Written by: Monica Huie
It was 3:45a.m., Sunday October 30th…Theresa and I sat in my car with the heat on full blast gearing up to be outside for the next six hours (at least!). It was still dark as night, but not far in the distance you could see the buzz and commotion of people setting up for one …
Written by: Kathy Ohlhaber
We quantify our lives through periods of time often marking the intervals between the present day and a memorable event or day in the past.
1 week…6 months…1 year…5 years…
It is the 10-year mark, a full decade, that marks a special period. It is a noteworthy interval of time that curves around change and growth. This significant mark has now been imprinted onto the tragedy of September 11th, 2001.
It has been 10 years, and we still remember.
We remember the heroes.
We remember the fallen.
We remember and honor the sacrifices of those that have gone to fight for this country and those who continue to fight to protect us.
When thinking about 9/11, I realized I wasn’t alone in my memories. I work in a company full of people who remember that day and want to show honor and respect to the heroes, the fallen, and the loved ones left behind.
I sat down with some members of our team, including a Marine, a Purple Heart Soldier, and a mother of two, who shared their stories capturing a timeline of memories, sorrow, hope, and strength. The reflections my colleagues shared with me were truly moving, and I wanted to share them with you as we remember 9/11, 10 years later.
We will never forget.
Written by: Monica Huie
ComputerWorld recently released its annual report recognizing the 100 Best Places to Work in IT for 2011. I am excited to announce that MetroStar Systems made the list with an impressive showing at #85 overall! We also finished in the Top 10 of the Small Business Category and #2 in the South Atlantic Region. In a region filled with many tech companies, it is also noteworthy to mention that MetroStar Systems is the only IT firm in Reston, Virginia ranked in the report.
Our commitment to employee learning and development gave us a significant edge in the selection process. ComputerWorld created a special employer profile for each of the Top 100 companies and our Employer Profile highlights our innovative employee training, career development, and recognition strategies.
We are excited to see that our dedication to excellence is being recognized by the one of the “leading sources in technology news and information for IT influencers nationwide.” This special recognition also comes on the heels of a fruitful 2010 where we were awarded accolades for significant growth. Job satisfaction, working in an enjoyable environment, employees benefits, and excellent employee morale add significant value to the quality of work we are able to provide to our clients, and acknowledgement for being a leader in this area only serves to strengthen our reputation. Special thanks to all of our team members who make MetroStar Systems one of the Best Places to Work in IT everyday!
Written by: Daniel Nguyen
The National Capital Area Tour de Cure is taking place this Sunday, June 5th 2011 at the Reston Town Center in Reston, VA. The Tour de Cure is a series of fundraising events hosted by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). The Tour de Cure is a “premier cycling event held in 80 locations in 33 states” that last year featured over 49,000 participants who helped raise over $19 million to support the ADA’s mission. The event is family friendly and features rides for all ages and cycling levels from the 10 mile ride to the big 100 mile ride.
Registration is still open and you can also check-in on the morning of the event. For all the information you need to know and to register, visit the National Capital Area Tour de Cure website at www.diabetes.org/nationalcapitaltourdecure
MetroStar Systems is proud to be a sponsor for this event and we will also be supporting the event with our MyStanly Twitter display tool. If you are participating in the event or if you are in the Reston area on Sunday, stop by our booth! You can follow the conversation on Twitter by searching the hashtag #TourdeCureDC, follow @TourdeCureDC, and keep track of MyStanly’s #TourdeCureDC feed.
Written by: Monica Huie
On April 23rd, our team member, Clay Calvert, started his journey across the United States. From Mexico to Maine, with a stop in Canada, Clay will be traveling over 3,600 miles – all on his bicycle! Clay, an Information Security Officer & Technical Trainer at MetroStar Systems, will be riding his bicycle cross-country to help fight Multiple Sclerosis.
This is Clay’s fifth year participating in Bike MS as part of Team BRUCE (Bikers Ride Until a Cure Exists). You can read more about why Clay rides and follow him on his cross-country journey via his blog: http://claysride.com
All of the MetroStar family are proud of you and wishing you all the best Clay!
Written by: Daniel Nguyen
In a previous post, “Capturing the Spirit of Innovation“, I shared info about our CEO, Ali Manouchehri, receiving the 2010 Spirit of Innovation Award from Washington Adventist Hospital. This is a video interview of him discussing some of his inspirations and innovation in health care.
Video footage provided courtesy of Washington Adventist HealthCare.
Written by: Monica Huie
When I started working here at MetroStar Systems, approximately 8 months ago, one of the very first things I remember being told was, “No Idea is a bad idea”…and I have learned that mantra definitely holds true. It’s great to be in an environment where no matter how off the wall your idea may be, it’s always taken into consideration, provided feedback and sometimes given the green light to make it happen. While most of the daily work hours are spent getting things done for clients, many of our developers and engineers spend their after-hours coming up with tools and solutions to help enhance and improve internal processes. As all these great ideas floated around, it was only a matter of time, something was created to house them…thus, StarLabs was born.
StarLabs is where our engineers and artists collaborate and share innovative projects. It allows those unfamiliar with MetroStar Systems to learn more about the behind the scene things we do and the people who bring them to life.
One of the current projects we feature on StarLabs is Visualize It, which provides a rich user experience for navigating and exploring SharePoint Libraries. It is a powerful solution for not only finding data but also discovering data. An example of how Visualize It works can be found on this blog! See the top of the page, the little guy holding the “Visual Search” banner. Click on it and type in a keyword like “SharePoint” and watch Visualize It in action.
Currently, Visualize It, is available for free download. System administrators can download it and implement it to their SharePoint Portals. If you test it out, please let us know your feedback!
Learn more about StarLabs and the different projects we are working on by visiting http://labs.metrostarsystems.com
Written by: Daniel Nguyen
Last weekend, our CEO, Ali Reza Manouchehri, was awarded the Spirit of Innovation Award at the Washington Adventist Hospital 2010 Black Tie Gala. This annual event celebrates the ongoing legacy of Washington Adventist Hospital and its vision for 21st Century Health Care.
Written by: Daniel Nguyen
Washington Business Journal recognizes MetroStar Systems as the 10th Fastest Growing Companies in the Washington region in 2010.
Honored as Number 45 on Washington Technology’s “Fast 50″ awards list
Ranked Number 139 in the Government Services section of the 2010 Inc. 5000
Written by: Derek Yale
Nearly a year and a half (524 days to be precise) has passed since we released Supernova to the world, shedding light on the inner workings of MetroStar Systems. In that time we’ve experienced continuous expansion, enjoyed a wide spectrum of client projects, and made a positive impact in our local and global community.