I have been working for a small information technology company for a little over a year now and have gained immense appreciation for professionals in the field of providing computer network support to small and mid-size businesses. In order to get work done, you need a highly functional computer network, access to a high speed Internet connection, and a computer with a speedy processor and great memory. Sometimes businesses take these basic technological necessities for granted or do not understand what’s required to keep a business computer system running well.

DataVelocity, an IT company formed in 2002 by Melissa Minchala and Adam Warshaw, makes sure your technology provides the best return on investment possible. Serving companies in New York City, DataVelocity’s reliable IT management services and computer network maintenance solutions help small to mid-size companies streamline business functions and increase productivity through the technology used every day.

The co-founders of DataVelocity and their talented staff form a team of technologists whose goal is to create long term relationships and raving fans by delivering dynamic IT services and stellar support to help protect and grow their clients’ companies.

DataVelocity assists NYC-based businesses by being a managed services provider (MSP) that understands an organization’s need to balance an IT budget and simultaneously possess an optimal computer network.

Businesses today need to make a decision as to whether or not to staff internal IT professionals or outsource the expertise to knowledgeable IT firms. Some companies may have the budget to do both, however there a few benefits to hiring a managed services provider like DataVelocity.

The single most important tactical reason for outsourcing IT management is to reduce and control operating costs. Hiring an external IT partner can help a company’s bottom line by alleviating human resources expenses.

MSPs are also experts in security, business continuity and disaster recovery so business owners can have peace of mind knowing they have access to up-to-date technological experience.

DataVelocity is an IT partner that works with business owners to establish strategic tech goals.  With scalable and flexible services that are based on flat monthly fees, small to mid-sized business owners in New York City will always know what their monthly bill will be, and never have to worry about another tech-related issue again.

Fratelli Brick Oven Pizza & Wine Bar – The Italian Restaurant on The Upper East Side #NYC

I enjoy a good glass of wine. The red house wine at Fratelli Brick Oven Pizza and Wine Bar, an Italian restaurant on the Upper East Side, was awesome. I dined there with a friend on Thursday and also really enjoyed the restaurant’s Salmon Risotto special. My pal Richard had the Rigatoni special and he liked it very much. The establishment blew us away with their White Chocolate Cake dessert which was described by Gaven, the general manager, as “one of the best desserts in the house.”

Fratelli Brick Oven Pizza & Wine Bar has been in business for seven years and was started by brothers Jon and Marc Bash (fratelli means brother in Italian.) The decor is warm and wood-based with incredible chandeliers creating cozy lighting. The hospitality is friendly and the staff takes the extra step to make sure every thing is fine.

The entrance to Fratelli Brick Oven Pizza & Wine Bar on the Upper East Side.

I have always loved Italian food and was torn by the vast choices on Fratelli’s menu. I will have to return some day to try their raving pizza and partake of their delicious red house wine again. I think I have found my “go to” place on the Upper East Side and possibly one of my favorites in Manhattan. If you are in the New York City metropolitan area and feel like an authentic Italian restaurant experience, definitely consider visiting Fratelli on the Upper East Side (on 1st Avenue near 71st Street.)

Which Chocolate Cake dessert at Fratelli on the Upper East Side.

Delphic of Gamma Sigma Tau Fraternity

I am a member of The Delphic Fraternity, Inc., also known as Delphic of Gamma Sigma Tau. Every March my fraternity has a reunion in the small college town of New Paltz, NY. I’m looking forward to this year’s event, which celebrates the 27th anniversary of the organization’s re-establishment.

The fraternity officially becomes 143 years old in October. I am the self-proclaimed historian of my era for the fraternity and manage a site called the Delphic Fraternity History Homepage.

As I prepare to join my follow fraternity members to recognize the organization, discuss business, catch up with old friends, and connect with my Ala mater, the communicator in me can’t help but promote my fraternity via a social media shout out.

