Women in Technology: Building a Support System

The following is a Guest Post by Aly Chiman @ Alychidesigns

We need more women in technology, but it isn't easily done without help. Here is a list of organizations in Atlanta, Georgia US that proactively support women in technology.

A Many successful people accredit some of their accomplishments to learning from others who've walked the path before them. Someone to speak for their strengths and offer support. For many, this is a mentor, supervisor, or experienced friend who can challenge them daily. Where can one find and build such a relationship? Check out this list of organizations that exist to encourage and support the next generation of women in tech.

Women in Technology (WIT)

For aspiring leaders, WIT offers access to some of Atlanta's most successful leaders in technology through its networking events. Their monthly forums offer young professionals an opportunity to hear and learn from forerunners in the industry. WIT's Girls Get IT program is designed to expose girls in middle and high school to careers in technology, and encourage them to pursue STEM majors. WIT on Campus then encourages college students in STEM majors to stay their course, post-education

Launchpad2X

Founded by Bernie Dixon, the Chairman of the Atlanta Technology Angels, Launchpad2X is a program to foster the success of female entrepreneurs and business leaders. The program is set up to expose women to some of the challenges and opportunities they will come across in running a business. Participants in the program are given the chance to interact with investors, successful entrepreneurs, and professional service companies to build a network and grow their chances of success. Most importantly, the women receive individual coaching not only on starting a business, but also on becoming a strong and successful CEO.

Startup Chicks

Startup Chicks exists to inspire and encourage female entrepreneurs of varying levels to be confident in building their businesses. Members are exposed to invaluable mentoring relationships and potential investors, while meeting on a regular basis in small groups to support and learn from each other. Quarterly networking events allow members to introduce their companies to some of Atlanta's top technology and business leaders. Startup Chicks also offers an intensive accelerator program known as Hatch for promising entrepreneurs to learn the basics of pitching and financing.

Women Who Code

Women who are interested in developing the skills they need for advancing in a technology career will find a wealth of resources with Women Who Code. The organization holds socials and hack nights that are ideal for women looking to be part of a community that codes. They also offer technical study groups and workshops on career development in the tech industry. Meetings are a chance to expand your network of professional coders and learn from each other.

Rails Girls Atlanta

Rails Girls creates an intentional and inclusive community for women who code. They offer a safe and fun environment for women of varying skill levels to pursue their interests in programming. With a diverse set of coaches and speakers, Rails Girls meetings offers participants a chance to expand their skill sets, professional networks and community of coders.

Your journey in technology doesn't have to be a lonely one. Venture out and get connected with individuals and organizations to help you thrive in the field. As you have read, there are communities out there rooting for you. Get plugged in, because when you do, you will find that you are not alone after all.

Meet Christy Renier, Consultant in Change Management

Christy Renier is a change management and communications professional. In March 2016, she left the corporate world to go to work as a change management consultant. In January of this year, she launched Renier Consulting, LLC which is her very own Change Management and Communications consulting business.

Christy is just putting the finishing touches on her new website, so keep an eye on www.renierconsulting.org. You can also learn more about her by visiting her LinkedIn page.

1. What made you decide to leave the corporate world?

There were many factors that went into my decision to leave the corporate world. When I was young, I dreamed of starting my own business some day. My dad was a business owner, so you can say it is in my blood. I also saw how hard he worked his whole life and knew my timing was critical. So, instead of going into business for myself, I went to work for a global Fortune 500 company, knowing that my dream would come true one day. Now, here we are nearly 17 years later, and I've been working with the same Fortune 500 company. Throughout the years I've gained a wide range of global business experience and honed my industry knowledge, so I was feeling confident that if I were on my own, I could deliver expert services with a professional experience for my clients.

Next, I had a fantastic support system:
- a business mentor who encouraged me,
- a family that supported me, and
- a strong professional network.

The time was right; the time was now...!

2. How did you come to focus on change management in your work?

For me, there really was no other choice. Change management is my passion because I care about people. And, at the heart of change management, it is all about people. Over the past 17 years, I've worked in a variety of the "softer sides" of IT which tend to fall under the change category: training, technical documentation, project management, resource management, organizational design, executive communications, and strategic planning.

