Mariner is Chosen - Once Again - as Solution Partner by Anson County Schools

Mariner will begin to implement the plan that it helped Anson County Schools develop in the Spring - with the end-goal of improving student achievement through better use of their data.

Schools leading their peers are using technology to make them more knowledgeable about where they can make impactful changes to improve district performance on all levels.

Anson County will join them with their latest initiatives - with the assistance of Mariner.Click here for more info: http://www.mariner-usa.com/news/detailNews.aspx?ID=124

Jackrabbit Does More Sharing ...

Jackrabbit Technologies will dash from seminar to seminar for the United Dance Merchants of America during September and October - in locations that range from one coast to the other...Long Beach, CA to Secaucus, NJ.

Jackrabbit's business and class management system works wonders for dance studio owners in knowing what is going on in their business.

Check this link for more info: http://community.icontact.com/p/itconscious/newsletters/jpurdy/posts/jackrabbit-participates-in-five-udma-event-this-fall

$6M for Perceptis

Frontier Capital has closed a deal to provide expansion funding for Cleveland Ohio-based Perceptis. $6M in funding will help Perceptis in it expanding its soluiton exposure into the higher education market.

Perceptis is a leading provider of help desk and customer support services to Higher Education. Frontier Capital continues to identify companies with exception potential and provide resources to catapult them to leadership in their markets.

No moss is growing under Jackrabbit Technologies - that's for sure!

After a VERY busy summer, Jackrabbit is still hopping from event to event in support of their clients. In late August and early September, Jackrabbit teams participated in both the GAT (Gymnastics Association of Texas) regionals in Austin Texas and the ASCA (American Swim Coaches Association) World Clinic 2010 in Indianapolis.

Jackrabbit also became a partner in the Constant Contact Solution Provider Program. While Jackrabbit has an e-communications tools in its feature set, the email marketing breadth of Constant Contact extends the abilities of Jackrabbit users to distribute mroe professionally produced emails and newsletters that are assured a higher rate of deliverablility. There are quite a few design tools that make creating more visually appealing emails and newsletter possible. The social media, survey and campaign tools are features that a business and class management solution such as Jackrabbit is wise to be looking to email marketing solution development experts - like Constant Contact - to provide.

This is a great layer for Jackrabbit users to have the opportunity to access directly from Jackrabbit. An integration project between the two companies is in the works and a development schedule will be released.

Jackrabbit Meets Old and New Faces at USAG Congress

Jackrabbit had the awesome opportunity to interact with its customers and to meet new gym owners interested in its powerful business management software system. August 12-14 in Hartford CT – the Jackrabbit team demonstrated its system and enrolled new users directly from the exhibit floor.

Jackrabbit customer Debbie Gantz from Kids Are Tops Sports Center in Centerville, OH joined Jackrabbit at the exhibit to share her Jackrabbit experience. It was a great event! www.jackrabbitclass.com

Mariner & Nuventive Combine Efforts to Build K12 Performance Tracking Solution

Mariner's Education Group has partnered with Nuventive to build their SeeChange Plans - part of Mariner's SeeChange Performance Management System.

The resulting solution will have significant impact for K12 organizations in pursuit of institutional effectiveness.

CEO Dave Raney of Nuventive and Mariner Education Practice VP, David Fitzgerald, talk about the coming solution.Dave Raney: http://www.mariner-usa.com/videos/Dave.aspx

David Fitzgerald: http://www.mariner-usa.com/videos/fitz.aspx

K12 Case studies for Mariner's solution are available at: www.mariner-usa.com/solutions/education.aspx

Join Area Firms in Supporting School Supply Drive

Blair, Bohlé & Whitsitt, PLLC, (BBW) a locally based CPA firm, is working with the Ballantyne Rotary Club to encourage corporate and individual support for the Ballantyne area’s elementary schools. The Ballantyne Rotary Club’s 2010 School Supply Drive offers the opportunity for donations to be made and dropped off at participating locations, including Blair, Bohlé & Whitsitt’s office, in the Ballantyne area.

