Rocket IT Announcement Blog

Rocket IT and Cisco Join Forces to Empower Atlanta Transportation

2012-02-29T16:12:35Z

If you’ve lived in Metro Atlanta for any length of time, “gridlock” is a frequent part of your vocabulary. Constant traffic, congestion and transportation issues are as familiar as old friends. Rocket IT recently teamed with Cisco Systems to change that.

Together, Rocket IT and Cisco collaborated to configure and install three pieces of core networking equipment that will help non-profit organization Citizens for Transportation Mobility broadcast their support for the Transportation Investment Act (also known as TSPLOST) in an upcoming July 31st vote on the legislation. Cisco generously donated an adaptive firewall, switch and wireless access point to the effort.

Citizens for Transportation Mobility advocates the passage of the bill, which would improve the state of transportation and the quality of life in the 10-county Metro Atlanta area. If passed, the Transportation Investment Act will do that by levying a one-cent sales tax to fund local and regional transportation projects. That revenue, estimated to be over $7 billion, will support short and long-term projects, with a focus on improvements in transit services, roads, infrastructure, aviation, sidewalks, bike paths and technology updates.

Long commutes and bumper-to-bumper traffic negatively impact the quality of life for many Atlanta residents. Advocates of the Transportation Investment Act point out that these projects would not only improve daily activities in Atlanta, but would also make the city more attractive as a business and tourist destination—spurring economic development, retaining current jobs and creating new ones.

Over the course of 2011, a group of 21 local elected officials met at the Atlanta Regional Roundtable to discuss the region’s transportation priorities, gather valuable input from over 200,000 Metro Atlanta residents and assemble a list of approved transportation projects that the legislation will fund over the next decade. Local transportation initiatives would use about 15% of the available money, while the other 85% would support regional projects.

If passed, the act’s investments will be overseen by a Citizen Oversight Committee composed of
non-elected officials. Appointed by the Speaker of the House and the Lieutenant Governor, the committee will monitor annual audits of the project schedules and budgets. The project reports will also be posted online for the public to monitor.

The funding from the tax, which will initially remain in place for 10 years unless extended by voters, can only be used to pay for projects put on the list by the Atlanta Regional Roundtable.

Rocket IT seeks to support and empower important regional initiatives like the Transportation Investment Act. For more information on this initiative, visit the Metro Atlanta Voter Education Network (MAVEN) or the Atlanta Regional Roundtable for a complete list of approved transportation projects and details.

Rocket IT Celebrates 17th Anniversary

2012-01-10T21:32:04Z

Rocket IT celebrated 17 years in business on January 13th this year, marking another milestone in the award-winning company’s long history of serving businesses and other organizations in Gwinnett County, metro Atlanta, and beyond.

“From IT operations support to special projects like upgrading phone systems, virtualizing servers, and deploying mission critical applications, Rocket IT helps businesses succeed by delivering maximum value for their technology investment,” says founder and CEO Matt Hyatt. “And while I love the technical aspects of the work we do, the most satisfying part of my job is seeing the positive impact we’ve made upon the people and businesses around us.”

A strong focus on the development and success of others is apparently paying off. Rocket IT has enjoyed three straight years double-digit revenue, client, and employee growth despite a tough economy. “Our continued success can be directly attributed to our amazing employees, great clients and a fantastic community.” said Hyatt. “As we acknowledge our good fortune over the past 17 years, I look forward to continuing to work with good people to help others thrive.”

Rocket IT Presents Atlanta Regional Commission Executive Director Doug Hooker

2012-01-10T21:22:30Z

Rocket IT is pleased to present newly elected Atlanta Regional Commission Executive Director Doug Hooker at the January Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce General Membership Luncheon on Wednesday, January 18th. The luncheon will be held at the 1818 Club from 11:30AM to 1:00PM.

