Technology Alliance Group NW (TAG NW) News

Cloud City Hosting Offers Peace of Mind With a New Cloud Server Backup Package

Sommer Cronck — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:03:46 GMT

For Immediate Release:

Contact:

Kelsey Milligan

FiberCloud Inc.

206-453-6426

kelsey.milligan@fibercloud.com

Cloud City Hosting Offers Peace of Mind With a New Cloud Server Backup Package

Cloud City Hosting pairs Server Backup with Cloud Servers for Protection Against Data Loss

Seattle, WA, May 11, 2012 Cloud City Hosting announces today, a new package that bundles Online Server Backup with Cloud Servers for increased data security and disaster recovery for small businesses. Cloud City Hosting announces the addition of the package as a way for small businesses across the nation increase to data protection in the event of system failure, human error or disaster.

Cloud City Hosting¹s Online Server Backup is easy to use. It runs quietly in the background at custom-set intervals securing digital assets for peace of mind. Online Server Backup helps ensure that files and data are backed-up in a separate, highly secure data center away from the Cloud Server to for an extra layer of diversity and protection.

Cloud Servers and the Cloud Server Backup packages are currently available to Cloud City Hosting customers for Linux and Windows though Cloud City Hosting¹s cloud computing platform which was created to give small businesses access to enterprise grade solutions at affordable costs with the ability to scale.

"We think it¹s important to make an additional layer of security and backup available to our customers so that businesses have the peace of mind that their files and data in the cloud are safe and recoverable," said Susan DeFlorio, COO of Cloud City Hosting.

Online Server Backup allows users to easily recover data so in the event of a loss business can quickly restore data and minimize downtime. Users have the flexibility to set backup intervals, manage the amount of bandwidth used and the choice to recover all or select files.

Cloud City Hosting stores data backed up from Cloud Servers in a separate, secure, SAS 70 Type II audited data center facility. Geographic diversity, the military grade 256-bit end-to-end encryption, and custom user backup intervals afford businesses a highly secure and fault tolerant backup solution.

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About Cloud City Hosting

Cloud City Hosting is a provider of cloud computing services scaled for small business. Cloud City Hosting provides cloud computing accessibility to small businesses, offering enterprise-class cloud software at affordable prices and eliminating long-term service contracts. Cloud City Hosting maintains highly secure data centers, which have successfully passed the stringent SAS 70 Type II audit and earned the MSP Alliance Unified Certification Standard Certification. Learn more about Cloud City Hosting at www.cloudcityhosting.com, email info@cloudcityhosting.com or call 877.448.8227.

VSH to Host Seminar: Doing Business in the U.S.

Anastasia Kirsch — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:08:30 GMT

Is Your Business Expanding to the U.S.?

The cross-border tax specialists at VSH, PLLC will host a seminar for Canadian accountants and business owners titled “Doing Business in the U.S.”

The seminar will be hosted at the Abercorn Inn, in Richmond, BC from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 15^th. Cost is $25 (US dollars) and includes lunch. Participants can register online at this link: http://doingbusinessintheus.eventbrite.com/.

The seminar will help our neighboring accountants in Canada and their business clients understand what it takes to expand business ventures across the border. Instructors include cross-border and international taxation specialists from VSH, President of International Market Access, Inc. Jim Pettinger, and Immigration Attorney Scott Railton of Chang and Boos. They will discuss what is involved for

Canadian businesses to:

Expand their business to include a U.S. location
Sell into the U.S. from Canada
Start a brand new venture in the U.S. as a Canadian

VSH is a dynamic and responsive full-service CPA firm located in the Barkley District of Bellingham. We proactively cultivate new ideas to further the business success of our clients. For more information, contact us at 360-734-8715 or visit us at www.vshcpa.com.

FiberCloud Adds Virtual Firewalls

Anastasia Kirsch — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:17:09 GMT

FiberCloud Adds Virtual Firewalls to Help Customers Manage Cloud Server Workloads

FiberCloud helps customers add secure cloud server networks with addition of flexible virtual firewall solutions

Seattle, WA, May 07, 2012 - FiberCloud Inc. a provider of cloud, colocation and connectivity services, announces today the addition of Virtual Firewall options for its Cloud Server solutions. FiberCloud is adding the Virtual Firewall options to help both Windows and Linux Cloud Server customers better manage secure and custom connections across multiple cloud servers.

Adding Virtual Firewall options to cloud servers gives FiberCloud customers more choices for secure computing between multiple Cloud Servers, enabling full control over network traffic. Virtual Firewalls enable customers to form secure connections while managing traffic, providing failover and the ability to move data between their own private network of cloud servers. FiberCloud also provides a Virtual Private Network (VPN) option with Cloud Servers for secure connectivity from their Cloud Servers to internal networks.

"We think that security and flexibility are crucial to our Cloud Server products," said Susan DeFlorio, COO at FiberCloud, Inc. "By adding this new Virtual Firewall option to our Cloud Servers, we're empowering customers with greater choices and greater freedom to access and move information across multiple Cloud Servers."

FiberCloud's new Virtual Firewalls are available with FiberCloud's Cloud Servers to increase perimeter protection without software installation on the server itself. The Virtual Firewalls are available to current and new Cloud Server customers to regulate network access. The choice between Virtual Firewalls and VPN allows customers their choice of protocols for managing information across Cloud Server networks.

