Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.29

                                  APERIAN, INC.
                             2000 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                     (RESTATEMENT THROUGH FEBRUARY 14, 2001)

1.       Purpose.

         Aperian, Inc., a Delaware corporation (herein, together with its
successors, referred to as the "Company"), successor by merger to MSI Holdings,
Inc., by means of this 2000 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"), desires to afford
certain individuals and employees of the Company and any parent corporation or
subsidiary corporation thereof now existing or hereafter formed or acquired
(such parent and subsidiary corporations referred to herein as "Related
Entities") who are responsible for the continued growth of the Company an
opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company and thus to create
in such persons an increased interest in and a greater concern for the welfare
of the Company and any Related Entities. As used in the Plan, the terms "parent
corporation" and "subsidiary corporation" shall mean, respectively, a
corporation within the definition of such terms contained in Sections 424(e) and
424(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). All
capitalized terms not otherwise defined in Sections 1 through 17 of this Plan
shall have the meanings set forth in Section 18 of this Plan.

         The stock options described in Sections 6 and 7 (the "Options"), and
other stock or equity-based awards described in Section 8 (the "Awards"), are a
matter of separate inducement and, except as specifically provided herein or
elsewhere, are not in lieu of any salary or other compensation for services.

2.       Administration.

         (a) Committee. The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board of
Directors") shall administer the Plan with respect to all Employees (as
hereinafter defined) or Eligible Non-Employees (as hereinafter defined) or may
delegate all or part of its duties under this Plan to any committee or
sub-committee appointed by the Board of Directors (the "Committee") or to any
officer or committee of officers of the Company, subject in each case to such
conditions and limitations as the Board of Directors may establish and subject
to the following sentence. Unless a majority of the members of the Board of
Directors determines otherwise: (a) the Committee shall be constituted in a
manner that satisfies the requirements of Rule 16b-3, which Committee shall
administer the Plan with respect to all Employees or Eligible Non-Employees who
are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in a manner that satisfies the
requirements of Rule 16b-3; and (b) the Committee shall be constituted in a
manner that satisfies the requirements of Section 162(m), which Committee shall
administer the Plan with respect to "performance-based compensation" for all
Employees or Eligible Non-Employees who are reasonably expected to be "covered
employees" as those terms are defined in Section 162(m). The number of persons
that shall constitute the Committee shall be determined from time to time by a
majority of all the members of the Board of Directors, but shall in no event be
fewer than required by Rule 16b-3 and Section 162(m) where applicable. Except
for references in Sections 2(a), 2(b), and 2(c) and unless the context otherwise
requires, references herein to the Committee shall also refer to the Board of
Directors as
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administrator of the Plan for Employees or Eligible Non-Employees or to the
appropriate delegate of the Committee or the Board of Directors.

         (b) Duration, Removal, Etc. The members of the Committee shall serve at
the pleasure of the Board of Directors, which shall have the power, at any time
and from time to time, to remove members from or add members to the Committee.
Removal from the Committee may be with or without cause. Any individual serving
as a member of the Committee shall have the right to resign from membership in
the Committee by written notice to the Board of Directors. The Board of
Directors, and not the remaining members of the Committee, shall have the power
and authority to fill vacancies on the Committee, however caused.

         (c) Meetings and Actions of Committee. The Board of Directors shall
designate which of the Committee members shall be the chairman of the Committee.
If the Board of Directors fails to designate a Committee chairman, the members
of the Committee shall elect one of the Committee members as chairman, who shall
act as chairman until he ceases to be a member of the Committee or until the
Board of Directors elects a new chairman. The Committee shall hold its meetings
at those times and places as the chairman of the Committee may determine. At all
meetings of the Committee, a quorum for the transaction of business shall be
required, and a quorum shall be deemed present if at least a majority of the
members of the Committee are present. At any meeting of the Committee, each
member shall have one vote. All decisions and determinations of the Committee
shall be made by the majority vote or majority decision of all of its members
present at a meeting at which a quorum is present; provided, however, that any
decision or determination reduced to writing and signed by all of the members of
the Committee shall be as fully effective as if it had been made at a meeting
that was duly called and held. The Committee may make any rules and regulations
as it may deem advisable for the conduct of its business that are not
inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, the certificate of incorporation
of the Company, the by-laws of the Company, Rule 16b-3 so long as it is
applicable, and Section 162(m) so long as it is applicable.

3.       Shares Available.

         Subject to the adjustments provided in Section 10, the maximum
aggregate number of shares of common stock, $0.10 par value, of the Company
("Common Stock") in respect of which Options and Awards may be granted for all
purposes under the Plan shall be 12,000,000 shares, provided, however, that the
number of such shares that shall be available for issuance under Awards granted
pursuant to Section 8 shall not exceed the number established from time to time
by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. If, for any reason, any
shares as to which Options have been granted cease to be subject to purchase
thereunder, including the expiration of such Option, the termination of such
Option prior to exercise, or the forfeiture of such Option, or any shares as to
which Awards have been granted are forfeited or surrendered, such shares shall
thereafter be available for grants under the Plan. Options or Awards granted
under the Plan may be fulfilled in accordance with the terms of the Plan with
(i) authorized and unissued shares of the Common Stock, (ii) issued shares of
such Common Stock held in the Company's treasury, or (iii) issued shares of
Common Stock reacquired by the Company in each situation as the Board of

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Directors or the Committee may determine from time to time.

4.       Eligibility and Bases of Participation.

         Grants of Incentive Options (as hereinafter defined) and Non-Qualified
Options (as hereinafter defined) may be made under the Plan, subject to and in
accordance with Section 6, to Employees. As used herein, the term "Employee"
shall mean any employee of the Company or any Related Entity, including officers
and directors of the Company or any Related Entity who are also employees of the
Company or any Related Entity, who is regularly employed on a salaried basis and
who is so employed on the date of such grant.

         Grants of Non-Qualified Options may be made, subject to and in
accordance with Section 7, to any Eligible Non-Employee. As used herein, the
term "Eligible Non-Employee" shall mean any director of the Company who is not
regularly employed on a salaried basis with the Company and any other person or
entity of any nature whatsoever, specifically including an individual, a firm, a
company, a corporation, a partnership, a trust, or other entity (collectively, a
"Person"), that the Committee designates as eligible for a grant of Options
pursuant to this Plan because such Person performs bona fide consulting,
advisory, or other services for the Company or any Related Entity (other than
services in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising
transaction) and the Board of Directors or the Committee determines that the
Person has a direct and significant effect on the financial development of the
Company or any Related Entity.

