Friday, September 30, 2011

Resource Review: Dropbox

Dropbox
File storage and transfer service
http://www.dropbox.com/

Have you ever:
  • Been frustrated by your firm’s flaky FTP site? 
  • Spent hours waiting for your files to upload, only to receive a failure message? 
  • Had to apologize to clients or partner firms for your FTP site’s lack of reliability? 
  • Lost all of your files on your home computer when your personal hard drive crashed?
It seems almost every firm has a sob story about their FTP site. Many of us have also experienced the devastating loss of personal data when a home computer crashes. Dropbox, an online file storage and transfer service, is working to change that.

Dropbox does all of the things you need your FTP site to do – and more. In addition to providing a secure environment in which to store and transfer files, Dropbox offers an incredibly user-friendly interface and the ability to access your information from any device – even your mobile phone. Once you create your account, you can access your files either by logging into the Dropbox website or by accessing the desktop or mobile application. You can download this application to an unlimited number of devices – your work computer, home computer, iPhone/iPad/Android/Blackberry, etc. Uploaded files are automatically synced throughout all of your installed devices, so your files are available virtually anywhere and anytime you want them.

Dropbox allows you to create an unlimited number of folders to organize your data. By default, all of your folders can only be accessed by you. However, you may choose to share a folder with a friend, a group of friends – or perhaps a project team – so that all invited members can access the files. Just like your private folders, changes to your shared folders are reflected immediately. So regardless of when or where you are accessing Dropbox, you know that the files you are working with are the most current. Also, Dropbox keeps a one-month history of your work, so changes can be undone and files can be undeleted, if necessary.

The standard free account comes with 2GB of storage, and different pricing options are available starting at about $10/month for 50GB. Dropbox can also customize a pricing plan with shared quotas – a feature designed for teams sharing large amounts of information above 100GB.

Whether you are interested in sharing photos with family and friends, collaborating with a volunteer organization, or managing a large project team, Dropbox’s flexibility, reliability, and elegant user interface make it a valuable and affordable option for storing and transferring files.

Katie Harris, LEED AP
Encotech Engineering Consultants

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

October Luncheon: Strategies for Winning Federal Work

Despite the recent focus on limiting spending, there are still opportunities to win work with the federal government. This month, we will hear from experts in the field of federal procurement on the most lucrative up-and-coming opportunities in Central Texas and how to position your firm to win this work. In addition we will learn GSA’s expectations of its A/E/C partners, how to identify and connect with our region’s federal decision makers, how special designations such as small business set-asides affect the award process, and how alternative project delivery methods can make or break a project.

Speakers:
Scott Armey, Principal, The Armey Group, LLP
Scott brings over 17 years experience serving as a County Judge and Commissioner and in President George W. Bush’s Administration.

Tye Sheets Pierpont
Tye served as the Senior Advisor to the Regional Administration for the US General Services Administration (GSA) under President George W. Bush.

THE DISCOUNTED PRICE ENDS AFTER WEDNESDAY, October 5th!!

When: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Where: University of Texas Club - President's Room
2108 E. Robert Dedman Drive, Austin, TX 78712

Attire: Business Attire

Event Registration Fee:
Member: $35.00 for a limited time ($45.00 original price)
Non-Member: $45.00 for a limited time ($55.00 original price)

RSVP Monday, October 10, 2011

Monday, September 26, 2011

SMPS Austin Chapter Kick-off Celebration

Please join us for the annual SMPS Austin Chapter Kick-off Celebration. This is a chance to mingle with members of the A/E/C industry, meet the new SMPS board and learn about ways to become more involved with SMPS. There will be prize drawings, including one for members that bring non-members as their guests, and complimentary food and drink. So, grab your friends and associates and come celebrate with us! We look forward to seeing you there.

Prize Drawings
1 for all SMPS members in attendance
1 for all SMPS members who bring a non-member guest (one entry for each non-member guest)

Membership Promotion
Any non-member who attends and joins the SMPS Austin Chapter by October 15th will receive $25 Chuy's gift certificate.

When: Thursday, October 06, 2011 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Where: Star Bar
600 West Sixth Street, Austin, TX 78701

Event Registration Fee:
Member: Complimentary
Non-Member: Complimentary

RSVP Thursday, October 06, 2011

Monday, September 12, 2011

SMPS Austin Year in Review: 2010-2011

SMPS Austin is proud of our success over the past year.  Here is a summary of our progress and achievements during the 2010-2011 term.

Firsts
  • Communications Awards Program
  • Mentoring Program
  • Golf 101
  • Submitted for the Striving for Excellence Awards program
Sponsorship
  • Revamped sponsorship structure with addition of Platinum and Annual Educational Sponsorship Levels which brought in $8500 of revenue.
  • Several lunches with high luncheon sponsorships. June’s Capitol Complex Vision and Plans had $1250 in luncheon sponsorship, November’s Legislative Preview had $1000 and March’s ACC’s Facilities Plan brought in $750 in sponsorship dollars.  Our joint luncheon brought in $2360.
  • Sponsorships this year have been crucial to our success in the down economy
Treasurer
  • Started taking registrations at the door 
  • Had a very successful collections drive for past due invoices
Programs
  • Luncheons continued to have high attendance and high quality programming
  • Increased the number of educational offerings
  • Successful “Legislative Recap” event
  • Increase the frequency of our informal happy hours
  • Worked with National on workshop that they brought to Austin
  • Worked with National President to bring best rated lunch and learn of the year to Austin – Getting off the Short list
  • Worked with SA on successful joint luncheon.
  • Successful Golf 101 event and Tour
  • Successful program firsts (previously mentioned) Awards program and Mentoring program
Communications
  • Developed a comprehensive social media program to include twitter, LinkedIn, blog
  • Revamped and increased frequency of the newsletter
CPSM Study Group
  • Study group has been active for 2 years.  2 years ago our chapter had 3 CPSM’s – we now have 8.
Philanthropic Activities
  • Supported Big Brothers Big Sisters and CANstruction

New Member Spotlight: Cara Salling

Cara Salling
GSC Architects

Where do you work and what’s your position? Brief Description of company.
I work at GSC Architects, and while my job title changes depending on who you ask, some of my ever-evolving responsibilities include: supporting our CEO, marketing, developing business connections, handling public relations, playing Webmaster, scheduling, coordinating social events, and much, much more. I am proud to have been a part of this company for over 5 years.

GSC Architects is a full service Architecture and Interior Design firm formed in Austin in 1978. We are more than just designers; we elevate our clients’ vision of success by designing built environments to cultivate community.

Where is your hometown?  Where did you go to school?
Austin is my hometown, but I decided I needed a change of pace so I went to school at Texas A&M University. I also studied abroad for a year in England and a semester in Spain while earning my degree in Communication. After graduating, there was only one place in Texas I knew I could call home and so I returned to Austin.

What do you like to do in your free time? Hobbies?
Free time? What is that? Just kidding! Work keeps me fairly busy, but I do love to get out and about in this great city. You’re most likely to run into me: (literally) on the trail around Ladybird/Town Lake sometimes with my puppies in tow; find me out at happy hour, because it never ceases to amaze me how many incredible restaurants/bars there are in this city; or volunteering for one of my favorite philanthropic organizations, Big Brothers Big Sisters.

How long have you been a member of SMPS?
While I have participated in a few SMPS events over the past five years, I officially became a member just earlier this summer.

What do you see as the benefits of your experience with the SMPS?
I hope to spend more time working with other marketing professionals in my industry on a more personal level. Instead of just putting together proposals via email and phone conversations, I’d like to actually sit down face to face and talk about issues that we all face in our daily efforts to help promote our companies.