Hooker was sworn in as the fourth executive director of the ARC following a unanimous vote by the commission on October 31st, 2011. With over twenty years of experience in both Metro Atlanta’s public and private sectors, he is considered by the ARC to be a “highly experienced professional with extensive ties to government, business and non-profit organizations.” Having served as an engineer in the private sector and an administrator for the City of Atlanta and the State of Georgia, Hooker is a natural fit to further the ARC’s mission to serve as the official planning agency for the 10-county Atlanta region and help shape the region’s leadership and attention to key issues of regional consequence. Hooker will replace outgoing Executive Director Chick Krautler who retired earlier in 2011.

Hooker served as the Vice President and Southern States Director for Atkins Global (formerly PBS&J), an engineering and planning firm, from September 2005 until his election to the ARC in October. At Atkins Global, he was responsible for client development of the company’s water, environmental and transportation businesses in the Southeast. Previous to Atkins, Hooker was the Executive Director and CEO of the State Road and Tollway Authority from 2003-2005 and the Commissioner of Public Works for the City of Atlanta from 1992-1997.

When asked in a recent interview with the Atlanta Business Chronicle about how his well-rounded background and public service under both Democrats and Republicans will help him in his new role with the ARC, Hooker said “They’ve given me a perspective of how different levels of government have to approach problems or issues that they might have in common, and a perspective… of how the private sector approaches the same series of issues.” Hooker continued to express the value of public and private partnerships in overcoming difficult issues such as transportation and water supplies.

Hooker holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and Master of Science, Technology & Science Policy from Georgia Tech and a Masters of Business Administration from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. He is also deeply involved with the community, as he is the co-founder, board member and former chairman of the Civil League for Regional Atlanta. He also serves on the boards of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Council for Quality Growth and the Atlanta Opera.

Cost is $45 for Chamber members; $55 for non-Chamber members. Advanced registration is required; walk-ins are not guaranteed a seat. To RSVP or for more information visit the Gwinnett Chamber website.

As the presenting sponsor of the Gwinnett Chamber’s General Membership Meeting series since 2008, Rocket IT is proud to support our local Chamber and our community.

Team Member Katie Brown Assists in Building House of Joy

2012-01-10T21:16:08Z

As a passionate steward of community resources, Rocket IT encourages its employees to give back. Whether it be volunteering time, talents or offering donations, our employees are involved in a number of organizations throughout the community in an effort to help people thrive.

Rocket IT team member Katie Brown has partnered with Love and Action Outreach Ministries of Norcross to help raise awareness and funds for the construction of an emergency shelter for homeless women, mothers and their dependent children in Gwinnett County.

Currently, only one emergency homeless shelter exists within the county. Love and Action Outreach Ministries is working to build The House of Joy in Norcross, a shelter which will provide facilities to serve 30 women and children for an average stay of 90 days. Progress is already underway! The site, proper zoning and construction approvals have been secured, while volunteers are in place to complete the renovations and other tasks.

House of Joy’s mission is to provide women in crisis with immediate assistance, encouragement and temporary or transitional housing as needed. As at-risk families often need a wholesome and safe environment in which to recover from their challenges and setbacks, House of Joy seeks to assist those who have been subject to physical or emotional abuse, divorce, accident or illness, loss of employment or income, legal challenges or similar obstacles.

To supplement the House of Joy construction efforts, Love and Outreach is in the process of establishing a thrift store which will be open to the public. The proceeds of the store will go directly to the construction of the emergency shelter. Additionally, various fundraising events are currently being held throughout Metro Atlanta and Gwinnett County, and typically include a featured speaker and silent auction items.

Love and Action Outreach Ministries is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which is based within Gwinnett County. It was founded in 1998 by Bobbi Pack while she was attending Rhema Bible College. To learn more about Love and Action, make a donation, or offer your time as a volunteer please visit the House of Joy website.

Wendy Frank Completes Women in Technology Leadership Foundations Program

2011-12-09T20:32:15Z

Rocket IT team member Wendy Frank recently graduated from the Women in Technology (WIT) Careers in Action: Leadership Foundations program. Congratulations Wendy!

