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For Tea Living, Inspiration Accelerates after Move to Google Apps

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Tea Living INC. (teacollection.com) brings worldwide cultures and modern design to children’s fashion. Twice each year, Tea packs their bags and travels the world to explore and discover. With original, high-quality designs inspired by their adventures abroad, Tea stands for practical luxury with pieces that are easy to care for and feel great to wear. Tea has won awards in innovation from their industry peers (as well as global recognition for their use of social media and technology), which clearly points to a path of continued growth.

With increasingly rapid growth over the past several years, Tea has gone from a single office in San Francisco to three locations, including a second office in San Francisco and a customer service center in Idaho. With remote salespeople and employees regularly traveling the world, Tea’s in-house email and file sharing servers were feeling the strain. Upgrading or expanding the email server would be a costly proposition.

Tea was already exploring options for hosted and cloud email services when the unthinkable happened. “Our Exchange server crashed and the mailstore was corrupted,” states Kenner Rawdon, Network Administrator of Tea Living INC. “Without email, our ability to effectively communicate–to service our customers–was at a standstill.”

Working with Boston-based Cumulus Global, a Google Apps Premier SMB Partner, Tea was up and running with Google Apps for Business in under a day. “In less time and effort than it would take to recover our Exchange server,” notes Rawdon, “we had global access to all of our email, calendars and contacts. Even with our emergency situation, the process was remarkably smooth.”

While Tea’s initial motivation was email, the company saw many other benefits from their move to Google Apps. With continuous world travel and an endless stream of photographs and images, Tea employees use Drive to upload and share pictures and files. Without the need for a VPN connection, employees no longer struggle with multiple login steps and performance issues. Telecommuters, mobile and remote staff use Drive and Docs to collaborate in real time and across time zones. Teams share information and ideas as they arise, without the limitations of email and voicemail. Using priority inbox and filters, employees report that they are able to stay organized and remain focused.

Innovation and creativity flow more easily without all the clutter.

“The impact of Google Apps is evolutionary,” concludes Rawdon. “We continue to find ways to work more effectively and be more productive as we continue to use more features of Google Apps’ features.” As an example, Rawdon sees growing use of Hangouts as a tool for meetings and calls. “Being able to see each other, along with the designs and images we share, will help us collaborate and make decisions more effectively. This personal interaction also fits well with our philosophy and culture.”

Tea Living INC. was co-founded by Emily Meyer and Leigh Rawdon, two moms who bonded over a love of travel. The company gives back to the community through its partnership with The Global Fund for Children, Tea’s School Days program, and the company’s Inspiring Mom Awards.

Cumulus Global CEO Named Strategic Cloud Advisor for NexGen Cloud Conference

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Cumulus Global today announced the addition of Allen Falcon, CEO of Cumulus Global, as a Strategic Cloud Advisor for the NexGen Cloud Conference & Expo slated to launch December 3, 2014 in San Diego, CA. Falcon brings his knowledge of cloud computing for SMBs and education to the advisory board, and will provide insight and direction through selecting topics and speakers for this industry event. The NexGen Cloud Conference & Expo is aimed at IT service providers looking to emerge as leaders in cloud computing services.

“I am honored by the invitation to the Advisory Board and I am looking forward to the opportunity to help further the industry”, stated Falcon. “Cloud Computing is not just a new technology and is not just a new approach to IT service delivery, Cloud Computing is transformative in its ability to enable change and growth for businesses of all sizes.”

The NexGen Cloud Conference & Expo intends to educate and inspire value-added resellers and managed service providers. The conference and exposition provides a great venue for company leaders to make connections, and find new directions.

“The Channel Company understands that cloud computing is driving ISVs, VARs, MSPs, and other IT service providers to rethink their strategy and business model”, notes Falcon. “This event brings the experts and advisors together in one place for an intensive learning and networking opportunity.”

Registration for the NexGen Cloud Conference & Expo is open, with pre-registration discounts available until June 6, 2014 at www.nexgencloudcon.com/.

Cumulus Global CEO Named Among 10 to Watch by Worcester Business Journal

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The Worcester Business Journal named Allen Falcon, CEO of Cumulus Global among the “10 to Watch” today in the MetroWest 495 BIZ special supplement.  The “10 to Watch” list identifies emerging business leaders who foster unique skill sets, find and develop new opportunities, and bring their respective companies to new heights.  The Worcester Business Journal covers business activity in the vibrant Central Massachusetts, 495 Corridor, and MetroWest regions.

