JUNE 2016
WWW.COSE.ORG
Mind Your Business
RESOURCE GUIDE MUST-HAVE TECH 5 tech solutions your business needs [10]
THE TECH ISSUE
CLEARING THE AIR Addressing misconceptions about the region’s tech scene [12]
CLOUD QUESTIONS We clear up your cloud computing confusion [14] WOMEN IN TECH Bringing more women into the tech industry [18]
Learn how OEC and other organizations are supporting the tech industry in Northeast Ohio RESOURCE DIRECTORY INSIDE THESE EXPERTS WILL SOLVE ALL OF YOUR TECH ACHES.
Every Great Business Starts with Great Employees A competitive benefits package that includes a high-quality health insurance plan can help you find the best employees for your small business team. As the oldest and largest health insurer in Ohio, we partner with COSE to offer benefit plans that work for small businesses. So, whether you’re hiring your first employee or growing your business, we have a solution. To find out more about Medical Mutual plans offered through COSE, please contact your broker or the COSE Benefits Team at Medical Mutual at (440) 878-5930.
contents RESOURCE GUIDE
12 EXPERT’S EDIT
4 MEMO
5
18
Time to clear up some lingering misconceptions about our tech industry.
VIEW FROM THE TOP
TALENT SEARCH
Insight on what’s being done to recruit more women into tech
How organizations are addressing the tech talent gap in Northeast Ohio
20
10 COOL TECH
We asked our tech experts what must-have gadgets and software small business owners need to survive today.
14
TECH RESOURCE GUIDE
Q&A
Expedient’s Brad Nellis answers your cloud computing questions.
Have a tech question? You’ll find your answer here.
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MEMO
As Our Tech Industry Changes, We Must Change with it
A
commitment to continuous innovation captures the essence of what our local tech companies strive for every day. As we detailed last year in our “2015 NEO Tech Industry Research Report”, our industry has evolved
— in a positive way — dramatically during the past several years. How has this change manifested itself? Well, consider these points: n
Size: Our companies are growing in employment. Since 2010, the
number of tech companies that employ between 26 and 50 people has grown by 300%. n
Revenue: Between 2010 and 2014, the number of local tech companies
reporting at least $10 million in revenue nearly doubled. n
Market composition: Our tech companies serve a diverse client base,
including manufacturing; professional/scientific; retail trade; educational services; healthcare; and information. n
Geography: It’s not just the client industries that are varied,
but locations, too. Almost half of our tech companies have no clients in Northeast Ohio and 38% have no clients in Ohio. Further, in 2014, 12% of firms had clients that were based outside of the United States. This data paints an overall positive picture of the tech industry in our region, but still, challenges remain. Our local companies, for example, continue to face a considerable tech talent gap. This is a major problem considering that so many companies, regardless of their industry, utilize technology of some sort to run their operations. It was with that in mind that we worked with our tech partners in this issue to illuminate some of the work being done to alleviate this talent shortage. Again, the technology industry in Northeast Ohio is strong, but if we want to continue to see the growth that I outlined above, we must address this talent gap. Just like any other industry, it’s the people who make it what it is today. And we need to continue to invest in this talent if we want it to continue to grow.
MICHAEL STANEK
Chairman, COSE CFO, Hunt Imaging
4 | COSE Resource Guide | JUNE 2016
Mind Your Business
A PUBLICATION OF THE COUNCIL OF SMALLER ENTERPRISES COUNCIL OF SMALLER ENTERPRISES STEVE MILLARD COSE Executive Director smillard@cose.org MEGAN KIM Managing Vice President, Membership Development and Marketing mkim@cose.org SHAWN A. TURNER Content Director sturner@cose.org DAN ROMAN Director, COSE Corporate and Foundation Relations droman@cose.org CONTRIBUTORS SARA ADAMS STACI BUCK Art Director COSE.ORG CRAIN COMMUNICATIONS, INC. Design and Production Services
TECHIES WANTED
OEC and tech organizations across the region are working hard to find and recruit talented tech workers to keep Northeast Ohio’s tech industry going strong. By SHAWN A. TURNER
JUNE 2016 | COSE Resource Guide | 5
T
here’s a good chance you’re reading this article in your office right now, which means you’re taking a break in the midst of email notifications, conference calls, Excel spreadsheets and other technological wonders of the modern office age. Heck, you might even be reading this piece of content on www.cose.org/myb (on your lunch break, we’re sure!) What we’re trying to say here is that in every company, regardless of industry, the technological waters run deep. It doesn’t matter whether the company you work for has its roots in insurance, manufacturing, hospitality, or virtually any other field — technology is at the heart of everything your company does. So, given how critically important technology is for Northeast Ohio companies, the field must be attracting tons of hopeful job applicants looking for a career where there is a lot of opportunity and room for advancement, right? Well, not quite. Numerous reports point to several available tech jobs available for each applicant who applies. Sources contacted for this report say the talent pool in the region hasn’t necessarily weakened, but does lack the volume of talent needed to match the growing appetite companies have for analysts, network professionals, software engineers and more. “There are a lot of very talented technology professionals in Northeast Ohio, but the demand is growing faster than the supply,” says Geo Money, manager of branding and culture at OEC, an awardwinning technology-leader and innovator of original equipment parts replacement. Anthony Hughes, Tech Elevator’s cofounder and CEO, agrees with Money’s assessment. He adds that the talent pipeline needs to be filled at a much faster pace. “The good news is we have the capabilities here. The bad news is that we don’t have them in nearly enough volume,” he says. “The opportunities ahead for growth and reinvention for this region rely on our workers being able to rise to the challenge and be relevant in the new digital era.” And what steps are being taken to help ensure a healthy talent pipeline in the region? Our sources point to the following . . .
