Want to know what all the buzz is about? Be the first to see how Windows 7 can simplify your PC and your life. After years in the making Microsoft is proud to launch their new operating system, Windows 7.

Come get a firsthand look at Windows 7 at October’s Technology Thursdays. Join X-BAR, the Greater Seattle Chamber, and Microsoft for:

• A live demo of Windows 7
• The opportunity to try Windows 7 out for yourself at our live demo stations
• Complimentary lunch and valuable networking
• The opportunity to ask Microsoft Partners questions about upgrading your system
• The chance to win great prizes—including a copy of Windows 7

Event Details

Date: Thursday, October 22
Time: noon – 1:30 p.m. (includes lunch)
Location: Rainier Square Conference Center, 1333 5th Ave., Seattle 98101
Cost: Free (pre-registration required)

Register today >>

Becoming a Gold Certified Partner represents an important milestone for our growth as an IT services company and earning this designation required us to demonstrate expertise and success in a number of areas. In addition to earning the Networking Infrastructure Solutions and Information Worker Solutions competencies and becoming a certified Small Business Specialist, we were also required to submit client references for projects we have completed and allow Microsoft to survey our clients’ satisfaction with the services and solutions we provide.

By achieving this status, Microsoft provides a number of tools and resources that allow us to better serve our clients, including:

• Technical Advisory Services: phone and e-mail support from Microsoft technical consultants, who recommend best practices, answer deployment questions, and provide insight about products and solutions.
• Professional Support Incidents: access to Microsoft support professionals by phone.
• Business-Critical Phone Support: no-charge technical phone support for all Microsoft technologies and solutions during server-down or other critical customer situations.
• Issue Resolution: a dedicated team we can escalate client support issues.

As we look toward the last quarter of 2009 and into 2010, we are excited to continue our work with Microsoft and to further deepen the relationship with one of our most important technology partners.

For the past 25 years, the awards program has recognized businesses for their contribution to the city’s economic vitality and quality of life. Each year, ten companies are selected on the basis of excellence in management, entrepreneurial spirit, customer service, and community involvement.

Past recipients include Starbucks (1984), Uwajimaya (1984), Ezell’s Fried Chicken (1989), Dilettante (1990), City People’s Mercantile (1993), and Macrina Bakery & Café (2008).

An awards ceremony will take place next Tuesday, October 13, from 5:30 to 8:00 at Town Hall Seattle (1119 Eighth Ave). Reception starts at 5:30 pm. Hearty appetizers and dessert will be served. No host bar. The formal program, including special videos on all ten winners, starts at 6:30 pm in the Grand Hall.

Tickets for the reception are available for purchase at Brown Paper Tickets – join us if you can!

2009 Mayor’s Small Business Award Recipients

Alki Kayak Tours

Greg & Kara Whittaker – (206) 953-0237
1660 Harbor Avenue SW
West Seattle
www.kayakalki.com

Spurred by their love of exploring the natural beauty of the West Seattle peninsula, Greg and Kara Whittaker founded Alki Kayak Tours in 2005 with the goal of getting paddlers on the waters of the Puget Sound. Their sea kayak touring business, which began with one primary guide and one small fleet of kayaks, now employs twelve people seasonally and will get more than one hundred people paddling on Elliott Bay on a busy day. In addition to sea kayak tours that explore the natural history and human history of Puget Sound, the company also provides kayak, inline skate, bike, and fishing boat rentals overlooking the Seattle skyline. Alki Kayak Tours’ use of non-polluting human powered watercraft, plus adherence to environmental best management practices, embodies the Whittakers’ dedication to sustainable business practices as well as the conservation and preservation of Puget Sound. Their tours were recently voted “Best Way to View the Seattle Skyline” in the Seattle Weekly’s Best of 2009 Issue.

Annie’s Nannies

Annie Davis & Suzanne Royer McCone – (206) 784-8462
2236 NW 58th Street, Suite 101
Ballard
www.anihouseholdstaffing.com

Annie Davis founded Annie’s Nannies in 1984 in response to a need for nanny placement agencies in the Northwest. In its twenty-five years in business, Annie’s Nannies has grown from a one-person, part-time operation into an agency that employs five full time staff-and has located jobs for thousands of others-while setting industry-wide best practices in domestic employment. Annie and her daughter, Suzanne Royer McCone, along with their wonderful staff, have perfected the art of matching nannies and families in the greater Puget Sound Area. Employees and job-seekers at Annie’s Nannies are treated as a vital resource, where all are valued and rewarded. Annie’s Nannies is active in their community, contributing to schools and local fundraisers. With honesty and integrity as integral values, Annie’s Nannies strives to ensure that “every child under a nanny’s care is safe, happy, and constantly learning.” They are the industry experts!

