NCSU Libraries Focus Online
Volume 26 number 3 - Spring 2006
Portrait of a Corporate Partner: Flashpoint Technology, Inc.
By Michael Gulley, Library Development
The Friends of the Library extends a warm welcome to its newest
corporate partner, Flashpoint Technology, Inc., a leading developer
of advanced technology solutions and the intellectual property
related to Internet imaging and digital photography. Corporate
headquarters are located in New Hampshire, but the Qurio Division
of the company is based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Qurio is the
industry leader for digital photo organizing and sharing.
Qurio Operations Manager Gene Farrelly is a 2003 M.B.A. graduate
of the NC State College of Management and has been a Friends of
the Library member since graduation. "I think that what the
library has been doing in recent years is just great," Farrelly
notes. "I am a firm supporter.” Because of his involvement
with the Libraries as a student and as a Friend, Farrelly knew
that the Corporate Partners Program offered a win-win situation
for everyone. “Gene was really the impetus for having Flashpoint
Technology becoming a Corporate Partner," said Al Issa, chief
technology officer. Once the Qurio president, branch manger, and
team obtained information about the program, they agreed that the
NCSU Libraries would be able to offer Flashpoint Technology efficient
and useful access to information that would improve its work and
business. David Greene, vice president of business development,
said,
"By having the ability to centralize how we access and utilize
information, it will enable us to streamline and greatly increase
the efficiencies in researching and finding applicable answers."
Flashpoint Technology took advantage of one of the program’s
many benefits, the Library Resources Workshop, which enabled six
employees to come to the D. H. Library for training. Catherine
Pellegrino, NCSU Libraries Fellow, and Megan Oakleaf, librarian
for instruction and undergraduate research, provided instruction
on how to navigate and use many of the library's resources. The
session was tailored to meet Flashpoint Technology's specific needs
and allowed ample time for questions and specific examples. After
the session, Patty Scardino, director of intellectual property,
said,
"The biggest and most important thing that we were able to
learn today was how to begin to delve into the resources from the
NCSU Libraries' main Web page. Flashpoint Technology is focused
on researching current trends and information including but not
limited to innovative technologies, related business, business
climates, and possible new areas of interest. We have seen today
that the library's resources will really help us to accomplish
our research needs."
The group was also impressed by the level of service that the
library provides to its users, particularly the "Ask a Librarian" service,
which allows access to a reference librarian in a variety of convenient
ways: phone, electronic mail, Instant Messenger, and the Web.
In addition to the many benefits that the Corporate Partners Program
provides its members, the partnership with the NCSU Libraries allows
a company to be part of the NC State community. In Issa's words,
"Having a first class research library and university in
the area is greatly beneficial to our business, in the fact that
we can literally 'run into' faculty members and Ph.D. candidates
who are working to further the field or developing new and innovative
technologies. By having them accessible, it enables us to discuss
and interact around ideas or projects."
To find out more about becoming a corporate partner, call Michael
Gulley, development associate, at (919) 513-7315 or visit the Web
at www.lib.ncsu.edu/friends/corppartners.html. |
