CTG's 2017 Spring Executive Retreat and Conference

By Brandon Samuel

Life is all about relationships. From family and friends to work and beyond, those relationships help shape who you are as an individual. Often, those relationships determine your successes and failures and how you react in either case. Getting started on the right foot in any relationship is just as important as making sure that you don’t burn a bridge if it should come to an end. In the professional world, connections are the cornerstone of any business. Clients want to do business with companies that they get along with and trust and businesses want to work with clients that share the goal of a symbiotic and loyal relationship.

Our sales motto at CTG is “Relationships first, sales to follow.” This mantra shines through at our flagship bi-annual IT executive retreat that we host with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) at The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia. This weekend long retreat is aimed at introducing prospective new clients to the CTG management team and laying the foundation for long-lasting relationships. IT Executives and their guests have the opportunity to spend the weekend at one of the finest resorts in the country and to spend their free time taking in all of the amenities that the property offers. There is something at The Greenbrier for everyone, whether you enjoy horseback riding, sporting clays or want to take a tour through the famous Bunker. At The Greenbrier the food is incredible, the property is immaculate and the service cannot be beat.

Perhaps the most important thing about the weekend is that it is not focused on making a sale. In fact, you will not hear a sales pitch all weekend (unless you want one)! The entire event is an opportunity to get to know your CTG team as individuals and to hear a high-level, industry focused discussion about HPE’s role in the IT landscape. Our guest speaker, Joe Batista, does a phenomenal job of creating an interactive panel style discussion about IT vectors and the changing landscape of the industry. The discussion also includes how HPE and its partners are focused on continuous pivoting to make sure that we are staying ahead of the curve. We encourage the attendees to speak about their experiences in an effort to start a multi-industry conversation about the different impacts that IT has on their markets. The conversation is always hands-on and exciting for everyone in the room. While we are meeting, the guests are enjoying the spa at The Greenbrier. It’s a win-win!

Our focus on building relationships with our clients is what sets us apart in an industry filled with resellers hoping to gain their share. CTG is not just a company that will be there when you have a project. We pride ourselves on getting to know your team, your environment and your goals as an organization. We will be there for the smallest issues or the biggest project and we place the same amount of importance on each. I am proud to say that some of our most cherished client partnerships began at The Greenbrier. If you are interested in more information about the event, please contact events@ctgva.com. We would be happy to discuss the details with you. We hope to meet you there!

Brandon Samuel is Convergent Technologies Group’s Sales Manager.

Executive Retreat at The Greenbrier to Focus on Continuity, Transformation

By Elizabeth Foster

“Continuity” and the willingness to “step and think outside of the box” are words that describe The Greenbrier, Convergent Technologies Group and Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

In June, The Greenbrier – a historical legacy as one of America’s best resorts – and its community was tested as it faced massive flooding, the result of unprecedented levels of torrential rain. The national news showed images of homes, cars and other debris swept away in seemingly unstopping waves of water and mud. While the devastation destroyed much of the community, it didn’t stop the heart and resiliency of the community, which was buoyed by the reaction and support of The Greenbrier.

Even though this majestic, historical property was assessing severe damage across its property, the resort’s leaders opened its heart and its rooms to those who had lost everything. Two months later, many are still in the early stages of rebuilding their homes – and their lives.

Recognizing its role as a beacon in the community and a major employer in the region, The Greenbrier worked diligently to re-open its doors. In two months, Convergent Technologies Group will return again to The Greenbrier to host its annual Executive Retreat, partnering with HPE to discuss that latest in technology today – including resiliency when the unexpected might occur.

The background for the Oct. 21-23 is fitting. HPE is known for plowing through challenges, and today is recognized as a juggernaut for innovation and tried-and-tested technology. As a Platinum Partner, CTG shares those same values, refusing to settle for the status quo and pushing for next-generation solutions. At the same time, both companies have a history of empowering their people to be nimble, to be intuitive, to strive for excellence on a daily basis and to never settle for less than perfection.

For the Executive Retreat, technology leaders from Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia and North Carolina will be coming together with HPE’s Chief Business Strategist & Innovation Officer (aka Chief Creatologist) Joe Batista and CTG executives for open and frank discussions about today’s challenges. From digital transformation and the Internet of Things, from mobility issues to the need for hyper converged systems to handle virtual and storage environments, HPE and CTG together bring a new way of thinking and doing business. Collaboration is key but not the main factor for spurring on changes in technology. Executives are forced to do more with less with shrinking budgets and manpower, while still delivering business processes and continuity.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Batista’s keynote address will explore “The Pivoting Industry: What’s Your Next Move?”

