and information necessary to do be successful.

I believe most of you reading this will agree. Stein is simply wrong. Professionals around the globe have been meeting, collaborating, learning, exchanging (may I say, converging :-D) online with enthusiasm and success for several years. If anything, the world economy has generated a new corporate climate where anything that achieves business objectives and saves (or makes) money will win. Now, it's up to us to make the business case for doing it well and exceeding those objectives.

Avis will return next week with the second part of her series on best practices in Education Remote Delivery.