Uptime IT Systems Inc., a leading provider of technology solutions for small businesses announced yesterday that it has acquired the Charlotte, NC based managed service provider, Microvations, Inc. This transaction augments Uptime with a local presence in the Charlotte market, new customers from a variety of industries, and a new member of the management team. Microvations president and CEO Chris Leach joins Uptime as Vice President of Operations.

“I am excited to join a growing technology solutions provider,” said Leach, “and confident that the strengthened combined entity will provide substantial value to our client base.”

The transition is expected to be seamless for customers of both companies. Uptime is committed to maintaining a local presence in Charlotte while providing Microvations clients with access to its Pittsburgh-based helpdesk and NOC services.

“We are constantly working to improve both the strength and the range of our service offerings,” said Sean Waters, President and CEO of Uptime IT Systems. “The acquisition of Microvations will enhance our operations and accelerate our strategy of growth. We look forward to welcoming Microvations customers to the Uptime family.”

About Uptime IT Systems
Uptime IT Systems Inc. is a technology services company providing IT services to small and medium businesses including IT outsourcing agreements, compliance & security services, and backup & disaster recovery solutions.

About Microvations
Founded in 1999, Microvations, Inc. is a technology management company offering proactive support services that help clients enhance profitability, increase employee morale, and achieve excellence. Microvations customers include small and medium businesses in a variety of industries that include construction, manufacturing, and healthcare.

Source: Uptime IT Systems
Contact Information: Sean Waters sean@uptimeit.net 412-307-1800

 As part of a marketing audit conducted by Virtual Edge Collaborative, Pittsburgh’s first and only virtual marketing firm (www.virtualedgeonline.com), it was concluded that the long-time lodging and events destination needed be more appropriately positioned in the marketplace. Inclusive in a larger marketing plan initiative, Virtual Edge Collaborative helped rename and rebrand Penn Scenic View to become Scenic View Cabins and Lodges in the Laurel Highlands. The goal was to clearly present Scenic View as a venue in the Laurel Highlands that offers first-class, but affordable, cabin and lodge rentals for both overnight stay and events purposes. In addition to providing accommodations, the property is also ideal and fully equipped for weddings, reunions, family occasions and corporate outings/retreats. The components of this rebranding included a new name, logo and stationery system. The logo showcases a large lookout tower, which was sketched and colorized based on the actual lookout tower that sits prominently on the property overlooking the Rockwood, Pennsylvania valley. Additionally, a new capabilities brochure, website, postcard and other marketing materials are also being created by Virtual Edge Collaborative for Scenic View in the coming months for added support.

“We have wanted to do this for a long time. We are excited to reveal our new name and look to our customers, staff and the general public. We think it really achieves everything we are about,” said Stephen Varga, Chairman of the Board, Scenic View Cabins and Lodges in the Laurel Highlands.

About Scenic View:
Scenic View is a 180-acre lodging and events destination located in the Laurel Highlands, just minutes from Pittsburgh’s two major ski resorts and vacation spots, (Seven Springs and Hidden Valley). The property is surrounded by natural beauty in a serene setting in Rockwood, PA, a borough of Somerset County. Among its many attributes are breathtaking panoramic views/private lake, clean and spacious lodging accommodations, ample special events facilities, close proximity to a host of activities and attractions and a value that is unmatched to any comparable local destination. For more information, please call 412.231.2979 (ext. 103) or email sevans@scenicviewpa.com.

Source: Virtual Edge Collaborative

California University of Pennsylvania will host the unveiling of Roboni-i, a revolutionary robotics toy produced by Robonica, at Carnegie Science Center on Saturday, November 21. 

The toy is the world’s first programmable gaming robot and features 360-degree movement, 16 sensors, and four processors. Roboni-i navigates itself, avoids obstacles, plays games, does tricks, and interacts with its environment. Customizable and pre-loaded with games, kids and adults can play alone with the robot or against others, create their own games, and download ones that other people invent. 

“At the Science Center, and in particularly with roboworld™, we are committed to providing our visitors with tangible ways to learn more about robotics and the wide array of applications for these technologies,” said Co-Director Ron Baillie. “Roboni-i has the potential to make an impact on various fields of robotics, and this is a great opportunity for visitors to get up-close to the first robot toy of its kind.” 

Representatives from Robonica will be at the Science Center from 10 am to 4 pm, during which time visitors can learn more about the toy and try it out for themselves. Robonica is pioneering a new high-growth robotic gaming category in an attempt to redefine the entertainment robotics market. Roboni-i is the first in a series of products that will highlight advanced robotics technologies and interactive software. 