All of FiberCloud's products are secured and managed by a team of experts to maintain hardware and software to help ensure around the clock availability. FiberCloud's products come with a 99.99% service level agreement ensuring high uptime through Cloud Server networks.

About FiberCloud

FiberCloud, Inc. is a leading provider of cloud, colocation, and connectivity services. Recognized as an outstanding service provider, FiberCloud offers the tools clients need to maximize efficiencies through best-in-class software solutions hosted in high quality data centers. FiberCloud's Cloud City Hosting provides cloud computing accessibility to small businesses, offering enterprise-class cloud software at affordable prices and eliminating long-term service contracts. FiberCloud maintains highly secure data centers, which have successfully passed the stringent SAS 70 Type II audit and earned the MSP Alliance UCS Certification.

Learn more about FiberCloud at http://www.fibercloud.com, Cloud City Hosting at www.cloudcityhosting.com, email info@fibercloud.com or call 877.926.3282.

A Moment of Thanks

Sommer Cronck — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:07:42 GMT

I would like to take a moment to thank the many members, volunteers, sponsors and supporters who have been an asset to TAG since I came on board in December 2011. As you may already know, I am the sole employee of TAG, and without the help of the following people and organizations, TAG would not be the amazing organization that it is today.

Our Board of Directors: Robin Halliday, Paul Grey, Mark Knittel, Paul Hansra, Tom Lenderman, Dr. Brenda-Lee Karasik, Shawn Kemp, and Dr. Jeff Wright for your giving your guidance, expertise and time to TAG.

Our Association Sponsors: Alpha Technologies, DIS Corporation, VSH, FiberCloud, NW Business Monthly and Premier Graphics for believing in TAG and supporting our mission through your generosity and participation.

Our Partners: Several partner organizations in this community have been a huge asset to TAG and we greatly value their insight and support.

Our Volunteers and Committee Members: There are many members and volunteers who contribute through participation on committees and at TAG events. Each of them gives their time and talent to help guide TAG and serve its members to the best of its ability, and their participation does not go unnoticed.

While TAG has a great network of support, there are always opportunities to get involved. Whether it's through participation at our monthly programs, volunteering on a committee, sponsoring an event or sponsoring our association, we welcome your support and partnership.

Without our members, partners and tech community at large, we could not provide the services we do, so again... thank you.

With Gratitude,

Sommer Cronck, Executive Director

Technology Alliance Group (TAG) for Northwest Washington

www.tagnw.org

360-318-7710

TAG informs, represents, and connects Whatcom area technology businesses and professionals.

Pro CNC finalist for Manufacturer of the Year - Small

Sommer Cronck — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:45:07 GMT

Silver Awards
Pro CNC, Bellingham

Pro CNC got its start in 1997 when three Western Washington University graduates coming out of that school's Vehicle Research Institute decided they wanted to design and build the next generation of energy-efficient car. To do that, they reasoned, they first needed a machine shop to make components for the car and to bring in a little business on the side to keep the venture going.

The dream car is still on hold, but in the meantime, what Darcy Hughes, Paul Van Metre and Kelsey Heikoop have built is a 60-employee, $7.5 million-a-year machine shop, with specialties in production for the aerospace and electronics industries. The company has averaged annual growth of nearly 20 percent for the past three years. In addition to products it builds for others, Pro CNC has spun out a few of its own such as ProShop, software for managing a machine shop, which they've sold to other machine shops. They've also partnered with another Bellingham company, Theo Wanne, to make high-end clarinet and saxophone mouthpieces.

Seattle Business magazine, May 2012

Bellingham TechNight - Jobs, Networking, Refreshments, PRIZES!

Sommer Cronck — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:32:55 GMT

Bellingham TechNight is fast approaching! A few reminders and updates:

Pre-register - Save time at the door by pre-registering. It's FREE! Pre-register now!

Come prepared - Hiring managers will be present, so be sure to dress for success and bring copies of your current resume. Make your first impression a good one!

Register for the TAG Technology Job Board - If you haven't done so already, head over to http://jobs.tagnw.org and create your FREE job-seeker profile. This allows Bellingham TechNight employers to review your credentials in advance, and will be available to other local Whatcom County tech employers as future jobs become available.

Win a Kindle Fire!
In addition to the jobs, networking, appetizers, and information, we have plenty of great prizes available at Bellingham TechNight. Showing up is one way to win... pre-registering, bringing your resume, and registering at the job board are ways to get additional chances to win!

Be sure to spread the word to fellow job-seekers as pre-registration ends Thursday.

See you at Bellingham TechNight!

Sommer Cronck, Executive Director

Technology Alliance Group (TAG) for Northwest Washington

www.tagnw.org

360-318-7710

TAG informs, represents, and connects Whatcom area technology businesses and professionals.

TAG News: April 2012

Sommer Cronck — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:55:37 GMT

APRIL 2012

In this issue

	APRIL LUNCHEON - GET YOUR MATCH ON: FINDING AND KEEPING THE TALENT YOU NEED
	Bellingham TechNight - LAST CALL for Exhibitors
	NEW TAG JOB BOARD
	MEMBER OF THE MONTH
	UPCOMING Committee Meetings

Follow TAG

Technology Alliance Group NW (TAG NW)
http://www.tagnw.org/
1000 F Street, Suite 150B
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-318-7710

Member News

	VSH CPAs Hires Business Relations Manager Scott Petersen
	Cloud City Hosting Floats Customer Data into the Cloud
	CyberDefense Team Places Among Top Three Schools at Regional Competition
	FiberCloud Launches Solutions for Growing Drupal Innovator Community
	Sehome High School hoops-shooting robot heads to Seattle competition
	Nominations Now Open For Seattle Business Magazine's Tech Impact Awards 2012

If you have news to share with your local tech community, please contact sommer@tagnw.org with your press release. We'd love to share it with our friends and members via our website and social media outlets.