Rotary Club member and Managing Partner for Blair, Bohle & Whitsitt, PLLC, John Blair, says, “Last year the Ballantyne Rotary Club donated more than 250 backpacks full of necessary supplies to help the area’s children start a successful school year. We have the opportunity to be that support system again this year.”

The supply need for children is tremendous and for those families who struggle meeting household commitments, the extra needs are often too much, especially when multiple children have the need for the same long list of supplies. Drop offs should be made at any of the locations listed below by August 20 so supplies will be available to children for the first day of school on August 25th.

Third Grade Student Supply List

2 - Reams of white copy paper (8-1/2 X 11)
1 - 6 Pocket accordion folder (plastic)
3 - 3-Subject spiral notebook (with pockets)
2 - Marble composition notebook (not spiral)
1 - Paper folder (red, with brads)
2 - Paper folders (orange, 1 w/ brads, 1 without)
3 - Package loose leaf notebook paper (wide ruled)
2 - Package 3X5 index cards
3 - Large glue sticks
3 - Packages #2 pencils (12 count – no mechanical)
1 - Package colored pencils (24 count)
1 - Package washable markers (thick, classic)
1 - Package Expo dry erase markers (black, red, blue, green)
1 - Package pencil top erasers
1 - 12 inch ruler
2 - Boxes of tissues
1 - Box of baby wipes (no aloe)
1 - Box Ziploc bags (girls = quart, boys = sandwich)
4 - Paper grocery bags (to cover textbooks)
1 - Pair of student scissors
1 - Box of Bandaids
1 - Backpack (no rolling backpacks)

Drop off points:

Blair Bohlé & Whittsit PLLC10815 Sikes Place, Suite 100Charlotte, NC 28277
Carolina Premier Bank – Blakeney
6225 Blakeney Park DriveCharlotte, NC 28277
Carolina Premier Bank – Ballantyne Corporate Park
13024 Ballantyne Corporate Place
Suite 100Charlotte, NC 28277

Edward Jones Investments
Carmel Village Shopping Center

State Farm Insurance
7825 Ballantyne Commons
Suite 220
Charlotte, NC 28277

First Citizens Bank – Ballantyne5008 Forbes DrCharlotte, NC 28277

Jackrabbit is really JAMmin'

One stop resource for Cheer Gyms and Dance Teams - The JAM Brands - has chosen JackrabbitCheer as its preferred cheer gym software solution! The two companies have exciting plans for customers of both systems. More about JackrabbitCheer at www.JackrabbitCheer.com. More about The JAM Brands at www.thejambrands.com.

Expanded Features for Jackrabbit's Customers in Canada

Jackrabbit now has Bank Draft / EFT Processing for Canadian Customers.

Through its partnership with SafeSave Payments, Jackrabbit now provides credit card and E-check (ACH) processing for Canadian customers.

SafeSave Payments provides great services at extremely competitive rates. You can get a FREE no obligation quote or more information by calling Cody Miller at 800-220-8611.

If you already have a merchant account, email (sales@safesavepayments.com) fax 800-220-3510 Cody a merchant statement for a FREE Statement Analysis and Comparison.

Jackrabbit is excited to be able to provide these services to customers in Canada!

Jackrabbit will be hopping in August!

Sorry for the bad pun but it is true! Jackrabbit will attend both the Dance Teacher Summit in New York City and the USAG Congress in Hartford, Connecticut.

At the Dance Teacher Summit, Jackrabbit will speak on two topics - online registration and website best practices - and provide solution demos.

At the USAG Congress, Jackrabbit will provide software demos in a live environment so potential clients can see how the system really works. Experts will be available to answer specific questions for customers or prospects.

Jackrabbit Technologies Makes Unique Option Available to Customers

It is extremely unusual for a company to help it customers reduce their invoices.....unless you're Jackrabbit Technologies and you genuinely care about the absolute value your services provide and how they meet the needs of your clients.

Jackrabbit has enhanced its web-based business management system for class-based organizations to include something called the Unlimited Lead File.

