2023 Blog Posts

Apparo Guest Blog: 3 Ways Volunteering Tech Skills Amplify Nonprofit Impact

December 13, 2023

Skilled volunteering marries professional pursuits and philanthropy. It involves employees using their professional knowledge and expertise on a pro bono basis to serve nonprofit organizations. This form of volunteering is a commitment made by many companies looking to leverage their skill sets to create social impact and has proven to be a highly sought-after need especially with smaller nonprofits lacking technological and business process essentials. At MetLife, we just wrapped a Global Hackathon event where more than 2,700 current employees across departments, functions, and geographies signed up to ‘Hack to the Future of Customer Care’. During the four-week challenge, participants ideated, finessed, and pitched innovative ideas to heighten the customer experience. The Hackathon teams developed 300+ unique, tech-forward solutions that have the power to drive business initiatives and increase efficiency.

NC Tech Awards Top 10 Startup Profiles

October 18, 2023

The NC Tech Awards "Top 10 Startups to Watch" winners are technology startups founded in NC within the past four years that demonstrated a foundation for success. We asked each startup to answer a brief questionnaire to provide insight into their journey towards success.

Member Spotlight: Silver Tree Consulting & Services

October 16, 2023

Silver Tree’s roots began in 2000, when the talents of Richard Ricks, Founder/CEO, Tony Doye (President), Dan Larson (COO) intersected at Computer Sciences Corporation (now DXC Technology).

MetLife Guest Blog: Hacking to the Future of Innovation

October 01, 2023

Creating a culture of innovation is critical as companies compete for market share. Leaders are always looking for new, creative ideas to move the needle in this space. One way to think differently is to harness the creativity and great thinking inside your company through a Hackathon. At MetLife, we just wrapped a Global Hackathon event where more than 2,700 current employees across departments, functions, and geographies signed up to ‘Hack to the Future of Customer Care’. During the four-week challenge, participants ideated, finessed, and pitched innovative ideas to heighten the customer experience. The Hackathon teams developed 300+ unique, tech-forward solutions that have the power to drive business initiatives and increase efficiency.

Member Spotlight: Noesis

September 18, 2023

Noesis is an international tech consulting company with +25 years of experience offering solutions to support companies' businesses and digital transformation. Noesis has an extensive IT services portfolio working in several areas such as IT Ops& Infrastructure, Cloud & Security, Enterprise Solutions, Low-Code Solutions, Data Analytics & AI, DevOps & Automation, Quality Management, Enterprise Application Integration, and Professional Services. The company has +1000 highly specialized talents, operating in six countries: Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Brazil, Ireland, and the US. Noesis is part of Altia Group, listed on the Spanish BME Growth stock market, with over 3,500 professionals operating in 7 countries and over 20 locations.

Member Spotlight: Centri Business Consulting

August 31, 2023

Centri Business Consulting provides the highest quality advisory consulting services to its clients by being reliable and responsive to their needs. Centri provides companies with the expertise they need to meet their reporting demands. Centri specializes in financial reporting, internal controls, technical accounting research, valuation, mergers & acquisitions, and tax, CFO, and HR advisory services for companies of various sizes and industries. From complex technical accounting transactions to monthly financial reporting, our professionals can offer any organization the specialized expertise and multilayered skillsets to ensure the project is completed timely and accurately.

We Invite You to Wilmington

August 15, 2023

We would like to welcome you to Wilmington on September 13 for the ABCs of New Technology Tools and Brews + Bytes. We hope you enjoy the BREWS of Ironclad Brewery and the delicious BYTES of the success of our new tech-based economy.

Member Spotlight: HUBZone Technology Initiative

August 15, 2023

Our founder, Matt Raydo, was looking for a way to give back to others. His for-profit company, Valiant Solutions, was unsuccessful in the beginning. As it grew, he decided to find a way to give back. Valiant already worked with technology in HUBZone communities, so that's how the idea arose.

August Guest Blog - A Focus on Diversity from a Spreedly Perspective

August 01, 2023

At Spreedly, we strive to align our company values; Courageous Collaboration, Self-driven Leadership, Simplicity, Empathy & Mutual Respect, and a Culture of Transparency with our work on increasing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Intertwining our values with how we show up for one another and our customers is key to our success. How do we focus on DEIB? How do we promote belonging within our values?

Member Spotlight: Genesis 10

July 17, 2023

In 1999, Harley Lippman asked 12 of his former colleagues to help him build a professional technology services firm that companies across the U.S. would rely on to deliver experienced, professional business and IT talent. Ten colleagues said yes, and the company was named Genesis10 in their honor.

July Guest Blog with MetLife's Bill Pappas

July 05, 2023

The past few years have tested the flexibility and resiliency of leaders to overcome significant obstacles. This year is no different. We’re all facing challenges such as inflation, geopolitical pressures, supply chain demands, and increased cybersecurity threats.

