System Engineering Nonprofit Industry Case Studies
Goodwill Industries
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Outsource CIO Services
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Managed Solutions with Critical Care Coverage
- Server Virtualization and Storage Area networks
The Challenge
Goodwill Industries was growing. With 24 retail stores, 23 group homes and 400
users in three states, Director of IT Mark Weatherby determined that the cost
of hiring additional staff and purchasing backup network gear was prohibitive.
The rapid growth strained the resources of the 7-person IT staff. Without a
CIO's experience and perspective, it was increasingly more challenging to
adequately plan network expansion to meet the robust nonprofit's business
goals. Rather than put the organization's IT infrastructure at risk, or make
costly personnel and equipment additions to fully support it, Goodwill turned
to Systems Engineering.
The Solution
Business continuity is important to Goodwill. Systems Engineering's capacity to
provide the organization with the high level of systems support required to
keep the network up and running was imperative. But Goodwill wanted more than a
technology company; they needed a partner to help them "look at the future, see
where we are going, and plan it out." They contracted with Systems Engineering
for the CIO services of Rick Cloe. With his nonprofit CIO background, Rick and
Systems Engineering helped the IT team develop policies and procedures that
meet "big picture" goals, ensure HIPPA compliance, and plan future major
network projects and upgrades.
Results
Systems Engineering helped Goodwill accomplish their IT goals within the
nonprofit's limited budget. The organization's Novell platforms were replaced
and the entire network migrated to Microsoft. The three physical servers were
virtualized into 12 servers with Storage Area Networks (SANS) installed in the
central office and data tools hot sites. Critical Care coverage now protects
Goodwill's mission critical equipment and bare metal disc-to-disc backups were
installed in retail stores to protect POS data. And what might be the most
"important transition" of all is the one that enables IT to "align itself more
closely with their business units." By providing CIO expertise to think ahead
along with its technology resources, Systems Engineering helps Goodwill drive
business results.
"We've been very happy with their level of support, and the knowledge of their engineers is phenomenal." -- Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries
"Systems Engineering CIO outsourcing has helped us align ourselves more closely with our different business units. That's been a very important transition for us." -- Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries
"Like other nonprofit organizations with a limited staff and budget, it's always
a challenge; there's less money for equipment, software, and manpower. Systems
helped us by supplementing our staff and providing critical care support."
-- Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries
"With Systems Engineering it's about the relationship. We've been burned by other vendors; to them (others) it was more about shoehorning in their products and services into our environment. Systems tries to help supplement whatever you might be been lacking; whether that's manpower or some certain expertise, but they never try to force you into things." -- Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries
"I've dealt with a lot of engineers from different organizations, and these guys at Systems Engineering are just the best. I know whenever they come over to fix anything, it's going to get fixed. I never had that reassuring feeling with other vendors." -- Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries
"If you want it done the right way the first time, these are the guys to use." -- Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries
"These are people who truly care about their customers. That's a breath of fresh air in this world." -- Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries
"Financially, you could never train or certify everyone on every single product we have here. If we did, my training budget would be 5-6 times larger than it is. That's where Systems Engineering comes in." -- Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries
- “Our services depend on accurate information, delivered efficiently and consistently all across Maine. The people of Software Solutions have always worked hard to get an in-depth understanding of our needs, and to develop systems that make a real difference to our operations …and the well-being of our consumers.” - Agnes Winship, Attendant Services Payroll Manager, Alpha One www.alpha-one.org
- “You guys really came through for us this weekend. You not only came in on Saturday and helped me with a problem, but then we had a more catastrophic failure. (catastrophic would not be one of your terms). Our system was down: busy week-end, credit cards, file server, you name it. You came back in Sunday, Pronto, which I really needed and got us straightened out. It was terrific! Kudos to Systems" Engineering for doing such a great job.” - Casco Bay Lines www.cascobaylines.com
- "We hired Systems Engineering because we knew that they were an organization that could keep us ahead of the curve. They brought over some very bright, hardworking trustworthy people to help us solve some highly critical IT issues. When it comes to client relationships, Systems Engineering conducts their business in a very similar way to the way we conduct ours. In other words, I feel as if I gained a partner. - Teresa M. Esposito COO/CFO of H.M. Payson & Co.
