NONPROFIT FINANCIAL GROUP OF THE TWIN CITIES

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church

700 S. Snelling Ave

Saint Paul, MN 55116

Thursday, September 23, 2010

8:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m.  

Technology and Nonprofits:

o Investing for sustainability

o Technology strategic plan

o Cloud computing

o Virtualization

o What’s hot?

o New technology to consider

o Considerations in new economic environment

Presenters:

Erik Thorsell, Founder and President - Success Computer Consulting:

Erik Thorsell is the founder and president of Success Computer Consulting (SCC), Inc., of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a leading technology service provider to business and non-profit organizations.  Since 1992, Thorsell has led an effort to build an industry-leading network infrastructure practice, while simultaneously delivering innovative solutions that change the way people work.  Success Computer Consulting has been recognized by Microsoft as a leading partner for small business in Minnesota.  According to Thorsell, “the real value of technology comes when we can make people work better, faster and cheaper, by making the network infrastructure reliable and predictable.”

Thorsell represents over 400,000 Microsoft partner companies on the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Advisory Council, is a leader in Heartland Technology Groups (an association of Microsoft partners), and is also recognized as a leading IBM Business Partner.  SCC is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and an IBM Advanced Business Partner.

Thorsell, both privately and through his company, is active in working on behalf of homeless and underemployed Minnesotans through work with the Domestic Abuse Project, Twin Cities Rise, Plymouth Church Neighborhood Foundation and others.  Currently, he is engaged in a project to provide resources (computers, technical services and mentoring services) to Nicollet Square, a residential project for homeless youth in South Minneapolis.

Rick Birmingham, Manager, Technology Services – MAP:

As a Circuit Rider for MAP since 1999, Rick Birmingham has helped organizations capitalize on the power of technology to do what they do -- better.  He has assisted staff and board members to focus on the potential of technology to achieve their mission through better service delivery, client and service tracking, political efficacy, communications planning and donor tracking.

He is presently working with a variety of organizations on evaluating and developing database solutions to meet their needs.  Rick's past projects include database planning and software selection processes for both large and small organizations, developing plans for a community computer lab, network wiring a large multi-organization building, technology grant writing and facilitating organizations' high speed connection to the Internet. Rick works with nonprofits in how best to use technology as a tool for their communications including developing their own email lists, deciding how best to utilize social networking tools.  Rick also manages Nonprofit_Tech_Talk, MAP's email list for over 600 people working at nonprofits to share questions, solutions and ideas around nonprofits and technology.

Rick has been a member of the Minneapolis Foundation's MSNet Fund Steering Committee since 2004.  Rick was a member of the City of Minneapolis Digital Inclusion Task Force that wrapped up their recommendations for the Community Benefits Agreement for the City Wireless Project in July 2006.  In 2002, Rick was selected to be a Humphrey Institute Policy Fellow

Rick previously was Coordinator at NetDay Minnesota, a nonprofit organization helping schools meet their technology needs by providing resources, training and volunteers.  He spent a decade as a volunteer for Minnesota E-Democracy.  He created and managed the major discussion lists regarding the Florida recount after the 2001 national election. He draws on his work as a former high school Chinese and elementary school Technology teacher in helping people realize they can effectively use information and communications technology. He is the former vice chair of the Genesis II board of directors.

Directions to Gloria Dei Church

FROM THE WEST:  Go east on I-94 to the Snelling Avenue exit and go south a little over 2 miles. The church will be on your left just before Highland Parkway and the water tower.

FROM THE EAST:  Go west on I-94 to the Snelling Avenue exit and follow directions above.

FROM THE SOUTH:  Go north on I-35E to Highway 5 (West 7th Street), turn left (southwest) on W. 7th St, angle right (west) on Montreal Avenue (Highway 51), turn right (north) on Snelling Avenue.  The church will be on the right just after Highland Parkway and the water tower.

Mapquest link

Reply to nfg.admin@gmail.com by September 17, 2010 if you plan to attend. We would like to get an accurate count on refreshment and handout needs (If you will not be attending, no reply is needed.)

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