Basically, they have made it possible for users to separate their enrollees into active and inactive databases. The inactive database (or the lead file) can also have contacts added to it from outside resources. This means clients can separate former customers from active ones - but still keep them in Jackrabbit's system - and add to the list - so they can use Jackrabbit's marketing, tracking and reporting tools with the names. This reduces the number of entries in the active database - and that's what the client's monthly fees are based on. So Jackrabbit gives their clients awesome capabilitiles for marketing to those who have fallen by the wayside or those customer's have met and want to market to AND they give clients a way to make sure they are only paying fees on active enrollees!

Wow! How cool is that?

Visit Jackrabbit to learn more about the company and its solution for class-based businesses.
www.JackrabbitClass.com.

Good things happening in technology for healthcare and education.

Charlotte-based Mariner has a couple of exciting things going on. First of all, they have a new development partnership with MAG - better known as Medical Advantage Group - out of Michigan. The solution they're creating will make business run better and services provided better for physicians' groups. Something we will all appreciate as it becomes reality....

Mariner has also been named by Microsoft of US Partner of the Year for Education K12 for their innovations and commitment to providing solutions to school districts and departments of education that help them use their data to improve the quality of education for students they serve. YAY! It is awesome to hear something positive going on in both healthcare and education!

Mariner Celebrates Twelve Years with Branding Enhancements

Not only has Charlotte's Mariner moved into a new location at 2719 Coltsgate Road near SouthPark, but they have also enhanced their branding to clearly define their value to clients. A contemporary, straightforward word mark and the tag line "Insight to Achieve" express the company's understanding of what it does best. And its reputation clearly illustrates that what it does best is guiding clients to apply technology in the best possible way to meet - and surpass - their goals. Mariner has identified key success in a broad span of business types but especially within Education (K-12) and in the healthcare and utilities sectors. They have a great Mariner Minute on Branding - view it!

Companies that get it right, continue to grow!

Jackrabbit Technologies is getting it right. They listen to the needs of their customers in the class-based services world (This includes anyone who offers scheduled, paid classes - dance studios, cheer and gymnastics gyms, martial arts schools, day cares, art, music and swimming schools, camps)

Jackrabbit is adding to its support and development staff - specifically to meet the increasing demands of its growing customer base. Customers continue to come on board in all market segments because Jackrabbit plans development according to what their customers ask for! How refreshing for a software company!

Learn more: www.jackrabbitclass.com

And - as a bonus - Jackrabbit's employees are happy too. Cofounders Mark Mahoney and Mike Carper still have their original team - they just keep adding people.

If you don't know Jill Purdy, please read

Summarizing Jill Purdy, Marketing and Public Relations Consultant

How can I help you?

If you've not yet established your marketing and public relations presence and need to get started...
I can help you determine what you should do and can do with the resources that you have.

If you have done some "here and there marketing and PR" but feel like your efforts needs focus...
I can help you organize your efforts into a strategy and determine what needs to be added - or eliminated - to get your best results.

If you have a marketing person who has no more bandwidth and you would like to hand some part of your marketing and PR efforts to an experienced outside resource...
I can enhance your internal resources and help you get the most from the investment you make in marketing and PR.

• I can help you with any and all items marketing and PR because I've been a full-time marketing director and understand all of the elements that intertwine to make a program effetive.
• My engagement model makes sense for small to medium-sized growth focused companies.
• As a contractor, I can become an effective part-time member of your team or support your team from behind the scenes.

I'm experienced with small to medium size companies across a broad range of business sectors but specializing in IT (software development, software as a service, it consulting, it staffing), online mortgage services, investment groups, call centers, CPA/financial services companies and emarketing and display marketers.

Background:

A diverse background in media and marketing-centric positions has given me a broad base of knowledge from which to offer technology-centric marketing and communications solutions. Serving in Art Directorships in several areas of media, including mail order catalogues and television, I led a broad range of projects and processes that include the entire spectrum of marketing and communications responsibilities. I spent more than ten years as a newspaper editor where her focused skills improved the quality and timeliness of all content and significantly increase readership and reputation.

During the last ten years, I've had the privilege of helping more than two dozen emerging and growth-focused companies implement marketing fundamentals and use them to generate awareness where they have identified new markets, built and introduced new products and solutions. Personal contributions include designing and messaging such elements as web sites, electronic and print collateral, press distribution and coverage, and presentation materials, integrated and results-oriented strategies to meet specific and foundational marketing and sales goals.