ADDRESSING THE KNOWLEDGE GAP
Courtney DeOreo with the Regional
6|6 COSE Resource Guide 2016 | JUNE Resource Guide 2016 | COSE | JUNE
PRESENTED BY OEC
OEC’s Geo Money presents during OHTec’s Best of Tech Awards.
Information Technology Engagement (RITE) Board says it’s been known for some time that the number of students matriculating through two- and fouryear degree programs was not going to be sufficient to fill in the talent gap that exists in IT. This is part of the reason why the RITE Board has gotten involved with so-called “coding camps” that provide programming experience to participants and also puts the young coders in contact with local IT executives. She says the coding camps focus on children in the ninth through 12th grades and are held at seven
host institutions around the area. “When you peel back the onion, you see that not only is there a supply gap, but a skills gap as well,” she says. “There was an absence of soft skills and of the leadership skills needed for today’s IT roles.” In addition to the camps referenced by DeOreo, OEC is supporting a number of initiatives to help promote the local tech industry and add to the available pool of workers, Money says. These efforts include:
n A Tech
Roundtable sponsored by OEC in August (in conjunction with Crain’s
OEC
Students from Cuyahoga Valley Career Center pay a visit to OEC’s offices to learn more about potential careers in the tech industry.
Cleveland Business) to discuss how to promote Northeast Ohio as a tech hub and attract tech workers. n OEC’s sponsorship of ProductCamp NEO later this year, which is bringing together product managers from tech companies who can share best practices. n The promotion of women and minorities in tech through various events and causes, including a partnership with TechCorp to sponsor its first women-only high school summer coding camp. (For more on women in the tech industry, turn to Page 18 of this issue.) n Numerous local and regional tech events, which OEC again takes sponsorship of, such as being the Presenting Sponsor of OHTec’s Tech Week, CodeMash, TechPint, RITE Board’s Get IT Here Summit, Goodyear STEM, the Ohio Celebration
of Women in Computing, and more.
“A vibrant tech industry is a valuable aspect of a region’s business ecosystem,” says Brad Nellis, director of market strategy at Expedient, which delivers technology infrastructure as a service solutions. “Salaries are typically higher, national and global sales models import dollars and tech is cool so it adds to the cachet of the region.” Expedient, which delivers technology infrastructure as a service solutions, has also been an active supporter of these and other efforts, including: Sponsorship of events during OHTec’s Tech week. n Serving as a participant in an IT career exploration event at Kent State University. n Encouragement of their own employees to enhance their career n
paths via its certification and tuition reimbursement program.
INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE Education is just one piece of the puzzle. The region has also put together a broad infrastructure, both physical and supportrelated, for the tech industry that will help accommodate growth. This includes: Incubators such as StartMart; guidance for start-ups, such as JumpStart, think[box] and LaunchNET; and venture capital availability from firms such as JumpStart Ventures. One clear example of the physical infrastructure that has been laid can be found in the high-speed broadband fiber optic network built by OneCommunity along Cleveland’s Health-Tech Corridor (Euclid Avenue from Playhouse Square to University Circle) that allows any tech company in the area to access high-speed,
‘‘
The opportunities ahead for growth and reinvention for this region rely on our workers being able to rise to the challenge and be relevant in the new digital era. ANTHONY HUGHES, Tech Elevator co-founder and CEO
‘‘
JUNE Resource Guide | COSE JUNE 20162016 Resource Guide | COSE |7 |7
broadband Internet at a rate of 100 gigabits per second, which would be approximately two and a half times the fastest speed that had been available previously. The milliondollar project includes an investment from the City of Cleveland as well as a grant from the Economic Development Administration. “Success breeds success,” Money says. “The more tech companies and tech workers that are here, the more likely it is that some will be successful; as with anything, people like a winner and want to be close to it and emulate it, so the more successful companies we develop, the more we are likely to develop. More successful companies mean a greater need for tech workers. It feeds on itself.” The efforts made to focus on the tech industry’s employment needs here are beginning to show tangible results. One example of this is the awarding of Akron as a White House TechHire City in 2015. The designation helps secure grant funding of up to $6 million for training, career
guidance and more to train IT workers.