Upcoming TAG Events

April 20: TAG Luncheon

April 27: Bellingham TechNight

May 18: TAG Luncheon

June 15: TAG Luncheon

June 27: CEO Forum

View the TAG calendar online >>

Community Calendar

April 13: Improv for Education

April 19: WWU Spring Career Fair

April 27-28: The Future of Business: Strategies for Success in 2012

April 28: Linuxfest Northwest 2012

If you have an event to share with your local tech community, please contact sommer@tagnw.org with your event information. We'd love to share it with our friends and members via our website and social media outlets.

View the community calendar online >>

New Members

We would like to recognize and thank the following individuals and businesses for joining TAG in March:

	Premier Graphics
	SteptimeWare LLC
	Brian Rowerdink and Kim Whitkop, Lucid Consulting
	Doug Dickinson, Bellingham Public Library
	Madeline Sheplor, Bellingham Public Library
	Trevor Lukanen, Cyberpunkhero Interactive Media
	Dana Rozier, Dot Dot Books
	Lisa Zehm

Please visit our member directory to learn more about your fellow members.

Job Board

TAG hosts a Job Board at jobs.tagnw.org and Business level members can log in and post their local job opportunities. Email jobs@tagnw.org to have an account created, then help us help you by posting today!

April Luncheon - Get Your Match On: Finding and Keeping the Talent You Need

Join us on Friday, April 20th at Best Western PLUS Lakeway Inn for a presentation by Meg Greenfield, Interim Director of the Center for Economic Vitality.

Marketing your company and its job vacancies is a lot like dating. How can you be successful in attracting qualified candidates... and keeping them?

Meg will talk to participants about how to write the "story of you" for your company and use that information to attract and retain employees. Examine and find your unique culture, learn how to have a good "first date" when meeting a candidate and more.

Registration closes April 16, so register now!

Sponsored By:

This space available! Sponsors receive two free attendees, an info table at the event and ~5 minutes to speak to our participants before the meeting. Contact Sommer at sommer@tagnw.org to put your name here!

Bellingham TechNight - LAST CALL for Exhibitors

Meet and Recruit Qualified Technology Professionals Face-To-Face!

Friday, April 27th, 2012 from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Fox Hall at Hampton Inn Bellingham-Airport, 3985 Bennett Drive, Bellingham, WA

There are just a few tables left and all reservations MUST be made by Friday, April 13th for inclusion in Bellingham TechNight. Email sommer@tagnw.org TODAY to reserve your place.

Bellingham TechNight returns on April 27th, hosted in conjunction with the largest technology conference in northwest Washington – Linuxfest NW. Now in its fourth year, Bellingham TechNight attracted over 280 participants in 2011 and promises to be even bigger and better in 2012!

Visit our Bellingham TechNight website for information for both Exhibitors/Employers and Job-Seekers at http://www.BellinghamTechNight.com

Title Sponsor:

NEW TAG Job Board

It's here! TAG has a NEW Job Board at http://jobs.tagnw.org

Job-Seekers:
Did you know that Whatcom County is 8th in the State for technology jobs? And when it comes to the smaller regions, we're number one! We may not be Seattle, but who needs the congestion of big-city life when you can have the tech job you've dreamed of and still have time to hit the slopes or waterfront after work? We've got the quality of life AND the careers, so create your free login to upload your resume, subscribe to job post updates, and apply for jobs now! http://jobs.tagnw.org

Employers:
TAG Business Members and Bellingham TechNight exhibitors get a FREE employer login that allows you to post jobs and review resumes in the database. Subscribe to resume updates via email and be the first in line to know who's for hire in technology today. Take advantage of our WTIA cross-promotion and extensive marketing today! Email jobs@tagnw.org to get your employer login and get started.

Member of the Month

Congratulations to ViTech, our April Member of the Month! Read our ViTech interview here.

If you would like to see your business as the Member of the Month, please email sommer@tagnw.org

Upcoming Committee Meetings

Marketing Committee: Tuesday, April 10 at 2:30 PM at the TAG Office (1000 F Street)

Events Committee: Friday, April 13 at 1:30 PM at the TAG Office (1000 F Street)

To join a committee, please contact Sommer at sommer@tagnw.org. For more Committee information, please visit http://www.tagnw.org/committees

VSH CPAs Hires Business Relations Manager Scott Petersen

Sommer Cronck — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 19:54:07 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Scott Petersen Business Relations Manager

Call: (360) 734-8715 ext. 3026

Send: petersen@vshcpa.com

VSH CPAs Hires Business Relations Manager Scott Petersen

BELLINGHAM – VSH CPAs is pleased to announce Scott Petersen has joined the team as the Business Relations Manager, heading up the firm’s client relations.

Petersen has lived in Bellingham for the last 9 years after spending time in Colorado and Germany, he grew up in Renton, WA.

“I chose VSH because of the innovative problem solving approach, one that gets information to the client in a format that empowers people to make decisions that can change their business in a positive way.”

