Soaring Technology

Technology and Managed Services Blog – A WingSwept Production

Posts Tagged WingSwept

Electronic Recycling Thrives Despite Threatening Weather

May 2

Posted by molly.moore@wingswept.com in Industry News, Local News, Press Releases | Comments off

WingSwept held its third annual Technology Spring Clean event on April 16, which was a huge success.  Approximately 150 people and businesses came by to drop off over 20,000 pounds of technology.

Event volunteers saw computers, printers, radios, DVD players, fax machines, wire, and much more dropped off to be recycled.  Some attendees participated for the first time while others have come out every year, but all were happy to get rid of their electronics properly.

The Technology Spring Clean would not be successful if not for the community and sponsors that supported the environmental cause.  In the past three years, this event has diverted over 50,000 pounds from polluting landfills. 

The ‘Spring Clean’ had similar results in 2010 and 2011, which is impressive considering this year’s threatening weather conditions.  People were counting on the recycling event to take place, which led WingSwept to hold the event despite the possibility of rain.

For safety reasons, WingSwept and Triangle Recycling packed all the materials up early before storms came through that afternoon.  Tornadoes touched down after the event lot had been vacated. 

The fourth electronic recycling event will be scheduled for April of 2012.  Become a Facebook Fan at www.facebook.com/wingsweptnc or check out www.wingswept.com/recycle for details.

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Raleigh Business Expo 2011 to Feature Tim Moore Exploring How to Grow Your Business by “Selling Across the Generations”

Apr 18

Posted by molly.moore@wingswept.com in Local News, Press Releases | Comments off

Broaden Your Sales Horizons Through a Generational Perspective

 

Today, defining the roles that your customers embody is just as important as knowing the product that you are selling to them.  Each generation (and there are four generations playing active roles in the buying decisions of companies) has its own unique traits that are critical to understand in today’s marketplace.

On April 20 from 11:30-12:30 at the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce’s Business Expo 2011 held at the Raleigh Convention Center, Tim Moore will present a sales and marketing seminar on “Selling Across the Generations”.  The seminar is meant to broaden its attendees’ horizons by discussing the generational perspective.  The presenter, Tim Moore, is a Baby Boomer that has over thirty years of sales and training experience for Fortune 500 companies such as Pepsi-Cola, Gillette, Dow Chemical, and L’Oreal USA. 

Moore recently joined Garner’s IT firm, WingSwept, as Director of Workforce Learning and Sales Development.  WingSwept is a locally based full-service information technology firm that continues to experience substantial growth both locally and nationally.

In regards to his expertise on generational selling, Tim uses research conducted by Generational Insight along with observations within client organizations and personal life experiences to explore the unique affects of generational differences in sales-based relationships. He presents his findings in keynote presentations, breakout sessions and training workshops to corporations and organizations around the country.

For more information about the Raleigh Chamber’s Business Expo 2011:  http://www.raleighchamber2.org/bizexpo/2011EXPO/pages/seminars.html

ABOUT THE GREATER RALEIGH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce is the Triangle’s largest business membership organization — made up of more than 2,500 member firms representing two-thirds of the private sector employment in Wake County. The Chamber has been representing the interests of the local business community for more than a century.

To connect with Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce: 919-664-7000     www.RaleighChamber.org

ABOUT TIM MOORE

Timothy Moore is a Baby Boomer that has over thirty years of sales and training experience for Fortune 500 companies such as Pepsi-Cola, Gillette, Dow Chemical, and L’Oreal USA. 

Tim is the Director of Workforce Learning and Sales Development for WingSwept of Garner, North Carolina.  He is also the Editor of the Carolina Business Connection and an author, speaker and trainer.  He is the former National Sales Director for DowBrands Professional Division of Dow Chemical and was the Director of Business Development for a division of L’Oreal USA. 

Tim was named to the DowBrands Diamond Club in as the top salesperson for the company.   He was also awarded the Gillette VIP Award in recognizing him as one of the company’s top sales professionals.  