HIGHER EDUCATION NEEDS
Still, work remains to be done. One area multiple sources identified is working with potential tech workers who are older than the high schoolers enrolled in the coding camps mentioned earlier. Boosting IT enrollment at local colleges and universities is critical to overturning the shortage, Nellis says. Jodi Tims, who chairs the department of mathematics and computer science at Baldwin Wallace University, says she is getting an increasing number of requests to consider tech programming for adult workers. She says there is a big opportunity for universities such as BW to create such programming. Regardless of the form it ends up taking, investment needs to be made at the higher education level, she adds. “We’ve made huge strides in the last five to seven years for our kids that want to
prepare for a career in this area,” she says. “We can’t drop the ball and say we won’t throw extra resources at this because then the kids will stop coming. That’s exactly the wrong approach.” One way this could be done, Money says, is by enacting partnerships between local and state governments and education providers to help close the gap between how schools are preparing students and where the job needs are. While there is work still to be done, Money says he is optimistic that Northeast Ohio will get past its tech talent crunch. “The last decade has been outstanding for Cleveland and Akron in terms of developing the infrastructure that can sustain the tech industry,” he says. “We’ve laid the groundwork that has enabled a strong tech community from all aspects; an excellent start-up community at one end, excellent growth tech companies in the middle, and a large stable of tech companies at the other end.” MYB
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Amin, Turocy & Watson, LLP
Independent Tree LLC
Root Integrated Systems, LLC
Avion Industries, LLC
Inner City Nursing Home dba Fairfax Place
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Avon Concrete Citywide Security Services CV Stables Dario Inc. Deforest Enterprises, Inc. Diversified Promotions
John Eric DeCato DPM Karyn White DDS & Associates Kessler Marketing Group Inc KidsFirst Learning Center Legends Distribution Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority
Senior Citizen Resources, Inc. SKRL Die Casting, Inc Soft Serve Acres LLC Summers Rubber Company Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP The Brock Corp
Drs. Kaplan & Blair, Inc.
Martinizing Dry Cleaning
The Radebaugh Group
EdgePoint Capital Holdings
Morvan Electric Co., Inc.
The Side Quest
Enerco Group, Inc.
MSK Tool And Die, Inc.
The Village of Spencer
Foote Printing Co
Office Furniture Resources, Inc.
Waldock Investments
Harrington Electric Co.
Parmatown Spinal
Western Reserve Communications
8 | COSE Resource Guide | JUNE 2016
NEXT STEPS
GEO MONEY, OEC: We need to promote Northeast Ohio as a great place for tech companies and tech workers as well as promote an overall great tech culture.
We asked our sources to outline additional steps they feel Northeast Ohio needs to take to continue to add to the local tech talent pool. Here’s what they had to say:
BRAD NELLIS, Expedient: Let’s initiate a campaign to graduate more college students with IT degrees. We also should think about a campaign that would recruit people from other markets. Retraining programs that would help people start a career in IT would also be helpful.
JODI TIMS, Baldwin Wallace: We need to be training people to work as business analysts, networking and other aspects of IT, not just coding.
ANTHONY HUGHES, Tech Elevator: I’d like to see more opportunities to bring the tech community together, like Tribe Hackathon, GiveCamp and others.
COSE’s OHTec is one of the groups trying to bring the tech community together through events. To learn more about these efforts, visit www.cose.org/technology
TM
OHTec is an industry-led, member-driven association focused on members’ growth and talent issues, as well as enhancing legislative advocacy efforts. Offerings include talent services, growth services and advocacy. Founded in 1998, OHTec has nearly 700 members representing all facets of information technology: software development, IT services, website design and development, custom application development, IT recruiters and others. The membership group offers signature programs such as Tech Week, the annual Best of Tech Awards, the CoolTech Challenge and the CIO Symposium. In addition, OHTec offers a variety of other events – including seminars, networking events and forums - as well as tech tools and resources.
Learn more at www.cose.org/technology JUNE 2016 | COSE Resource Guide | 9
5
TECH SOLUTIONS TO CONSIDER
Today’s marketplace is flooded with options designed to help you work smarter. Our tech experts share some of their favorites. Square
By KRISTEN HAMPSHIRE
With the Square app for “swiping” and taking payments, you’re open for business no matter where you are. Just insert the Square tool into a mobile phone or tablet and it’s an instant credit card machine. “Whether you have a stand at the local farmer’s market or you’re at a tradeshow making transactions — or even if you are at a networking event and you need to transact some sort of business — it’s just so easy for consumers to swipe their cards and it becomes an instant credit card machine,” says Michelle Tomallo, president and co-founder, FIT Technologies.
o mobile. Connect. Get to The Cloud. Share. Protect. The right tech tools put power in your hands to conduct business globally, remotely, in real-time and to track performance. You can express yourself digitally, grow your network and … Are you following us? If not, here’s a cheat sheet of the top tech tools to help you run your show. We talked to some tech pros to give us an idea of which technologies to adopt and how to leverage them to benefit your business.
OneNote How often do you email yourself notes or reminders? You can save yourself a step by using OneNote by Microsoft. The app is a digital notebook for capturing and organizing everything across your devices. So, you can take a note on your tablet and it synchs in “the cloud,” allowing you to access that information on your desktop or phone. You can also record audio notes or take a picture of a white board and the app will recognize the words so you will be able to find it later. “This is a great tool for the startup entrepreneur who might be taking lots of notes while meeting with people,” says Fred Franks, CIO at FIT Technologies. Really, the applications for OneNote are far-reaching. Just think of all those post-its, half-filled notepads, planners. You get the idea. If you’re a Mac user, a comparable app is Notability, which was rated Apple’s Mac App of the year. 10 | COSE Resource Guide | JUNE 2016
G
SharePoint Another Microsoft 365 gem is SharePoint, a webbased collaboration tool that allows teams to share content from anywhere and any device. It works like this: You can save a Word document in SharePoint. A teammate can “check in” and out of the document and make notes. “Some file-sharing tools are not very secure as far as encrypting files and HIPAA compliance goes,” says Vince Salvino of CodeRed. “You can store information in SharePoint and it’s very secure.”
