Erie, PA (PRWEB) November 07, 2013 -- Velocity Network's Technology Makeover Program was announced to the public on July 24, 2013 and over forty applications were received. Each application was evaluated by a panel of five independent judges and seven finalists were selected. Each finalist was interviewed to affirm their application and the winners - a for-profit business and a non-profit organization - were selected based on the evaluation criteria. The winners were announced on October 22nd, 2013 and each were awarded $25,000 worth of products and services from Lenovo, Dell Sonicwall, Xerox, Microsoft, and Velocity Network.
"We're thrilled," said Mary Beth Graml, president of Grapevine Laundry and Linens, the industrial linen rental and dry cleaning company that won in the for-profit category. "This program will help us remain competitive by maintaining and expanding our customer base, as well as by helping us track our inventory better."
In the nonprofit category, the Erie County Historical Society was selected as the winner.
"We're extremely appreciative for this opportunity," said Executive Director Cal Pifer. "For Velocity to come up with a grant project which involves the tools that they have to offer to the community is really ingenious on their part, and I think it's going to go a long way in the non-profit community."
Pifer joked that his organization's sobriquet "Historical Society" also unfortunately applied to their technology, but was optimistic that new technology would benefit them greatly. "I think that this award is going to bring a lot of our technology needs in line with where we should be in 2013," he said.
Matt Wiertel, Director of Sales and Marketing at Velocity Network, cited the company's strong local roots as the impetus behind the technology awards. He recalled how Velocity Network CEO Joel Deuterman started the fledgling company in his apartment in 1990. Since that time, Velocity has grown to become the largest locally owned office technology and fiber optic Internet service provider in Northwestern Pennsylvania.
"The makeover concept was our chance to give back to the community that has given so much to us," he said, "and to take an organization that may not have the know-how or the funding and bring them to the next level of technology."
Velocity Network, its employees, and our business partners Lenovo, Xerox, Dell Sonicwall, and Microsoft are excited to provide this investment in the Erie region.
For more information on Velocity Network's Makeover IT winners, please visit:
Courtney Hordusky, Velocity Network, http://www.velocitynetwork.net/, (814) 833-9111 Ext: 407, [email protected]
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