Skills include:

• Development of strategic and tactical marketing plansIdentification of target prospects and valid niche markets;
• Identification of differentiators and integration of appropriate messages throughout collateral points.;
• Writing and graphics development,
• Knowledge of print processes, Internet marketing and Search Engine Optimization strategies, experience with website maintenance tools and email marketing software;
• Scripting and completing surveys for employees and customers;
• Development and distribution of press announcements and releases, and bylined articles; development of relationships with industry publications and analysts;
• Event planning and coordination; industry and community relationship development
  

Characteristics include:

• Aggressive attitude toward identifying goals and reaching them
• Quick comprehension, organization and development of independent thoughts into cohesive message
• On-target responsiveness, detail-oriented and focused
• Ability to lead as part of the team Ability to multi-tasking
• Facilitation of data gathering
• Persistent and consistent, high-energy workhorse
• Creative, innovative and professional
• Experience with more than two dozen companies

You may also learn about me at my LinkedIn profile:
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jill-purdy/0/175/a21

Contact me:
jpurdy@carolina.rr.com, 704-236-2501

Internet Marketer Helps Charlotte Companies Gain Visibility in Their Own Markets

Zeno Blue eMarketing is helping companies with their most important goals....bringing in more customers. Leveraging the Internet and all of its tools and components, David Brooks has helped two very different companies accomplish similar goals.

Taylor Richards & Conger is a fine clothier with a store in Phillips Place. Their lines of exclusive apparel for men and women are top notch and sought out by many in the area. Question is - how do these clothes horses know that TRC carries the lines the like?

Wells Chiropractic provides a comfortable and friendly atmosphere to provide its chiropratic procedures. It is unique and preferred by many who visit chiropractors. Question is - how do potential clients know that Dr. Wells offers something unique?

This is where Zeno Blue eMarketing comes into the picture for both. Zeno Blue looks at what they offer, what they provide and who they want to share that with - among other details - and creates an Internet marketing campaign that gives both TRC and Wells visibility to the very people who are interested in what they have to offer. Because of the prevalence of mobile devices, they can even show up in a search on a Blackberry at the moment when the potential customer is in need of what they offer.

Pretty slick, huh? Read more at www.zenoblue.com

Child Care Professionals in for a Jackrabbit Treat at Conferences

Jackrabbit Technologies will take its Jackrabbit Care solution on the road during April to demo its software at 2 conferences for Child Care Professionals. The NAA (National Afterschool Association) and the NACCP (National Association of Child Care Professionals) will have the opportunity to talk to Jackrabbit team members and to demo the software. The NACCP group will have an exclusive opportunity to hear cofounder and president, Mark Mahoney speak on the TopTen Most Common Website Mistakes."

The conference take place in mid April. Learn more at http://naaweb.site-ym.com/ and http://www.naccp.org/.

For more on Jackrabbit Care, visit http://www.jackrabbitcare.com/.

Mariner Kicks Off Web Series with Visualization Expert, Stephen Few

A four-part web series will kick off March 25th with Visualization expert Stephen Few speaking. Case studies and best practices will be covered. Follow-on sessions take place in April. Details and registration available at this link: http://www.mariner-usa.com/news/detailNews.aspx?ID=115

Charlotte Companies Recognized by Microsoft

Mariner and OrthoCarolina gained the spotlight in a recently published Microsoft case study on medical practice efficiencies. See case study: http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Case_Study_Detail.aspx?casestudyid=4000006512

Mariner published a white paper on a simliar topic that is available by emailing healthcareinfo@mariner-usa.com.

Mariner & Microsoft Continue Web Series to Benefit K-12 Educators

An interactive web series continues with part 2 of the second series of sessions that Mariner (noted business intelligence expert and Microsoft partner) is hosting in conjunction with Microsoft. This month's session (held on March 23 at 11 am EST will spotlight Jonathan Raymond who is the superintendent for Sacramento (CA) Unified City Schools.