Tim uses research conducted by Generational Insight along with observations within client organizations to explore the unique affects of generational differences in sales-based relationships.  Tim grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Elon University. He is a board member of the Elon Alumni Association, a member of Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, and teaches sales classes and seminars at universities and community colleges. 

To connect with Tim Moore:  919-600-5124 Office           919-604-0221 Cell                      tim.moore@wingswept.com

 

ABOUT WINGSWEPT
WingSwept is a full-service information technology consulting company headquartered in Garner, NC. WingSwept’s services focus on helping clients leverage technology in the areas of government services, network support, web application development and vertical marketing. The staff of more than 20 serves a diverse set of clients in all 50 states and around the world. For more information on WingSwept’s services, please visit our website at www.wingswept.com.

The Network Support division focuses on providing best-practice IT support to small and medium sized businesses in North Carolina.  They deliver peace of mind through advanced services such as Network Security, Network Audits, Disaster Recovery and Remote Administration. 

To connect with WingSwept:  919-779-0954         www.wingswept.com

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This Weekend: Protect Your Planet while Protecting Your Data

Apr 11

Posted by molly.moore@wingswept.com in Local News, Press Releases, Technology Tips | Comments off

Most people who hold on to old and unusable technology do it for two reasons.  One reason is that they don’t know how or where to properly dispose of it.  The second reason is fear of their personal data’s security.  How can you know that your information is safe once you have gotten rid of it?

Due to the environmental harm that technology equipment can cause, it will soon be illegal to throw it away.  WingSwept, a Garner IT firm, encourages people to participate in the third annual Technology Spring Clean where computers and electronics are recycled for free.

In honor of Earth Day, the event is going to be held on April 16, 2011 at 951 Heather Park Drive, Garner, NC from 10 AM to 4 PM.

Supporting sponsors include: International Minute Press, Garner Chamber of Commerce, Garner Citizen, Jones Insurance, McDonald’s, REX Wellness Center of Garner, S&A Cherokee, Timeless Promotionals, Town of Garner, Triangle Business Journal, Triangle Recycling, and Turner Farms Self Storage.

Computers, wires, printers, hard drives, scanners, fax machines, phones, and more will be accepted for drop off and diverted from landfills at the April 16 event.

Participants can walk away with peace of mind knowing that their hard drives will be securely shredded prior to recycling, to protect personal data.

Questions regarding the event and accepted items can be directed towards Molly Moore at 919-779-0954 x 131.  Event details can also be found at www.wingswept.com/recycle.

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Rex Wellness Center of Garner Sponsors Earth Day Electronic Recycling Event

Mar 29

Posted by molly.moore@wingswept.com in Local News | Comments off

WingSwept is excited to announce that Rex Wellness Center of Garner has joined our team of sponsors for the 2011 Technology Spring Clean!  WingSwept appreciates everyone’s efforts (especially the communities support and participation).  It is because of YOU that the third annual eRecycling event can even take place!

The sponsors are key in making sure the people of Garner, Raleigh, Cary, Clayton, Fuquay-Varina and other areas are aware of this free & local electronic recycling event! Everyone is invited to participate in the event taking place on April 16 at 951 Heather Park Drive, Garner NC.  Throwing electronics away is detrimental to the Earth and will soon be banned.

The items that are encouraged for drop-off are computers, monitors, hard drives, wires, keyboards, fax machines, scanners, laptops, etc.

Note: Hard drives will be shredded before recycling to protect personal data.

Find the event on Facebook!

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Garner has a Free Convenient & Green Way to Get Rid of Computers

Mar 23

Posted by molly.moore@wingswept.com in Industry News, Press Releases, Technology Tips | Comments off

Do you live in Garner, Raleigh, Clayton or a surrounding town and have old technology to get rid of? Throwing away electronics in NC will soon be banned.

Items such as computers, monitors and printers contain many recyclable materials, and often contain toxins such as lead and mercury that can harm the environment when disposed of improperly.  With millions of these items being placed in landfills each year in the United States, WingSwept is proud to offer the Garner a free alternative to the dumpster.

