FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, February 10, 2009, ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Whole Brain Group, LLC expanded its reach beyond Michigan and tripled its number of clients in 2008. New clients include: Columbia University, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, Louisiana State University, McLean Hospital, The National Institutes of Health (NIH), and several VA Medical Centers.
The company attributes its success to the increasing popularity of its flagship product, AccreditStation®, which helps research institutions manage and automate their accreditation projects. The increased sales of this product, coupled with the growing demand for electronic solutions to paper problems, has enabled The Whole Brain Group to thrive in the current challenging economic climate.
“We’re lucky to have products and services that people value in times like these,” states Marisa Smith, President of The Whole Brain Group, “By developing technology that conserves time and cuts paper usage, we can help them stretch their dollars a little further.”
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The Whole Brain Group is a web application development company dedicated to helping its clients work smarter and greener. Located in downtown Ann Arbor, the company applies its philosophy of Integrated Thinking to the development of balanced and sustainable software systems, growing and adapting these systems along with a client s evolving needs. The company specializes in the development of electronic solutions in the areas of research compliance, media relations, legal services, and accreditation.
The Whole Brain Group is 100% woman-owned.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. Local Business Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement
WASHINGTON D.C., December 15, 2008 – Whole Brain Group, LLC has been selected for the 2008 Best of Ann Arbor Award in the Web Site Design category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).
The USLBA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.
Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2008 USLBA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USLBA and data provided by third parties.
About U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA)
U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USLBA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.
The USLBA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.
SOURCE: U.S. Local Business Association
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, December 15, 2008, ANN ARBOR, Mich.-
Custom software development consultancy, The Whole Brain Group, was recently accepted into the Washtenaw County Waste Knot Program and was recognized as an environmentally conscious business.
The Waste Knot program awards acceptance to businesses that employ environmentally sound practices such as recycling, reducing paper and waste, as well as conserving energy and educating employees on green business practices. In addition to being Washtenaw County’s premier educator of recycling and waste reduction, Waste Knot has been recognized on a national level by the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Waste Wise program in receiving EPA’s Gold Achievement Award for Community Involvement.The Center for Disease Control has included a direct link to the Waste Knot environmental portal on the CDC website’s homepage.
Environmental Programs Supervisor, Jeff Krcmarik, noted that Waste Knot has also been recognized by the Michigan Recycling Coalition as an outstanding community education program. The Whole Brain Group’s acceptance into the program is a result of their commitment to building sustainable software systems that significantly reduce, and often eliminate paper waste and printing. With extensive expertise in database design and implementation, The Whole Brain Group is saving universities, corporations and health care administrations time, redundancy and money. The Whole Brain Group’s commitment to forming relationships with clients in order to asses their true needs allows for a custom software system to be built to their exact specifications. Sustaining the life of the project becomes so much simpler when built with “that whole brain goodness.”
“Being a part of the Washtenaw Waste Knot Program has allowed us to further support our platform for building sustainable and eco-friendly software and green business.” States Marisa Smith, Partner of The Whole Brain Group.
Press, Whole Brain Buzz•
on June 10th, 2008•
As part of Curb Your Car Month and The Commuter Challenge, businesses of all kinds we called upon to pariticpate in logging their sustainable transportation miles during their commutes. During the month of May, all participating businesses logged each sustainable mile biked, walked, bused or carpooled in order to accumalte points and reduce carbon emissions.
The results are in! These businesses have proven they have what it takes to employ sustainable methods of commuting to work.
2-9 Employee Category Winners (all had 100% participation!)
Above the Treeline, American Friends Service Committee-MI Criminal Justice Program, Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority, Center for Simplified Strategic Planning, Dascola Barbers, Fair Housing Center of Southeastern Michigan, Fourth Ave. Birkenstock, Independent Thinkers, Inner Circle Media, Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice, Not An Employee, University of Michigan – Lee Lab, GoKnow! Inc., Richner & Richner and The Whole Brain Group.
Learn more about the winners and The getDowntown program
Reproduced with permission from The Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce and The getDowntown Program. This article first appeared on the getDowntown blog; refer to above link.
Press, Whole Brain Buzz•
on May 22nd, 2008•
Three years ago, you could find Marisa Smith wearing pajamas, sitting at her computer at her Ann Arbor home. That was when she had her own company: DataSmith Consulting LLC. Now she works in an Ann Arbor office managing a staff of five, including a member in a Wisconsin office, and is receiving training from ATHENA International.
In 1995, she accepted a position with Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department at U-M. She began as a part-time secretary, received her master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, then became an academic advisor. Smith became interested in using the Web to get information to students and learned to create Web sites and databases.
In 2002, she launched DataSmith Consulting LLC with no start-up costs. The company primarily offered its software, AccreditSation, which streamlines the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) application process that collects and organizes documents into a central location. It was Smith and her computer in her Ann Arbor home for two years. “When you work for a large organization, there is generally a safety net if you get sick or go on vacation, but in a small company, there’s not as much depth to provide coverage and keep income flowing in when people are out. … Given the choice, though, I’ll take self-employment and small business any day. It’s really cool to see our business evolve.”
Throughout the years, the staff expanded, including Smith’s father joining her and her business partner, Dale Bengston, who works from Madison, Wis. She moved from an Ann Arbor home to a Dexter location and then to the current space at 150 S. Fifth St. in 2006.
Last year her company merged with Streamline Studio LLC to form The Whole Brain Group LLC. The business continues to offer AccreditStation – software mainly used by educational institutions and community hospitals. Smith said the company is working on several projects including a software system for animal research projects at Michigan State University, a large data conversion process for Michigan Administrative Information Services at U-M, and a newsclippings management system at University of Chicago. Meanwhile, the Wisconsin office deals primarily with automating printing workflow, Web-based stationery systems, and digital asset management. She said the company has 18 AcceditStation clients and about 35 clients overall.