StorageCraft Every business needs a backup software and disaster recovery solution. “There are two categories you can’t afford to ignore, and one is business continuity,” says Patty Zinn, CEO, Micro Systems Management. (The other is security—read on for more on that.) Zinn likes this option because it includes ransomeware. “In this day and age, companies have had this happen — where they get hit by
an attack where out of nowhere; you can’t access $30,000 of billing sitting in your computer until you pay a ransom,” she says. And there are other disaster scenarios. “We had one client whose facility caught on fire,” Zinn relates. “The reality is, with a product like StorageCraft, you can have your company up and running within hours instead of days,” she says.
Barracuda Spam Firewall
Speaking of security, if you’re the only one operating your computer and sharing data, then anti-virus/anti-malware is enough. “But if you’re doing any kind of data sharing or work in a space with compliance issues that must be addressed, then I fully believe you need more [protection],” Zinn says. “You don’t know what your employees are doing on their computers.” Doing nothing to protect your data is like leaving the front door of house unlocked — and fixing a sign to it that says, “C’mon in.” “And, companies are often stunned at how much it can cost to eradicate a virus,” Zinn says. MYB
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EXPERT’S EDIT
Tech Fact Finders By SHAWN A. TURNER
We asked our panel of tech experts to shed light on some common misconceptions they hear from clients about the tech industry. Here’s what they had to say.
MEET THE EXPERTS:
MISCONCEPTION NO. 1: PCI compliance is as simple as investi in new equipment Steve Giordano
TeamLogic IT
Brad Nellis
Expedient
Giordano: If your network
is involved, you have to have a hardware firewall and not just a software firewall. And use licensed antivirus programs. If it’s free, you shouldn’t be using it.
Giordano:
Don’t be too lax about all of this. If you have a breach and your security standards aren’t what they should be, your fines could reach into the six figures.
12 | COSE Resource Guide | JUNE 2016
PCI compliance (that is, ensuring the security of your custom complex. Really, all you need to do is source and install PCI-c readers and you’re golden. After all, if it’s already PCI-compl more I need to do. It’s not like I need to pay for an audit on to machinery I’ve already made. Pretty sure my responsibility be purchase of equipment, anyway. I’ll just train my employees o and that should be that.
MISCONCEPTION NO. 2: All cloud computing providers are the
This is a no-brainer; I’ll just pick whatever company for my c It’s just a commodity after all. All cloud computing is the sam really doesn’t matter which company I align my business with my friends at other companies went with and probably end up
Nellis: N ot a go od st rate gy. H ow do yo u kn ow th e situatio n yo ur frie nd is in is th e sa m e as w hat yo u’re fa ci ng? Yo u m ig ht ne ed to ru n so m e ap pl ic atio ns th ro ug h yo ur ow n infrastruc tu re. O r m ay be yo ur frie nd ha s m ore m ob ile w orke rs th an yo u do w ho ne ed data ho us ed in a se pa rate ph ys ic al en vi ro nm ent.
EXPERT’S EDIT
ke o, it do es n’t. Ta Giordano: N r fo y stit ut e a po lic
ing
mers’ data) is pretty easy compliant credit card liant, there’s really nothing op of the investment in egins and ends with the on how to use all of it
same
cloud computing needs. me as far as I can tell, so it h. I’ll just check with who p doing the same.
ti m e to in s. Th is sh ou ld yo ur em pl oy ee g ac ce ss (o nl y co ve r re st ri ctin ed to proc es s th os e auth oriz ss ou ld ha ve ac ce cred it ca rd s sh d an , e de vi ce s) to po int-of-s al w ord po lic y. in stit ut e a pa ss at te nd ed un A ls o, m ak e su re em se lv es of f th g lo co m pute rs auto m atic al ly.
Nellis: The proper implementation of a
IT services company can have a transformational impact on your company and its bottom line. Make sure you understand what these companies can offer you. For instance, is there a plan to scale resources depending on your needs? Or do you need what’s called a “ hybrid cloud”, which would allow, for instance, large database servers and specialized hardware to live in the same data center. Bottom line, know your needs and know your provider’s capabilities.
NEXT STEPS PCI compliance: Still feeling overwhelmed when it comes to what your business needs to do to be PCI-compliant? Visit www.pcisecuritystandards. org and click on the document library tab at the top of the screen to learn more about what your small business has to do to shore up its data security. The cloud: Learn more about cloud computing by visiting www.cose.org/myb/cloud
JUNE 2016 | COSE Resource Guide | 13
PRESENTED BY EXPEDIENT
Q&A: Everything You Need to Know about Cloud Computing
Expedient’s Director of Market Strategy Brad Nellis ) e r o M d (An explains why small businesses are clamoring for the cloud, what the security risks are, and what tech trends entrepreneurs should be on the lookout for this year.