So, when I combine my passion with my skills and experience, I invoke what I like to call the "trifecta for success." Passion(Skills + Experience) = Trifecta Success. So, choosing my focus was as simple as P(S+E).

3. What exactly does change management mean?

Change management, simply stated, is the act of managing the "people side" of an organizational change. An organizational change is when a company takes action to make an improvement in some way, such as reduce costs, improve revenues, solve problems, align work and strategy, or improve efficiency/effectiveness within the company. People can have a reaction as a result of this change, both internally and externally. Having a robust change management strategy and a rock star change manager on your project team will is improve the likelihood of success and the overall return on investment for the project.

4. Why does communication have such an important role in change management?

The majority of the communications roles I have had over the past 17 years were related to change management activities... and at the heart of every great change management strategy is a solid communications plan. Managing the human side of change is heavily based on communications. It is extremely important for leaders to be authentic and honest when communicating with people who will be impacted by any company changes. Employees should feel respected and well informed every step of the way.

Thanks, Christy!

Meet Areeb Yasir, CEO of compevo communications

Areeb Yasir is the CEO of compevo communications and has driven compevo's strategic growth since 2001 in the IT and hosting markets.

1. Why did you decide to start compevo communications?

I've always wanted to be an entrepreneur and anticipated this move from a very young age. I think I've always been interested in the business world. Going into the IT world was only natural because I've been obsessed with computing and technology since I was a child.

2. How has your business developed since you started the company in 2001?

Honestly I started small; we started by selling CD-R discs and offering tech support and basic consulting and web development to the local Vancouver, Canada area. Within a few years, we grew with clients around the world while offering a variety of IT services, hosting and software products under our many brands from multiple parts of the world, with a focus on Asia.

3. Why has cloud hosting become so popular?

Cloud hosting has become popular because of changes in society, namely where everything we do is connected and on-line.

It is only a natural response that services to support this new way of living from personal to business would drive exponential growth in a short period of time. However, with the Cloud, I may be biased but there are also many pitfalls in terms of security, reliability, and privacy that most firms and individuals have not understood or addressed.

4. What are the benefits to your international customers of having your servers based in Canada?

In Canada we do not have the Patriot act, yet we are still quite neutral in terms of routing to the whole world, so we bring a lot of benefits of being close to the US with slightly less government oversight and intervention. Canada has proven itself a politically and economically stable country throughout many world events and the financial crisis of 2008, so many firms see value in working with a Canadian company. With that said, many of our clients opt to host their data in China or Russia for enhanced privacy, so long as their operations are within the legal framework of their respective countries.

5. I noticed that your personal website offers quite a variety of content related to software, hosting, and more. How do you choose what to share on areebyasir.com?

Quite honestly it is a bit of a toss-up. If I have time to get on the blog and I'm in the middle of something or just completed a task, a lot of times I just blog and document what I did. I think it's also important to humanize yourself and stay grounded. At the end of the day whether we work for ourselves or work for someone else, all jobs have their pros and cons.

A lot of people say to me, "it must be great to be your own boss," and I'll chuckle and explain that in some, if not most ways, it is like having a large amount of bosses with high expectations and tight deadlines--not to say I don't find it all thrilling, but it's important at least for me to remember compevo is only here because of our customers and our dedication and innovation to cutting edge, reliable IT services.

Thanks, Areeb!

Software Developers Vs Software Consultants

The following is a guest post provided by Noat.

What is a Software Developer?

A software developer is essentially a software programmer that will work full-time for a company to design software systems for that company. They will design software based upon the needs of the company. The company decides what they need and then the developer will work to create the software for the company. A developer may work on various projects and have a team that helps them create the software. The developer may also work with a software consultant who helps the developer understand what is required for the business and then they decide on the best system for the company.

Jobs They Do

• A developer will program software for the needs of the company
• They may develop software prototypes to test how the software responds to users' needs
• Help users test the new software to get feedback before the system is implemented
• They install, configure, customize, and integrate the software into the computer systems of the company, but often work with others as they perform these jobs
• Work to maintain and fix software which has bugs or other problems once implemented
• Works on software upgrades to improve performance or to meet new needs of the business
• Provide documentation for employees so they know how to operate the new software system.