Smith said her position with her work has changed greatly. “I have to get used to distributing labor and not wearing so many hats now.”
Smith was selected as the 2008 ATHENA Powerlink recipient – the second participant for the program from Ann Arbor. The program, part of ATHENA International, aims to increase growth and profitability of women-owned businesses through mentoring. She said her three main goals were strategic long-term planning, leadership development and increased revenue. Smith said she would also like to create more standard, versatile software that many clients can use instead of multiple custom projects.
Though Smith no longer runs her own business from her desk at home, she is excited about the future.
“Most of our clients come to us because they need someone to objectively examine their processes, or lack thereof, and find ways to make things more efficient. We love figuring out the method to their madness, and developing ways to streamline and automate things so they can concentrate on the quality of their work.”
BACKGROUND
EDUCATION
B.A. Music, Colgate University; M.A. Higher Education Administration, University of Michigan.
Family – Husband Chris; Daughter Charlotte (almost 5).
Residence – Dexter.
INSIGHTS
Best way to keep competitive edge – Networking.
How do you motivate people – Free food.
How do you motivate yourself – Zingerman’s mochas.
Three greatest passions – Music, family, reading.
Most unique office decor – Silver ceiling panels.
Favorite hobby – Karaoke.
JUDGMENT CALLS
Best business decision – Partnering with Dale.
Biggest management myth – Self-employment gives you freedom.
What advice would you give to yourself 10 years ago? Enjoy your free time while you have it!
Word that best describes you – Organized.
CONFESSIONS
What keeps you up at night – Worrying about keeping all the balls in the air.
Pet peeve – Repeating myself because someone didn’t listen the first time.
Guilty pleasure - Dancing with the Stars.
First job – Video store clerk.
First choice for a new career – Opinion leader.
TREASURES
Favorite cause – Red Cross. Favorite book - Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
Favorite movie - Empire Strikes Back.
What’s on your iPod/car radio dial – Hannah Montana and NPR.
What do you do to recharge the batteries – Go for a walk.
Favorite restaurant – Zingerman’s Roadhouse & Common Grill.
Wheels – 2007 Honda Odyssey.
Read the full story from The Ann Arbor Business Review here
Article written by Christina Field, freelance writer.
This article was reproduced with express permission gained from The Ann Arbor Business Review publication. Featured in the Ann Arbor Business Review; May 22, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, October 20, 2008, ANN ARBOR, Mich.— Nonprofit youth writing and tutoring center 826michigan is announcing a new program, the Write Brain Partnership, that provides a tangible and important link between local business people and the young students who benefit from 826michigan programs. Amanda Uhle, 826michigan executive director, explains, “The Write Brain Partnership is a means to deepen our ties in Ann Arbor and beyond and to show reciprocal support to businesses who contribute to us and make our programs possible. These leaders in the business community believe, like we do, that writing skills are key to future success for children as individuals and for the economic health of our region.” Write Brain Partners make an annual contribution of $826 or more, and 826michigan recognizes them with an array of benefits: invitation to an annual networking event, listing in 826michigan’s popular newsletter and the chance to collaborate on marketing visibility projects, geared to suit each businesses needs. The revenue makes a critical difference in 826michigan’s ability to offer its afterschool tutoring, in classroom assistance to teachers and evening creative writing workshops at no charge whatsoever to students and their families. Businesses benefit by making valuable community connections and by helping to ensure strong communication skills in the next generation of our region’s workforce.
About The Whole Brain Group
The Whole Brain Group, LLC is a local software consultancy dedicated to helping its clients work smarter, greener and with their feet on the ground. Partner Marisa Smith says, “teaching a child to write requires a passionate mentor, and we’re fortunate to live and work in a community with a great program like 826michigan to kindle that creative writing flame.”
Marisa Smith, Managing Partner of The Whole Brain Group, LLC, was recently selected as the 2008 ATHENA PowerLink recipient. The ATHENA PowerLink, a program of ATHENA International, is a business mentoring program designed to increase the growth and profitability of women-owned businesses. Since 1999, ATHENA PowerLink has been helping women business owners through the use of a proven group mentoring process that links a business with a volunteer panel of advisors recruited from the local community.
“I’m honored to have been selected for the ATHENA PowerLink,” said Marisa. “I’m looking forward to working with my Advisory Panel to grow my business.” She is the second participant for the program in the Ann Arbor area. Sharon McRill of The Betty Brigade was the 2007 recipient.
Charlie Penner, Regional Director of MI-SBTDC and PowerLink Governing Body Co-Chair, said, “The local ATHENA PowerLink Governing Body is pleased to work with Marisa to help her grow her business. We are certain that Marisa will benefit from this experience.”
The Whole Brain Group is a software development company with offices in Ann Arbor and Madison, Wisconsin. Among their products is AccreditStation, software that helps educational institutions, community hospitals, and VA facilities compile and manage successful AAHRPP® accreditation projects.
ATHENA PowerLink began in 1992 in Pittsburgh, PA when two businesswomen recognized that female entrepreneurs often lack access to valuable advisors and mentors. The premise was simple – panels of volunteers willing to advise women business owners on important issues can help them achieve great success.
According to ATHENA International, on average, women business owners participating in the ATHENA PowerLink program see the following outcomes
88.5% increase in sales
37.6% increase in business net income
56.6% increase in personal income
36.3% increase in full-time employees
75.0% increase in part-time employees
To learn more about ATHENA PowerLink, click here.
Press release reproduced with the permission of the ATHENA Ann Arbor chapter