“Roboni-i is a fusion of interactive game-play and real-world robotics—a novel combination with instant mass appeal that will elevate robotic entertainment to a new dimension,” said Tom Dusenberry, president of Robonica. “We are excited to bring this new and unprecedented product to the hands of visitors at Carnegie Science Center.” 

Cal U has formed a relationship with Robonica in order to demonstrate its commitment to world class partnerships with global companies and its mission to explore and provide experiences in state-of-the-art robotics technology. 

“The Roboni-i robot is very cool both in function and appearance,” said Mike Amrhein, assistant director and outreach coordinator of Cal U’s National Center for Robotics Engineering Technology Education. “Its ‘edutainment’ concept allows the user to participate in virtual applications and simulations with folks from anywhere in the world. These kinds of applications are what our robotics students research while preparing to contribute to and take part of the exciting world of agile robotics, and it’s a great opportunity for Science Center visitors.” 

Roboni-i will be available in the Science Center’s XPLOR Store the day of the event. All Robonica products are CE- and FCC-certified and meet the U.S. voluntary toy safety standard ASTM F963 Standard Consumer Safety Specification on Toy Safety. More information about Roboni-i can be found at http://www.robonica.com/pdf/RoboniiSpecSheet1.3.pdf.

Wellspring Worldwide, LLC and the Flintbox Innovation Network today announced that Wellspring will acquire Flintbox, the leading online global intellectual property exchange. Flintbox is being acquired from UBC Research Enterprise (UBCRE), a wholly owned, for-profit subsidiary of the University of British Columbia. Additional terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Flintbox, based in Vancouver, is a spin‐out of the University of British Columbia and represents a strategic addition to Wellspring’s existing online software product business. The acquisition will extend Wellspring’s Technology Gateway product, to encompass over 160 universities, government labs, and companies able to post, exchange, license, and purchase technologies online.

Wellspring announced plans to further develop the Flintbox platform into an “Open Innovation Network,” incorporating technology from other Wellspring software products to provide an enhanced system for universities and companies to collaborate on research and commercialization agreements.

The Open Innovation Network will enable partner organizations to manage online material transfer agreements, multi‐institution disclosures, and bundled marketing and licensing. “Combining Flintbox and Wellspring represents one of the most exciting advances to the business of technology transfer and research commercialization in a decade,” said Robert Lowe, Chief Executive Officer of Wellspring. “Our complimentary client bases create a network of the leading research organizations across Asia, Australia, North America, and Europe.”

“We are very excited about combining efforts with Wellspring. The two companies are strategically aligned and there are great synergies that will be realized going forward.” said Stephen Smith, President of the Flintbox Innovation Network.

Wellspring management said the combined business will continue under the Flintbox brand name and maintain operations based in Vancouver. Additional support will be provided for North America clients from Wellspring’s Pittsburgh headquarters and for Europe, Asia, and Australia clients from Wellspring’s Cambridge, UK offices.

CA, Inc., The School of Business Administration at Oakland University, and the School of Information Systems and Management at Carnegie Mellon University’s H. John Heinz III College will hold a Regional Case Competition on Friday, November, 13, 2009. The winning student team will be invited to compete against teams from around the world at the second International Case Competition on the Strategic Value of IT Management, held in conjunction with CA’s user conference, CA World 2010 in Las Vegas, May 15-17, 2010.

Bringing together students from leading Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Information Systems (MIS) programs from local universities, the competition will enable students to evaluate and demonstrate the strategic value of IT management to contribute to the success of organizations. Prior to arriving at the competition venue, the teams will be provided with a case study of a company that is in the throes of change. They research and evaluate the organization’s challenges, and give recommendations on how to adapt and align technology to better support the changing business environment. 

Each team is comprised of three graduate students, with at least one student pursuing a degree in information technology (IT) or information systems.

• What:    Regional Case Competition will determine one finalist team to     participate at the second International Case Competition on the Strategic Value of IT Management, which will be held in conjunction with CA’s user conference, CA World 2010 in Las Vegas.  Teams from the following universities are registered for the Regional Case Competition: Carnegie Mellon, The College of William and Mary, Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Cincinnati, and the University of Pittsburgh.

• When:   Friday, November 13, 2009, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

• Where:  Holiday Inn University Center, Pittsburgh, PA.

The International Case Competition on the Strategic Value of IT Management brings together students from business and information technology disciplines to demonstrate and evaluate the strategic value of IT management for an organization. This competition is sponsored by CA, the School of Business Administration at Oakland University, Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona, and Indiana University.

About CA
CA, the world’s leading independent IT management software company, helps customers optimize IT for better business results. CA’s Enterprise IT Management solutions for mainframe and distributed computing enable Lean IT—empowering organizations to more effectively govern, manage and secure their IT operations. For more information, visit www.ca.com.