         Grants of Awards may be made under the Plan, subject to and in
accordance with Section 8, to Employees and Eligible Non-Employees.

         The adoption of this Plan shall not be deemed to give any Person a
right to be granted any Options or any Awards.

         Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, with
respect to the grant of any Options or Awards to any Employee or Eligible
Non-Employee, the Committee shall first determine the number of shares (or
units) in respect of which Options or Awards are to be granted to such Employee
or Eligible Non-Employee and shall then cause to be granted to such Employee or
Eligible Non-Employee an Option exercisable for such shares or an Award for such
shares (or units). The exercise price per share of Common Stock under each
Option and the value of each share of Common Stock (or unit) under each Award
shall be fixed by the Committee at the time of grant of the Option or Award and
shall not be less than 85% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock
on the day preceding the date of grant; provided, in the case of an Incentive
Option (as hereinafter defined) the exercise price per share shall not be less
than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock on the day
preceding the date of grant, except as provided in 6(a) hereof.

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5.       Authority of Committee.

         Subject to the express provisions of the Plan and any applicable law
with which the Company intends the Plan to comply, the Committee shall have the
authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, (a) to adopt, amend, and rescind
administrative and interpretive rules and regulations relating to the Plan,
including without limitation to adopt and observe such procedures concerning the
counting of Options or Awards against the Plan and individual maximums as it may
deem appropriate from time to time; (b) to determine the Employees or Eligible
Non-Employees to whom, and the time or times at which, Options and Awards shall
be granted; (c) to determine the number of shares of Common Stock (or units)
that shall be the subject of each Option or Award; (d) to determine the terms
and provisions of each agreement evidencing Options or Awards granted hereunder
(which need not be identical), including provisions defining or otherwise
relating to (i) the term and the period or periods and extent of exerciseability
of the Options, (ii) the forfeitability of any shares (or units) or any
restrictions on shares (or units) subject to an Award, (iii) the extent to which
the transferability of shares of Common Stock issued or transferred pursuant to
any Option or Award is restricted, (iv) the effect of termination of employment
on the Option or Award, (iv) the effect of approved leaves of absence
(consistent with any applicable provisions of the Code or Treasury regulations)
and (v) the establishment of procedures for an optionee to exercise an Option by
delivering that number of shares of Common Stock already owned by such optionee
having an aggregate Fair Market Value which shall equal the Option exercise
price; provided, however, that if the Committee permits, pursuant to Section
6(b) or 7(a)(ii), payment of the exercise price of an Option with previously
acquired shares of Common Stock (A) in the case of Incentive Options, no shares
shall be used to pay the exercise price under this paragraph unless (1) such
shares were not acquired through the exercise of Incentive Options or (2) if so
acquired, (x) such shares have been held for more than two years since the grant
of such Incentive Options and for more than one year since the exercise of such
Incentive Options (the "Holding Period"), or (y) if such shares have not been
held for the Holding Period, the optionee elects in writing to use such shares
to pay the exercise price under this paragraph, (B) no such procedure shall be
available if there is an opinion of the Company's independent accounting firm
that the use of such a procedure could negatively affect the financial
statements of the Company or a Related Entity, and (C) notwithstanding any
provision in the Plan to the contrary, no such shares shall be used to pay the
Option exercise price unless such shares shall have been held by the optionee
for a period of six months prior to the date of exercise of the Option; (e) to
accelerate, pursuant to Section 9 or otherwise, the vesting or exerciseability
(or time of exerciseability) of all or part of any Option, or the vesting or
lapsing of restrictions on all or part of any Award, that has been granted; (f)
to construe the respective agreements evidencing Options and Awards pursuant to
the Plan; (g) to make determinations of the Fair Market Value of the Common
Stock pursuant to the Plan; (h) to delegate its duties under the Plan to such
agents as it may appoint from time to time, subject to the second sentence of
Section 2(a); and (i) to make all other determinations, perform all other acts,
and exercise all other powers and authority necessary or advisable for
administering the Plan, including the delegation of those ministerial acts and
responsibilities as the Committee deems appropriate. The Committee may correct
any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan, in
any Option, in any Award, or in any

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agreements evidencing Options or Awards granted hereunder in the manner and to
the extent it deems necessary or desirable to carry the Plan into effect, and
the Committee shall be the sole and final judge of that necessity or
desirability. The determinations of the Committee on the matters referred to in
this Section 5 shall be final and conclusive. The Committee shall not have the
power to appoint members of the Committee or to terminate, modify, or amend the
Plan. Those powers are vested in the Board of Directors.

         An Option shall be vested and/or exercisable, and the restrictions on
any Awards shall lapse, in whole or in part and at such times as determined by
the Committee. The Committee in its discretion may provide that an Option shall
be vested or exercisable, and the restrictions on any Awards shall lapse, only
upon the attainment of one or more performance goals or targets established by
the Committee, which are based on (i) the price of a share of Common Stock, (ii)
the Company's earnings per share, (iii) the Company's market share, (iv) the
market share of a business unit of the Company designated by the Committee, (v)
the Company's sales, (vi) the sales of a business unit of the Company designated
by the Committee, (vii) the net income (before or after taxes) of the Company or
a business unit of the Company designated by the Committee, (viii) the cash flow
return on investment of the Company or any business unit of the Company
designated by the Committee, (ix) the earnings before or after interest, taxes,
depreciation, and/or amortization of the Company or any business unit of the
Company designated by the Committee, (x) the economic value added, or (xi) the
return on stockholders' equity achieved by the Company.

         From time to time, the Board of Directors and appropriate officers of
the Company shall be and are authorized to take whatever actions are necessary
to file required documents with governmental authorities, stock exchanges, and
other appropriate Persons to make shares of Common Stock available for issuance
pursuant to agreements evidencing Options or Awards granted hereunder.

