DENVER -- Dean Evans & Associates, a Denver-based calendar management software manufacturer, has signed five new congregations to its EMS Lite, Professional and Enterprise scheduling products.

The congregations will use the software to schedule and manage special events, including seating, inventory and billing. More than 1,000 churches and congregations are using Dean Evans & Associates software, according to a company news release.

"Many churches and congregations are discovering that do-it-yourself scheduling or a simple automated calendar can't handle their complex scheduling needs," said Kevin Raasch, the company's executive vice president.

The company's EMS software can be used to schedule community services, events or classes, Raasch said. The release did not disclose costs.

EMS Professional includes the ability to manage inventory and billing for events. EMS Lite is designed for congregations that need to get a handle on room scheduling and basic event management. The EMS Enterprise system is capable of handling a large number of users and a high volume of transactions for mega-congregations such as Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., which averages more than 17,000 in worship attendance.

Saddleback is among Dean Evans & Associates new customers. Others include:

• New Life Community Church in Artesia, Calif., EMS Lite;
• Temple Emanu-El in Westfield, N.J., EMS Professional;
• St. Matthews United Methodist Church in Bowie, Md., EMS Lite; and,
• Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church in Gig Harbor, Wash., EMS Professional.