GraVoc Attends World Partner Conference

Earlier this month, GraVoc travelled to Washington, DC to attend the Microsoft World Partner Conference. Representing the company were Brian Gravel, director of the media production practice, and Dave Gravel, president and CEO. In addition to developing blisters on their feet, GraVoc’s representatives were able to attend speeches and seminars regarding the changes in store for the Microsoft Partner Network, the software giant’s goals amid the expansion of cloud computing, and innovative new features becoming available in the next several months.

A highlight according to the GraVoc attendees was keynote speaker and former President Bill Clinton. Clinton addressed technological advances and how they have re-shaped the way humanitarian efforts are coordinated.

Brian Gravel noted that attending the event, which drew an estimated 14,000 attendees, was certainly worthwhile. “It was fantastic to see the new features coming out and the ideas they’re coming up with.” He was especially impressed with the company’s new “Surface” concept, where a table-top becomes, in essence, an interactive touch-screen that can interact with mobile devices. (Click here for more information on Microsoft Surface.) The reaction by the director of DivergingSoul, GraVoc’s media production practice, to the eye-catching flashiness of the emerging product should come as no surprise.

This was the first time GraVoc had sent attendees to the World Partner Conference, but is the second major Microsoft event attended by the company after three staff members attended Microsoft Convergence in Atlanta in April. There are no definitive plans to attend the 2011 event in Los Angeles, but it is obviously still early in the game.

GraVoc Associates, Inc, based in Peabody, MA, is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. A technology consulting firm with a diversified range of services, GraVoc finds Microsoft at the center of its professional services and information systems practices. The professional services practice specializes in network infrastructure design, planning, and maintenance, and the information systems practice specializes in the implementation and customization of enterprise resource planning systems. For pictures from the WPC, please visit the GraVoc page on thefacebook.com, and for more information on the company, please visit www.gravoc.com.

Wilkins Earns Certification

Certification season is in full bloom at GraVoc Associates, as Matt Wilkins of the professional services practice is now a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist in configuring Windows 7.  Matt passed the exam last Wednesday, affirming his own and his company’s commitment to keeping up to date with technological changes.  As businesses are switching over to Windows 7 faster than any previous operating system, Matt’s efforts toward passing this exam are greatly appreciated.

Ron Smoller, also of the professional services practice, completed June with not one, but two certifications.  He followed up his Microsoft certification mentioned in the most recent blog post with a Double-Take Software sales certification.  This strengthens GraVoc’s partnership with Double-Take, and positions the company to better offer products for customers’ redundancy, disaster recovery, and data migration needs.

GraVoc Associates, Inc, based in Peabody, MA, is a technology consulting firm serving Greater Boston, New England, and beyond in the practices of professional services, information systems, media production, and information technology.  The professional services practice specializes in IT support, network infrastructure design and maintenance, and the procurement and selection of the correct tools that will help businesses’ telecommunication and storage processes work more efficiently.  Due to the dedication and competency of GraVoc’s staff, the company is recognized as a Gold Certified Partner by Microsoft. For ore information about GraVoc and the services offered, please visit GraVoc.com.

GraVoc Welcomes Koudanis, Congratulates Smoller

This week, GraVoc’s information security team has brought aboard Costas Koudanis.  Costas, a graduate of Northeastern University who had previously worked at an auditing firm in Boston, will enhance the information security practice’s ability to respond to upcoming projects.  He also brings a wide range of skills from both an auditing and a technology background that can give GraVoc further insight into security issues facing its customers.  GraVoc is happy to have the Topsfield, MA native aboard.

Also notable is that GraVoc’s Ron Smoller has achieved another certification from the Microsoft Corporation.  He scored strongly in configuring Active Directory, Network Infrastructure, and Applications Infrastructure for Windows Server 2008, and therefore passed the exam to upgrade his Windows Server 2003 MCSE designation to Windows Server 2008 Technology Specialist.  Ron focuses on the professional services practice of the company and assists several customers in their network design and support needs.

GraVoc Associates, Inc, based in Peabody, MA, is a consulting firm focusing on technology in the four practices of professional services, information technology, media production, and information systems.  Founded in 1994, GraVoc employs roughly twenty professionals who are dedicated to providing a wide range of technology-based solutions and services to a diverse customer base.  For more information about the company and the products and services offered, please visit http://www.gravoc.com.

This Week: Certifications and Gas Grills

Two members of GraVoc's information security team, President/CEO Dave Gravel and his son Nate Gravel, have been grandfathered into the Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) certification by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA). The CRISC certification is the newest of ISACA's four certifications.

This certification is for "IT professionals who have hands-on experience with risk identification, assessment, and evaluation; risk response; risk monitoring, [information systems] control design and implementation; and [information systems] control monitoring and maintenance." As the certification requires eight years of experience in information security and risk management, the CRISC designation is perhaps the most selective of ISACA's widely-accepted certifications.

Meanwhile, limited parking, rain showers, and unseasonably cool temperatures weren't enough to deter dozens of members of the North Shore business community from attending GraVoc's barbecue Thursday night. This event was part of the Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce's "Business After Hours" networking event series. The event was characterized by an extensive spread of burgers, hot dogs, beverages, and desserts. GraVoc is extremely appreciative of everyone who attended, and hopes everyone was satisfied by the atmosphere and the food.