6.       Stock Options for Employees.

         Subject to the express provisions of this Plan, the Committee shall
have the authority to grant incentive stock options pursuant to Section 422 of
the Code ("Incentive Options"), to grant non-qualified stock options (options
which do not qualify under Section 422 of the Code) ("Non-Qualified Options"),
and to grant both types of Options to Employees. No Incentive Option shall be
granted pursuant to this Plan after the earlier of ten years from the date of
adoption of the Plan or ten years from the date of approval of the Plan by the
stockholders of the Company. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the
contrary, Incentive Options may be granted only to Employees. The terms and
conditions of the Options granted under this Section 6 shall be determined from
time to time by the Committee; provided, however, that the Options granted under
this Section 6 shall be subject to all terms and provisions of the Plan (other
than Sections 7 and 8), including the following:

         (a) Option Exercise Price. Subject to Section 4, the Committee shall
establish the Option exercise price at the time any Option is granted at such
amount as the Committee shall determine.

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The Option exercise price shall not be less than 85% of the Fair Market Value of
a share of Common Stock on the day preceding the date of grant; provided, that
in the case of an Incentive Option, such price shall not be less than the Fair
Market Value per share of Common Stock on the day preceding the Option's date of
grant; and provided, further, that in the case of an Incentive Option granted to
a person who, at the time such Incentive Option is granted, owns shares of the
Company or any Related Entity which possess more than 10% of the total combined
voting power of all classes of shares of the Company or of any Related Entity,
the option exercise price shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value
per share of Common Stock on the day preceding the Option's date of grant. The
Option exercise price shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with the
provisions of Section 10 of the Plan.

         (b) Payment. The price per share of Common Stock with respect to each
Option exercise shall be payable at the time of such exercise. Such price shall
be payable in cash or by any other means acceptable to the Committee, including
delivery to the Company of shares of Common Stock owned by the optionee pursuant
to a procedure created pursuant to Section 5(d) of the Plan. Shares delivered to
the Company in payment of the Option exercise price shall be valued at the Fair
Market Value of the Common Stock on the day preceding the date of the exercise
of the Option.

         (c) Continuation of Employment. Each Incentive Option shall be granted
to an Employee only when he is an employee of the Company or a Related Entity
and may only be exercised while such optionee is an employee of the Company or a
Related Entity or within three months after termination of employment with the
Company or related Entity.

         (d) Exerciseability of Stock Option. Subject to Section 9, each Option
shall be exercisable in one or more installments as the Committee may determine
at the time of the grant. No Incentive Option by its terms shall be exercisable
after the expiration of ten years from the date of grant of such Option;
provided, however, that no Incentive Option granted to a person who, at the time
such Option is granted, owns stock of the Company, or any Related Entity,
possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of the Company, or any Related Entity, shall be exercisable after the
expiration of five years from the date such Option is granted.

         (e) Death. If any optionee's employment with the Company or a Related
Entity terminates due to the death of such optionee, the estate of such
optionee, or a Person who acquired the right to exercise such Option by bequest
or inheritance or by reason of the death of the optionee, shall have the right
to exercise such Option in accordance with its terms at any time and from time
to time within 180 days after the date of death unless a shorter or longer
period is expressly provided in such Option (but in no event prior to the 90th
day after the death of such optionee) or established by the Committee pursuant
to Section 9 (but in no event after the expiration date of such Option).

         (f) Disability. If the employment of any optionee terminates because of
his Disability, such optionee or his legal representative shall have the right
to exercise the Option in accordance with its terms at any time and from time to
time within 180 days after the date of such termination unless a shorter or
longer period is expressly provided in such Option (but in no event prior to the

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90th day after the date of such termination of employment) or established by the
Committee pursuant to Section 9 (but not after the expiration date of the
Option); provided, however, that in the case of an Incentive Option, the
optionee or his legal representative shall in any event be required to exercise
the Incentive Option within one year after termination of the optionee's
employment due to his Disability.

         (g) Termination for Good Cause. Unless an optionee's Option expressly
provides otherwise or the Committee determines otherwise, such optionee shall
immediately forfeit all rights under his Option as of the date of termination of
employment with the Company or Related Entity, except as to the shares of stock
already purchased thereunder, if the employment of such optionee with the
Company or a Related Entity is terminated by the Company or any Related Entity
for Good Cause. The determination that there exists Good Cause for termination
shall be made by the Committee (unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the
Company and the optionee), and any decision in respect thereof by the Committee
shall be final and binding on all parties in interest.

         (h) Other Termination of Employment. If the employment of an optionee
with the Company or a Related Entity terminates for any reason other than those
specified in Sections 6(e), 6(f) or 6(g) above, such optionee shall have the
right to exercise his Option in accordance with its terms, within one year after
the date of such termination, unless a shorter or longer period is expressly
provided in such Option or established by the Committee pursuant to Section 9
(but not after the expiration date of the Option); provided, that no Incentive
Option shall be exercisable more than three months after such termination.

         (i) Maximum Exercise. The aggregate Fair Market Value of stock
(determined on the day preceding the Option's date of grant) with respect to
which Incentive Options are exercisable for the first time by an optionee during
any calendar year under all plans of the Company and any Related Entity shall
not exceed $100,000.

7.       Stock Option Grants to Eligible Non-Employees.

         (a) Subject to the express provisions of this Plan, the Committee shall
have the authority to grant Non-Qualified Options to Eligible Non-Employees. The
terms and conditions of the Options granted under this Section 7 shall be
determined from time to time by the Committee; provided, however, that the
Options granted under this Section 7 shall be subject to all terms and
provisions of the Plan (other than Sections 6 and 8), including the following:

                  (i) Option Exercise Price. Subject to Section 4, the Committee
         shall establish the Option exercise price at the time any Non-Qualified
         Option is granted at such amount as the Committee shall determine,
         provided however, that the exercise price shall not be less than 85% of
         the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the day preceding
         the Option's date of grant. The Option exercise price shall be subject
         to adjustment in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 of the
         Plan.

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                  (ii) Payment. The price per share of Common Stock with respect
         to each Option exercise shall be payable at the time of such exercise.
         Such price shall be payable in cash or by any other means acceptable to
         the Committee, including delivery to the Company of shares of Common
         Stock owned by the optionee pursuant to a procedure created pursuant to
         Section 5(d) of the Plan. Shares delivered to the Company in payment of
         the Option exercise price shall be valued at the Fair Market Value of
         the Common Stock on the day preceding the date of the exercise of the
         Option.

                  (iii) Exerciseability of Stock Option. Subject to Section 9,
         each Option shall be exercisable in one or more installments as the
         Committee may determine at the time of the grant. No Option shall be
         exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date of grant of
         the Option, unless otherwise expressly provided in such Option.

