March 3, 2008
Program Preview:
Creating the Right Fit: IT Strategies for Non-Profits

Preview by Rob Limbaugh

Every venture starts out with basic technology resources and information service needs. For some a ledger, rolodex, and phone may suffice. Others require a modest network and multi-extension phone system. Guidance and direction is usually a phone call away from a local consultant or an acquaintance with appropriate tech experience.

Smaller organizations are nice in that they have little red-tape, are able to shift direction easily, and can adopt new methods quickly. Unfortunately, they often lack the ability to take advantage of 'Enterprise Class' resources available to larger companies mostly because they don't have the same buying power and the expense can't be justified.

What if the same technology options were available to the 'little guy' and non-profit agencies? Why doesn't every business have a data center, collaborative resources, information management, and technology staff? What is preventing them from having a mobile workforce?

Non-Profit agencies and Small Businesses are faced with particular challenges when it comes to technology spending. Unlike large corporations in the profit sector, they are usually operating with a much smaller budget. Non-Profits may be at the mercy of outside funding sources to realize their goals. The unfortunate consequence is that the ability to bring services to consumers or the community is limited simply due to cost—not experience or quality.

The good news is that many solutions, benefits, and resources typically reserved for 'enterprise class' are in fact available in some shape or form to every entity. From application suites, to telecommunications needs, remote access solutions, hardware management, etc.—there is invariably a solution on the appropriate scale that has the appropriate fit.

With her many years of IT experience in the Small Business, Enterprise, and Non-Profit arenas, Flo Ferrara brings us an enlightening presentation on how anyone can begin 'Creating the Right Fit' for their organization. She will share with us what she's learned about the necessity for ‘corporate standards’, particularly as they relate to network infrastructure, workstation configuration, software applications, help desk management, internet usage and security.

The purpose of this presentation is to illustrate ‘best practice’ IT strategies for non-profit and small business IT Directors, Managers, and/or interested parties. It will include examples of creative approaches to IT problem solving and provide a number of available resources for the non-profit and business sectors.

Flo's career in IT began at the March of Dimes, where she took the lead working with the then 'new' 3+Share networking by 3Com. Later she moved on to DeLoitte & Touche, and in 1999 became the IT Manager for a global qualitative research firm. Currently she is the IT Director for a multi-office non-profit agency in Milford, holds a Black Belt, is a member of the National Association of Professional Women, a local spokesperson for 'Mind Your Body', and also happens to be the DACS 'First Lady'.

DACS meetings are held at the Danbury Hospital auditorium. (Click here for directions.) Activities begin at 6:30 p.m. with registration and casual networking. The meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. with a discussion of what’s new in technology (What's News) followed by a general question and answer period (Ask DACS), announcements and a short break. The featured evening presentation begins at 8:00.

As a reminder, our General Meetings are free and open to the public so invite anyone you know who would be interested in this topic.