Delphic Fraternity (Gamma Sigma Tau) Multicultural Fraternity @newpaltz pic.twitter.com/dSaHxxHX7b

— Delphic Fraternity (@DelphicGST) February 28, 2014

I was blessed to attend college and joining a fraternity was one of the best college-related decisions I’ve ever made. I knew when I joined the fraternity it would be a life-long commitment and I look forward to continuing to represent it the best way I can.

D E L – P H I !

As 2014 begins, my professional focus will be on business networking.  As a social media enthusiast, I have become more active on LinkedIn and finally reached the coveted 500+ connections. During the past few years I’ve concentrated on developing a social media network and now in 2014 I hope to create and maintain a strong business network.

I have been a member of Meetup.com for quite sometime and will be much more involved socially this year as well. I look forward to promoting my marketing/communication work with new contacts and learning more about how to work and connect with my present and long-time contacts in the New York City metropolitan area.

Wishing everyone I’ve ever come in contact with via my social, educational, and professional life a very happy and professionally prosperous 2014!.

Startups of Puerto Rico

The economy of Puerto Rico may be struggling like many others, but there is a community of dedicated technologically-savvy entrepreneurs working hard to make La Isla de Borinquen a startup technology hub.

As a native New Yorker of Puerto Rican descent, I did not know there was a tech startup community on the Caribbean island.

According to one of the Puerto Rican pioneers of the startup community, Marcos Polanco, the startup community in Puerto Rico has officially existed since 2010 but has been around since 1996.

In 2010, Ramphis Castro and Marcos joined forces to create an association called Startups of Puerto Rico. They envisioned Puerto Rico and its people establishing start up technology companies and representing a growing number of successful businesses.

Castro and Polanco hosted a Startups of Puerto Rico Showcase on Tuesday, October 15 at the New York offices of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration.

I registered for the event to write this blog post. It was an honor just to be in the space, let alone in one with over 60 people with the collective idea of doing what we can to promote the startup community of Puerto Rico.

The event allowed four Puerto Rican startups the opportunity to pitch their companies to successful technology startup investors. The companies received priceless feedback from the tech investors who could have been anywhere they wanted to be at the time.

The tech investors on the pitch review panel included Bob Dorf, Amol Sarva, KJ Singh, and Ricardo García Amaya.

The startups from Puerto Rico included:

Blimp, represented by Giovanni Collazo, a startup providing “beautiful and easy project management for doers.”

Leavebox, represented by Roberto Santos, describes itself as the place “where Human Resources meets Business Intelligence by providing tools to manage employee absences.”

Kytelabs, represented by Jonathan Gonzalez, offers OneCard, “The last card you’ll ever carry.  Pay from any account, anywhere, on any system.  Say goodbye to your wallet.”

iGenApps, represented by Norman Ortiz, allows users to “create function-rich mobile apps from the palm of your hand with no programming.”

The startups showcased their companies and products and were open to suggestions on how to move their company/product to the next level. The investors also provided critical advice by expressing their occasional wish to either hear more specific information or see more dynamic presentations.

All the startups were amazing but I was most impressed with iGenApps. Smartphones are becoming more popular than laptops and it makes sense to be able create your own mobile app on your phone without the use of a desktop computer.

The night’s theme highlighted Puerto Rico as a place to do business and, as Startups of Puerto Rico notes on it’s website, “a real technology startup scene right smack in the middle of the Caribbean.”

Some of the event’s sponsors included the law firm Perkins Coie, Puerto Rican crowd-funding company Antrocket, and Puerto Rico’s first co-working space, Piloto 151.

A social gathering sponsored by Fans and Friends of Startups of Puerto Rico, founded by Carmen Bonilla, at Iguana‘s ended the evening.

I enjoyed the informative night and look forward to hearing more about Startups of Puerto Rico on the island and in New York.

It’s incredible to see a vibrant and visionary community of Boricuas creating their own, contributing to the local economy, and demonstrating leadership.

Keep up the wonderful work!