                  (iv) Death. If the retention by the Company or any Related
         Entity of the services of any Eligible Non-Employee terminates because
         of his death, the estate of such optionee, or a Person who acquired the
         right to exercise such Option by bequest or inheritance or by reason of
         the death of the optionee, shall have the right to exercise such Option
         in accordance with its terms, at any time and from time to time within
         180 days after the date of death unless a shorter or longer period is
         expressly provided in such Option (but in no event prior to the 90th
         day after the death of such optionee) or established by the Committee
         pursuant to Section 9 (but in no event after the expiration date of
         such Option).

                  (v) Disability. If the retention by the Company or any Related
         Entity of the services of any Eligible Non-Employee terminates because
         of his Disability, such optionee or his legal representative shall have
         the right to exercise the Option in accordance with its terms at any
         time and from time to time within 180 days after the date of the
         optionee's termination unless a shorter or longer period is expressly
         provided in such Option (but in no event prior to the 90th day after
         the date of such termination of employment) or established by the
         Committee pursuant to Section 9 (but not after the expiration of the
         Option).

                  (vi) Termination for Good Cause. If the retention by the
         Company or any Related Entity of the services of any Eligible
         Non-Employee is terminated (i) for Good Cause or (ii) as a result of
         removal of the optionee from office as a director of the Company or of
         any Related Entity for cause by action of the stockholders of the
         Company or such Related Entity in accordance with the by-laws of the
         Company or such Related Entity, as applicable, and the corporate law of
         the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company or such Related
         Entity, then such optionee shall immediately forfeit his rights under
         his Option except as to the shares of stock already purchased. The
         determination that there exists Good Cause for termination shall be
         made by the Committee (unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the
         Company and the optionee) and any decision in respect thereof by the
         Committee shall be final and binding on all parties in interest.

                  (vii) Other Termination of Relationship. If the retention by
         the Company or any Related Entity of the services of any Eligible
         Non-Employee terminates for any reason other

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         than those specified in subsections 7(a)(iv), (a)(v) or (a)(vi) above,
         such optionee shall have the right to exercise his or its Option in
         accordance with its terms within one year after the date of such
         termination, unless a shorter or longer period is expressly provided in
         such Option or established by the Committee pursuant to Section 9 (but
         not after the expiration date of the Option).

         (b) An Eligible Non-Employee that is a non-employee director of the
Company may elect to receive Options in lieu of all or a portion of such
director's annual cash retainer fee, if any, for services as a director of the
Company. Notwithstanding subsection 7(a)(ii), the following shall apply if a
non-employee director elects to receive all or a portion of his/her annual cash
retainer in Options:

                  (i) Method of Election. Except as otherwise specified by the
         Committee, a non-employee director's election shall be made in
         accordance with the following provisions. Unless the Committee provides
         otherwise, the election may be made only by written notice delivered to
         the Committee prior to the first day of the calendar year in which the
         cash payment would otherwise be made. The election shall specify the
         amount of the annual cash retainer that is to be paid in the form of
         Options and shall be irrevocable except for payments otherwise payable
         in the next calendar year after the date of a written notice of
         revocation.

                  (ii) Terms of Options. The date of grant of an Option granted
         pursuant to this Section 7(b) shall be the later of (1) the date all
         corporate action necessary to effect the grant has been completed or
         (2) the date on which the portion of the annual cash retainer fee that
         the non-employee director has elected not to receive would otherwise
         have been paid. The number of shares subject to that Option shall be
         determined by dividing the foregone amount of the annual cash retainer
         fee otherwise due and payable on the date of grant by the value of an
         Option for one share of Common Stock on the day preceding the date of
         grant having the terms set forth herein, which value shall be
         calculated pursuant to a Black-Scholes Model or similar valuation
         method selected by the Committee. The exercise price with respect to a
         share of Common Stock subject to that Option shall be the Fair Market
         Value of a share of Common Stock on the day preceding the Option's date
         of grant.

8.       Awards.

         Subject to the express provisions of this Plan, the Committee shall
have the authority to grant Awards of shares of Common Stock or other
equity-based awards to Employees or Eligible Non-Employees. The terms and
conditions of the Awards granted under this Section 8 shall be determined from
time to time by the Committee and set forth in an agreement evidencing such
Award; provided, however, that the Awards granted under this Section 8 shall be
subject to all terms and provisions of the Plan (other than Sections 6 and 7),
including the following:

                  (a) Price. Subject to Section 4, the Committee shall establish
the price or value of the shares of Common Stock, or the value of units, subject
to an Award.

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                  (b) Payment. The Committee shall determine the amount and form
         of any payment (if applicable) for Common Stock received pursuant to an
         Award, provided, that, in the absence of such a determination, an
         award-holder shall not be required to make any payment for Common Stock
         received pursuant to an Award, except to the extent otherwise required
         by law.

                  (c) Forfeiture Restrictions. An Award or shares of Common
         Stock that may be the subject of an Award may be subject to
         restrictions (the "Forfeiture Restrictions") such that an award-holder
         will have an obligation to forfeit or surrender all or part of the
         Award or any shares received under an Award under the Forfeiture
         Restrictions. The Forfeiture Restrictions shall be determined by the
         Committee in its sole discretion, and the Committee may provide that
         the Forfeiture Restrictions shall lapse upon (i) the attainment of one
         or more performance goals or targets established by the Committee,
         which are based on (A) the price of a share of Common Stock, (B) the
         Company's earnings per share, (C) the Company's market share, (D) the
         market share of a business unit of the Company designated by the
         Committee, (E) the Company's sales, (F) the sales of a business unit of
         the Company designated by the Committee, (G) the net income (before or
         after taxes) of the Company or a business unit of the Company
         designated by the Committee, (H) the cash flow return on investment of
         the Company or any business unit of the Company designated by the
         Committee, (I) the earnings before or after interest, taxes,
         depreciation, and/or amortization of the Company or any business unit
         of the Company designated by the Committee, (J) the economic value
         added, or (K) the return on stockholders' equity achieved by the
         Company; (ii) the award-holder's continued employment or service with
         the Company for a specified period of time; (iii) the occurrence of any
         event or the satisfaction of any other condition specified by the
         Committee in its sole discretion; or (iv) a combination of any of the
         foregoing. Each Award may, in the discretion of the Committee, have
         different Forfeiture Restrictions.

                  (d) Term. The term of any Award shall not exceed ten years
         from the date of grant of the Award.