The Leadership Foundations program is a six month professional development course for high-performing women who are either in the early stages of their management career, or are individual contributors seeking to broaden their skill set and advance their career opportunities.

Over the course of the program, Wendy worked with an individual team of three students which was coached by a mentor that holds a senior-level position in the IT industry. The team covered topics such as developing a personal leadership vision, effective goal setting, negotiation skills, building influence and social capital within personal networks.

“The Leadership Foundations program taught me how to develop and set realistic goals” said Frank. “It also helped me develop more confidence in my foundation and skills. I met some amazing women who inspired me to move forward to the next level in my career!” she continued.

Wendy plans to remain active with WIT through the Girls Get IT initiative. This program works with the Georgia business community to reach out to girls in middle and high school to educate them on careers in technology, science and math. Girls Get IT helps expose young women to career opportunities by providing insight through actual on-the-job experiences.

Wendy’s participation in the WIT Leadership Foundations program was supported by Rocket IT’s employee training and development initiative. Each year, this initiative provides Rocket IT employees with the resources and freedom to select which career development and training opportunities they wish to participate in.

Rocket IT Presents Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle

2011-12-07T22:17:43Z

Rocket IT is pleased to present Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle along with the Gwinnett Chamber at the 2011 Georgia Leadership Luncheon on Wednesday, December 14th at the Gwinnett Center from 11:30AM to 1:00PM.

Lt. Governor Cagle was elected to Georgia’s second highest office in 2006. His defeat of Democrat Jim Martin made history, as Cagle became the first Republican in state history to hold this office. In November 2010, voters elected to return him to office for another four year term. Prior to holding the Lt. Governorship, Cagle was elected to the Georgia State Senate at age twenty-eight to represent the people of Hall County. He served in the Senate for 12 years until his election to the Lt. Governor’s office.

As Lt. Governor, Cagle’s primary role is to serve as the President of the Senate. Much of his work while in office has been focused on education and healthcare. Accomplishments include his Charter System Initiative, which allows entire school systems to convert to charter system status and offer individualized educational programs. Additionally, Cagle launched the Georgia College and Career Academy Network to prepare students for entry into highly-skilled, 21st-century workforce roles upon graduation. There are currently 23 college and career academies in operation today.

Born and raised in Hall County, Cagle attended Gainesville College and Georgia Southern University, where he played football until an injury ended his sports career. Upon his return to Gainesville in 1986, Cagle started a tuxedo rental company that he eventually expanded into multiple locations throughout North Georgia. In 1999, he founded Southern Heritage Bank and served as its chairman until a merger with Gainesville Bank & Trust in 2004.

Lt. Governor Cagle was recently named as one of the most influential Georgians by James Magazine. He currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission, Vice Chairman of the One Georgia Authority, and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Republican Lieutenant Governors Association.

As the presenting sponsor of the Gwinnett Chamber’s General Membership Meeting series since 2008, Rocket IT is proud to support our local Chamber and our community.

Rocket IT Teams Up With Toys for Tots

2011-12-07T21:55:41Z

In response to the challenging economic conditions that have magnified the needs of less fortunate families this Christmas, Rocket IT has teamed up with the Metro Atlanta Toys for Tots Foundation to collect and distribute new unwrapped toys to children throughout Gwinnett County and Metro Atlanta.

In addition to serving as a drop site and toy collection center, Rocket IT team member Colby Green recently joined the Gwinnett Mosaic Rotary Club to sort this year’s collection of donated toys. Green, an active member of the Gwinnett Mosaic Rotary Club, spent an afternoon at the Toys for Tots Suwanee warehouse and distribution center to sort toys by age and gender for local distribution.

With the aid of local businesses and the generosity of local community members, each collection campaign works to organize toy drop off and collection centers, provide free warehouse space for storage and sorting, coordinate transportation for toy delivery and sponsor toy donation events. The primary goal of the Toys for Tots Program is to provide a tangible message of hope in the form of a toy to economically disadvantaged children in the local community.

