May 6, 2009
Article by Robert Rodriguez
Photo by Craig Kohlruss
The Fresno Bee
Fresno attorney Erin Rhames-Childs likes being on the cutting edge of technology. She has the fastest Internet connection, the latest phone, and she’s now leaping into one of the newest trends in business communication: voice mail messages sent directly to e-mail.
No more checking for the blinking red light or flashing message on a desk phone. When clients leave a message on Rhames-Child’s office phone, it’s shipped in seconds to her iPhone.
She can listen to it, save it, or have one of her staff take care of the message.
New technology, the advent of texting and the need for immediate contact are all driving this communication trend.
“I like to be connected, and this helps keep me on the pulse of what is happening,” said Rhames-Childs, a family law attorney. “This really helps us become more efficient and more responsive to our clients.”
For example, Rhames-Childs was in a meeting with her employees recently when she noticed on her mini-laptop that a client had called her office three times within six minutes. It was a serious matter and Rhames-Childs was able to respond quickly.
One of the purveyors of the new communication system is Eric Rawn, president and founder of BCT Consulting in Clovis. Rawn has helped many Fresno-area businesses adopt the new feature.
“The biggest problem with voice mail is that it is an 8-to-5 type of technology,” said Rawn. “It takes so long to log into your voice mail, listen to the message, write down the information and then call them back. It’s just not very effective communication.”
Rawn’s company provides business owners with a digital phone system that can send voice mail messages to e-mail in the form of an audio file. An upgraded feature transcribes the message into text. That function is done by a third-party company, the New York-based PhoneTag, one of several (Callwave, Spinvox and Google Voice are others) in the market.
BCT Consulting is one of the first in the area to combine the new features and provide it locally. PhoneTag president James Siminoff says people tend to respond more quickly to e-mail and a text message than to voice mail.
A 2008 study by Opinion Research Corp. found that those under the age of 30 are four times more likely to respond within minutes to a text message compared with a voice mail, and 91% respond to a text message within one hour.
James Waterman, of SeniorCare Organizational Systems of Fresno, is always looking for ways to become more efficient and provide good customer service. SeniorCare provides service and information on how to care for the elderly.
Voice mail messages are sent directly to Waterman’s BlackBerry, where he can manage the calls.
“It is important for our customers to understand that if they have to leave a voice mail message for someone, that they will get it and someone will call them back,” Waterman said. “And with this system, it increases our ability to do that.”
Jan 15, 2009
Riojas family’s new home couldn’t have come together without donations from 175 businesses
Article by Robert Rodriguez
The Fresno Bee
When thousands of volunteers rushed to help the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” team build a new home for the Riojas family in Fresno, many in the city’s business community joined in.
About 175 companies, from small family-run operations to major corporations, donated everything from T-shirts to roof trusses. While the total cost of the donations has not been calculated, it will easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars.
Like the huge support from the volunteers, the response from businesses has been overwhelming, said Ryan De Young, vice president of finance for De Young Properties, builders of the Riojas home.
“Once the Web site went up about the project, it took just a few days to get almost everything we needed,” De Young said.
“We were shocked. For every person we had supplying something, we had three backup people that were willing to help. That says a lot about our business community.”
Many of the involved businesses said they didn’t hesitate to donate products, money or labor, despite a weak economy and a decline in revenues.
Sergio Ilic, owner of Heritage Bomanite in Fresno, a specialty concrete company, saw his sales drop by 50% last year compared with the previous year. He said his business, like many others, has been affected by the downturn in the housing market.
But Ilic said he looked beyond that when approached for help. He and his crew of 12 workers are installing the colored and stamped concrete in the front and back of the East Robinson Avenue home.
“All of the guys were really excited about doing this,” Ilic said. “This is about people coming together to help someone in need. And we are doing our part.”
Others, like business owner Olga Martinez, president of Allright Diversified Services, a Fresno-based construction firm, understand what it means to need a helping hand.
Two years ago, Martinez suffered a brain aneurysm, forcing her to be absent from her company for weeks.
A family member, employees, and even a few clients stepped in to help run her multi-million dollar construction company.