Ballard Sip & Ship / Greenwood Sip & Ship

Stephen & Diana Naramore – (206) 789-4488
1752 NW Market Street
Ballard, Greenwood
www.sipandship.com

Stephen and Diana Naramore founded Ballard Sip & Ship in 2002 as a one-stop-shop for shipping and mailing, espresso drinks and snacks, and one-of-a-kind gifts, inspired in part by another small local business, the Queen Anne Mail & Dispatch. Now at two locations in Ballard and Greenwood, Sip & Ship provides a genuine community gathering place where customers can shop, mingle, and connect. Both stores are deeply invested in their surrounding neighborhoods, donating their popular custom-made neighborhood gear (t-shirts, hoodies, hats) and sustainably-roasted coffee to local schools and organizations. Many of the stores’ cards and gifts, as well as sandwiches, donuts, and other snacks, are sourced from other local businesses-another way that Sip & Ship invests in the Seattle business community. Exemplary, personalized customer service and community building are Sip & Ship’s core values. Dedicated patrons describe the business as “an old-time general store updated for the 21st century” and “what a neighborhood hang-out is all about.”

Cupcake Royale and Vérité Coffee

Jody Hall – (206) 782-9557
2052 NW Market Street
Ballard, Capitol Hill, Madrona, West Seattle
www.cupcakeroyale.com

Craving a red velvet, salted caramel, or peppermint party cupcake-and an espresso drink to match? Jody Hall’s Cupcake Royale and Vérité Coffee (Vérité Ventures, Inc.) have just what you need. Founded in 2003 with only seven employees, Jody now operates four funky neighborhood locations in Ballard, Capitol Hill, Madrona, and West Seattle. In addition to supplying Seattle with its favorite food addictions, Jody has advocated in Washington, D.C. for health care reform that would make it easier for small businesses to buy affordable and comprehensive insurance for employees – one way she makes sure that her staff shares in the rewards of her business. A daily huddle among managers and employees ensures that everyone in the organization is on the same page, from company sales goals to customer service strategies. Giving back to the community is paramount as well; last year, they donated over 25,000 cupcakes to local organizations, schools, and children’s charities, helping raise an estimated $200,000 for various programs throughout Puget Sound.

Gravity Payments

Dan Price & Lucas Price – (866) 701-4700
1434 Elliott Avenue W., Suite C
Interbay
www.gravitypayments.com

Dan Price co-founded Gravity Payments in 2004 as a 19-year-old freshman at Seattle Pacific University with his brother Lucas. After working in payments processing in high school, Dan realized the need for a small-business-friendly payment processing company that could negotiate rates and service with vendors. By providing around-the-clock availability and high-quality service, Gravity Payments has since grown from two employees to a staff of forty-two, and has saved its business customers approximately 20 million dollars in credit card processing fees. Through its charitable giving program “Gravity Gives,” Gravity Payments donates a generous 10% of its annual profit to organizations that focus on air quality initiatives, services for needy family and children, and global poverty. Looking to the future, Dan hopes that Gravity Payments will one day be the dominant credit card processor in the Northwest, while maintaining its original values of transparency, fairness, and outstanding customer service.

Nyhus Communications LLC

Roger Nyhus – (206) 323-3733
1525 Fourth Avenue, Suite 400
Downtown
www.nyhus.com

Nyhus Communications specializes in communications and advocacy for the innovation economy. With a visible commitment to community involvement, the firm provides strategic public relations, public affairs and digital media services to organizations pursuing their businesses and missions in original ways. Since starting the firm in 1994, CEO and President Roger Nyhus and his team have provided candid counsel to organizations operating at the intersection of business, government and the community to bring about positive changes in the world. Despite a downturn in the economy, Nyhus has aggressively grown in the areas of technology, health care and global health, international economic development, real estate, and plans to open its first satellite office in Washington, D.C. next year. Employee retention, career development and continual learning are pillars of the company, which provides staff with personal and professional guidance, as well as robust support packages and flexible schedules. Dedicated to serving the community that has allowed it to grow, Nyhus donates generous amounts of pro bono work, consultation and money to local causes, and supports employees’ leadership roles in community and professional organizations.