Our CTG co-founders, John Monahan and Jeff Garell, have a united vision and focus for supporting their clients. They believe that executives who attend The Greenbrier Executive Retreat this year will expand their knowledge by learning key business best practices and how to maximize hyper converged environments to lower cost and down time – not to mention finite details on how to shrink and lower the cost of data footprint in the data center. And that’s just a few highlights.

We’ll be sharing more in the coming weeks about this Executive Retreat, which will featured rich discussions about technology and innovative thinking against the backdrop of historical elegance at The Greenbrier. Have you talked with us about saving a seat for you at this once-in-your-business-lifetime experience?

Elizabeth Foster is an inside sales representative at Convergent Technologies Group.

Learn How IT Can Fuel Creativity in Your Business

By John Monahan

Without question, IT solves a lot of problems in your business. Consider automation alone, which can deliver boost efficiency, save time and reduce risks – all enabled by smart investments in technology.

But that’s not enough in today’s idea marketplace. Because of that, IT becomes an even more powerful tool in differentiating your business.

We’re standing at a pivotal moment for CIOs, who traditionally were charged with delivering fundamental, always-on technology to run a business from day t0 day. Today, CIOs increasingly are finding a seat at the head of the table, where they now have a greater stake in the overall business strategy as technology becomes a differentiator. IT is the cornerstone for engagement with customers and among employees, for development of new products and services, for innovation in everything a business might dream.

In the past year, you’ve heard a lot from CTG about transformation, particularly as we build on our relationship with the new Hewlett Packard Enterprise. A primary reason for the division that created both HPE and HP Inc. last year was to allow HPE to develop the resources that businesses today need to accelerate growth and meet aggressive goals. As HPE puts it, we’re defying that comfortable “business as usual” and bursting into new opportunities.

At the end of February, CTG will host a weekend CIO Retreat, giving IT leaders from around the Mid-Atlantic unparalleled access to some of the top minds in the industry. At the heart of our half-day Feb. 27 program – “Clearing the Fog: Insight into Unlocking Business Value Enabled by a New Style of IT” – will be exploring how we rethink about the role and application of IT in today’s business.

The program will feature:

• "Setting the Scene", “Pivoting to HPE’s 4 Transformational Areas,” Brian Bark, HPE’s chief strategist and innovation officer, will lead with insight into the new style of business and IT, then will work his way into HPE's 4 Transformational Areas. This platform includes transforming to a hybrid infrastructure, protecting the digital enterprise, empowering the data-driven organization, and enabling workplace productivity. 

• “Connecting Your World with Intelligent Mobility,” Scott Herman, Aruba Networks, networking channel director.

• “Enabling Breach Detection and Securing Digital Interactions,” Perry Payne, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, former chief information security officer at The Washington Post.

• “2016 Threat Landscape,” John Davis, Palo Alto Networks, vice president and federal chief security officer.

•  “HPE Converged Systems,” Rich Holmes, HPE, software-defined storage specialist.

Any one of those limited-access discussions with some of the industry’s innovators would help you find innovative ways to leverage your technology. When you consider what you can gain from engaging with that entire slate of leaders, you almost can’t afford to miss this opportunity to be on the front row in a transformational journey.

Join us for the morning, or come for the entire weekend. We kick off on Friday with a trek into the city to see the Washington Capitals from our side-by-side executive suites. On Saturday, we’ll meet for dinner at Old Hickory Steakhouse. Your guest will be able to enjoy spa treatments, and you’ll both have an opportunity to explore the great shopping and entertainment offered at National Harbor.

We’re looking forward to engaging with you on this new style of IT – and we’re here to help make it happen at your business.

John Monahan is co-founder of CTG.

Learn How IT Can Fuel Creativity in Your Business

By John Monahan

Without question, IT solves a lot of problems in your business. Consider automation alone, which can deliver boost efficiency, save time and reduce risks – all enabled by smart investments in technology.

But that’s not enough in today’s idea marketplace. Because of that, IT becomes an even more powerful tool in differentiating your business.

We’re standing at a pivotal moment for CIOs, who traditionally were charged with delivering fundamental, always-on technology to run a business from day t0 day. Today, CIOs increasingly are finding a seat at the head of the table, where they now have a greater stake in the overall business strategy as technology becomes a differentiator. IT is the cornerstone for engagement with customers and among employees, for development of new products and services, for innovation in everything a business might dream.

In the past year, you’ve heard a lot from CTG about transformation, particularly as we build on our relationship with the new Hewlett Packard Enterprise. A primary reason for the division that created both HPE and HP Inc. last year was to allow HPE to develop the resources that businesses today need to accelerate growth and meet aggressive goals. As HPE puts it, we’re defying that comfortable “business as usual” and bursting into new opportunities.