Petersen graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University in 2001. The majority of his experience has been helping local businesses problem solve and grow. Having worked in the worlds of technology, banking, advertising, brand strategy and recruiting for over ten years has given Petersen an inside view of the difficult problems that businesses face. .

As an avid skier, mountain biker and hiker, Bellingham is a natural fit for Petersen and his family. Petersen lives with his wife Pam, daughter Tess and dog Lulu. As an avid traveler and explorer Scott’s goal is to ski all the major ski resorts in North America before he will need his knees replaced.

VSH is a dynamic and responsive full-service CPA firm located in the Barkley District of Bellingham. We look to proactively contribute ideas that cultivate the business success of our clients. For more information, contact us at 360-734-8715, or visit us at www.vshcpa.com.

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Cloud City Hosting Floats Customer Data into the Cloud

Sommer Cronck — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:20:37 GMT

For Immediate Release:

Contact:
Kelsey Milligan
FiberCloud, Inc.
206-543-6426
Kelsey.milligan@fibercloud.com

Cloud City Hosting Floats Customer Data into the Cloud

Cloud City Hosting makes new servers more accessible to small businesses by offering scalable cloud servers at affordable prices.

Seattle WA, March 29, 2012 Cloud City Hosting, an online retailer of cloud computing products for small businesses, announces the launch of cloud servers today. Cloud City Hosting, a division of FiberCloud, Inc, now offers both Windows and Linux cloud servers for its small business customers nationwide.

The cloud servers are hosted in secure data center facilities and managed by a team of IT experts who serve as an extension of your own IT team to help free up resources for customers. Cloud City Hosting offers enterprise-class servers with packages up to 200 GB of storage.

"We believe that small businesses should have every opportunity to gain enterprise-class hardware at an affordable price," said Susan DeFlorio, COO of FiberCloud and Cloud City Hosting. "That's why we offer cloud servers so our customers can take advantage of the benefits of the cloud and divert less money to IT resources." Cloud City Hosting offers their products on a monthly subscription basis without contract commitments to increase product flexibility and scalability.

Cloud City Hosting's cloud servers are housed in state of the art data center facilities that feature multiple layers of physical and virtual security including biometric access, video surveillance, environmental provisioning and monitoring as well as a redundant MPLS network providing multiple connections to the Internet. The cloud servers are housed in data centers that are SAS 70 Type II Audited and meet the MSP Alliance United Certification Standard. Cloud City Hosting and FiberCloud customers benefit from a consistent 99.99% uptime, which ensures continual access to software.

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About Cloud City Hosting

Cloud City Hosting is a provider of cloud computing services scaled for small businesses. Cloud City Hosting makes cloud computing accessible by offering enterprise-class cloud software at affordable prices and eliminating long-term service contracts. Cloud City Hosting maintains highly secure data centers, which have successfully passed the stringent SAS 70 Type II audit and earned the MSP Alliance UCS Certification. Learn more about Cloud City Hosting at www.cloudcityhosting.com, email info@cloudcityhosting.com or call 877.448.8227.

CyberDefense Team Places Among Top Three Schools at Regional Competition

Sommer Cronck — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:17:09 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Mary Vermillion, Public Information Officer
mvermillion@whatcom.ctc.edu
360.383.3312

CYBERDEFENSE TEAM PLACES AMONG TOP THREE SCHOOLS AT REGIONAL COMPETITION

Bellingham, WA, March 29, 2012 – Whatcom Community College’s Cyberdefense team placed third among 11 regional teams at the March 24-25 Pacific Rim Cyberdefense Competition at Highline Community College in Des Moines, WA. The eight student competitors are enrolled in Whatcom’s highly regarded Computer Information Systems (CIS) program.

WCC student Travis McEwen is the team’s captain. Team members are Josh Beckhausen, Brady Todhunter, Andrew Johnson, Cody Shoffit, Austin Bass, Tye Taylor and John Chapman. WCC’s CIS instructor Corrinne Sande worked with the team.

The student teams managed computer networks that were attacked by a team of 30 pen testers (hackers). Attackers included representatives of the U.S. military and Boeing as well as civilian contractors from Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR). Scoring was based on the business injects (tasks) the students had to complete, up time, and whether attackers were successful in breaking into the team machines.

“I cannot express how proud I am of these students,” Sande says. “This competition is very intense and chaotic. It involves teams’ defending a business network that includes email, web, database and other applications. Within the first 30 minutes of the competition, all teams were compromised by the attackers."

Sande adds that the students made an excellent impression with employers who were observing the competition. Several employers asked to interview specific students. “The team members, led by captain Travis McEwen, were professional at all times and stayed on task, despite initial infrastructure problems that left them dead in the water for part of the first day,” Sande says.

Eleven teams participated in this year’s competition. University of Washington-Seattle placed first followed by Eastern Washington University and Whatcom. Schools competing at the weekend event were:

Whatcom Community College
Highline Community College
University of Washington-Seattle
University of Washington-Bothell
University of Washington-Tacoma
Evergreen State College
Lewis and Clark University
Eastern Washington University
Western Washington University
University of Idaho
DeVry University

Whatcom’s acclaimed CIS program is representative of the College’s focus on STEM education. The need to increase STEM (science-technology-engineering-math) graduates is critical, according to the National Science Board. In addition to the CIS degree available through the College’s Professional Technical program, Whatcom’s commitment to STEM instruction includes its Associate in Science degree, which prepares students to transfer to a four-year university to complete their studies in fields such as atmospheric science, biology, chemistry, computer science, earth science, engineering, environmental science, geology and physics.