14 14 || COSE COSE Resource Resource Guide Guide || JUNE JUNE 2016 2016
A
By SHAWN A. TURNER
lot of small businesses are reaching for the clouds these days — cloud computing (that is, using offsite servers) to be precise. In fact, Intuit estimates that by the year 2020, 78% of small businesses (that’s nearly four out of five) will be fully cloud operational. Further, the U.S. small and medium business cloud computing market is expected to grow to $55 billion this year, up almost 28% from a year earlier, according to research from The Cloud Market of the Future. It’s clear that companies, particularly small businesses, are quickly moving their operations to the cloud in an effort to be more cost efficient and also save physical space as well from having offsite servers. But there’s gotta be a catch, right? We sat down recently with Brad Nellis, director of market strategy at Expedient, to find out what small business owners need to be thinking about when they’re ready to stick their heads in the cloud.
JUNE JUNE 2016 2016 || COSE COSE Resource Resource Guide Guide || 15 15
EXPEDIENT
Cloud computing involves the use of remote resources to store and manage data, such as these servers at Expedient’s facility.
Mind Your Business: Talk a little about cloud computing. What is it? Why is it important? Brad Nellis: Cloud computing is the concept of using a collection of remote resources to store and manage data. This allows businesses to respond more quickly to meet their current and future needs and you get an extra layer of reliability added in just in case the Nellis unthinkable happens to your own servers. Add in predictable monthly expenses and it’s easy to see why cloud computing has become so popular. Organizations gain agility allowing them
16 | COSE Resource Guide | JUNE 2016
to respond to change faster with computing services that are configured to meet current and future needs. Availability is improved because architectures are designed to deliver resilience in the event of component failure. Predictable monthly expense avoids capital purchases enabling better cost control. Finally, many operational risks are mitigated through the implementation of operational processes that are regularly practiced and tested. MYB: What steps does a company need to take to keep their data secure? Is cloud computing more secure than onsite storage? Nellis: Security is a collaborative endeavor and cloud computing can deliver controls
that are complementary to industry and government compliance mandates. Tactics such as multi-factor authentication, encryption and implementation of various methods of surveillance can typically be accomplished faster and more reliably through subscription to a service inclusive of the skill sets necessary to properly operate them. MYB: What are some of the important tech trends you’re watching right now? How do they impact small business? Nellis: One big trend is in the rise of infrastructure as a service (IaaS). I know that sounds reeeaaalllly techie, but IaaS basically just provides for virtualized computing
over the Internet. Organizations can avoid capital leases or purchases by subscribing to computing resources as a service, which has the effect of future proofing the technology so that it is easier to take advantage of new technologies as they become relevant for a particular type of workload. But it’s not all about the cloud. Here are four other tech trends we’re keeping our eye on: n
n
MOBILE: The projected amount of mobile business companies are expected to do this year is $142 billion, according to the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB). Mobile commerce is something consumers are moving very willingly toward so having a mobile-friendly website is an absolute must today. DATA SECURITY: Almost four out of five businesses do not have a formal plan in place to guide them should they suffer a data breach, also according to the NFIB. Companies need to invest in
technology to help safeguard themselves. For example, utilizing user behavior analytics can help businesses identify and detect risky behavior that might be happening and prevent fraudulent transactions from occurring.
n
TECH SPENDING: Clearly, small businesses are beginning to understand how critical technology is to everything their business does. Nearly half of small businesses have indicated they will spend at least $5,000 on technology needs annually, with 31% indicating they will spend more than $10,000, according to a survey done by Palo Alto Software.
n
IT AUTOMATION: According to the Spiceworks 2016 State of IT Report, more small businesses are going to be focused on increasing automation of IT and managed services. Businesses want to be able to grow their IT capabilities without necessarily adding staff, so we expect to see an increase in the delivery of “as a service” solutions.
MYB: Tell us about Expedient and what you do. What sets you apart from everyone else? Nellis: Expedient combines data centers, network access and managed services to deliver IaaS solutions. With a physical presence in seven cities, local experts ensure continuous service availability at 11 locations where client data is secured. We employ more than 265 people and more than 60 are located in Ohio, where the company was founded. MYB
NEXT STEPS View the reports mentioned in this piece by visiting www.cose.org/ myb/thecloud
Almost four out of five businesses do not have a formal plan in place to guide them should they suffer a data breach. — According to NFIB
JUNE 2016 | COSE Resource Guide | 17
VIEW FROM THE TOP
WOMEN IN TECH: 2 Takes on Diversity
Y
By SHAWN A. TURNER
ou read earlier in this issue about the challenges facing Northeast Ohio as it relates to finding tech talent. Well, that search extends to filling the tech employee pipeline with female candidates, as well. We talked to the region’s leading tech experts to get a sense of what’s being done to bring gender equality to the industry.