“I remember people rallying together for me and helping me rebuild my company,” said Martinez, who is one of the project’s sponsors. “It made me committed to giving back and making a difference in people’s lives, like the Riojas family.”
Mary Ann Riojas and her four teenage children return to the East Robinson Avenue home in west-central Fresno from a Colorado snow trip today. ABC’s crew led by show frontman Ty Pennington and the volunteers will declare “Move that bus!” for them to see their new home.
Fashion Furniture store owner Rod Avedikian also didn’t hesitate to give. And in a big way. Avedikian is supplying furniture for the home.
His crews delivered two truckloads Wednesday.
“For us, it was the right thing to do,” Avedikian said. “There have been so many people fired up about wanting to make this happen.”
Eric Rawn, owner of BCT Consulting in Fresno, had an opportunity to spend several thousand dollars of advertising with the local ABC network affiliate that broadcasts the makeover show, but he said he passed.
Instead, Rawn decided to use roughly the same amount of money he would have spent on advertising to outfit the Riojas family with a full range of computer equipment, including laptops, desktops, personal computers and iMacs.
“Maybe some people may think we are crazy for doing this, but this is a chance for us to do something really unique,” Rawn said. “We don’t anticipate a return on our bottom line, but that is not the point. We are doing something to give this family something they needed, something that could make the difference helping the kids go to college.”
Other efforts to help the family also triggered substantial response. More than $100,000 has been raised to help the Riojas family pay off their existing mortgage, and about 10 bins of canned food collected from people arriving at the construction site have been donated to the Community Food Bank in Fresno.
The De Young family asked that spectators bring a can of food as the price of admission.
Jan 13, 2009
BCT Consulting Helps ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” Get Fresno Family Wired
BCT Consulting, Inc., a Fresno-based computer and network consulting firm, didn’t miss a beat when a call came from the producers of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition asking for help that would change the lives of a local Fresno family.
BCT responded to the request by donating and installing a full range of computer equipment, including laptops, desktops, PCs, iMacs and printers for all family members in the Fresno home currently under construction for the show this week.
“As one of the largest technology consulting firms in the Central Valley, BCT believes in being an active part of our community,” said Eric Rawn, BCT’s President and CEO. “Being able to be a good neighbor by donating resources to assist Ty Pennington and the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team with their Fresno projects is very special to us.”
The miracles that Extreme Makeover: Home Edition makes possible across the country are races against the clock, and the Fresno project is no exception. More than 300 workers are shuttled to the construction site in ’24/7′ mode, in an effort to complete the extreme makeover within five days and nine hours – all while the family who live in the home are away.
To maximize efficiency, the ABC Extreme Makeover: Home Edition production team, along with BCT, is working at peak capacity to make sure everything is on time, perfectly in place and in working order. The Fresno featured episode of the program is currently slated to run on March 8, 2009 on ABC-TV.
In addition to the donated computer equipment, BCT is also providing a full year of computer support, including training and repairs, to ensure the family can utilize everything they have received. The computer equipment BCT installs will not only help the family step into the 21st century, but will allow the children to have the same opportunities as others with state-of-the-art computers at home and at school.
“We’re excited to provide a gift that will continue giving, year after year,” added Rawn.
About BCT
BCT is a Fresno-based computer and network consulting firm with thousands of clients throughout the Central Valley, including The City of Fresno, Saint Agnes Hospital, hundreds of law firms, school districts and other local businesses where BCT sells and supports computer technology. For more information, or to schedule an interview with BCT President and CEO Eric Rawn, contact him directly at (559) 999-2172 or via our Contact Form.
Apr 4, 2008
The following profile appeared in The Business Journal on Friday, April 4, 2008.
What led you to start BCT Consulting?
In a person’s life, you sometimes come across a fork in the road. My fork was three-pronged, which included going into the film industry as a movie director, becoming a musician (I play about a half dozen different musical instruments) or going into technology/computers. Luckily, I had the opportunity to set my goals early in high school, where I realized that I could best succeed at what I was best at – computers.
In the beginning, I was fortunate enough to work for one of the largest law firms in the valley as their IT Manager, where I was allowed to build and grow my company while maintaining their systems at the same time. Since 1996, we’ve averaged two new positions at BCT each year.