If you or someone you know has some old equipment in need of disposal, the Technology Spring Clean is the perfect time to do it.  The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 16th (rain date April 30th) at 951 Heather Park Drive, Garner, NC (map).

Supporting sponsors include the Garner Chamber of Commerce, Garner Citizen, International Minute Press, Jones Insurance, McDonald’s, S&A Cherokee, Timeless Promotionals, Town of Garner, Triangle Business Journal, Triangle Recycling, and Turner Farms Self Storage.

 

 

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Android Users and App Scam

Mar 2

Posted by molly.moore@wingswept.com in Technology Tips | Comments off

Google pulled 21 apps off the Android market that contained malware.  Before being removed, 50,000 Android users had already downloaded the apps.  The apps appeared to be different versions of popular games, which tricked users into downloading them.  Look at the list of apps on CNN’s website.  WingSwept, IT support team in Garner NC, can provide you safety precaution tips on smart phones and guidance in removing unwanted apps.  Remember to be careful what you download, even on your phone!

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April 16 Marks the Third Annual Technoolgy Spring Clean in Garner, NC

Feb 17

Posted by molly.moore@wingswept.com in Press Releases | Comments off

The Technology Spring Clean, Triangle Business Journal’s 2010 Green Action Program of the Year, is gearing up for its third year in Garner, North Carolina.  It will be held by WingSwept on April 16, 2011 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at 951 Heather Park Drive in Garner.

In the past, the Technology Spring Clean has collected over 27,000 pounds of technology and raised awareness for electronic recycling and its importance.

With the accelerated pace of technology, your electronics can become unusable or outdated quickly.  Do you have a stash of old computers, printers or fax machines in your home or office?  Like most people, you may have not known what to do with it all.  Any other day of the year, recycling equipment may be a burdensome task that costs you money.

The Technology Spring Clean allows the community a free, easy and environmentally-friendly method to get rid of old electronic equipment. Computers/CPUs, UPS, printers, monitors, copiers, keyboards, mice, circuit boards, mainframes, hard drives, and phone systems are accepted for drop-off.

Improperly disposing of the equipment will harm the landfills and our environment. WingSwept encourages you to acknowledge Earth Day and clean out the clutter by swinging by the recycling event.  It will be off your hands and properly recycled by Triangle Recycling.

For event updates, follow WingSwept on Facebook or visit www.wingswept.com/recycle.  The Technology experts of WingSwept look forward to seeing you on April 16!

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WingSwept Looks Back on 2010

Jan 11

Posted by molly.moore@wingswept.com in Press Releases | Comments off

2010 marks the 10th year of business for Garner based IT firm, WingSwept, which experienced approximately 20% revenue growth.  The past year has proven to be an exciting and successful one for the four divisions that make up the organization.  The Vertical Markets division launched a new website brand for the HVAC industry and surpassed 1,800 customers, while the other divisions also grew considerably, which helped make 2010 an overall prosperous year.  WingSwept has accepted numerous awards and recognitions throughout the year and implemented community and employee programs that improve the company and its people.

After ten years in business, WingSwept truly values the loyalty and commitment of staff members that have grown with the company for a number of years.  Eleven staff members joined the team this year and have added a positive dimension to the office environment while also driving organizational success. The Marketing Department had four student interns, which gave students the ability to meet class requirements and develop useful business skills.  As always, WingSwept fosters employee empowerment and in 2010 they implemented a Pay-for-Performance plan that does just that. The program encourages employee involvement in lowering the bottom line of the company by awarding staff for their achievements.  WingSwept also presented programs this year such as Financial Peace University, a lecture series by financial management expert Dave Ramsey, where employees learned valuable ways of tackling the economy, lowering debt, and saving for the future.  Thanks to innovative programs like these, WingSwept is growing at a steady speed and expresses enthusiasm about their plan to bring more staff members on board at the beginning of 2011.