Geo Money
Mel McGee
OEC
We Can Code IT
A
Y
ccording to the National Center for Women in Technology, just 25% of the computing workforce were women in 2015. It’s certainly not for a lack of talent, says Geo Money, manager of branding and culture at OEConnection (OEC) in Richfield. “Those women who do venture into tech tend to excel,” he says. “Maybe it’s the messaging, but it needs to change if we are to keep up with the ever-growing demand for tech workers. Eliminating that gap between genders would make all the difference in the world.” OEC is doing its part to try to eliminate that gap. The company sponsors a number of events, including the Ohio Celebration of Women in Computing, and also works with organizations focused on bringing women into the tech industry, such as the TechCorp coding camp and We Can Code IT. Workforce diversity, specifically within technology, is an important issue that needs to be addressed, Money says. “Different backgrounds yield different perspectives, which produce new and innovative results,” he says. “Focusing on diversity hiring allows OEC to harness varied skillsets, competencies and distinctive personalities. The envelope of thought leadership is pushed when people of various ethnicities, education levels and cultural backgrounds get together to drive for results.”
ou need look no further than the bottom line to figure out why it’s so important to have a strong female presence in your IT workforce, says Mel McGee, CEO of We Can Code IT. Diversifying your workforce means companies gain unique perspectives — and solutions — on the challenges they face every day, McGee says. In fact, a recent report from McKinsey & Company found that gender-diverse companies are 15% more likely to outperform than other companies. “Not only is employing just 50% of the workforce not going to do it for you, but diversity helps companies increase profits,” she says. “There’s evidence that inclusion and diversity increases profits. It’s a smart move for companies.” McGee adds that diverse teams tend to be happier teams as well, which can help boost overall morale. A big part of the reason why women are so underrepresented in the IT field is because they don’t feel supported within the industry. “Women feel very left out and excluded and it’s not because of a lack of talent. We feel like we’re not invited to the table. And when we’re at the table, we feel like we can’t speak.” She adds: “We have such strong demand for tech and tech workers, if you ignore half the population, oh my goodness. What a disaster!”
NEXT STEPS Learn more about some of the professional organizations that are striving to promote women in technology by visiting the websites listed at right:
n n n n n
18 | COSE Resource Guide | JUNE 2016
Ohio Celebration of Women in Computing: www.ocwic.org Women in Technology: www.womenintechnology.org Women in Technology International: www.witi.com We Can Code IT: www.wecancodeit.org HER Ideas in Motion: www.herideasinmotion.com
RESOURCES
Information Technology RESOURCE DIRECTORY As a small business owner, you’re bound to run into some questions that leave you stumped. That’s what our Resource Directory is all about. In each of the four Resource Guides published by Mind Your Business each year, we will feature a Guide that focuses on a different aspect of your business. This month’s feature is all about the experts who can help ease any tech-related headaches you might have. Visit www.cose.org/resourcedirectory to view a downloadable version of this list
COSE - OHTec
The industry-led, member driven group has a new focus centered on our members’ growth and talent issues, as well as enhancing legislative advocacy efforts. New offerings include talent services, growth services and advocacy. Founded in 1998, OHTec has nearly 700 members representing all facets of information technology: software development, IT services, website design and development, custom application development, IT recruiters and others. www.cose.org/Technology.aspx memberservices@cose.org (216) 592-2222
Accellis Technology Group
A passionate forward-thinking technology firm helping legal and financial firms maximize productivity, security and stability. www.accellis.com Joseph Marquette President jmarquette@accellis.com (216) 662-3200
Adventures in Automation
Since 1996, Adventures In Automation supports clients with small IT budgets. We excel in finding low cost solutions that meet or exceed your needs. From installing and maintaining the solutions, to helping clients design 3 year IT plans, to finding and securing funding for the solution. www.aia-llc.com 440-729-7976
AtNetPlus
AtNetPlus, Inc. focuses on the Information Technology concerns of small and mid-sized business. We fulfill the requirements of companies that have limited or no in-house IT resources. www.atnetplus.com Jim Laber Partner jlaber@atnetplus.com (330) 945-5685
Avantia Inc.
Avantia, Inc. is a technology consulting firm that specializes in building custom software solutions. We combine management consulting with in-depth IT expertise, providing clients with customized, objective strategy and
well-proven execution tactics. We work closely with clients who need and demand solutions that deploy quickly, efficiently, and effectively. www.avantia-inc.com/ Jennie Zamberlan President jzamberlan@avantia-inc.com (216) 901-9366
Briteskies, LLC
Our mission is to help our customers take their brand, products and services to the online market place. We deliver value on these projects through strategic planning, technical innovation, and project delivery. These skills are layered with a passion for service to our partners and our team members. www.briteskies.com info@briteskies.com (216) 369-3600
Compu-Net Systems LLC
Our Mission is to provide expert Information Technology services to small and medium sized businesses focusing on quality and to maintain long term partnerships with integrity and honest business practices. JUNE 2016 | COSE Resource Guide | 19
RESOURCES
www.compunet365.com Scott Kody
Network Engineer
skody@compunet365.com (440) 427-0056
Cornerstone IT
Cornerstone IT provides Best in Class Managed IT Services and Private / Public Cloud Hosted Solutions. As a Microsoft Top Tier Partner, our highly technical professional staff delivers a wide range Certified IT services. www.cornerstoneit.com Ray Paganini President rpaganini@cornerstoneit.com (440) 639-1234
C.TRAC
Founded in 2008, Pierry Software was built with one goal in mind — helping organizations large and small make the most out of their online presence. This goal continues to drive us forward and over time has helped us evolve into a full service digital marketing company partnering with big names such as Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Ticketmaster, and Movable Ink. We are a Salesforce Platinum partner and currently one of the largest global implementers of Marketing Cloud Technology. We are also proud to have been recently ranked #21 in the San Francisco Business Times’ 2015 Fast 100 list. www.ctrac.com info@pierrysoftware.com (800) 860-7953
Dakota Software
Dakota Software provides software, content, and consulting to the world’s leading organizations to manage risk and improve Environmental, Health, and Safety performance. www.dakotasoft.com 20 | COSE Resource Guide | JUNE 2016
Julie Fratus HR Director jfratus@dakotasoft.com (216) 765-7100
Decision Desk
DecisionDesk is a friendly application management tool for higher education, fine arts programs, and non-profits. We enable more than 100 clients to achieve enrollment goals with admissions technology that their applicants and staff love to use. www.decisiondesk.com sales@decisiondesk.com (888) 761-8117
e2b teknologies, Inc.