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“We’ve got a solid network with minimal issues. They do quality work and are a great, dedicated group of people.”
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Keith Gosselin, IT Officer of Biddeford Savings Bank
www.biddefordsavings.com - “We’ve been very happy with their level of support and the knowledge of their engineers is phenomenal.” - Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries www.ginne.org
- “I sleep better at night knowing we have a local technology partner with the resources of Cisco behind them. That makes me feel pretty good.” - Keith Gosselin, IT Officer of Biddeford Savings Bank biddefordsavings.com
- "Systems Engineering works with me on my goals. They don’t try and sell me things I don’t need. They don’t push technologies that don’t fit. They listen to me and give me suggestions and recommendations. If they think I’m missing something, they are going to tell me. It’s a partnership that works to achieve the firm’s goals. For us, it’s about building long-term relationships and working together to solve problems" - Darryl Hendricks, Director of Information Technology, Preti Flaherty
- "They are dealing with other banks and financial institutions so they see things I don’t necessarily see. They understand the needs of financial institutions and they take our needs seriously." - Keith Gosselin, IT Officer of Biddeford Savings Bank biddefordsavings.com
- “Like other nonprofit organizations with a limited staff and budget, it’s always a challenge; there’s less money for equipment, software, and manpower. Systems helped us by supplementing our staff and providing critical care support." - Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries www.ginne.org
- “I’ve dealt with a lot of engineers from different organizations, and these guys at Systems Engineering are just the best. I know whenever they come over to fix anything, it’s going to get fixed. I never had that reassuring feeling with other vendors.” - Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries www.ginne.org
- “With Systems Engineering it’s about the relationship. We’ve been burned by other vendors; to them it was more about shoehorning in their products and services into our environment. Systems tries to help supplement whatever you might been lacking; whether that’s manpower or some certain expertise, but they never try to force you into things.” - Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries www.ginne.org
- “Financially, you could never train or certify everyone on every single product we have here. If we did, my training budget would be 5-6 times larger than it is. That’s where Systems Engineering comes in.” - Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries www.ginne.org
- "I don’t know of any other supplier that has the depth and breadth that Systems Engineering has; from programmers, to Cisco engineers, VMware engineers, Microsoft engineers – no one else has that kind of expertise on tap." - Darryl Hendricks, Director of Information Technology, Preti Flaherty
- "I have a lot of trust in these guys. They’re a key partner because they play a very important part in what we do. Strategically, they’re a resource. Technically, they’re a resource. I look to them to play a key role, not just to be a simple cost center that we’re paying every month to do this or that." - Keith Gosselin, IT Officer of Biddeford Savings Bank biddefordsavings.com
- “Systems Engineering CIO outsourcing has helped us align ourselves more closely with our different business units. That’s been a very important transition for us.” - Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries www.ginne.org
- "They have been trustworthy partner and they have helped keep us on task. The relationship allows me more time to do strategic planning and researching." - Keith Gosselin, IT Officer of Biddeford Savings Bank biddefordsavings.com
- “We had a thunderstorm hit us on a Friday night. It blew out all our outlets and took out our entire network. Systems Engineering came in that night and worked through the weekend. They had everything back up and running before everyone came in on Monday morning. That’s why I say Systems Engineering gives you peace of mind.” - Ralph Hendrix, COO of Macdonald Page & Co. www.Macpage.com
- “These are people who truly care about their customers. That’s a breath of fresh air in this world.” - Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries www.ginne.org
- “We rely on technology 24/7 to be competitive in our marketplace. Years ago, I could give somebody a 13-column pad and a pencil and a calculator, and they were up and running. Those days are long gone. The importance of technology to my business on a 1-to-10 scale is a 10.” - Ralph Hendrix, COO of Macdonald Page & Co. www.Macpage.com
- “If you want it done the right way the first time, these are the guys to use.” - Mark Weatherby, Director of IT, Goodwill Industries www.ginne.org