GraVoc Associates, Inc, based in Peabody, MA, is a technology consulting firm focused on helping businesses in the practices of information security, professional services, information systems, and media production. For more information regarding GraVoc's wide range of services (the diversity of which became a punch line at Thursday's barbecue), please peruse the archives of the GraVoc News Blog or visit http://www.gravoc.com.

GraVoc Heads to Las Vegas

GraVoc’s DivergingSoul Media Production practice jumped on a plane to Las Vegas earlier this week for the InfoComm 2010 conference at the Las Vegas Convention Center.  Representatives Brian Gravel and Matt Molk are attending the conference to learn about current ideas and stay on the cutting edge of AV communications.  Notably, the conference is showcasing advances in digital signage, so it presents an opportunity to share ideas regarding the DS2 digital signage network.  The conference lasts through the end of the week, and a recap will likely be posted to this blog shortly upon their return.

GraVoc also made itself available at a more-local tradeshow, attending a conference staged by the Massachusetts Bankers’ Association.  The Annual Bank Technology/Retail Banking Conference addressed, among other things, mobile banking and whether it is an inevitable new step that brings with its benefits a slew of risks.  GraVoc saw many familiar faces, and got to meet several new people in the industry.  GraVoc and other attendees participated in several constructive conversations regarding risk management in the face of the marketplace trending toward mobile banking.

GraVoc Associates, Inc, based in Peabody, MA, has been serving customers in Greater Boston, the North Shore, New England, and beyond.  A technology consulting firm, GraVoc specializes in the practices of media production, information security, information systems, and professional services.  For more information about the services and products offered by GraVoc, please visit www.gravoc.com or peruse the archives of the GraVoc News Blog.

May Updates

It’s been a busy month of May for GraVoc Associates, so busy that there has been little time to tend to matters like updating the GraVoc News Blog.  Some quick updates on what is happening at the company:

• GraVoc is excited about hosting the Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce’s June “Business After Hours” event.  This version of the business networking event will feature a barbecue in front of GraVoc’s building in downtown Peabody.
• GraVoc attended the Massachusetts Association for Behavioral Health’s Annual Meeting.  Dan Vassallo and Paul Lincoln represented the business there and met representatives for several mental health associations throughout Massachusetts.  GraVoc was at this event to promote the GHR system designed specifically for inpatient mental health and substance abuse recovery service organizations.  Meanwhile, GraVoc’s team has been working furiously on improvements to this application, enhancing its overall functionality.
• The DivergingSoul media production division has initiated an aggressive phase of research and development regarding Facebook’s “Open Graph” feature.  This latest Facebook development, in short, allows a Facebook user to integrate his or her entire web surfing experience into his or her Facebook profiles.  This includes “liking” articles, blog posts, or other websites as one can “like” events on Facebook.  By clicking above, you can “like” this blog post.  DivergingSoul is also headed to Las Vegas for an event in June.
• An update on the last post:  It is debatable who is enjoying retirement more:  Ron Davis, whose retirement from GraVoc has opened up more time to focus on his wife’s business, or Nate Gravel, whose retirement from running (he ran under three hours on May 2nd in the Providence Marathon) has opened up more time to focus on GraVoc’s information security practice.
• This summer, look for at least two pertinent whitepapers becoming available on the GraVoc website.

GraVoc Associates, Inc, located in Peabody, MA, has served clients in Greater Boston, New England, and beyond with consulting services since 1994.  GraVoc’s services are all based in technology, and are now divided into the four practices of information systems, professional services, information security, and media production.  GraVoc utilizes the GraVoc News Blog to announce events and occasionally offer some advice regarding topics relevant to clients and potential clients.  For more information about GraVoc and the wide range of services provided, please visit GraVoc.com.

Quick Hits

A few brief notables from the last week at GraVoc:

• The company would like to offer its sincere thanks and a fond farewell to Senior Associate Ron Davis.  Ron, who has handled business development for half of GraVoc’s sixteen-year history, is stepping down Friday afternoon and going into semi-retirement.  Going forward, Ron will spend much of his time assisting his wife Debra in her entrepreneurial pursuits.  The Davises own and operate Chili Choice, a New Mexican cuisine retailer and distributor in Gloucester.
• Another update on the rubber chicken video:  DivergingSoul’s footage has now even caught Keith Olbermann’s attention.  See his commentary from an episode of MSNBC’s “Countdown” by clicking here, browsing the “oddball” section, and clicking the April 28th edition (the one about the Obama nightclub).
• Director of Information Security Nate Gravel will be competing in Sunday’s Cox Sports Marathon in Providence, RI.  Nate, a competitive runner formerly of Peabody Veterans Memorial High School and Trinity College, should be among the leaders of the race, as his previous best of 2:30:00 in the 2008 Madrid Marathon is several minutes faster than the Providence course record.

GraVoc Associates, Inc, based in Peabody, MA, is a full-service technology consulting firm offering a dynamic range of services to clients in greater Boston, New England, and beyond.  Founded in 1994, GraVoc specializes in the practices of information systems, information security, and professional services.  For more information about the firm, please visit www.gravoc.com or feel free to browse previous posts of the GraVoc News Blog.