What is really the benefit to educators here is that Mr. Raymond was previously with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools where Mariner has already implemented data dashboards (along with an entire data-driven initiative). So he can speak volumes about the solution and the advantages it can rain upon every level of educator from teacher to administration and legislation.... here's the link to learn more: www.mariner-usa.com/webseries.htm.

CharlotteSaves gets support from many in Charlotte – including Blair, Bohlé & Whitsitt, PLLC...

A group of Charlotte CPAs doesn’t mind taking some time out of the tax season that is cranking up to support CharlotteSaves. Blair, Bohlé & Whitsitt, PLLC has been involved with the Charlotte “chapter” of AmericaSaves for five years - promoting financial literacy. A thank you luncheon was held today and all of the organization’s sponsors were there and recognized.

It is great when a business can find a very worthy cause that fits into their own mission so well!

See more…

Long-time Corporate Friends Make Great Software

Two Charlotte companies are working together to develop a technology solution that will give clients who want to better manage their risks do just that.

Mariner and The Remi Group have a long-term relationship. In fact, The Remi Group was Mariner's first client going back to Mariner's launch eleven years ago. The two companies know each other well and are a testament to what it means to maintain good work ethics, build loyalty and always do the right thing by your clients.

The two companies are developing an analytics dashboard that brings are pertinent knowledge that decision makers could need to the surface for them. It literally gives them a window into data and data from different areas relates to one another so that it is useful.

How cool is that? Read the release.....

Charlotte Software as Service Provider is Highlighted at Mastermind Conference

Mark Mahoney will represent the company that he and cofounding partner, Mike Carper, have built (Jackrabbit Technologies) at Sam Beckford's Mastermind Conference in Tempe, Arizona at the beginning of March.

This illustrates the kind of business the partners run because Sam Beckford doesn't endorse any other software to his clients. Sam is well-respected amongst those who provide instruction in dance and music with his business building programs and has been a tremendous supporter of Jackrabbit because of the value that it brings to his clients.

Jackrabbit provides online business management software to those who own and manage dance and music schools. In addition, Jackrabbit also has solutions for, cheer and gymnastics, camp and daycare, and dojo and swim schools.

To learn more, visit www.JackrabbitMastermind.com. If you are attending the conference - stop by to see Mark.

K-12 Educators take note!

This is not my fist time to write about this particular topic, but I must repeat myself because one of the Public Relations clients has something gong that has true impact potential for schools. And do we need that or what?

The performance management solutions that Charlotte-based Mariner has been putting in place all over the US (and they have interest brewing abroad) are phenomenal. These guys use Microsoft technology to build dashboard solutions that give everyone from teachers to district and DOE administrators access to CURRENT data so timely and appropriate decisions can be made.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Anson County School, New Hampshire Department of Education etc etc ... all are taking advantage of the kind of technology that Fortune 100 companies use to manage their educational environments.

This is something that should have happened long ago when companies first began to learn the value of business intelligence for data usage.

Very cool. Take a look at www.mariner-usa.com under the Education area.

They are sponsoring - with Microsoft - a second round of web sessions that include some of the decision makers in the districts and DOEs using their software. If you want to learn about it - it's free - sign up at www.mariner-usa.com.webseries.htm.

Jackrabbit uses videos to help people learn more about software

There is a company inthe Charlotte NC area that offers class management software to those that run dance and music schools, gymnastics and cheer gyms, dojo and swim schools, daycares and camps.
It is easy to use and has more features than any of its competitors. Even with all the features - it is web-based, fully secure, backed-up and supported 24/7 in the same facility as Piedmont Natural Gas, Lending Tree and many other Fortune 1000 or above companies.
But the coolest are the Jackrabbit videos. Go to www.jackrabbitclass.com and click on Videos. Take a look at any of the 28 videos that Jackrabbit offers free of charge from the site...
See how easy the software is to use? You can't mess up with this stuff! These guys have truly done this right!

The vidoes are available because Jackrabbit believes that the best way for its customers to learn the software is to have access to easy to understand help anytime they want to get to it. This also happens to be a genius way to market the software because anyone who looks, can see how "friendly" the software is. And what's better? No one has to wait on customer service to help train or explain!!

Check it out! Especially if you ahve one of the above-noted types of businesses....