Whatcom is one of only 13 community colleges in the nation to be designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance by the Department of Homeland Security and National Security Agency. The designation affirms the quality of the College’s Computer Information Systems program, noting the caliber of the curriculum, faculty credentials and nationally recognized program certifications. The designation covers academic years 2011-2016 and recognizes Whatcom’s commitment to cyber security as part of its focus on STEM-related initiatives.

Whatcom Community College is an accredited, comprehensive two-year college with a committed, accomplished faculty and staff who serve more than 7,600 students quarterly. On its beautiful 71-acre campus in Bellingham, WA, and through on-line courses, Whatcom offers transfer degrees, professional and technical training programs, as well as basic education, job skills and enrichment classes. For more information about WCC, please call the Public Information Office at 360.383.3310 or visit www.whatcom.ctc.edu.

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FiberCloud Launches Solutions for Growing Drupal Innovator Community

Sommer Cronck — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:11:57 GMT

For Immediate Release:

Contact:
Kelsey Milligan
FiberCloud, Inc.
206-543-6426
Kelsey.milligan@fibercloud.com<mailto:Kelsey.milligan@fibercloud.com>

FiberCloud Launches Solutions for Growing Drupal Innovator Community

FiberCloud offers pre-configured webhosting, servers and colocation to growing Drupal developer industry

Seattle, WA, March 28, 2012 – FiberCloud announced today, the release of Drupal servers and hosting for Drupal developers and partners. FiberCloud launches Drupal server solutions by providing cloud and physical servers with pre-installed operating systems and custom configurations for Drupal developers.

FiberCloud has been providing customers with server solutions for over 10 years, supporting both Linux and Windows OS. FiberCloud is now putting an increased focus on hardware services for Drupal and other open-source communities by providing a core infrastructure that meets the needs of developers, whether they have simple web sites or complex applications. FiberCloud’s Drupal offerings are housed in secure, SAS 70 Type II audited and MSP UCS certified facilities. Solutions for developers include standard webhosting, cloud servers, dedicated servers and colocation. FiberCloud’s Drupal offerings have varying degrees of support options based on need, come pre-installed with the LAMP stack and allow for custom deployment and revenue opportunities.

“Drupal is a quickly evolving community, and we understand the need for simple custom IT support,” said Susan DeFlorio, COO of FiberCloud. “We put our infrastructure to work for them with the sole purpose of making life easier. We want them to get what they need to get off the ground and do what they do best, without even thinking about the hardware.” FiberCloud’s Drupal Solutions are provisioned in FiberCloud’s own secure data centers that are interconnected with a fully-meshed MPLS network to help ensure high availability. Using their fully redundant MPLS network and layered security, FiberCloud maintains a consistent 99.99% SLA for all five of their data center facilities.

FiberCloud adds Drupal servers and hosting as part of an ongoing effort to provide platforms for open-source developer communities to launch innovative applications and websites. In addition to Drupal, FiberCloud supports Wordpress and Joomla development. FiberCloud maintains relationships with national and international developers to help customers build quality sites and applications, without managing back-end hardware.

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About FiberCloud

FiberCloud, Inc. is a leading provider of cloud, colocation, and connectivity services. Recognized as an outstanding service provider, FiberCloud offers the tools clients need to maximize efficiencies through best-in-class software solutions hosted in high quality data centers. FiberCloud’s Cloud City Hosting provides cloud computing accessibility to small businesses, offering enterprise-class cloud software at affordable prices and eliminating long-term service contracts. FiberCloud maintains highly secure data centers, which have successfully passed the stringent SAS 70 Type II audit and earned the MSP Alliance UCS Certification. Learn more about FiberCloud at http://www.fibercloud.com, Cloud City Hosting at www.cloudcityhosting.com, email info@fibercloud.com or call 877.926.3282.

Sehome High School hoops-shooting robot heads to Seattle competition

Anastasia Kirsch — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:42:01 GMT

KIE RELYEA- THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

BELLINGHAM - Meet Argus - a nearly 4-foot-tall, 150-pound robot created by a team of students at Sehome High School.

Well, some of the team members call him Argus, after the many-eyed giant of Greek mythology, because the robot's flywheels look like eyes.

Others say he should have been named after a basketball player, like LeBron James.

Because the robot, after all, is the Sehome Seamonsters' entry in a regional robotics competition in which students had six weeks to design, build and program a robot to shoot foam basketballs in a game called Rebound Rumble.

Think of it as a mechanical March Madness that aims to encourage students in science and technology. The Sehome team headed to the FIRST Robotics Competition in Seattle will be among the estimated 100 shooting for a win.

The event runs Thursday, March 22, through Saturday, March 24. Winners advance to the national competition in St. Louis.

The Seamonsters are the only team from Whatcom County in the competition, which they've been in every year since 2008.

"Mechanically, our robot is very, very sound," said A.J. Mallory, a 17-year-old senior and team captain who said what's important to him is how the robot performs, not whether the team wins.

In Rebound Rumble, teams face off in two Alliances - each consisting of three robots - and have their robots shoot and score as many baskets as possible during matches that last for two minutes and 15 seconds.