On Saturday, Jan. 23, CTG will host a CIO Retreat, giving IT leaders from around the Mid-Atlantic unparalleled access to some of the top minds in the industry. At the heart of this half-day program – “Clearing the Fog: Insight into Unlocking Business Value Enabled by a New Style of IT” – will be exploring how we rethink about the role and application of IT in today’s business.

We’ll open the morning with comments from Joe Batista, HPE’s chief creatologist, whose role is about helping you discover, unlock and unleash the power of innovation. As an HPE Platinum Partner, CTG has been fortunate in hosting Joe at other CIO programs, and he always focuses on rethinking the intersection of IT and business. (You can learn more by reading an earlier blog post, where I wrote about Joe’s role in helping us advocate for change.

The program continues with:

·         “Pivoting to HPE’s 4 Transformational Areas,” Brian Bark, HPE’s chief strategist and innovation officer, will lead with Batista. That platform includes transforming to a hybrid infrastructure, protecting the digital enterprise, empowering the data-driven organization, and enabling workplace productivity.

·         “Connecting Your World with Intelligent Mobility,” Scott Herman, Aruba Networks, networking channel director.

·         “Enabling Breach Detection and Securing Digital Interactions,” Rob Aragao, HPE, chief information security officer.

·         “2016 Threat Landscape,” John Davis, Palo Alto Networks, vice president and federal chief security officer

·         “HPE Converged Systems,” Rich Holmes, HPE, software-defined storage specialist.

Any one of those limited-access discussions with some of the industry’s innovators would help you find innovative ways to leverage your technology. When you consider what you can gain from engaging with that entire slate of leaders, you almost can’t afford to miss this opportunity to be on the front row in a transformational journey.

Join us for the morning, or come for the entire weekend. We kick off on Friday with a trek into the city to see a Washington Capitals game. On Saturday, we’ll meet for dinner at Old Hickory Steakhouse. Your guest will be able to enjoy spa treatments, and you’ll both have an opportunity to explore the great shopping and entertainment offered at National Harbor.

We’re looking forward to engaging with you on this new style of IT – and we’re here to help make it happen at your business.

John Monahan is co-founder of CTG.

CIO Retreat Pushes Creativity in IT

By John Monahan

As I see it, the best part of my job is helping clients solve tough questions.

If we are truly going to achieve our vision of being a trusted partner with our customers, we can’t simply be focused on selling products. We need to ensure that we are offering the right resources to help those businesses take care of what they need today and are positioned to grow smartly with the strategic use of their IT resources.

Being a trusted partner is about more than just supporting infrastructure, it’s about ensuring that our clients understand the current industry environment and have a vision of what’s coming next. That’s a big reason we host a handful of CIOs from around the region at our ongoing retreat series, held at The Greenbrier in West Virginia. For two days, we step away from the daily business operations and take a deeper dive into the future state of IT.

The centerpiece of the weekend is an exclusive three-hour session with HP’s Chief Creatologist, Joe Batista. Yes, we know that’s not a common title, but the greatest value that Joe delivers is that he isn’t a conventional IT executive. His role is about helping HP clients discover, unlock and unleash the power of innovation, a common theme in the many years that he has joined in our CTG retreats. Joe talks about how to think differently about your business, your technology and your assets in ways that drive new growth and real results. It’s how to use IT, if you will, to change the game.

Why is this so important?

1.     The world is getting more complex, and we need creative approaches to find the best answers. To gain the competitive advantages required, businesses need to look for more than off-the-shelf solutions. They need to know how to leverage both their legacy and emerging technologies – along with their human resources - to work in innovative ways.

2.     We learn from others. Just like the best technologies can’t exist in a silo, we can’t try to sit apart to plan out the next technology steps. With this opportunity to talk with other technology executives, participants can look at the bigger picture and learn about best practices that they can apply to their current challenges and opportunities.

3.     Technology fuels innovation. You can have the best or most unique business idea, but getting it to market today requires the smartest IT backbone. If it’s simple and straightforward, someone has probably already done it. To distinguish yourself and your product, you need to come at your business in ways that you probably have yet to consider – and you need to develop the strategic mindset and identify the tools to help you make those dreams into realities with bottom-line gains.

We’re looking forward to hearing the latest visions and insights from Joe, whom we have access to as part of our Platinum Partnership with HP. We’ll be sharing more in the days ahead, so be sure to keep following CTG on our social channels.

John Monahan is co-founder of Convergent Technologies Group.