A software developer will work on a wide variety of software related jobs for the business depending upon what is needed for the company. Their job is always changing as the company grows. A good software developer has the ability to adapt and be flexible to changes in the business and be able to meet new demands placed upon them.

Software Consultant

The software consultant isn't a member of the business. They are a professional that is called in to help the company determine the types of software that the company needs. They may work with the software developer to help design the new software after an analysis of the business needs is completed. The consultant will work with a team to help the business design software that works for them.

Jobs They Do

• A software consultant helps a business determine their software needs
• They work with a project team in many cases to create the new software for the business
• They may make recommendations on software packages that are already developed that may benefit the business

A consultant may be part of a software consulting firm or they may work as a self-employed individual. A consultant usually has a lot of experience with software and computers already before they become a consultant. For example, the consultant may already be a computer programmer or another IT professional.

Summary

A software developer is a professional that designs and implements software for a business. They have extensive programming experience and will work to design software that a company needs. A software consultant helps a business decide what types of software that a company needs. They may work with a software developer or other professional to determine the best system for the business and then the software developer will work to implement that system for the business.

How to Find Virtual Assistants for IT Help

Have you ever thought about hiring a virtual assistant? Did you know that some virtual assistants can provide you with IT support? Primo Virtual Assistant LLC is a great example of a company that provides virtual administrative services for small to medium-sized business owners. The VA services offered by Primo Virtual Assistant include a variety of IT tasks, such as hardware consulting and troubleshooting. They work to find the best solutions for businesses to use their technology as efficiently as possible.

If you're just starting out or scaling up your small business, you may not be able to hire a full-time assistant, so VA services are a great way to only pay for the hours and services that you need. Primo Virtual Assistant has a particular focus on database management and data analysis. They can work with you to design databases to your specifications. Their data analysis services include designing different kinds of graphs and charts. You can also work with Primo Virtual Assistant for help with web design.

You may have noticed that a lot of VA services--especially tech-related ones--are based overseas, but Primo Virtual Assistant is based in the United States. It was founded by Martin Bartalsky, who holds an undergraduate degree in Computer Information Systems, as well as an MBA.

To learn more about the benefits of hiring a VA with IT experience, check out this recent article from the blog on the Primo Virtual Assistant site.

Introducing IT Craft, A Company Offering Web Solutions

IT Craft is a software developer and service provider with almost 15 years of experience. Learn more about IT Craft by visiting their about page. They offer a variety of support solutions for companies of different sizes. Services provided by IT Craft include server administration, web design based on WordPress and Magento engines, LAMP, web apps development, and development of apps for iOS and Android.

The company's perspective is customer-focused, with an emphasis on being able to design, implement, and support solutions based on the individual wishes and concepts of each unique customer. Their customers come from all over the world, with forty percent of clients in the United States and clients in Germany, Australia, the UK, and several European countries.

IT Craft has grown from a tiny company with just one developer back in 2001 to a company with over 130 employees at the end of 2014. They have a keen understanding of a variety of applications and work with customers to create solutions meeting the customers' needs.

I enjoyed reading the customer testimonials on their website, and IT Craft creates a clear plan early in the process with customers to let you know just what to expect and what they can do for you. I think IT Craft will definitely be a provider to watch in 2015 and beyond.

Meet Sheena, Founder of Mint Chocolate Solutions: Business and IT Services

Sheena, the founder of Mint Chocolate Solutions, helps take business ideas from inception to opening day. At Mint Chocolate Solutions, Sheena & company help build brands in a unique way by creating custom QR codes which link to your social media, blog, website, and more! They also develop mobile apps and take on other tech-related services to help businesses grow.

1. What inspired you to start Mint Chocolate Solutions, and how did you choose the name?

I had a supervisor ask me, "What would you do even if you didn't get paid?", and I retorted, "There is no profession I would do without getting paid! I will find a way to profit from it." I have had multiple businesses that did not fulfill me over the years. Weeks later, his question finally made sense! I love helping other businesses develop and grow. Most of my peers and friends have a lot of great ideas; however, they do not know how to start, or are afraid to make that leap. I've been in the business of startups several times over. Additionally, startup businesses often have no IT training or experience--so I consider myself their personal business and IT consultant; they appreciate having everything in one place.

