Biz Briefs: CompuWorks Celebrates 30 Years in IT Services
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Happy anniversary: CompuWorks, a Pittsfield-based managed IT services provider (MSP) specializing in making companies more efficient, innovative and profitable through the effective use of technology, is celebrating 30 years. The company reflected on its history in an address to its employees.
Founded in 1987 by David Hall and Alan Bauman, CompuWorks' mission has always been to help its clients maximize the business impact of technology. The company believes that technology should be a competitive asset, not simply a necessary evil. CompuWorks serves as the outsourced IT department for most of its clients who range in size from 20 employees to over 1,000 and are generally located within about a four-hour radius of their Pittsfield headquarters. With over 30 employees, the company is the largest managed IT services firm in the region.
In 1999, CompuWorks purchased the former City Savings Bank building in downtown Pittsfield and the business relocated into the larger quarters in the center of the city where it remains today. In 2006, the company began to shift to a managed services model and soon thereafter introduced its "HealthyIT" managed services program.
CompuWorks has been recognized for excellence by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and was selected as an Achievement Award winner by the Western Mass Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. The company is a four-time Inc. 500 Award winner and has received recognition for community service and entrepreneurship from Chambers of Commerce and civic organizations. The company is active in the many communities in which it serves and supports many nonprofit events and organizations.
CompuWorks is strategically aligned with HP, Cisco and Microsoft among many others. Last year, the company reached its 10th consecutive year of revenue growth. To kick off its anniversary celebration, CompuWorks will conduct complimentary system assessments through the end of May. Interested businesses can call 413-499-0607.
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A new car: Dorothy Anderson, a committed Berkshire United Way donor for nearly 40 years, won the Berkshire United Way car on May 11 at Johnson Dealerships. The 2017 Ford Fiesta was sponsored by Johnson Dealerships and Greylock Federal Credit Union as an incentive for donations to Berkshire United Way's 2016 campaign.
This marks the 17th year in a row that the two companies have participated in this giveaway, their contributions totaling over $150,000.
John Bissell, president and CEO of Greylock Federal Credit Union, left Anderson a voicemail live during the event, informing her that she had won. Anderson, who is 92 years old and no longer driving, opted for the $10,000 cash prize instead of the car. "Cash is good at any age," she said. "I'll just take that check and deposit it into my Greylock account."
Berkshire United Way is investing more than $2 million in strategies to build the community. All gifts, no matter the size, make a difference, say officials, because when they are all pooled together, Berkshire United Way and its community partners impact over 20,000 lives right here in Berkshire County.
The car promotion is an effort to motivate people to give, either through their workplace campaign or as an individual donor. At Johnson's suggestion, an extra incentive was added this year – those who contributed a dollar a day, or $365 or more, received five chances to win. Seventy donors increased their gift to that amount. A list of past winners can be found on the Berkshire United Way website.
Going solo: Ilyas Ozdemir, owner of Bella Roma Pizzeria in North Adams, says he is now focusing solely on the restaurant and takeout.
Ozdemir has been involved with a couple other pizza places and most recently was a partner in the Pizza Works on Ashland Street. That's no longer the case, he said recently, hoping to clear up any confusion.
"People come in and they think this is connected to Pizza Works," he said, but he sold his share in April and had his brother join him at Bella Roma. "I only have Bella Roma now."
Ozdemir took over the former Supreme Pizza spot at the corner of Eagle and Main streets last fall and reopened with a new name and a new menu. The restaurant offers sandwiches, subs, salads, pasta and entrees, wings, fish and breakfast sandwiches in addition to pizza. It recently lowered some prices and added new items, including fried ravioli, chili cheese fries, and oriental chicken salad. Fifteen new coupons appear on the back of the printed menu, such as a party size, three-topping pizza for $19.95.
An online menu is available at www.callbellaromapizza.com or call 413-663-6666. Bella Roma offers delivery and is open Monday through Thursday, and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, 11 to 11.
Spreading good will: Goodwill of the Berkshires and Southern Vermont will now offer veterans and their families a 15 percent discount on in-store merchandise every day of the year. The nonprofit organization's new veterans discount initiative will kick off on Memorial Day weekend with special festivities on Friday, May 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at each of its six thrift stores in Pittsfield, Great Barrington, North Adams and Lee in Berkshire County and Bennington and Rutland in Vermont. Representatives from veterans' services organizations will be on site at Goodwill’s Pittsfield and North Adams stores, which will also feature guest appearances by area veterans. Refreshments will be served at all locations.
To take advantage of the discount, veterans and those in active duty, along with their immediate family members, will simply need to show a valid military ID at Goodwill’s thrift stores. The veterans' discount cannot be combined with other discounts or promotions.
Goodwill of the Berkshires and Southern Vermont also offers a 15 percent senior discount in its stores every Wednesday for those ages 55 and above.
Tags: anniversary, Berkshire United Way, biz briefs, computers,