9.       Change of Control.

         Except as otherwise expressly provided in a particular Option or Award,
if (i) a Change of Control shall occur or (ii) the Company shall enter into an
agreement providing for a Change of Control, then the Committee may declare any
or all Options or Awards outstanding under the Plan to be exercisable in full at
such time or times as the Committee shall determine and the Company may purchase
any or all of such Options or Awards for an amount of cash equal to the amount
that could have been attained upon the exercise of such Options or Awards or the
realization of the optionee's or award-holder's rights had such Option or Award
been currently exercisable. Each Option and Award accelerated by the Committee
pursuant to the preceding sentence shall terminate, notwithstanding any express
provision thereof or any other provision of the Plan, on such date (not

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<PAGE>   11
later than the stated exercise date) as the Committee shall determine.

10.      Adjustment of Shares.

         Except as otherwise contemplated in Section 9, and unless otherwise
expressly provided in a particular Option or Award, in the event that, by reason
of any merger, consolidation, combination, liquidation, reorganization,
recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off,
combination of shares, exchange of shares or other like change in capital
structure of the Company (collectively, a "Reorganization"), the Common Stock is
substituted, combined, or changed into any cash, property, or other securities,
or the shares of Common Stock are changed into a greater or lesser number of
shares of Common Stock, the number and/or kind of shares and/or interests
subject to an Option or Award and the per share price or value thereof shall be
appropriately adjusted by the Committee to give appropriate effect to such
Reorganization. Any fractional shares or interests resulting from such
adjustment shall be eliminated. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) each such
adjustment with respect to an Incentive Option shall comply with the rules of
Section 424(a) of the Code, and (ii) in no event shall any adjustment be made
that would render any Incentive Option granted hereunder other than an
"incentive stock option" for purposes of Section 422 of the Code. The maximum
aggregate number of shares of Common Stock in respect of which Options or Awards
may be granted under this Plan as provided for in Section 3, and the maximum
number that may be granted to any one individual in a calendar year pursuant to
Section 21, shall be subject to adjustment as contemplated above.

         Except as otherwise contemplated in Section 9, and unless otherwise
expressly provided in a particular Option or Award, in the event that the
Company is not the surviving entity of a Reorganization and, following such
Reorganization and, in connection with such Reorganization, any optionee or
award-holder will hold Options or Awards issued pursuant to this Plan which have
not been exercised, canceled, forfeited, or terminated in connection therewith,
the Company shall cause such Options or Awards to be assumed (or canceled and
replacement options or awards issued) by the surviving entity or a Related
Entity with such changes in the number and/or kind of shares and/or interests
subject to an Option and Award and the per share price or the value thereof as
the Committee determines is necessary to give appropriate effect to such
Reorganization. In the event of any perceived conflict between the provisions of
Section 9 and this Section 10, the Committee's determination under Section 9
shall control.

11.      Assignment or Transfer.

         (a) Transfer of Incentive Options. Incentive Options are not
transferable by an optionee other than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution.

         (b) Transfer of Non-Qualified Options or Awards.

                  (i) Permitted Transferees. The Committee may, in its
         discretion, permit an optionee or award-holder to transfer all or any
         portion of a Non-Qualified Option or Award,

                                       11
<PAGE>   12
         or authorize all or a portion of any Non-Qualified Option or Award to
         be granted to an optionee or award-holder to be on terms that permit
         transfer by such optionee or award-holder, to (A) the spouse, former
         spouse, children, stepchildren, grandchildren, parents, stepparents,
         grandparents, siblings, nieces, nephews, mother-in-law, father-in-law,
         sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law, or sisters-in-law of
         the optionee or award-holder, including adoptive relationships, or any
         other person sharing the optionee's or award-holder's household (other
         than a tenant or employee) (collectively, "Immediate Family Members"),
         (B) a trust or trusts in which such Immediate Family Members have more
         than fifty percent of the beneficial interest, (C) a foundation in
         which such Immediate Family Members (or the optionee or award-holder)
         control the management of assets, or (D) any other entity in which such
         Immediate Family Members (or the optionee or award-holder) own more
         than fifty percent of the voting interests (collectively, "Permitted
         Transferees"); provided that (x) there may be no consideration for any
         such transfer, (y) subsequent transfers of Non-Qualified Options or
         Awards transferred as provided above shall be prohibited except
         subsequent transfers back to the grantee of the Option or Award and
         transfers to other Permitted Transferees of the grantee of the Option
         or Award.

                  (ii) Domestic Relations Orders. In the Committee's sole
         discretion, Non-Qualified Options or Awards may be transferred pursuant
         to domestic relations orders entered or approved by a court of
         competent jurisdiction upon delivery to the Company of written notice
         of such transfer and a certified copy of such order.

                  (iii) Other Transfers and Exercise Rights. Except as expressly
         permitted by Sections 11(b)(i) and 11(b)(ii), Non-Qualified Options
         requiring exercise, or any Awards subject to Forfeiture Restrictions,
         shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and
         distribution. In the event that a legal representative has been
         appointed in connection with the Disability of an optionee, the
         optionee's Options may be exercised by the legal representative.

                  (iv) Effect of Transfer. Following the transfer of any
         Non-Qualified Option as contemplated by Sections 11(b)(i), 11(b)(ii)
         and 11(b)(iii), (A) such Non-Qualified Option or Award shall continue
         to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable
         immediately prior to transfer, provided that the term "optionee" shall
         be deemed to refer to the Permitted Transferee, the recipient under a
         domestic relations order, or the estate or heirs of a deceased
         optionee, as applicable, to the extent appropriate to enable the
         optionee to exercise the transferred Non-Qualified Option in accordance
         with the terms of this Plan and applicable law, (B) such Award shall
         continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were
         applicable immediately prior to transfer, provided that the term
         "award-holder" shall be deemed to refer to the Permitted Transferee,
         the recipient under a domestic relations order, or the estate or heirs
         of a deceased award-holder, as applicable and to the extent
         appropriate, (C) the provisions of Sections 7(a)(iv) through (vii)
         hereof shall continue to be applied with respect to the original
         optionee and, following the occurrence of any such events described
         therein the Non-Qualified Options shall be exercisable by the Permitted

                                       12
<PAGE>   13
         Transferee, the recipient under a domestic relations order, or the
         estate or heirs of a deceased Holder, as applicable, only to the extent
         and for the periods specified in Sections 7(a)(iv) through (vii), and
         (D) in the discretion of the Committee, all voting control in the
         Common Stock transferred pursuant to the exercise of Non-Qualified
         Options or acquired pursuant to an Award shall be retained in the
         grantee of the Option or Award.