Mint was my color for the whole year! I started adding mint to my wardrobe and even toward the renovation of my house! When searching for a name for this new consulting business, I actually consulted with my 9 year old daughter, who was aware of my new mint obsession. And she told me, "Mommy, you really like chocolate. Why don't you name your business, Mint Chocolate something..." I kissed her and told her she was a genius, and Mint Chocolate Solutions was born!

2. Why are custom QR codes so important to businesses?

In the business of branding, standing out from the rest is oh so important. When I saw the benefit of jazzing up your own logo with the benefit of connecting with your customers, I knew I had to spread the word to the public. All my clients absolutely love the uniqueness the QR xode adds to their repertoire.

3. What are some ways for people to get their QR codes out there more and see more clickthroughs?

Anywhere you would feel the need to put your logo will be a place to add your QR code. When people see a QR Code, they are tempted to scan it--even more so when it is different from any code they have seen. (The ugly black and white codes are the most common.)

4. Would you tell us a little more about your app creation services?

Customers are not just going mobile--they ARE mobile. Everyone and their mother--literally--has a smart phone and knows how to use it! If a user can simply click through to order items, view content and comment or purchase shoes, they are more likely to do business with you. We are competitively priced within the market and are always available to our clients.

5. In talking with people who own small businesses, what is your advice in terms of when it's time to consider outsourcing some tech needs to a company like yours--and why is this outsourcing a good investment?

Money is always a factor with small businesses; however, time is a bigger factor. When you feel as if there are not enough hours in the day, then it is time to outsource. When you are losing precious moments with your loved ones, it is time to outsource. There is an understanding that there is a sacrifice; however, don't lose sight of what is really important: it is easy to get caught up. There are many resources out there where you can receive the assistance you need without breaking the bank. Take one step at a time, and delegate like a good manager!

Thanks, Sheena!

Introducing Mac Dental Software from Datacon

I've written before that I'm always impressed with a product that fills a very specific need in the market. Datacon does just that: it's an innovative Mac dental software solution that can be tailored to meet the needs of a dental practice needs today and in the future. In fact, Datacon has been evolving over the course of 30 years now. The company started by providing hardware and software for dental practices, then shifted its focus (starting in 2010) onto software development and support.

Datacon is an all-in-one software system. It doesn't require you to buy other modules or additional software packages to add in later. From accounting and scheduling in the front office, to tooth charting and treatment planning in the back office, Datacon has all the features a dental practice needs in one software program. Datacon can integrate with just about any digital radiography or imaging product, and it can be customized to meet the needs of specialty practices, a one-doctor office, or a large, multiple-location clinic.

The founders of Datacon believe that no two practices are alike and that the practice owners know what's best for themselves, their staff, and their patients. Thus, they wanted to make software that is widely compatible because they don't want to dictate the use of any particular type of workstation, camera, sensor, or imaging software. Datacon is compatible with MS Windows and Macintosh workstations, and it runs on a Mac Mini server.

Introducing dmi Networking, Specialists in IT for Dental Practices

As someone who follows small businesses and entrepreneurs, I can appreciate the value of a company that is filling a specific niche. Based in California in the North Bay Area, dmi Networking is helping dentists by providing information technology solutions and support. The people who started the company have 30+ years of experience in helping local business owners, and the staff are skilled in helping end users manage the necessary IT processes involved in keeping an office running smoothly.

Depending on the level of in-house IT expertise within a particular office, you can outsource some of all of your IT needs to dmi Networking. They offer a variety of IT services for dental practices such as secure encryption for email and data, network security, HIPAA compliance, and more. You can find help with getting your files online and knowing those files are stored safely on your own network and/or using cloud storage. You can even get help in making sure you have the best computers and other equipment set up in your office to meet your needs.

For Bay Area dental IT services, check out dmi Networking. I'm sure everyone has seen news stories about data breaches in different business environments, and medical and dental offices can be a target for data thieves. In other words, it's worth it to consult with professionals and outsource some of your information technology needs to protect your business and your patients.