What is your essential business philosophy?
At BCT we have two main business philosophies that work well and are equally important. The first is to provide the best and most knowledgeable service to our clients. With a 24 hour technical help desk and direct access to our techs via cell phone and email, we have setup an efficient support service which has worked extremely well for us over the years. I’ve been able to build a service-driven business that can grow exponentially without affecting the quality of service we provide for our clients.
I also strongly believe that our employees are the most valuable asset, which we allow to work in one of the best environments in Fresno. Not only do we provide them with all of the standard benefits, such as health insurance, cell phone usage for personal use and plenty of vacation days but also out-of-the-box benefits. Some of these include a company-paid personal gas card, unlimited drinks and snacks from the kitchen and a monthly prize wheel competition held throughout the month (similar to Wheel of Fortune), which employees spin to determine the prize.
Keeping both our clients and employees happy is really what has helped us become successful in today’s competitive job market.
What are your goals for your business?
Every year, our goals seem to change slightly. Our primary goal currently is focusing on proactive support and service for our clients. We work hard to make sure we utilize technology to its fullest to ensure our clients can do the same. The goals we set ultimately help our clients. The higher standards we have, the better service we can provide.
Who or what inspires you?
My ability to help others with technology inspires me. Whether it is the most advanced and state-of-the-art or simply part of their daily work, providing others with the secret key to making technology work for them is rewarding. Often times, a computer is used as a typewriter to get tasks done. It is satisfying when we can turn the technology into more that can help increase the bottom line and allow the user to become more efficient in their daily responsibilities.
What was your first job and how did you learn from it?
My first job was at Wendy’s in Clovis, shortly after graduating from Clovis West high school in 1994. I worked there for almost two years and found that most of what I learned were the basics of life and business. I realized the value of a dollar, the hierarchy of management structure and most importantly, the power of delegating tasks. Delegating is the key to growing a business. Choosing the right employees to delegate to is often difficult, but I believe the right combination between the two is what sets a successful company apart from the rest.
What don’t we know about BCT Consulting that we should?
BCT Consulting is more than a company that fixes computer issues – we provide solutions to problems. Everyone wants to pay less for telecommunications, we have answers. Need to get more productivity from your employees through technology, we know how. Our client’s company data is important and ensuring that it is secure from hackers, theft, fire or corruption is vital… we provide the solutions. Our main priority is ensuring clients have the right information to allow them to make informed decisions, at no cost – always has been, always will.
Jan 1, 2008
Eric Rawn, Owner and founder of BCT Consulting, Inc. (BCT), was named one of Business Street‘s first “40 Under 40” Award recipients at The Downtown Club in Fresno in January. Eric has played a significant role in paving the way for emerging technology and has become one of the leading authorities for business technology in the Central Valley.
Beyond playing a key role overseeing the top to bottom operations of the organization, Eric’s work also includes managing corporate sales, overseeing internal operations, acquisitions and all business development for the company. Under his leadership, BCT has become the pacesetter for all local technology organizations, first started in 1996 while attending Fresno City College and then graduating from Fresno State in 2001. BCT now supports nearly 1,000 clients throughout California with over 22 employees, making it one of the largest technology consulting firms in the state.
Business Street’s 40 Under 40 reception celebrates hard working individuals in central California who have achieved great success before the age of 40. Considered leaders in the community, both civically as well as professionally, they are businesspeople that Business Street has deemed on the path towards an even greater future.
Eric has a degree in Business Administration – Information Technology from California State University, Fresno and as an Alumni, has participated on the Sid Craig School of Business Internship Advisory Board and presented entrepreneur speeches in the Alice Peters Auditorium.
Aug 1, 2007
BCT Consulting — a technology support firm — is expanding its business and adding employees.
As part of the expansion, the company also relocated from Clovis to a larger office at 440 W. Fallbrook Ave., near the River Park shopping center in Fresno.
“We have tripled our office size,” said Eric Rawn, president and founder of BCT Consulting.
Rawn added seven employees as part of the expansion and is looking for at least six more workers to handle various duties, including administration, sales, technical support and accounting.
BCT employs about 35 people and was founded in 1996.