         (c) Procedures and Restrictions. Any optionee or award-holder desiring
to transfer an Option or Award as permitted under Section 11(a) or 11(b) shall
make application therefor in the manner and time specified by the Committee and
shall comply with such other requirements as the Committee may require to assure
compliance with all applicable securities laws. The Committee shall not give
permission for such a transfer if (i) it would give rise to short-swing
liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, or (ii) it may not be made in
compliance with all applicable federal, state and foreign securities laws.

12.      Compliance with Securities Laws.

         The Company shall not in any event be obligated to file any
registration statement under the Securities Act or any applicable state
securities law to permit exercise of any option or to issue any Common Stock in
violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law. Each
optionee or award-holder (or, in the event of his death or, in the event a legal
representative has been appointed in connection with his Disability, the Person
exercising the Option or Award) shall, as a condition to his right to exercise
any Option, deliver to the Company an agreement or certificate containing such
representations, warranties and covenants as the Company may deem necessary or
appropriate to ensure that the issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant to
such exercise is not required to be registered under the Securities Act or any
applicable state securities law.

         Certificates for shares of Common Stock, when issued pursuant to the
Plan, may have substantially the following legend, or statements of other
applicable restrictions, endorsed thereon, and may not be immediately
transferable:

         THE SHARES OF STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN
         REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
         LAWS. THE SHARES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, PLEDGED,
         TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNTIL THE HOLDER HEREOF PROVIDES
         EVIDENCE SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER (WHICH, IN THE DISCRETION OF THE
         ISSUER, MAY INCLUDE AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER)
         THAT SUCH OFFER, SALE, PLEDGE, TRANSFER OR OTHER DISPOSITION WILL NOT
         VIOLATE APPLICABLE FEDERAL OR STATE LAWS.

         This legend shall not be required for shares of Common Stock issued
pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in
accordance with applicable state securities laws.

                                       13
<PAGE>   14
13.      Withholding Taxes.

         By acceptance of the Option or Award, the optionee or award-holder will
be deemed to (i) agree to reimburse the Company or Related Entity by which the
optionee or award-holder is employed for any federal, state, or local taxes
required by any government to be withheld or otherwise deducted by such
corporation in connection with such Option or Award; (ii) authorize the Company
or any Related Entity by which the optionee or award-holder is employed to
withhold from any cash compensation paid to the optionee or in the optionee's
behalf, or to the award-holder or on the award-holder's behalf, an amount
sufficient to discharge any federal, state, and local taxes imposed on the
Company, or the Related Entity by which the optionee or award-holder is
employed, and which otherwise has not been reimbursed by the optionee or
award-holder, in connection with the Option or Award; and (iii) agree that the
Company may, in its discretion, hold the stock certificate to which the optionee
or award-holder is entitled in connection with the Option or Award as security
for the payment of the aforementioned withholding tax liability, until cash
sufficient to pay that liability has been accumulated, and may, in its
discretion, effect such withholding by retaining shares issuable in connection
with the Option or Award having a Fair Market Value which is equal to the amount
to be withheld.

14.      Costs and Expenses.

         The costs and expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the
Company and shall not be charged against any Option or Award nor to any
individual receiving an Option or Award.

15.      Funding of Plan.

         The Plan shall be unfunded. The Company shall not be required to make
any segregation of assets to ensure the payment of any Option or Award under the
Plan.

16.      Other Incentive Plans.

         The adoption of the Plan does not preclude the adoption by appropriate
means of any other plan for employees or other individuals who provide services
to the Company or Related Entity.

17.      Effect on Employment.

         Nothing contained in the Plan or any agreement related hereto or
referred to herein shall affect, or be construed as affecting, the terms of
employment of any Employee except to the extent specifically provided herein or
therein. Nothing contained in the Plan or any agreement related hereto or
referred to herein shall impose, or be construed as imposing, an obligation on
(i) the

                                       14
<PAGE>   15
Company or any Related Entity to continue the employment of any Employee, and
(ii) any Employee to remain in the employ of the Company or any Related Entity.

18.      Definitions.

         In addition to the terms specifically defined elsewhere in the Plan, as
used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the respective meanings
indicated below unless another definition is agreed to in writing by the Company
and the optionee in an option grant agreement with respect to such term or a
similar term:

         (a) "Affiliate" shall mean, as to any Person, a Person that directly,
or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by,
or is under common control with, such Person.

         (b)  "Award" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.

         (c) "Board of Directors" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2
hereof.

         (d) "Change of Control" shall mean the first to occur of the following
events: (i) any sale, lease, exchange, or other transfer (in one transaction or
series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company to any Person or group of related Persons for purposes of Section 13(d)
of the Exchange Act, (ii) a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company
shall consist of Persons who are not Continuing Directors; (iii) the acquisition
after the date of acceptance of this Plan by any Person or Group of the power,
directly or indirectly, to vote or direct the voting of securities having more
than 50% of the ordinary voting power for the election of directors of the
Company, or (iv) the approval by the stockholders of the Company of a merger or
consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or
consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company
outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by
remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the
surviving entity or such surviving entity's parent) at least fifty percent (50%)
of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or
such surviving entity or such surviving entity's parent outstanding immediately
after such merger or consolidation.

         (e)  "Code" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1 hereof.

         (f)  "Committee" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2 hereof.

         (g) "Common Stock" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3
hereof.

         (h)  "Company" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1 hereof.

         (i) "Continuing Director" shall mean, as of the date of determination,
any Person who (i) was a member of the Board of Directors of the Company on the
date of adoption of this Plan or (ii) was nominated for election or elected to
the Board of Directors of the Company with the affirmative

                                       15
<PAGE>   16
vote of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of
Directors at the time of such nomination or election.

         (j) "Disability" shall mean permanent disability as defined under
Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

         (k) "Eligible Non-Employee" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4 hereof.

         (l) "Employee" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4 hereof.