Schemata Workshop

Mike Mariano & Grace Kim – (206) 285-1589
1720 12th Avenue, #3
Capitol Hill
www.schemataworkshop.com

Husband and wife team Grace Kim and Mike Mariano founded their full-service architectural practice, Schemata Workshop, in 2004, after twelve years working in Seattle and Chicago. The firm takes its name from the singular ’schema’ or framework, emphasizing an integrated and collaborative approach to the environment, professional practice, community building, and design. Schemata Workshop’s design work reflects a simple, restrained elegance, material integrity, and is informed by the firm’s clients, the surrounding environment and existing conditions. Open communication, employee mentorship, and collaboration with area firms are important. Recognizing the role and potential for the positive impact of their practice, Schemata Workshop works with clients to develop communities that emphasize a holistic view of social, ecological and economic sustainability.

SH Worldwide

H. S. Wright III, Greg Gillard, & Tony Kutch – (206) 623.2090
100 Dexter Avenue N., Suite 502
South Lake Union
www.shworldwide.com>

Rated by Washington CEO Magazine as one of the state’s Top 100 Best Companies to Work For (2007-2008) and the winner of the Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility (2008-2009), SH Worldwide is a product of three prominent Seattle event services and destination management companies. The merger, in 2008, formed one of the most comprehensive event management firms on the West coast. Owners H.S. Wright III, Greg Gillard, and Tony Kutch embraced this strategic merger as a way to provide exceptional customer service with a focus on business integrity, creativity, efficiency, sustainability and profitability. To ensure that their customer service is the best in the hospitality industry, SH Worldwide employs a team of experienced event managers and utilizes online management tools that streamline their interactions with clients to provide smooth and efficient service. Truly “event driven,” the company’s many corporate events and tour programs showcase Seattle’s food, coffee, cruises, nature, arts, vineyards, and venues – driving not only SH Worldwide’s business, but many other local businesses as well.

Shen Consulting, Inc.

Albert Shen – (206) 228-1364
1029 Belmont Avenue E., #201
Capitol Hill
www.shenconsulting.com

Shen Consulting, Inc., founded by University of Washington graduate Albert Shen in 2000, specializes in private, institutional, and government program and project delivery of large infrastructure projects. Based in Seattle’s Capitol Hill, the Washington state certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) provides diverse services to businesses using an established network of analysts, architects, planners, engineers and contractors. Delivering results on time and under budget is a priority for the company, which has recently worked on the Port of Seattle Sea-Tac Airport Capital Improvement Program and the Port of Seattle Marine Terminal Expansion Improvements. Although the boutique firm remains small, the company nearly doubled its revenue between fiscal years 2008 and 2009. Dedicated to the community that fosters its growth, Shen also supports multiple local fundraisers through corporate contributions and donations of auction items.

X-BAR

Brad Benner – (206) 264-XBAR
219 First Avenue S., #420
Pioneer Square
www.xbarit.com

In 2002, as the cloud of the dot-com crash hung over the IT industry, Brad Benner did something a little unusual: he founded an IT company, X-BAR, which empowers small- and medium-sized companies to flourish through the strategic use of information technologies. What began as a tiny creative technology company with one employee has since grown into a thriving IT services firm that focuses on strategic consulting, technology implementation, and ongoing support services. X-BAR rejects the typical IT model of “break/fix” support in favor of a strategic, proactive, and comprehensive approach to managing IT. Specialized tools and a close relationship with clients enable X-BAR to provide unparalleled service with an emphasis on fairness, positive action, quality, transparency, and business sustainability. X-BAR’s participation in the Seattle Climate Partnership and the Seattle Climate Action Now campaign, together with its dedication to green and energy-efficient IT practices, embody the company’s commitment to sustainable business and unparalleled IT support in the Seattle community.

I found a way to trick Excel into opening a second spreadsheet in another window, here’s how:

1. Open your first Excel file as you would normally.
2. Select File > Open, then browse to the second file you would like to open.
3. Right-click the second file and select Open.
4. The second file will open in its own Excel window and then you can move the window to your second display and view both spreadsheets side-by-side.

