Jason Ramirez recently joined IT Strategies as a senior consultant, assigned to oversee the implementation of Geographical Information System technology for the Las Vegas Valley Water District. Prior to joining IT Strategies, he served as a GIS consultant for ACTS, Inc., a Department of Energy facility where he created spatial and tabular data systems and ad hoc maps for on-site environmental projects for the company. With more than a decade of experience in the information technology field, Ramirez possesses numerous GIS related skills.
IT Strategies recently welcomed a new team of employees to oversee the customer service help desk for the CrazyGrazer.com Web site, a new online store targeted towards outlet shoppers. IT Strategies helped the e-commerce business develop and launch the new Web site.
Sam Silva joined the CrazyGrazer.com team, bringing with him his customer service, management and computer skills. He also speaks fluent Spanish and has previous experience in a customer call center, as well as computer consulting. Prior to joining IT Strategies, Jessica Rinaldi served as a customer account representative for American General Finance Services. A graduate of Stony Brook University in New York, she will aid in customer service for CrazyGrazer.com.
Senior IT Strategies Consultant Supports 'Peer' Program
Diane Altschuler, an IT Strategies consultant since 2000, has been honored for her work in helping juveniles get a second chance. Earlier this year, she received a recognition at a Clark County Bar Association awards luncheon for her efforts in association with Trial By Peers. Altschuler earned the "Trial By Peers - Parent Volunteer of the Year 2003" award, a recognition that has the IT Strategies' team applauding her efforts.
"Trial By Peers" is a program that provides an alternative for the first-time juvenile offender. An innovative diversion program, it allows juveniles that are charged with misdemeanors to be tried, represented and sentenced by their peers. Based on the youth court concept, this program is run by the Clark County Bar Association in cooperation with the Department of Family and Youth Services.
Altschuler has been involved with this program for several years. Her commitment, along with the Clark County Bar Association's efforts, has resulted in a reduction in cases burdening the juveniles justice system. The program has proven successful in lessening repeated offenses.
In addition, Altschuler's son, Ryan, is a volunteer with the organization and received the "Trial by Peers Volunteer of the Year 2003" award at the luncheon. He serves as a peer counselor for the program, volunteering as a prosecutor or defender of the juvenile offenders.
The Benefit Package at IT Strategies Benefits Employees
IT Strategies has teamed up with Worksite Solutions to provide its employees with a Benefit Package that is competitive, beneficial and practical. With advantages such as the U-Select™ voluntary benefit program through which employees can fit benefits to their individual and family needs, this program proves to be a definite advantage for employees at IT Strategies. The benefits are employee paid – after tax – with a payroll deduction.
The first step towards obtaining individual financial security is understanding the benefits being offered by the employer. When choosing supplemental benefits it is important to ensure that risks are minimized and families are prepared for any situation.
A component of the U-Select™ voluntary benefits program is the One-Minute Planner. This survey can be taken to help determine what the specialized needs are of an individual. Once an employee has answered this questionnaire the benefits specialist will generate a plan that will sustain the individual needs of that employee.
This supplemental program offers various choices. The employee can choose between Universal Life Insurance, Level Term Life Insurance or Family Income Life Insurance. Universal Life Insurance holds a cash reserve that grows with premium contributions and also provides death benefits for employee's families. Level Term Life Insurance will protect an individual's family in the event of a premature death and is exercisable on the first and second policy anniversary. The Family Income Decreasing Term Life is beneficial if the individual's family is dependent upon the employee's income and will provide survivor income to help the family maintain their standard of living after the employee's death.
In addition, the employee has a choice between three disability income insurance programs each having different features. Plan #1 carries an optional physical therapy rider; meaning the employee is entitled up to 10 visits to a licensed physical therapist per disability. In both plans #2 and #3, the plan will go into effect with no waiting period in the event of an accident. Plan #3 covers pregnancy the same way as any other disability. All three plans provide up to 60% of the employee's current gross wages, a minimum of $500 a month and maximum of $5,000 a month. As IT Strategies does not continue an employee's pay in the event of an extended illness, every employee must seriously consider the importance of obtaining disability insurance.
The employee can also choose the Accidental Death and Dismemberment Plan which provides additional money needed in the event of an accidental loss. The Personal Accident and Disability Plan will provide additional money needed when a covered accident results in a disability which disrupts the employee's life. Under the Accident and Sickness Hospitalization Plan the employee will receive a lump sum payment if admitted into the hospital and a daily payment if the patient is confined to the hospital.
Employees can also receive coverage when inflicted with such conditions as: cancer (except skin cancer), heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, Multiple Sclerosis, organ transplants (as a recipient), severe burns, blindness, paralysis, brain tumor, and dismemberment under the specified Critical Illness Insurance Plan. The Cancer Insurance Program will provide cash compensation for use in the treatment, transportation and other expenses associated with a cancer diagnosis.