WingSwept’s Technology Spring Clean (TSC) gave employees another way of giving back to the community and environment by providing a way for participants to dispose of technological waste properly.  This year the number of participants grew 272.73% from 2009 and WingSwept welcomed 9 local businesses as supporting sponsors for the event, helping spread the word about TSC and making it an even larger group effort. The 2010 Technology Spring Clean saw a 445.24% increase in equipment collected for a grand total of 22,458 pounds.  In October, WingSwept was presented with the “Green Action Program” from the Triangle Business Journal for the outstanding achievements of TSC and the greater reach within the community it accomplished this year.  WingSwept is excited for 2011’s event, which they anticipate will have even better results.

Throughout the year, WingSwept was recognized with a number of honors, including:

  • Cover Story of ChannelPro Magazine (June Issue)
  • Citizen Choice for Business Award (Garner Citizen)
  • Triangle Top Entrepreneur Award (Business Leader Media)
  • Excellence in Partnering Award (Heartland Technology Groups)
  • Top NC Small Business Award (Business Leader Media)
  • Award of Excellence (NC Public Relations Society of America)
  • Internet Marketing and Design List (Triangle Business Journal)
  • Jones Insurance Agency Steady Growth and Achievement Award (Garner Chamber of Commerce)
  • Green Action Program of the Year (Triangle Business Journal)

Jay Strickland, WingSwept’s founder and CEO, represents WingSwept as the Chairman of Garner Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, a role that he will continue to hold in 2011.  He also held the roles of Present of the Garner Rotary Club and a board member on local boards such as the YMCA.  The WingSwept staff prides itself in its active participation in various community organizations.  This year, they found themselves sponsoring and participating in a number of community events and charitable activities as a team.  A Thanksgiving food drive and a Christmas benefit for families of the Community of Hope Ministries are just two recent examples of WingSwept’s charitable work.

To learn more about WingSwept’s success or how a partnership with them could benefit your company, visit www.wingswept.com or call (919) 779-0954.

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Is Your Password Hacker-Proof?

Dec 27

Posted by molly.moore@wingswept.com in Technology Tips | Comments off

With technology becoming more readily available to everyone, password safety has never been more important. This article by PCWorld illustrates just how crucial proper password protection can be.  Gawker Media is a widely known publication group that runs several blog websites like Gawker, Lifehacker, Gizmodo, and Jezebel.  Gawker Media was recently hacked by a group known as “Gnosis,” who stole private information including the email addresses and passwords of over one million Gawker users. The accounts were hacked with little difficulty due to the simple passwords many users had assigned to their accounts. Passwords including “123456,” “monkey,” “trustno1,” and even “password” were easily discovered and used by the hackers to gain access to each account and the private information they held. After analyzing some of the hacked data, the Wall Street Journal found that even the accounts of 15 Gawker staff members were hacked thanks to passwords such as one staffer’s name followed by the number “1.”

Be careful when creating a password and always keep in mind how valuable the information it is protecting can be. Even your social networking accounts hold at least your email address, which if hacked could be a serious imposition and invasion of privacy. The safest passwords typically have up to 14 characters, include numbers, a punctuation mark, and end in a symbol if possible. For more tips and information on how to protect your small to medium sized Garner NC business, contact WingSwept today!

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Tips On Choosing an IT Provider & Your Technoogy Needs

Nov 5

Posted by molly.moore@wingswept.com in Technology Tips | Comments off

Choose a Pro: While it may be tempting to simply use the help of a tech-savvy neighborhood kid or a family member who has always been good with computers, neither are equipped with the skills to help your company grow like a professional engineer is.

Tap into IT’s Know-How: Keep in mind that an IT professional is capable of much more than just fixing your printer or updating your software. Discussing business forecasts and the upcoming needs of the company with them can help them understand your goals and advise you about how those goals can be met.

Consider More Than Price: Be careful not to only consider price when choosing an IT company. Look out for the types of services you can expect also. Knowing what the company can do for you and thinking about what you expect out of them is the biggest part of choosing the right one. In the end, paying 10% more for a company with excellent service could result in 50% more capability for your business. Is your NC-based small business suffering from a lack of technology support? To find out what Garner’s WingSwept can do for your business contact us now!

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