“This is more than a personal honor for me”, noted Falcon while acknowledging the award.  “This honor reflects the commitment of the entire Cumulus Global team to the businesses, schools,  non-profits, and governments we serve.”   Falcon also praised Cumulus Global’s customers, stating “We are fortunate to have customers that want to learn, innovate, and grow, and that focus on the business value of our solutions.”

Based in Westborough, Massachusetts, Cumulus Global serves small and mid-size businesses, schools, and local governments in Massachusetts, throughout New England, and across North America. The company recently opened offices in New York and is looking forward to continued growth and expansion.

“While we deliver cutting edge and proven solutions, do not let our zeal for cloud solutions fool you,” added Falcon, “We serve much like a traditional value-add partner.  We assess business objectives, needs, and priorities; we select technologies and services to create pragmatic and effective solutions; and we follow through with deployment, education, training, and support.”

Recognition among the “10 to Watch” in MetroWest follows other recent industry accolades, including Cumulus Global’s recognition as a 2014 Pacesetter and the 5th fastest growing private company in Massachusetts by the Boston Business Journal, being named to CIO Review’s list of the 20 Most Promising Education Tech Providers,  and being included on CRN’s Next-Gen 250 list of cutting edge solution providers for the second consecutive year.

Cumulus Global in the News

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Death Of Net Neutrality Will Hurt Cloud Adoption
CRN, May 2, 2014
Our View:  Businesses relying on cloud computing need to trust that the services they use have a level playing field for Internet access and performance.

Google Apps Resellers: Referral Program Actually Helps Our Business in the Long Run
CRN, April 21, 2014
Our View: The program raises market awareness and an understanding of the value of the services we offer.

Cumulus Global Receives Pacesetter Award from the Boston Business Journal as the 5th Fastest Growing Private Company in Massachusetts
Providence Journal, April 17, 2014
Our View: We appreciate the recognition of our team and our clients, who recognize that value we delivery through our products and services.

New Google 3-D Tango Smartphone Could Change Business Computing
CRN, April 16, 2014
Our View: 3-D imaging will expand the role of smart phones and mobile devices in education, medicine, law enforcement, logistics, and other business segments.

 

Cumulus Global Receives Pacesetter Award from the Boston Business Journal as the 5th Fastest Growing Private Company in Massachusetts

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At the annual BBJ Pacesetter breakfast today, the Boston Business Journal recognized Cumulus Global as the 5th fastest growing private company in Massachusetts.  The Pacesetter Awards recognize businesses with exceptional cumulative revenue growth over a four-year period, highlighting businesses and entrepreneurs that create the dynamic and innovative economy in Massachusetts.

In accepting the award, Allen Falcon, CEO of Cumulus Global, discussed the critical role the company’s network of partners, vendors, and advisors has been to its success and growth.  Falcon thanked the entire Cumulus Global team for their efforts, referring to a team, “whose evangelical zeal for all things cloud computing is always tempered with just enough pragmatism to deliver successful solutions to our customers.”  Falcon also praised Cumulus Global’s customers, stating “We are fortunate to have customers that want to learn, innovate, and grow, and that focus on the business value of our solutions.”

Based in Westborough, Massachusetts, Cumulus Global serves small and mid-size businesses, schools, and local governments in Massachusetts, throughout New England, and across North America. The company has offices in New York and is looking forward to continued growth and expansion.

“While the technologies and solutions we deliver are cutting edge,” noted Falcon, “in many ways we are a traditional value-add partner for our customers.  We access business objectives, needs, and priorities; we select technologies and services to create pragmatic and effective solutions; and we follow through with deployment, education, training, and support.”

Cumulus Global’s recognition as a 2014 Pacesetter follows other recent industry accolades, including being named to CIO Review’s list of the 20 Most Promising Education Tech Providers and to CRN’s Next-Gen 250 list of cutting edge solution providers for the second consecutive year.

 

Back in the News

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Cumulus Global is active in the cloud solution provider channel and markets.  Allen Falcon, our CEO, has been quoted several times recently in the trade and industry press

Google To Pay $15 Per Seat For Google Apps Customer
CRN: March 11, 2014
Our View:  This will further accelerate market acceptance of Google Apps and focus on the services we offer beyond providing Google Apps licenses.

Meet the BBJ’s 2014 Pacesetters, the fastest growing private companies in Mass.
Boston Business Journal: March 5, 2014
Our View: We are proud to be part of the dynamic and growing IT service economy.