         (m) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

         (n) "Fair Market Value", shall, as it relates to the Common Stock,
mean, at the option of the Committee, the average of the high and low prices or
the closing price of such Common Stock as reported on the principal national
securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are then listed or the
NASDAQ National Market, as applicable, on the date specified herein for such a
determination, or if there were no sales on such date, on the next succeeding
day or immediately preceding day on which there were sales, or if such Common
Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange or the NASDAQ National
Market, the last reported bid price in the over-the-counter market, or if such
shares are not traded in the over-the-counter market, the per share cash price
for which all of the outstanding Common Stock could be sold to a willing
purchaser in an arms length transaction (without regard to minority discount,
absence of liquidity, or transfer restrictions imposed by any applicable law or
agreement) at the date of the event giving rise to a need for a determination.
Except as may be otherwise expressly provided in a particular Option or Award,
Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Committee.

         (o) "Good Cause", with respect to any Employee, shall mean (unless
another definition is agreed to in writing by the Company and the optionee)
termination by action of the Board of Directors that the Committee determines is
because of: (A) the optionee's or award-holder's conviction of, or plea of nolo
contendere to, a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; (B) the optionee's
or award-holder's personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful misconduct, willful
violation of any law, rule, or regulation (other than minor traffic violations
or similar offenses) or breach of fiduciary duty which involves personal profit;
(C) the optionee's or award-holder's commission of material mismanagement in the
conduct of his duties as assigned to him by the Board of Directors or the
optionee's supervising officer or officers of the Company or any Related Entity;
(D) the optionee's or award-holder's willful failure to execute or comply with
the policies of the Company or any Related Entity or his stated duties as
established by the Board of Directors or the optionee's or award-holder's
supervising officer or officers of the Company or any Related Entity, or the
optionee's or award-holder's intentional failure to perform the optionee's or
award-holder's stated duties; or (E) substance abuse or addiction on the part of
the optionee or award-holder. "Good Cause", with respect to any Eligible
Non-Employee, shall mean (unless another definition is agreed to in writing by
the Company and the optionee or award-holder) termination by action of the Board
of Directors because of: (A) the optionee's or award-holder's conviction of, or
plea of nolo

                                       16
<PAGE>   17
contendere to, a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; (B) the optionee's
or award-holder's personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful misconduct, willful
violation of any law, rule, or regulation (other than minor traffic violations
or similar offenses) or breach of fiduciary duty which involves personal profit;
(C) the optionee's or award-holder's commission of material mismanagement in
providing services to the Company or any Related Entity; (D) the optionee's or
award-holder's willful failure to comply with the policies of the Company in
providing services to the Company or any Related Entity, or the optionee's or
award-holder's intentional failure to perform the services for which the
optionee or award-holder has been engaged; (E) substance abuse or addiction on
the part of the optionee or award-holder; or (F) the optionee's or
award-holder's willfully making any material misrepresentation or willfully
omitting to disclose any material fact to the board of directors of the Company
or any Related Entity with respect to the business of the Company or any Related
Entity.

         (p) "Holding Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5
hereof.

         (q) "Incentive Options" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6
hereof.

         (r) The terms "include," "included" or "including" when used herein
shall mean "including, but not limited to."

         (s) "Non-Qualified Options" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6 hereof.

         (t)  "Options" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1 hereof.

         (u)  "Person" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4 hereof.

         (v)  "Plan" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1 hereof.

         (w) "Related Entity or Entities" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 1 hereof.

         (x) "Reorganization" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10
hereof.

         (y) "Rule 16b-3" shall mean Rule 16b-3, as amended, or other applicable
rules under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.

         (z) "Section 162(m)" means Section 162(m) of the Code and the Treasury
regulations adopted from time to time thereunder, or any successor law or rule
as it may be amended from time to time.

         (aa) "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933.

         (bb) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other
Person of which such first Person owns or has the power to vote, directly or
indirectly, securities representing a majority

                                       17
<PAGE>   18
of the votes ordinarily entitled to be cast for the election of directors or
other governing Persons.

19.      Amendment of Plan.

         The Board of Directors shall have the right to amend, modify, suspend
or terminate the Plan at any time; provided, that no amendment shall be made
which shall increase the total number of shares of the Common Stock which may be
issued and sold pursuant to Options or Awards granted under the Plan or to
change the class of individuals eligible to receive Options or Awards under the
Plan unless such amendment is made by or with the approval of the stockholders
of the Company. The Board of Directors shall have the right to amend the Plan,
the Options, and Awards outstanding thereunder, without the consent or joinder
of any optionee, any award-holder or other Person, in such manner as may be
determined necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors in order to cause
the Plan and the Options and Awards outstanding thereunder (as applicable) (i)
to qualify as "incentive stock options" within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Code, (ii) to comply with Rule 16b-3 (or any successor rule) under the Exchange
Act (or any successor law) and the regulations (including any temporary
regulations) promulgated thereunder, or (iii) to comply with Section 162(m).
Except as provided above, no amendment, modification, suspension or termination
of the Plan shall alter or impair any Options previously granted under the Plan
without the consent of the holder thereof.

20.      Effective Date.

         The Plan shall become effective on the date on which it is approved by
the Board of Directors, provided the Plan is approved by the stockholders of the
Company within twelve months thereafter. Notwithstanding any provision in the
Plan or in any agreement evidencing an Option or Award, no Option shall be
exercisable or vest and no Award shall be granted prior to such stockholder
approval.

21.      Individual Limitations on Options and Awards.

         No person may be granted during any one year period, Options and Awards
with respect to more than 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock. If an Option or
Award is canceled or forfeited, the canceled Option or Award shall continue to
be counted against the maximum number of shares of Common Stock for which
Options or Awards may be granted to such Person under the Plan. If, after the
grant, the exercise price of an Option is reduced, the transaction shall be
treated as a cancellation of the Option and the grant of a new Option. In such
case, both the Option that is deemed to be canceled and the Option that is
deemed to be granted reduce the maximum number of shares for which Options may
be granted to such Person under the Plan pursuant to Section 21.

                                       18<PAGE>   1
                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.31.3

                               ADVISORY AGREEMENT

         THIS ADVISORY AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into effective as
of May 1, 2001, by and between Aperian, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and Wayne Irwin ("Advisor" or "Mr. Irwin");

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, the Company wishes to continue to benefit from the advice,
experience and knowledge of Mr. Irwin; and

         WHEREAS, Advisor is willing to advise the Company, upon the terms and
conditions contained herein;

         NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the compensation to be paid
Mr. Irwin under this Agreement and the mutual promises, covenants, and
undertakings contained herein, the Company and Advisor agree as follows:

         1. Independent Contractor: There shall be created pursuant to this
Agreement an independent contractor relationship between the Company and Advisor
whereby Mr. Irwin shall supply advisory services to the Company in accordance
with and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.

