CIO Solutions
August 2013 - Issue 39           
Find It Fast
Check with the Tech: Consolidating Online Photos
What's New at CIO: Puttz for Bucks/Fiesta Winner
CIO In the News: News-Press TV Hosts Eric Egolf
Product Review: Google Glass
App of the Month: TED
Client Q&A: Tom Wahlquist from Walpole and Associates
Employee Spotlight: Michelle P. Baca
Quicklinks
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CIO Solutions  

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Join Our Mailing List!  

 

Birthdays

 

Bjoern - Aug 5th
Michelle - Aug 25th

 

 

CIO Anniversaries

 

Brian Donovan - 3 yrs - 8/17

Hannah Rich - 7 yrs - 8/26 

 


Fiesta 
July 31st - Aug 4th

fiesta

 


Labor Day
Monday, September 2nd

       

 

 

PLEASE NOTE:


CIO will be closed on Monday, September 2nd in observance of Labor Day.

To receive emergency support please call 805-692-6709 and select option 3.

Holiday rates may apply.

For non-urgent requests please email [email protected]
 
 
Work Hard, Play Hard

Dear ,  

 

As our company continues to grow (in staff, clients and locations served), we are trying to avoid the common mistakes that some companies make when they grow too fast too soon.  

 

This is why we put so much effort into maintaining our client relationships, company culture and operational efficiencies. We believe that we can grow our company and still retain what makes our company stand out from the rest. What would be the point of having a bigger CIO if we lost the things that make us us?

 

With that in mind, we are happy to introduce two new sections to the CIO Exchange: "What's New at CIO" where we will feature activities that make CIO one of the most unique places to work; and "CIO Anniversaries" where we will highlight employees that have worked with CIO for over a year.   

 

Cheers,
John Petote
CEO, CIO Solutions

 

Check with the Tech: Consolidating Online Photos
Check with the Tech
Q: I have photos everywhere: Instagram, Flickr, Facebook, Picasa, etc. Is there a way to consolidate them in one program?

A:
  Trovebox makes it easy to import, save, back up and share your online photos.


Check out this article on LifeHacker which tells you what you need and how to set it up.

http://lifehacker.com/how-to-merge-all-your-photos-from-the-web-into-one-cohe-893716208


Trovebox

 

What's New at CIO  
 
Puttz for Bucks

The CIO Golf Challenge 
at the Beautiful Quad Win Golf Course
Course: Par 2
Putz for Bucks
Hass Wins It!

Hass - CIO Puttz for Bucks winning putt - July 12, 2013
Hass - CIO Puttz for Bucks winning putt - July 12, 2013
 
 
Annual Fiesta Winner
 
 
Once again, Zorro was on the hunt for the best client Fiesta Party. After accosting a poor Central Support remote engineer (aka Hass), Zorro headed downtown to judge the many Fiesta Fiestas.

zorro1

Fiesta Party Winner: Reicker, Pfau, Pyle and McRoy! 

Fiesta 2
 
CIO In the News  
Read All About It!
SB NEWS-PRESS TV INVITES CIO PRESIDENT FOR ON-AIR INTERVIEW

News-Press TV talks with CIO Solutions President Eric Egolf about how CIO Solutions helps non-profits like the Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center manage their IT needs.

August 12, 2013 - Santa Barbara - Eric Egolf, President of CIO Solutions was hosted on Santa Barbara's local television program, News-Press TV, to discuss how CIO has helped non-profits in the Tri-County area with their IT needs.

Mr. Egolf spoke about the Tri-County Cloud Giveaway winner, Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center, and how CIO has been able to help the non-profit with both technology solutions as well as consulting on best practices, growth and how to best leverage IT in their business model.

Mr. Egolf said, "Our entire company has been thrilled to be able to help Hearts Therapeutic transition to Private Cloud computing and see them realize the benefits of having a Technology Partner in their corner."

CIO Solutions has been providing IT management and design services to the Tri-County Area since 1986. CIO specializes in helping businesses focus on their core business by designing and managing their IT department. In addition to managing IT networks, CIO also provides consultation on Private Cloud Services, Enterprise Storage, Virtualization, VoIP Phone Systems and other solutions.

View the TV interview here: http://newspress.tv/  

 

  CIO Logo


Marketing Contact:

Hannah Rich

805-692-6700, ext. 105 

Product Review: Google Glass 

 

What is Google Glass? - Google Glass (styled "GLΛSS") is a wearable computer with an optical head-mounted display (OHMD) that is being developed by Google in the Project Glass research and development project, with the mission of producing a mass-market ubiquitous computer. Google Glass displays information in a smartphone-like hands-free format, which can interact with the Internet via natural language voice commands.  

 

 What can it do? - There are a number of voice activated controls that all begin with "Okay Glass...", examples include:

  • "Take a picture" google glass
  • "Record a video"
  • "Directions"
  • "Send Message"
  • Ask questions
  • "Say ____ in Chinese/Spanish/German" (etc.)