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charity which is the authorized fundraising and support organization for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Local campaigns are conducted annually from October until late December by Marine Reserve Units, Marine Corps League Detachments, or local community organizations which usually consist of veteran Marines.

If you wish to donate, please either drop off new unwrapped toys at Rocket IT’s office, visit the Toys for Tots website for local drop off site locations, or donate online. Online options include cash contributions via credit card and PayPal, or the option to donate when you buy or sell items on eBay.

The Toys for Tots Program depends on the generosity of local communities, so please join Rocket IT this year in the effort to spread the spirit of Christmas to those in need!

Rocket IT Open House & Internship Graduation!

2011-11-18T20:06:01Z

Rocket IT held an open house on Tuesday, November 15th to introduce our three new team members and congratulate Payam Ghobadpour and Heather Huyhn on their completion of our second internship program with the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology. Some Gwinnett community members and clients stopped by, and wall enjoyed some delicious food which was prepared by Maureen Hyatt of Relished Events.

Heather and Payam are Juniors at the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology. As a charter school which is part of the Gwinnett County Public School System, GSMST provides an opportunity for academically-able students to explore science and technology related coursework in a challenging, unique and integrated curriculum. Over the course of the internship program, Heather and Payam learned how to identify trends in PC and server performance data, troubleshoot issues and create detailed documentation of the resolution processes. Under the guidance of internship coordinator and Field Support Technician Katie Brown, along with IT Engineer Jeff Pries, the interns completed a project where they worked through a “real-world” scenario that simulated day-to-day IT support tasks such as setting up new workstations, maintaining servers and tracking their progress within professional IT support applications.

The internship program has been a great opportunity for local students to gain valuable experience while working alongside technology professionals. Not only did they have a chance to participate in the daily operations of a real, live business, they also were able to put their education into practice.

Please visit our Facebook page to view photos of the open house and intern’s graduation awards!

Rocket IT Presents Georgia House of Representatives Speaker of the House David Ralston

2011-11-15T18:35:04Z

Please join Presenting Sponsor Rocket IT and the Gwinnett Chamber as we host Georgia House of Representatives Speaker of the House David Ralston at the General Membership Meeting on Wednesday, November 16th at The 1818 Club from 11:30AM to 1:00PM.

Speaker Ralston was elected to the Georgia State Senate in 1992, and served until he won the Republican nomination for Attorney General of Georgia in 1998. In 2002, Ralston was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives. Today, he represents the 7th District which includes the Northeast counties of Fannin, Gilmer, and a portion of Dawson County.

On January 11, 2010, Ralston was elected the 73rd Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives. The Speaker serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives, and is elected by fellow Members of the House to serve as their leader at the beginning of each two year term. When the House is in session, the Speaker is in charge of upholding the rules of the House, calling bills up for discussion and vote, recognizing Members who wish to speak on a bill, and bringing order to the house.

Aside from his legislative duties, Ralston is an attorney in Blue Ridge. He is active in the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce, Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association, and the Blue Ridge Lions Club. He and his wife Jane have two children, Elizabeth and Matt.

As the presenting sponsor of the Gwinnett Chamber’s General Membership Meeting series since 2008, Rocket IT is proud to support our local Chamber and our community.

Rocket IT Named "Best IT Service" In Best of Gwinnett 2011

2011-11-15T18:22:42Z

For the 3rd year in a row, Rocket IT has been voted as one of the top-rated IT Service providers in Gwinnett Magazine’s annual “Best of Gwinnett” competition for 2011! We are very excited to receive this distinction, as the award is based on votes and input from our fellow Gwinnett businesses, residents, clients and community members.

Each year, tens of thousands of votes are cast by Gwinnett constituents to select their favorite businesses, service providers and community organizations in over 70 categories. As we all have persevered through some challenging economic times over the recent years, we are honored to be named amongst the elite of Gwinnett County. Thanks to all of those who participated on behalf of Rocket IT – we sincerely appreciate the vote of confidence and look forward to continually improving the level of service Rocket IT provides to our clients and community members!