         2. Term: The term of this Agreement shall be for a six-month period
ending October 31, 2001, At the option of the Company, the term of this
Agreement may be extended on a month to month basis.

         3. Services: During the term of this Agreement, and subject to his
reasonable availability, Mr. Irwin shall provide such advisory services as the
Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") or the Chief Executive Officer
of the Company (the "CEO") may reasonably request or that Mr. Irwin believes
might be valuable to the Company, including assisting the Board and the CEO in
such strategic and financial matters, acquisition strategy or other projects as
the Board or the CEO deems appropriate. The method of performance, hours
utilized and other details of Advisor's services hereunder shall be within Mr.
Irwin's sole control.

         4.       Compensation and Expense Reimbursement:

                  A. General Services Fee: As compensation for his services
during the term of this Agreement, Mr. Irwin shall receive a monthly fee,
payable on the 15th of each month, beginning May 15, 2001, in the amount of
$20,834.

                  B. Expenses: The Company shall promptly reimburse Advisor for
all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by him in performance of his
services hereunder, provided that such expenses are submitted to the Company
(with proper supporting documentation) in accordance with the Company's policy
then in effect for employee expense reports.
<PAGE>   2
         5. Confidential Information: Advisor and the Company acknowledge that
the Company's business is highly competitive and that the Company may, from time
to time, provide Advisor with access to confidential information. Advisor agrees
that he will not make any unauthorized disclosure of confidential business
information obtained from the Company ("Confidential Information"), or make any
unauthorized use thereof. However, Advisor shall be permitted to disclose
Confidential Information as is required by law, including deposition or trial
testimony pursuant to subpoena, provided that if he is requested or required (by
oral question, interrogatories, request for information or documents, subpoena,
civil investigative demand or similar process) to disclose any Confidential
Information, if reasonably possible under the circumstances as determined in
good faith, he will promptly notify the other party of such request or
requirement so that the other party may seek an appropriate protective order or
waive compliance with the provisions of this Agreement.

         In the absence of a protective order or the receipt of a waiver
hereunder, or in the good faith determination of Advisor that time is of the
essence, Advisor shall obtain legal counsel, and if Advisor and/or his counsel
in good faith believe that Advisor is compelled to disclose the Confidential
Information or be exposed to liability for contempt or suffer other censure or
penalty, Advisor may disclose only such Confidential Information to the party
compelling disclosure as is required by law, as determined by Advisor on advice
of counsel. Advisor further agrees that he will cooperate with the Company in
its efforts to obtain a protective order or other reliable assurance that
confidential treatment will be accorded the Confidential Information. All
reasonable legal fees, costs and expenses incurred by Mr. Irwin in obtaining
legal representation pursuant to his obligations under this paragraph shall be
paid by the Company.

         The obligations of the parties set forth in this paragraph 5 shall
apply during the term of this Agreement and shall survive for one year following
the termination of this Agreement.

         6. Capacity and Benefits: At all times while serving under this
Agreement, Advisor shall be an independent contractor and not a common-law
employee. Therefore, except to the extent provided in any other agreement
between Advisor and the Company, Advisor shall not, during the term of this
Agreement, be entitled to participate in the Company's benefit plans and
programs for its employees. Further, Advisor will in no way be considered to be
an agent, employee, or servant of the Company. Advisor shall have no authority
to bind the Company without receiving specific written authority to do so. It is
not the purpose or intention of this Agreement or the parties to create, and the
same shall not be construed as creating, any partnership, partnership relation,
joint venture, agency, or employment relationship.

         7.       Termination:

                  A. Disability: If Advisor becomes unable to provide advisory
services hereunder during the term of this Agreement by reason of illness or
incapacity, then this Agreement shall terminate, and Advisor shall be entitled
to receive an amount equal to $125,000 minus the fees previously paid under
paragraph 4A hereof.

                  B. Death: If Advisor dies during the term of this Agreement,
then this Agreement shall terminate, and Advisor shall be entitled to receive an
amount equal to $125,000 minus the fees previously paid under paragraph 4A
hereof.

                                       2
<PAGE>   3
                  C. Expiration of the Term: This Agreement shall terminate
automatically and without notice upon the expiration of the term provided in
paragraph 2 hereof.

                  D. Effect of Termination: Upon termination of this Agreement,
all of the parties' obligations, other than the confidentiality obligations
under paragraph 5 hereof and the Company's obligation to pay any unpaid fees or
unreimbursed expenses under this Agreement, shall terminate. The confidentiality
obligations under paragraph 5 hereof, shall survive termination of this
Agreement as set forth in such paragraph and Exhibit.

         8. Notices: For purposes of this Agreement, notice, demands and all
other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by United States
certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, addressed as follows:

         If to Advisor:
                                            Mr. Wayne Irwin
                                            301 Oldenwood Court
                                            Colleyville, Texas 76034

         If to the Company:
                                            Mr. Peter Lorenzen
                                            General Counsel
                                            Aperian, Inc.
                                            1800 Valley View Lane
                                            Suite 400
                                            Dallas, Texas  75234

or to such other address as either party may furnish to the other in writing in
accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective
only upon receipt.

         9. Successor Obligations and Assignment: The rights and obligations of
the Company under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon its successors and assigns. Advisor may assign any rights accruing to him
under this Agreement to any affiliated entity with the consent of the Company,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

                  10. Amendment: This Agreement may not be modified except by an
agreement in writing executed by both the Company and Advisor.

                  11. Governing Laws: This Agreement shall be subject to and
governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to principles
of conflicts of law.

                  12. Validity: In the event that any portion or provision of
this Agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the other portions or
provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby.

                                       3
<PAGE>   4
                  13. Counterparts: This Agreement may be executed in one or
more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                  14. Effect of Agreement: The terms of this Agreement shall
supersede any obligations and rights of the Company and Advisor respecting
advisory services. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as permitting
either party hereto to directly or indirectly benefit from any confidential
business information obtained from the other party during the period that Mr.
Irwin was an employee, officer or director of the Company.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement
on the 4th day of May , 2001, to be effective as of May 1, 2001.

                                             APERIAN, INC.

                                             By:  /s/ Peter E. Lorenzen
                                                  Peter E. Lorenzen
                                                  Vice President and Secretary

                                                  /s/ Wayne Irwin
                                                  Wayne Irwin

                                       4

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