Powerit Solutions provides intelligent energy management systems for industrial and commercial applications.   Their hardware/software technology, Spara EMS, helps customers manage their energy usage, reduce their power demand, and realize significant energy cost savings without compromising production, safety, quality or comfort.  Headquartered just down the street from us in Pioneer Square and with offices throughout the U.S. as well as Sweden, Powerit’s mission is to help commercial and industrial facilities worldwide control power demand for both economic and social benefit, believing the most sustainable solution is to lower overall energy demand by delivering smarter energy consumption solutions.

X-BAR 7th Anniversary Birthday Cake

Thank you to all who braved the Pioneer Square traffic to join us for our 7th anniversary party last week. We celebrated with friends, clients, and colleagues in French style – complete with wine and hors d’œuvres, fake mustaches, and a magician-mime. Check out photos from the party on Facebook.

Presenting speakers include Fred Studer, General Manager of Microsoft Information Worker Products and social media veterans Chris Brogan and Julien Smith co-authors of Trust Agents.

Preview the latest and greatest technology–including a live demo of Windows 7 and Office 2010. Microsoft Partners will also be there to answer any of your burning technology questions.

X-BAR Principal, Brad Benner, will take part in a panel discussion, Tell Me Something Good: Communicating your business plan, focused on how to effectively market your brand and your company’s mission.

Register online today >>

The prevailing model of waiting until something breaks and then calling the IT support company – aptly named “break/fix” – just doesn’t work. The disruptions, downtime, loss of productivity, and expense – all too common under this reactive model – are simply unacceptable, especially in today’s business environment. Yet, every day small businesses turn to IT support companies that only provide reactive service and suffer the consequences

• Problems are remediated when they become catastrophic events that result in downtime and lost productivity, frustrating business owners and staff.
• Resolving an IT issue when a disruption has occurred is innately difficult and costly.
• It’s easy to make poor decisions when the pressure is on—shortsighted decisions focus on relieving the immediate pain, and often create longer term headaches that then cause even more downtime and disruption.
• IT costs are unpredictable because you never know what’s about to break. This unpredictability in turns causes cash flow problems.
• Very little planning and thinking goes into the system beyond what is perceived as the most immediate need. Systems are implemented without a clear strategy, which leads to instability and ultimately doesn’t provide much value to the actual business.
• The IT support company is rewarded when you experience downtime and has no real incentive to prevent problems from occurring in the first place.

Reactive "Break/fix" Model

The reactive “break/fix” model creates what we call the “negative feedback loop” which disrupts business and destroys productivity.

So, what’s the solution? Managed services.

“Managed services” means taking a proactive and comprehensive approach to managing your IT environment.

At X-BAR, we accomplish this through a combination of people, process, and technology to holistically manage your company’s technology, rather than just responding to the technology crisis at-hand. Specialized tools allow us to monitor and manage your network, servers, and workstations. Standardized processes and best practices ensure consistent results over time. And a dedicated support team and helpdesk are available to respond quickly when issues do come up, using remote support tools to solve issues right from our own office. The result is more stable systems, reduced IT support costs, and higher staff productivity.

X-BAR’s Proactive Managed Services

Our proactive, managed services approach to IT support reverses the “negative feedback loop” and allows companies to stay focused on the success of their core business.

Contact us today to find out how a managed services approach to IT support can dramatically improve your relationship with technology.

Recorded Thursday, April 16, 2009, as part of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce Technology Thursday series.

Description

More than ever before, small businesses need their investments in technology to yield the rewards that are promised. The most important first step to making this happen is partnering with the right company, yet every day companies form sub-optimal partnerships that undermine the long-term success of their technology strategy and their business.

Researching, interviewing, and selecting an IT company is a daunting and uncertain task for many businesses, especially with the cloak of mystery, air of knowledge superiority, and lack of transparency that often surrounds technology and technology consultants.

During this 60-minute presentation, X-BAR Founder and Principal Brad Benner will teach you simple and effective strategies for selecting and hiring and the right IT company, how to avoid common pitfalls, and how to work together successfully over time so that you can stay focused on your core business.

Slides

Follow along with the presentation’s accompanying PowerPoint slide deck, by completing this form.

It’s a free event for new and existing business owners and features over 50 non-profit and government agencies that support small enterprise and over 40 seminars focusing on marketing, financing, import/export, record keeping, legal issues, taxes and licensing, building a web site and more.

For more information, visit the Biz Fair website.