4CDesignWorks, an interactive marketing and communications division of 4CTechnologies, recently won MarCom’s Gold Award for their Spring 2009 technology event and creative package. 4CDesignWorks entry included direct mail, email blasts, press packages, PowerPoint presentations, a complete program “passport” and directional signs. All creative tactics utilized the flight/airline theme of the event – ONBOARD’09 – and the event was held high above Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers, at the prestigious Le Mont Restaurant. This marketing activity was developed for 4CTechnologies and sponsored by IBM and Ingram Micro.

MarCom is an international award competition for marketing and communication professionals involved in the concept, writing and design of marketing and communication programs, print, visual and audio materials.

4CDesignWorks offers professional creative services to clients elevating interests in marketing performance and gaining a competitive advantage in the marketplace.  4CTechnologies is a Pittsburgh-based business consulting and software engineering firm specializing in IT-based innovation, application development and application integration.

ANSYS, Inc., a global innovator of simulation software and technologies designed to optimize product development processes, said it has become an official sponsor of Astrobotic Technology Inc.’s Tranquility Trek™ mission, which involves developing a rocket-launched robot as part of the Google Lunar X PRIZE competition. As sponsor, ANSYS is providing its multiphysics engineering simulation software in the development of the robot, lander and payload adapter as the company races to become the first privately funded team to reach the Moon.

Through the use of tools from ANSYS, Astrobotic Technology is simulating the effectiveness of machinery and materials performance under extreme fluctuations in lunar conditions — all to be conducted prior to sending the robot to the Moon. The project will pave the way for human exploration and eventual tapping of lunar resources for export to Earth.

The Google Lunar X PRIZE is a $30 million competition to encourage privately funded teams to send a robot to the Moon, travel 500 meters, and transmit video, images and data back to the Earth. U.S.-based Astrobotic is one of 21 teams from around the world participating in the competition. The company, which has identified a 2011 launch date, already is field-testing prototype Moon robots.

“This is a race after all, so we are leveraging engineering simulation software from ANSYS to keep moving at warp speed,” said David Gump, president of Astrobotic Technology Inc. “We are applying the software to find the lowest-cost, lightest-weight designs for our robots and the deep-space transfer stages that will deliver them from Earth’s orbit to the Moon. ANSYS® technology enables us to examine alternative structures and materials to rapidly find the most effective combinations via simulation, before we build physical prototypes.”

The current economic climate doesn’t mean companies can’t succeed. It just means the WAY a company succeeds has its own unique challenges.

Hear the real-world experiences of entrepreneurs from today, the lessons learned going from start-up to success story, and the research and best practices that will help YOU get growing. You will hear first from a broadcast from MIT that is presented in association with NASDAQ OMX in celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week. Introductory remarks from MIT President Susan Hockfield are followed by a panel discussion that includes:

• Bo Fishback, VP of Entrepreneurship at the Ewing Marion Kauffman
• Helen Greiner’89, SM ‘90, CEO, The Droid Works
• Daphne Zohar, Founder, Managing Partner, PureTech Ventures

Moderator Dennis S. Meteny is President and CEO of Cygnus Manufacturing Company LLC.  Meteny is a former Executive in Residence with The Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse and a former President and Board Member of TissueInformatics Inc., a privately-held life sciences company in the medical imaging sector.
 
Panelists will include:

• Matt Harbaugh, the Chief Investment Officer of Innovation Works (IW)
• Don A. Linzer, JD, LLM, CFP®  shareholder at Schneider Downs since 1985
• Mike Maggs of Payroll Solutions

Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 

Time: 5:30 p.m. Registration and networking. Light buffet served. 6:30 p.m. Program begins.

Location: Pittsburgh Golf Club, 5280 Northumberland Street, Pittsburgh, 15217 (just off Forbes on Northumberland Street, next to Schenley Park). 
 
Get all of the details right here. 

What if you could confidently test an idea for a product in front of potential users? Based on this feedback, how would you like the ability to reconfigure ideas immediately?  You’ll be able to generate more concepts in each meeting. 

Designers at Bright Innovation have created the Bright Tools Workshop to help you do just that and more. The first of this series – “Prototyping for Pennies” – will demonstrate how the designers at Bright create and change concepts quickly and easily.

This rapid prototyping exercise concentrates on creating concepts using inexpensive materials and imploring interviewees to use their imagination to think creatively. This particular method enables a user to test many configurations of a design with potential end users. The key to this method is education and collaboration with your potential consumers to draw insights from valuable feedback.

The workshop is set for Wednesday, November 11, 2009, from  8:30 – 11:30am.

Get all of the details right here.