 

Concerns and Critiques: 
  • Advertising 

  • Does not accommodate disabilities (hearing/speech impaired)   
  • Privacy concerns
  • Safety concerns

When can I get one and How much does it cost?

 

Release Date (Consumers) - 2014

Price - Explorer Version (testing) - $1,500.00, Consumer Edition - N/A

 

More Info:  

App of the Month: TED

  TED 

The official TED app presents talks from some of the world's most fascinating people: education radicals, tech geniuses, medical mavericks, business gurus and music legends. Find more than 1,400 TEDTalk videos (with more added each week) on the official TED app.

The entire library is at your fingertips to browse at any time, even when you're not online. Watch TEDTalks with subtitles in over 90 languages directly on your device through our new video player, or use AirPlay to watch them on your home entertainment system. Curate your own playlist. Download full videos to your device and watch them when you're offline. Listen to an on-demand playlist of TEDTalks audio at any time.

The TED app updates almost every day with new talks from TED events around the world. Sort the featured library by recency or popularity. Browse talks by tags, themes, or language. Share your favorite talks with your friends. Tell us how much time you have and let us guide you through a delightful playlist.

iPhone: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ted/id376183339?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ted.android

Client Q&A: Accounting Systems with Tom Wahlquist from Walpole and Assoc. 

 

We are often asked for advice concerning accounting systems for our customers. Although we have a lot of experience with building the back-end infrastructure for accounting systems and handling day to day support we have to bring in account software experts to help our customers understand their available options.  

 

Q: What are the tell tale signs a business is outgrowing their current accounting system?

  1. If you're keeping track of a few dozen excel spreadsheets to supplement data that's in your system, it's time to change. Sometimes we see companies hiring extra people to handle these manual updates to spreadsheets rather than invest in a more appropriate ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system.
  2. Outdated technology is probably the biggest sign it's time to change. If you can't integrate your shopping cart, CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system or other tools, it's time to change.
  3. Lastly if your system is slow, cumbersome and difficult to use, it's time to change.

Q:  How often should a business evaluate the accounting system it is using?

 

Any progressive business owner is constantly evaluating their ERP system and looking for ways to improve efficiencies. This doesn't mean you should change your accounting system every year or two but it's a good strategy to know what technology is available.

 

Q: What are some common mistakes you see customers making with their accounting system?

 

Without a doubt the biggest mistake a company can make is to not train their staff how to properly use the system. People are creative and will come up with their own workarounds to circumvent the system because they simply don't know about some capability or utility in the software. Systems are generally underutilized and a little training can go a long way.

 

Q: Is the software that Walpole installs compatible with CIO's Private Cloud?

 

The Sage products we support run very well on the CIO Private Cloud. What our customers like most is the freedom to use their ERP system on a PC, MAC, iPad or other tablet device.

 

Q: How long does a typical migration from one system to another take?

 

This really depends on the type and size of the company. Our implementation projects generally run about 3 months for a mid-size distribution or manufacturing company.

 

We're happy to come out and help your customers evaluate their processes and systems to see if it's time to make a change!

Walpole 

 

Contact Info:

Tom Wahlquist

Solutions Consultant, Walpole and Co., LLP

805-569-9864

[email protected]  

 

     

 

Employee Spotlight: Michelle P. Baca, Service Coordinator 

   michelle

Full name: Michelle Patricia Baca      

 

Family Info: My partner's name is Justin Force. My mom and younger brother live in the LA area. My Dad lives in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. My family is scattered around Pasadena, and New Mexico  

 

Where did you grow up: I grew up in the Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley area, and spent many summers in New Mexico. I lived Albuquerque while working on a Master's degree, and it is still my favorite place.  

 

When did you move to Santa Barbara: I moved to SB in 2005 to pursue a PhD in Chicana/o Studies at UCSB. Our program was the first Chicana/o Studies PhD program, and I am part of the first cohort of PhD students.   

 

What you like best about Santa Barbara:  I like the small town feeling of Goleta, and of course - I enjoy the weather. I like being close enough to family to visit, but still far enough away to make excuses not to visit.

 

When did you start working at CIO:  May 2013     

 

What you like best about working at CIO: I like the team atmosphere, and all of my coworkers. 

   

Dreams/aspirations: To finish my dissertation, and finally graduate!

 

What would you do if you won the lottery: I would pay off my student loans! I would help my family.  I would set up an endowment for graduate students in my PhD program since Ethnic Studies are so underfunded, and the work is so important. I would create the most progressive super PAC ever known. I would travel the world. I might also buy a house, or  seven.    

 

Favorite color: Red/Glitter 

 

Favorite food: Tea and Toast   

 

Favorite book/movie: Gloria Anzaldua's "Borderlands" for work, Stephen King's Dark Tower series for fun, anything by Junot Diaz. It's not a movie, but I love Mad Men. 

 

Motto/quote: "There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge." - Isaac Asimov  

 

Interesting Facts: 

I'm making a transition from academia to the private sector, and I am very interested to see how everything will turn out.  

 

 

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