Legal Club of America® is also available for employees to use. This plan offers 90 days of free membership and allows employees access to free and discounted legal services. This club also guarantees fixed hourly rates and contingency fee discounts at an affordable price.
With an unknown future, it is detrimental for employees to protect themselves and those who depend on them. The voluntary benefits plan is intended to aid the employee sin minimizing the financial risks associated with circumstances that can threat on their well-being.
Meet IT Strategies' Own Aamer Qureshi
The longest tenured employee with the company, Aamer Qureshi has been with IT Strategies from the beginning. As the second employee ever hired by the consulting firm, Aamer began working with IT Strategies in October 1996, just four months after the company opened.
"Aamer had very good skills and experience, and we knew right away he would be an asset to the company," said Mike Marriott. "We are very fond of him, and he has provided great service to the companies he has worked with."
A natural interest in technology developed when Aamer's father bought a computer. His attraction to programming led to his career choice. A native of England, Aamer took a programming position with a technology agency that relocated him to the United States in 1991. His work took him to New York and New Jersey, before moving him west to Phoenix. With family just one state away in Las Vegas, Aamer decided to look for a consulting position in Southern Nevada.
"I found the IT Strategies position in a newspaper ad," said Aamer. "At the time, I didn't consider how long I would want to work for them, I just wanted to be closer to family. Eight years later, I am still working with them."
A senior consultant for the firm, his first assignment was Nevada Power. According to Mike, the utilities company was highly impressed from the beginning with Aamer's abilities. "He scored the highest on the Nevada Power qualifications exam that any other person that had taken it," Mike said.
Aamer spent nearly more than five years with Nevada Power, overseeing Cobal, Visual Basic and Oracle programming projects. Within that timeframe, he worked in various departments on at least 20 different technology projects. Although Nevada Power wanted to hire him for their in-house IT department, Aamer remained with IT Strategies, where consulting work would expose him to an array of assignments.
"I wanted to continue doing contract work because I liked the variety," said Aamer. "I like working in different environments with different people. I didn't want to lock myself into one job where I did the same thing over and over."
After a nine-month project with Southwest Gas, Aamer returned to Nevada Power for a short time. He then took a new IT Strategies consulting assignment with the Las Vegas Valley Water District, where he is still working.
In eight years, Aamer has worked in a variety of settings on a spanning array of technical projects where he has enhanced existing skills and gained new knowledge.
"When Aamer first joined IT Strategies, we were working with old mainframe systems, rather than the client servers you see today," said Mike. "Like the rest of us, he has changed with the technology environment and adapted to changing technologies, gaining more client server experience."
IT Strategies is certainly satisfied with their lasting work relationship with Aamer. In many ways, his loyalty is symbolic of the company's efforts to establish a consulting firm that straightforward, fair and reliable, overcoming a stigma that has sometimes been associated with the industry.
"The company has been good to me and kept me busy for all these years, so I've never had any reason to change direction," said Aamer. "Having the company's management here in Las Vegas has played a large role in my choice to stay with IT Strategies. It's good to have the direction you need so close by."
IT Strategies founded the company on high standards that would set it apart from any other IT consulting firm. After nearly eight years with the firm, that message is certainly clear to Aamer, who continues to serve some of IT Strategies' largest clients.
(back to top)
IT Strategies is Welcoming New Business Partners
Let Us Know of Potential Clients
Since its inception, IT Strategies has been associated with quality IT consulting for businesses and government agencies. As you know, we have enjoyed an extensive and enjoyable relationship with Nevada Power, Southwest Gas and the Las Vegas Valley Water District.
As IT Strategies continues to grow, we strive to maintain good working relationships with existing clients. We are also expanding our business to provide consulting services to new industries and additional services to a wide range of enterprises.
Our current partnership with Zco not only allows IT Strategies to provide custom software solutions, it also increases our flexibility to aid smaller and growing firms and help them decide if custom software is the right choice for their business.
Additionally, we recently administered the development and deployment of the CrazyGrazer.com e-commerce Website. IT Strategies consultants oversee customer service for the site, and continue to assist online consumers with the site.
We are also developing our consultation expertise to provide knowledgeable consulting assistance to companies in the construction and healthcare industries, as well as placing added focus on IT products and plans that help public and private companies comply with federal regulations, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Patriot Act and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA).
Because we value your knowledge and skills, and because we would like to see you grow with the company, IT Strategies would like your input and assistance in helping us achieve our goals. Please contact me at the office at 878-3827 or mmarriott@itstrategiesint.com if you know of businesses that are in need of our consulting services in these new areas. By working together, we can advance IT Strategies to a new level in IT consulting.
Sincerely,
Michael Marriott
IT Strategies