Robots aim at four hoops; the higher the hoop, the greater the score if the ball goes in.

A match ends with robots balancing on teeter-totters in the middle of a field.

On Tuesday, March 20, the Sehome team was touching up Argus' shooting mechanics, explaining that the two flywheels have to rotate at the same speed or he will not shoot straight.

Around them, in a room at the high school, are a number of foam basketballs.

Nick Ames, a 17-year-old junior in charge of electronics and programming, is working on the encoders that measure the speed of the wheels.

"It's a lot of fun building a robot" starting from scratch, Nick said, before adding, "It gets stressful toward crunch time."

Standing with them in the room is Kevin Criez, who teaches applied physics and industrial technology at Sehome. He is the adviser for the robotics team.

As he described it, the robot is a big effort on the part of students, who each year have to raise $15,000 - with $9,000 of that for entry fees for the competition in Seattle and one in Portland, Ore., that took place earlier in March.

(Teams have to bag up their robots between competitions, but are allowed to keep out parts to work on, as long as they don't weigh more than 30 pounds.)

The students split into departments to create the robot and to spread the word about what they're doing.

There's fabrication, programming, electronics, marketing and aesthetics, computer-aided design, website, video and fun. They work with mentors who are professionals in their fields, but the effort is driven by the kids.

"It's their robot. They built it from the ground up. They're in charge," Criez said.

That effort gives them a real-world taste that could help give the kids a better understanding of what they want to do in the future, he said.

"They've seen fabrication up close and personal, they've seen programming," Criez said. "When they go off to college and other things they want to do, they're so much better prepared because they've seen the reality of what their interests are. It gives them real-life problem-solving and critical-thinking opportunities."

LEARN MORE

Additional information about the Sehome Seamonsters is online at http://www.sehomeseamonsters.org/

The Sehome High School team is in Seattle through Saturday, March 24, for the regional FIRST Robotics Competition. The website includes videos of the team's robot-building efforts.

Reach KIE RELYEA at kie.relyea@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2234.

View the original article through The Bellingham Herald here.

Nominations Now Open For Seattle Business Magazine's Tech Impact Awards 2012

Anastasia Kirsch — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:20:43 GMT

Seattle Business magazine is searching for Washington-based SOFTWARE, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY and MOBILE-APP companies making an impact on business operations of various industries. Technology plays a vital role in the success of any operation and Seattle Business magazine is searching for those innovators paving the way for new efficiencies.

The competition will be judged by a team of technology leaders and winners will be honored at an awards banquet in September.

Nomination period will close April 15, 2012. It is free to enter!

Cateogries for Entry:

Education: Awarded to the company that has made notable contributions in the management, measurement or delivery of education.
Entertainment/Gaming: Awarded to the company whose technology has had the greatest impact on the entertainment and gaming industry.
Environment: Awarded to the company whose product alleviates a business or industry’s impact on the environment.
Health/Medicine: Awarded to the company whose product has made a major contribution to the management or delivery of health care.
Manufacturing: Awarded to the company that has had a significant impact on operating efficiencies in the manufacturing sector.
Real Estate: Awarded to the company whose IT-based product or service has had the greatest effect on the real estate industry.
Retail/E-commerce: Awarded to the company whose product has had the greatest impact in the retail or e-commerce sector.
Marketing/Advertising/Media/Sales: Awarded to the company whose technology has significantly improved the way in which products are marketed, advertised and sold.
Finance/Wealth Management: Awarded to the company with the greatest impact on the operation and delivery of financial or wealth management services.
Internal IT: Awarded to a company whose internal IT operations had a big impact on that company’s performance.
IT Leadership: Awarded to a technology leader who has had a significant impact on the company or on the industry.
Lifetime Achievement: Awarded to an individual whose success and dedication to the field of information technology has had a significant impact on the way businesses operate.
Product Innovation/Other: Awarded for the product, service or application that has had an impact.

Entries will close April 15, 2012. To enter, please visit Seattle Business magazine, and fill out the nomination form at the bottom of the page

TAG News: March 2012

Sommer Cronck — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:49:22 GMT

MARCH 2012

In this issue

	March Luncheon: Education Summit
	TDC Info Session & Tour: March 22
	Bellingham TechNight
	Save the Date for our CEO Forum
	Committee Meetings

Follow TAG

Technology Alliance Group (TAG) for Northwest Washington
www.tagnw.org
1000 F Street, Suite 150B
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-318-7710

Member News

	Larson Gross Announces Plans to Relocate and Expand Bellingham Office
	MBA On-Campus Recruiting Available
	Lean Startup & Entrepreneurship Methods (MGMT 497L)
	Support WWU's Engineering Proposal
	FiberCloud Helps Clients Accelerate Business with Upgrades to Microsoft Exchange and Sharepoint 2010

If you have news or events to share with your local tech community, please contact sommer@tagnw.org with your press release or event information. We’d love to share it with our friends and members via our website and social media outlets.

Upcoming TAG Events

March 16: TAG Luncheon: Education Summit

March 22: TDC Tour

April 4: CEO Forum

April 20: TAG Luncheon

April 27: Bellingham TechNight

View the TAG calendar online >>

ADVOCACY ALERT

Support Western's Engineering Proposal

Member of the Month

Congratulations to Black Rock Cable, our March Member of the Month! Read our interview with Fred Miller to learn more about our featured member.