e2b teknologies (www.e2btek.com) is a business application developer and reseller located in Chardon, Ohio. The company provides consulting, custom development, integration, and support services for popular ERP software (www.e2benterprise. com) including Sage 100, Sage 500, Sage X3, and Epicor ERP as well as specialized business applications for CRM, HCM, EAM, BI, and more. Anytime Collect (www.anytimecollect. com) by e2b teknologies is a leading cloud-based accounts receivable credit and collections management application sold globally. ISO 17025 accredited test equipment calibration and repair services are provided by e2b calibration (www.e2bcal.com) nationally. www.e2btek.com Frank Nisenboum
Vice President of Sales
fnisenboum@e2btek.com (440) 352-4700 ext. 243
ETHODE LLC
We want to use our innovation and creativity to help make the world a more joyous place to live. www.ethode.com welcome@ethode.com (888) 336-3395
Expedient
Expedient will provide an excellent IT infrastructure outsource experience and a clear economic and strategic value by providing solutions comprised of managed services, colocation and enterprise access products to local enterprise business customers. Our offerings will be differentiated by highly reliable and interconnected facilities, relevant products and technically competent customer service. www.expedient.com (877) 570-7827
e-Ventus
With over 200 clients, e-Ventus is a global leader in lean supply chain management, empowering manufacturers to be agile, profitable, and efficient. www.e-ventus.com Joseph LaMantia Managing Partner
jlamantia@e-ventus.com (216) 643-1900
FIT Technologies
FIT Technologies, founded in 1999, offers a full-range of technology outsourcing capabilities. Our team serves as the technology department for organizations or manages IT projects to supplement a company’s existing staff. We provide managed services, field support, help desk, Internet, cloud services/migrations, VoIP, office build-outs, along with CIO consultation and IT assessments. FIT supports businesses and nonprofits — varying in size, sector, and service need — throughout Ohio and in other locations across the country. We’re a company that has evolved our service offering over the years, but we have been consistent about the way in which we want to do business: in partnership with our clients. We know the only way to become a strategic IT advisor for an organization is to have a
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great team of talented people who are committed to customer service. www.fittechnologies.com Michelle Tomallo President mtomallo@fittech.com 216-583-5000
Foundation Software, Inc.
There are plenty of reasons to make FOUNDATION your choice for construction job cost accounting and project management software. So compare our construction software and our company against the needs of your business; we believe you’ll see us as a long-term partner as dedicated to the success of your company as you are! www.foundationsoft.com Mike Ode President info@foundationsoft.com (800) 246-0800 ext. 205
Inline Technology Services, LLC
Inline Technology Services is a technology company that works with clients to design, implement and manage technology systems that make doing business easier, faster and more profitable. www.inlinetechnology.com Tony Felice President tfelice@ inlinetechnology.com (216) 221-4600
Insivia
Insivia is a Strategic Consulting and Digital Business firm solving challenges and creating gamechanging impact across marketing, sales and customer experience. We deliver smart strategies, innovative technology & sophisticated design to win prospects, engage customers, empower employees and out-pace competitors. Think Smart. Act Bold. www.insivia.com
RESOURCES
facebook.com/councilofsmallerenterprises
Andy Halko CEO andy@insivia.com (216) 373-1080
Lazor Point
The mission of Lazorpoint is to make IT transparent to our clients: translating technical complexity into business terms that executives understand. We ensure that our solutions are not only easy to use, but that they also fit each client’s individual business needs and plans for growth. www.lazorpoint.com David Lazor CEO dlazor@lazorpoint.com (216) 325-5200
LeanDog Inc.
