From the category archives: In the News
Questeq Employees,
I am delighted to announce that George Heinitsh will be joining our company as the Director of Project Services on Monday, January 14th.
As our customer base and delivery model continues to grow, the requirement for a first-class professional project services group has quickly materialized. The mission of the project services division is to support our internal site directors, sales opportunities and corporate initiatives through the proper scope development, pricing, planning and execution of multiple projects.
George joined Questeq from GlobalScholar, a K-12 software vendor, where he served as senior project manager. Additionally, as Director of Technology at 3 Rivers Connect, George provided innovative technology solutions and data consulting services to schools, governments and nonprofits. He also served as Information Technology Director for Peoples Natural Gas and Hope Gas in West Virginia. George holds a MBA from Carnegie-Mellon and a degree in mathematics sciences from Johns Hopkins University.
Please join me in extending a warm welcome to George on his first day!
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Main
CEO
As another successful year comes to an end I would like to take a few moments to thank you for your contribution to the company during 2012. Many important developments took place at Questeq this year.
First, we maintained a 98% customer retention rate for the 6th year in a row. The key to company growth is retaining current revenue while simultaneously adding new customers. Everyone in the company plays an important role in keeping customers loyal and maintaining high customer retention rates.
Second, we made significant investments in sales, marketing and engineering to generate new opportunities and customers. In 2012 we attended our first series of tradeshows with all the proper components including a new booth design, marketing giveaways, pre/post show mailings and well defined follow-up processes. Additionally we invested in employee training and certifications for camera, wireless and firewall services. The timing of these investments and changes in the K-12 market has generated the largest opportunity pipeline at Questeq in the past twenty years.
A third major development during the year was the success of our Assessment program and the new customers resulting from our investments. Chartiers Valley, Tuscarora, Fannett-Metal are just a few of the new districts that have made a commitment to our company and services.
Next year the challenges facing Questeq will be even greater, and the opportunities before us even more rewarding. Through your efforts and with the continued support of your families, we can add yet another chapter to the long story of Questeq's success. I firmly believe that having the proper people, process and tools will enable us to outperform our competition, continue to retain revenue and grow our base of customers.
Let me close with the hope that 2013 will bring you and your family happiness, health and success.
With best regards,
Jeffrey Main, CEO
Questeq, Inc.
As National Director for Questeq and Vice President for the West Allegheny School District School Board, I was invited to an education hearing co-chaired by Senator Jim Brewster held earlier in the year. I was moved by the passion that each participant displayed regarding education and the need for equality in funding. Shortly after the hearing I requested a follow-up meeting with Senator Brewster to further discuss these issues.
Recently, Chairman Ron Main and I sat down and spoke with Senator Brewster and State Representative Bill Kortz. In a separate meeting, I also spoke with my local representative Mark Mustio. One of the topics discussed was the disparity of funding between public education and charter schools. Each agreed that we must work together to close the gap to ensure all children in the Commonwealth receive an equal education. Also discussed was Questeq’s expertise providing cost savings to districts throughout Pennsylvania. In addition, I shared how we help meet districts daily technology needs as well as helping them stay ahead of the massive changes happening in K12 education.
The elected officials requested that Questeq provide them with case studies that illustrate the savings districts that we manage have realized. They were also interested in seeing how we have helped increase the amount educational technology tools provided to the students in those districts.
I am truly appreciative of not only meeting these gentlemen but more importantly, the passion that we all share to ensure that each district and its students receive the best education. I thank them for the time they spent with me and look forward to continuing our discussion on how we can make a difference for the children and their school districts in Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Volakis, a teacher at West Allegheny, was recently honored for the innovative use of technology in her business and computer technology classes. Her efforts will be showcased on July 31, 2012 when she and other teachers visit the Microsoft Partners in Learning 2012 U.S. Forum in Redmond, Washington.
As a parent and Board Member in the West Allegheny School District, I am so proud of the recognition Mrs. Volakis has received. She has always created exciting ways to teach students how to employ technology so that it's useful to them no matter what career interests them. In my current position I see daily how technology is becoming a vital learning tool for teachers and students. It is great to see someone in our district who stays in front of trends.
Read more about Mrs. Volakis and her classroom by visiting: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-west/a-newsmaker-you-should-know-west-allegheny-teacher-honored-for-use-of-classroom-technology-643516/.