If you would like to see your business as the Member fo the Month, please email sommer@tagnw.org

New Members

We would like to recognize and thank the following individuals and businesses for joining TAG in February:

	Northwest Indian College
	Northwest Radiologists Inc
	Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism
	Jon Edwards
	Justin M. Woodum
	Chuck James
	Anastasia Kirsch

Please visit our member directory to learn more about your fellow members.

Job Board

TAG hosts a Job Board at tagnw.org/jobs and Business level members can log in and post their local job opportunities. Please help us help you by posting today!

March Luncheon: Education Summit

TAG will hold a panel presentation with Western Washington University, Whatcom Community College and Bellingham Technical College to discuss what’s on the horizon for local higher education institutions and what that means for business in Whatcom County.

Panelists include Jeff Wright, Western Washington University’s Dean of the College of Sciences and Technology; Janice Walker, Whatcom Community College Workforce Education Coordinator; and Sharon Carpenter, Bellingham Technical College’s Dean of Professional Technical Education.

They will be discussing plans for higher education in Whatcom County, and the opportunity for educational partnerships.

Registration closes March 13, so register now!

Sponsored By:

Wilson Engineering, LLC designs vital public infrastructure for a dynamic civil society. Our engineers and surveyors design the systems that – every day - deliver clean drinking water, treat wastewater, manage rainfall from sky to sea, and transport people safely to their destinations. Think about it! Could you do your work at all if we hadn’t done ours well?

TDC Info Session & Tour: March 22

Do you have products requiring advanced manufacturing? Do you need external expertise or access to specialized equipment? Help may be available through WWU and the Technology Development Center (TDC). This unique collaborative initiative combines private sector business advancement with practical application of technologies and workforce training.

Join us to tour and hear about the Technology Development Center, a public-private partnership on the Bellingham waterfront. Learn how your company can access university R&D resources, such as specialized equipment, student talent, and collaborative R&D funding opportunities. WWU faculty and students will be available to talk about industry-related projects.

This event is FREE, but we ask you to RSVP in advance. Register now.

Bellingham TechNight

Meet and Recruit Qualified Technology Professionals Face-To-Face!

Friday, April 27th, 2012 from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Fox Hall at Hampton Inn Bellingham-Airport, 3985 Bennett Drive, Bellingham, WA

Visit our Bellingham TechNight website for information for both Exhibitors/Employers and Job-Seekers at http://www.BellinghamTechNight.com Sponsorship opportunities are available and the deadline to reserve a sponsorship or exhibitor table is March 30, 2012.

Title Sponsor:

Save the Date for our CEO Forum

In preparation for Bellingham TechNight, TAG is preparing a CEO Forum. We will invite C-Level executives to join us to discuss the hiring needs and issues they are facing and how TAG can help. This event is tentatively scheduled as a breakfast on April 4th - stay tuned for more information!

CEO Forum Sponsor:

Committee Meetings

Our Membership Committee would like to have its first 2012 meeting in March. Please contact Sommer at sommer@tagnw.org if you have 1.5 hours a month to spare. This committee will reach out to expiring and lapsed members to encourage re-engagement, identify potential new members, and make recommendations on member benefits and retention strategies.

The Events Committee will be scheduling a meeting soon. If you are interested in joining us to discuss upcoming TAG programs, please contact Sommer at sommer@tagnw.org to be added to the contact list.

For more Committee information, please visit http://www.tagnw.org/committees

Video Available of 2012 Predictions Luncheon with Mark Anderson

Anastasia Kirsch — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:56:01 GMT

Thank you to all the attendees at the meeting Friday, February 17, 2012. It turned out to be a very informative and lively event with our guest Mark Anderson, noted speaker and technologist.

If you missed the event, or would like to listen to his talk again, you can find it here: The Economic Landscape & Top 10 Technology Predictions for 2012

Larson Gross Announces Plans to Relocate and Expand Bellingham Office

Sommer Cronck — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:41:13 GMT

Local CPA firm Larson Gross has signed a lease for 14,000 square feet on the fourth floor of the Dorothy Haggen Building in the Barkley District.

“We are currently bursting at the seams in our Bellingham office,” says Marv Tjoelker, Partner and firm CEO. “We’ve even had to ask some of our team members to double up in offices in order to squeeze everyone in.”

Larson Gross has been in its current Bellingham location on Cornwall Avenue since 1993. Although the firm has been able to reclaim some space over the years by adopting a paperless mode of operation, the revamped space hasn’t kept up with the number of new team members added to meet client demand.

“I want to acknowledge and thank our many outstanding clients for helping us achieve a level of success that has us outgrowing our existing Bellingham office,” Tjoelker says. “We are extremely honored that so many businesses and individuals place their trust in us.”

Larson Gross plans to relocate its Bellingham office to 2211 Rimland Dr., Suite 401, this summer and is working with Barkley Co. to complete the tenant improvements necessary to prepare the space.

For more than six decades, Larson Gross CPAs and bookkeepers have been trusted advisors to businesses and their owners, nonprofits and individuals. In addition to preparing U.S. and state tax returns and annual financial statements, the firm provides business valuation, estate planning, business succession planning, accounting and bookkeeping, and tax and consulting services for cross border companies and individuals. For more information on how Larson Gross can help you or your business reach your financial goals, visit www.larsongross.com.