LeanDog offers a fine-tuned approach to product development that cuts through barriers and maintains a focus on continuous delivery. We are a crew of dedicated craftsman and expert coaches, passionate about building software and cultures that delight and inspire. Come visit us aboard our floating lakeside office to discover for yourself what is possible when you dare to do things differently.
www.msmctech.com/index.html Patty Zinn CEO patty.zinn@msmctech.com (440) 892-9997
MurTech Consulting, LLC
MurTech Consulting LLC and their companies provide Staffing Services in the areas of Information Technology and Engineering. www.murtechconsulting.com Ailish Murphy President amurphy@murtechconsulting.com (216) 328-8580
OEC
OEConnection (OEC) develops parts ordering solutions for the global automotive industry. We are the leading parts ecommerce technology provider for OEM distribution networks, serving over 20 OEMs and 100,000 dealership and repair customers. Customers use OEC solutions millions of times each month to access real-time, dynamic pricing and to market, manage and move original equipment parts, facilitating an estimated $20 billion in annual replacement parts trade. www.oeconnection.com
www.leandog.com Jon Stahl CEO jon.stahl@leandog.com (216) 236-4705
Micro Systems Management Micro Systems Management is a team of professional network and IT specialists whose primary mission is optimizing and protecting your critical IT assets and data. We’ve been sharpening the leading edge of technology since 1987 with strategic support, creative innovations and comprehensive solutions.
Geo Money
Manager, Branding & Culture
geo.money@ oeconnection.com (330) 523-1800
ProgressBook by Software Answers, Inc. A leading name in K-12 administration software, Software Answers is the developer of ProgressBook, a suite of applications that support student management and academic achievement. www.progressbook.com JUNE 2016 | COSE Resource Guide | 21
RESOURCES
Paul Chaffee CEO chaffeep@ ProgressBook.com (440) 526-0095
RITE
RITE is a regional collaboration of senior IT executives, educational leaders, industry associations, community and workforce organizations committed to programs and partnerships that help to attract, prepare and place IT talent. www.getithere.net Courtney DeOreo
Lorain County Community College Board Administrator
cdeoreo@lorainccc.edu (440) 366-4214
SecureState Consulting LLC SecureState is a global management consulting firm focused on information security. We are the trusted advisor to organizations and governments large and small. www.securestate.com Ken Stasiak CEO kstasiak@securestate.com (216) 927-8200
TeamLogic IT
TeamLogic IT is a computer and IT managed services provider. Services include 24/7/365 network management and monitoring, Help Desk, hosted email, business continuity, data backup, cloud services, business phones and other IT support functions. www.teamlogicit.com/westlakeoh
Steve Giordano President sgiordano@ teamlogicit.com (440) 808-8200
thunder::tech
From web development and graphic 22 | COSE Resource Guide | JUNE 2016
design to public relations and optimization, we offer a full suite of marketing services. Through our integrated model, we combine the right mix of services to deliver an approach that meets your marketing needs.
and systems integrators in the fluid power, fluid handling, hose, sealing, automation, motion control and related industries. www.tribute.com Timothy Reynolds President treynolds@tribute.com (800) 874-2883
www.thundertech.com (888) 321-8422
TMW Systems, Inc.
TMW Systems develops powerful Transportation Management Software Products to fuel Trimble Navigation’s Global Transportation, Logistics & Energy [TLE] Group [NASDAQ:TRMB]. www.tmwsystems.com Amanda Biddlestone
Director, Marketing & Communications
info@tmwsystems.com (440) 721-2020
Vertex Computer Systems We are technology consultants and business problem solvers. We leverage concepts and technologies such as Salesforce, Analytics, Big Data, SharePoint and Microsoft tools, to develop innovative and differentiating solutions for your business problems. www.vertexcs.com Ganesh Iyer President ganesh@vertexcs.com (330) 963-0044
Tornado Technologies, Inc. Tornado creates software solutions to improve operational efficiency and in product development. www.tornadosoft.com
Vizion Solutions
We provide tow dispatch software designed exclusively for the towing and wrecker industry. Our software connects directly with major motor clubs, DMV lien letter options and some direct links to Police Dept. are Tracker’s specialties.
Vizion Solutions is a leading IT solutions and professional services provider headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. We are Business Intelligence (BI) and data management experts that partner with our clients to help them effectively manage their transactional information with a focus on profit improvement solutions.” Vizion Solutions has a BI platform to fit any size company and budget and is a Tier-1 Microsoft Power BI Cloud Solution Provider.
trackermanagement.com
vizionsolutions.com
info@trackermanagement.com (216) 573-0700
Joe Vocaire
Mark Roshon President mark@tornadosoft.com (216) 454-4000
Tracker Management Systems, Inc.
President
jvocaire@vizionsolutions.com
Tribute, Inc.
Tribute Inc. provides enterprisewide business management software to distributors, fabricators
Eric Litras
Sales & Marketing Manager
elitras@vizionsolutions.com (866) 407-5541
OCTOBER 13-14
CLEVELAND, OHIO FEATURED KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
CASEY GERALD
MEL ROBBINS
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14
CO-FOUNDER & CEO, MBAS ACROSS AMERICA
GARY SCHOENIGER
CREATOR, ‘THE 5 SECOND RULE’
AUTHOR AND ENTREPRENEUR
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13
The 2016 Small Business Convention will be held as part of the new BizConCLE, a convention bringing together Northeast Ohio businesses of all sizes for education and connections!
presented by
For more information
visit cose.org/BizConC
or to register,
LE or call (216) 592-23
90
HR Professionals, CPAs and lawyers: Earn continuing education credits while you attend
JUNE 2016 | COSE Resource Guide | 23
workshops at BizConCLE.
#ThatMomentWhen
You feel good about the company you work for.
Growth. Balance. Fun. Experience Life at OEC OEConnection.com/careers