Take 5 with Wayne Hippo, Owner + Managing Partner, PS Solutions

June 12, 2023

The Take 5 series features brief 5 question interviews with leaders who are making an impact within their organization and in the community. The interviews are shared in the monthly e-newsletter, blog and through social media. Meet our next Take 5 executive, Wayne Hippo with PS Solutions.

Take 5 with Patrick Hill, A Cultivated Mindset

June 12, 2023

The Take 5 series features brief 5 question interviews with leaders who are making an impact within their organization and in the community. The interviews are shared in the monthly e-newsletter, blog and through social media. Meet our next Take 5 executive, Patrick Hill of A Cultivated Mindset.

June Guest Blog with Centri Consulting

May 31, 2023

In recent years, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies has significantly impacted many industries, and accounting is no exception. The use of AI-powered tools like ChatGPT allows accountants to automate routine tasks, gain valuable insights, and provide better service to clients. However, there are also concerns that AI could replace accountants entirely, leading to job loss and ethical issues. In this article, we will explore the impact of ChatGPT and AI on the accounting profession, accounting technology, and the potential for AI to replace accountants.

Member Spotlight: Atomic Object

May 31, 2023

Atomic Object was founded in Grand Rapids, Michigan in August 2001, from the ashes of a dot-com startup where Atomic’s founder Carl Erickson was Vice President of Engineering. In 2007, Atomic began expanding its software development service offering with in-house design consultants. Around the same time, the company executed its first employee ownership sales, beginning a tradition of full employee ownership. Building on its success in Grand Rapids, Atomic expanded into Ann Arbor in 2013, followed by Chicago in 2020, and Raleigh in 2022. Over that time, Atomic formalized a third software consultant type: the Delivery Lead, who brings a product development mindset, makes sure everyone is aligned on priorities and goals, and keeps the team productive and focused on high-value work.

May Guest Blog: Three keys to achieving inclusive communications in your organization

April 28, 2023

How do you create an employee-first workplace? A business where employees are treated as respectfully as customers? The answer is by using inclusive communications in all interactions, from top to bottom. NCTECH hosted a webinar discussing inclusive communications with Kurt Merriweather, co-founder of The Diversity Movement (TDM); Dana Calder, senior vice president of people operations at Spreedly; and me. The three of us discussed a framework that HR and DEI leaders can deploy to ensure inclusive communications—and consequently to help their companies thrive.

Member Spotlight: Ascend Sales Solutions

April 02, 2023

After 35+ years in corporate sales, traveling and being away from family and friends over the years, I decided there was a better path for me and to leverage my background and experience to work with companies in my local community trying to grow to their maximum potential. I discovered there was a need in the small to medium size business community to help these organizations build a solid foundation for growth and provide sales leadership, but doing so in a part time basis.

March Guest Blog with Reggie Townsend of SAS

February 28, 2023

One of the reasons I got involved with the trustworthy AI movement is because automated systems enabled by our past will hurt people – at scale – if we aren’t careful. Worse yet, and from a personal perspective, it concerned me that if such systems were deployed in justice and public safety settings and healthcare environments, based on historical precedent, the possibility of harm to African-Americans alarmed me. I knew something needed to change and I wanted to be a part of that change.

Member Spotlight with CrushBank

February 10, 2023

CrushBank has built an AI engine and machine learning model to transform IT support. It provides data to enabling faster resolutions, fewer escalations, and unparalleled analytics. CrushBank unlocks proprietary and previously unsearchable content to provide invaluable support information and then uses that same technology to help categorize and classify client interactions for improved decision-making. CrushBank makes it easier to collect data, identify missing information to continually bolster a support team’s corpus of information Founded by industry leaders, CrushBank searches and categorizes more than 100,000 pieces of information per day for our customers.

Take 5 with Jamie Howard, Allstacks

February 10, 2023

The Take 5 series features brief 5 question interviews with leaders who are making an impact within their organization and in the community. The interviews are shared in the monthly e-newsletter, blog and through social media. Meet our next Take 5 executive, Jamie Howard of Allstacks.

February Guest Blog: Prioritize DEI to Thrive During the Big Tech Downturn

February 01, 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic was a primary catalyst for Big Tech’s hiring spree in 2020 and 2021. Remote work took off in ways never experienced before and organizations began hiring in unprecedented numbers. The thought was this new era of remote work and economic prosperity would set a standard for ongoing growth. Fast forward to the end of 2022, with the threat of recession looming and a series of poor earnings reports, and organizations are responding with layoffs to improve financial results.

Member Spotlight: Piper Companies

January 16, 2023

Piper Companies is an elite staffing and human capital solutions firm specializing in information technology, life sciences, and clinical solutions. With a proven track record of delivering high quality talent, managed services, and consulting, we help our clients build high performing teams and drive long-term value. Our rigorous customer engagement process assures results in addressing a variety of people-centered challenges, whether it is helping teams reach maximum performance through comprehensive managed services, directly recruiting permanent employees, or staffing projects on a contract or contract-to-hire basis. When the need is sudden and critical, we specialize in identifying and onboarding the most qualified people in a rapid fashion.