CALENDAR

Editor 's note: submit events, meetings, workshops and conferences at least one month in advance to cibm@news-gazette.com for inclusion in Mark Your Calendar.

Untitled < Aug Sep Oct >

September 7
Business Success Human Resource Seminars - Seminar 1: Recruiting and hiring right the first time 8:30 a.m.
Chamber Large Conference Room 1817 S. Neil St., Suite 201, Champaign These seminars are designed specifically for chamber members who are seeking quality, practical and affordable education on managing and grow their companies. Interested individuals can choose the sessions that are right for them -- or they can plan to attend all the sessions. Cost for chamber members is $32 per session or $145 for the entire series. Interested individuals can contact Norma Wesley at (217) 531-4679 or NormaW@champaigncounty.org.

September 9
Chamber breakfast 7:30 a.m.
Hawthorn Suites 101 Trade Centre Drive, Champaign Public affairs analyst Thom Serafin will discuss the November elections and their impact on Illinois.

September 9
Chamber ambassadors meeting 4 p.m.
Chamber Large Conference Room 1817 S. Neil St. Suite 201, Champaign For more information and to get involved, contact Paul Caravelli at PaulC@champaigncounty.org.

September 9
Project management certificate 6 to 9 p.m.
Class continues every Thursday through Dec. 16 Parkland College Business Training and Community Education 1315 N. Mattis Ave., Champaign This program assists in taking the PMP Certification Exam sponsored by the Project Management Institute. For additional exam requirements, visit the PMI website: www.pmi.org/CareerDevelopment/Pages/AboutPMIsCredentials.aspx Participants will be assigned a project to work on by the instructor. Upon successful completion, students receive a certificate of completion from Parkland College. Deadline to register is Sept. 2. Class fee is $1,895, including book. To register, call (217) 351-2235.

September 13
Community Spanish: A survival guide for English speakers 6 to 9 p.m.
Class continues Mondays until Oct. 11 Parkland College Business Training and Community Education 1315 N. Mattis Ave., Champaign Deadline to register is Sept. 7. Class fee is $225, including book and CD. To register, call (217) 351-2235.

September 13
Introduction to home inspection (Pre-licensing)
Class begins online on Sept. 13. Online sessions continue through Nov. 5. Classroom sessions are Saturdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 18, 25, Oct. 2, 9, 30, Nov. 13 Parkland College Business Training and Community Education 1315 N. Mattis Ave., Champaign E-mail access and an Internet connection are required. Deadline to register is Sept. 6. Class fee is $1,275, including book. To register, call (217) 351-2235.

September 14
Business continuity management certification 9 a.m. to noon
Class continues Tuesdays and Thursdays through Nov. 18 Parkland College Business Training and Community Education 1315 N. Mattis Ave., Champaign Complete an online certification exam from the National Institute of Business Continuity Management as well as the requirements for the Professional Development Series offered by the Emergency Management Institute. Deadline to register is Sept. 7. Class fee is $1,995. To register, call (217) 351-2235.

September 14
Food service sanitation certification 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Class continues Tuesdays through Oct. 5. Test is Oct. 12. Parkland College Business Training and Community Education 1315 N. Mattis Ave., Champaign In addition to becoming state certified, candidates who successfully complete this course are eligible for the ServSafe food safety certification examination for an additional fee. Deadline to register is Sept. 7. Class fee is $105, not including book. To register, call (217) 351-2235.

September 16
Agribusiness Council 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.
Carle Development Foundation 911 E. University Ave., Urbana Contact Andrew Proctor, public policy manager, at andrewp@champaigncounty.org.

September 16
Correcting performance problems 8 a.m. to noon
Parkland College Business Training and Community Education 1315 N. Mattis Ave., Champaign Deadline to register is Sept. 9. Class fee is $125, including workbook. To register, call (217) 351-2235.

September 16
Business After Hours 5 to 7 p.m.
Benefit Planning Consultants 2110 Clearlake Blvd. Suite 200, Champaign Proceeds from the $5 per person donation at the door will help fund Chamber programs. The donation for non-members and guests is $8.

September 21
Business Success Human Resource Seminars - Seminar 2: Getting your new employee to quickly be productive and connected to your company 8:30 a.m.
Chamber Large Conference Room 1817 S. Neil St., Suite 201, Champaign Cost for Chamber members is $32 per session or $145 for the entire series. Interested individuals can contact Norma Wesley at (217) 531-4679 or NormaW@champaigncounty.org.

September 24
Building Operator Certification - Level 1 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Class continues Thursdays and Fridays: Oct. 8, 22, Nov. 4, 5, 19, Dec. 3, 17 Parkland College Business Training and Community Education 1315 N. Mattis Ave., Champaign All sessions are taught by MEEA instructors and require some out-of-class projects. Deadline to register is Sept. 17. Class fee is $1,250, including BOC certification exams and books. To register, call (217) 351-2235.

TECHNOLOGY July 2010

The time has come: Migrating to Windows Server 2008

By Jeff Facer
CIBM Contributor

One of the realities of the modern digital business world is that today's technologies will inevitably require replacement due to rapid advancements in hardware and software performance. While this reality presents decision-makers with obvious cost considerations, the technology upgrade process needn't be viewed strictly in negative terms. In fact, the impact new technology can have on everything from the security of your company's critical data to the productivity of your employees often makes the choice to upgrade an appealing decision rather than a painful one.

Virtually all of the benefits associated with upgrading existing technology are delivered by Microsoft's most recent server operating system platform, Windows Server 2008. As most responsible for the technology infrastructure of their businesses already know, the overall performance of a company's network - including all peripheral and mobile devices - is often dictated by the platform on which such devices operate. Organizations utilizing modern, more sophisticated hardware in an environment powered by an older, less efficient operating platform may encounter repeated, and undoubtedly frustrating, performance issues until the platform itself is upgraded.

As a business owner myself, I often find it useful to review the potential benefits of a solution by summarizing key features to create a sleek, easy-to-read presentation, the contents of which may, of course, be investigated in a more in-depth fashion should the need arise.

I've opted to summarize many of the potential benefits of upgrading your organization's server operating system to Windows Server 2008 in the same fashion:

Enhanced security: As previously mentioned, security improvements are often a primary impetus for upgrading existing technology. Server 2008 includes a number of complex and customizable security features, including the ability to prevent access to your network unless the device in question meets your defined standards for hardware and software performance.

Superior platform, simpler management: Windows Server 2008 was designed to serve as a platform capable of hosting and deploying a virtually limitless array of applications and services. Server management, however, is remarkably simple, as a single, unified tool allows you to manage every aspect of server-side performance.

Virtualization: One of the most talked-about features of Server 2008, Windows' built-in virtualization tools provide an easy and effective platform from which to realize the full features and benefits of server virtualization.

Efficiency: Task automation, improved scripting ability and other management-level resources allow your hardware to run more efficiently, thus making energy savings and other cost-reduction initiatives a reality.

Ultimately, when the time comes to consider upgrading your organization's server operating system software platform, assemble a list of the potential benefits and prepare summaries of how the aforementioned features - as well as everything else Windows Server 2008 can do - can help your business on a daily basis. You'll find that a number of such summaries have already been prepared by respected third-party analysts such as cnet.com. These summaries can serve as starting points for the in-depth analysis you'll need to fully realize the breadth of benefits offered to your company by Windows Server 2008.

Jeff Facer is the owner and CEO of Area-Wide Technologies. He may be contacted at

jfacer@areawidetech.com or (217) 359-8041.