MBA On-Campus Recruiting Available

Anastasia Kirsch — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:11:22 GMT

MBA On-Campus Recruiting Available

With graduation approaching for many of Western's MBAs, they are actively seeking employment opportunities. These eager, bright and enthusiastic students would love to hear from you!

The MBA Career Services offers free interview rooms and parking for on-campus recruiting, or are happy to coordinate having students travel to you. They are also willing to help with any, or all, of the details related to the recruitment process of students. If you prefer, MBA Career Services can even accomodate a different recruitment process that works best for you.

Contact:

Effie Eisses

Assistant Director

MBA Career Services

Western Washington University

516 High Street, Parks Hall 045C

Bellingham, WA 98225

Tel: (360)650-3203

Lean Startup & Entrepreneurship Methods (MGMT 497L)

Anastasia Kirsch — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:13:32 GMT

New course on entrepreneurship is open to the public

Lean Startup & Entrepreneurship Methods (MGMT 497L)

Western Washington University’s College of Business and Economics will offer an entrepreneurship methods course to the general public beginning Tuesday, Mar. 27; you don’t need to be enrolled in a degree program at Western to participate.

This class is the first of its kind at Western and will allow participants to gain hands-on experience in creating a startup business. Participants will work in groups and projects will be treated as real startups, not simulations.

In this course, teams will:

Develop ideas into workable businesses
Learn how to use a business model to develop each part of a company
Encounter the chaos and messy uncertainty of how a start up really gets built
Explore how lean product development can help rapidly iterate your product/service into something consumers want and use
Examine team dynamics, financial and legal issues for startups, and how customer development refines products

This course is taught by Robin Halliday, partner at Bellingham Innovation Group and co-chair of Technology Alliance Group NW, and Joseph Jarzembowski, principal of Arch Consulting NW.

Beginning March 27th, classes occur Tuesday evenings with three Saturday morning workshops, giving community members the opportunity to enroll with a credit or non-credit option.

Information Session:

Tuesday, March 6, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Technology Development Center

1000 F St., Bellingham

Details and registration information are available at ExtendedEd.wwu.edu, by email at eesp@wwu.edu or by phone at (360) 650-3308.

Download the flyer here

Support WWU's Engineering Proposal

Sommer Cronck — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:46:29 GMT

Dear TAG friends and members,

In support of the efforts of many political leaders to strengthen science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) higher education in Washington even during this challenging budget climate, Western Washington University, on behalf of the College of Sciences and Technology (CST), has submitted a proposal to establish an engineering degree-granting program at Western. We seek your support.

As you know we have a powerful vision for the future of all of the programs in CST, but the challenging budget times in Olympia don't allow us to be as aggressive as we would like. However, we do have one opportunity in front of us that has resulted in Western submitting a proposal to the state legislature. That proposal is to transition our Engineering Technology Programs to full Engineering status. Western's leadership is lobbying hard on behalf of this proposal, but that will not be enough. We need your help.

We respectfully ask that you write letters in support of this proposal to your respective elected representatives in the state legislature, the leaders of the legislature, and to Governor Christine Gregoire. It is the voice of the people who make a difference and we need your voice to be heard.

Attached you will find a list of talking points that you may use in your letter. You certainly don't have to include all of them in your message, but rather, pick out the ones that resonate best for you. They are only suggested facts and if you have other points you desire to make in support of the proposal, please do so.

We have attempted to make the writing of a letter as easy as possible. Below is a link to Western Advocates, an organization that is a coalition of Western alumni, students, faculty and concerned citizens working to ensure that higher education is a priority in Washington State. This link will enable you to enter your zip code (and if needed also your street address) to inform you who your elected representative are within the district you live and a list of the leaders of the state legislature. It also provides you with an e-mail ready form in which you can write your letter to those representatives and Governor Gregoire. You will then need to enter your name and contact information and then simply hit the send button and your work is done.

We thank you in advance for making your voice be heard by writing to your elected state representatives and Governor Gregoire in support of the Engineering proposal and helping it become a reality. If you have any questions, or if we can be of additional assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Respectfully,

Jeff Wright
Dean of the College of Sciences and Technology
Jeff.Wright@wwu.edu

Steve Swan
Vice-President for University Relations
Steve.Swan@wwu.edu

Mermbership Special Offer - For a Limited Time

Sommer Cronck — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:44:50 GMT

MEMBERSHIP SPECIAL OFFER – FOR A LIMITED TIME

TAG memberships start at just $50/year for individuals and $100/year for businesses.

As an added bonus, we are offering the first 25 new members a free voucher for your next TAG monthly program if you sign up on or before February 29, 2012.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU

Networking – Connect with people you know and make new contacts
Specials – Receive special deals and discounts for our events and from WTIA partners
Visibility – Get listed in our member directory with a logo and description
Opportunities – Be one of the first to know what is happening in the local tech industry and what resources are available to you and your company
Advocacy – Add your voice to a broader base that we represent

Visit www.tagnw.org/membership to become a member today!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Finally, I am looking for help in building our committees in 2012 and would love to hear from you if you are interested in being involved. Volunteer opportunities exist in Advocacy, Events, Job & Internship Connections, Marketing, Membership, Scholarship and Sponsorship. Please contact me at sommer@tagnw.org for more information.

Sincerely,

Sommer Cronck, Executive Director
Technology Alliance Group (TAG) for Northwest Washington
360-318-7710
www.tagnw.org

TAG informs, represents, and connects Whatcom area technology businesses and professionals.