Android Gains Ground On Apple In Tablet Race; Microsoft Still Struggling
CRN: March 3, 2014
Our View:  More businesses see Android as an operating system while Microsoft has struggled to deliver a viable mobile platform. 

 

Boston Business Journal Names Cumulus Global a 2014 Pacesetter

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Boston, MA – Cumulus Global was named a 2014 Pacesetter — one of the 70 fastest growing private companies in Massachusetts — by The Boston Business Journal on Wednesday. The annual list highlights the entrepreneurs and businesses that make Massachusetts one of the most dynamic and innovative economies in the world.

“We are honored to be considered a Pacesetter for our regional economy,” stated Allen Falcon, CEO of Cumulus Global. “Our growth reflects the results we are able to deliver to small and mid-size businesses as we help them move to the Google Apps platform and cloud solutions.”

Based in Westborough, Massachusetts, Cumulus Global serves SMBs, schools, and local governments in Massachusetts, throughout New England, and across North America. The company opened offices in New York City and on Long Island last year, and is looking forward to continued growth and expansion.

“As acceptance of ‘the cloud’ continues, our focus remains on providing solutions that meet the operational, informational, and security needs of our customers,” stated Falcon. CumuluSuite Office is more than hosted email. We combine the Google Apps platform with other cloud systems to provide a complete solution for communications, productivity, file services, and printing.”

Cumulus Global’s recognition as a 2014 Pacesetter follows other recent industry accolades, including being named to CIO Review’s list of the 20 Most Promising Education Tech Providers and to CRN’s Next-Gen 250 list of cutting edge solution providers.

Classroom Results Improve with Google Apps Professional Development

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Eduscape Logo
Cumulus Global and Eduscape Learning Partnership Delivers Certified Educator Training

Following successful participation at last week’s FETC 2014 conference, Cumulus Global today announced a strategic partnership with Eduscape Learning, offering comprehensive professional development programs for schools and districts using Google Apps for Education.  The partnership combines Eduscape Learning’s existing professional development services and Google Apps Certified Trainers with Cumulus Global’s experience and “Google Guides” peer resource program.  Beyond basic use of Google Apps, the firms offer a multi-track curriculum that focuses on the needs of teachers, administrators, and student interaction.

“We provide professional development to teachers and administrators, giving them a practical path to facilitate technology integration into the curriculum, including Common Core Standards,” noted Alex Urrea, Managing Partner Eduscape Learning. “Our workshops, delivered by former educators, provide classroom teachers with useful strategies to create engaging lessons for 21st century learners.”

Instead of relying on canned digital curriculum offerings which take creativity and differentiation out of the teacher’s hands, Eduscape Learning’s workshops help teachers facilitate collaboration and communication in the classroom to support curriculum outcomes.

In addition to Eduscape Learning’s proven courses and workshops, more schools and districts have access to Cumulus Global’s “Google Guides” program.  Google Guides is a peer-to-peer resource program for schools and districts that want to leverage best practices in support of successful adoption of Google Apps during and after deployment. The Google Guides program improves the migration and adoption process by providing advanced education to tech-savvy faculty and thought leaders within the school.

“Moving to Google Apps for Education and deploying Chromebooks is not the end point,” stated Allen Falcon, CEO of Cumulus Global.  “Once in place, Google Apps is a platform that facilitates improved learning outcomes.  The key to success is empowering faculty and administrators to leverage the collaborative features of Google Apps.”

Cumulus Global and Eduscape Learning deliver workshops in a blended format using an onsite, face-to-face model combined with web-based offerings that increase and support teacher adoption.

About Eduscape Learning
Eduscape Learning is a company whose primary goal is to advance 21st Century Skills in the classroom. Comprised of primarily educators, we make classroom technology relevant for students and teachers by taking a curriculum-driven approach to professional development.

 

Cumulus Global Offers Solutions and Seminars at FETC 2014

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FETC-2014Visitors to FETC in 2014  in Orlando later this month have a unique opportunity to learn how Google Apps for Education can serve as platform for robust administrative and classroom computing.

Cumulus Global (Booth #256) is hosting a series of in-booth seminars covering a range of topics from system administration, data protection, and security, to 1:1 program design and professional development for faculty.  Cumulus Global is webcasting the sessions as well, for those unable to attend FETC in person.

With more than a dozen sessions, Cumulus Global intends to offer attendees new perspectives on how schools can effectively Deploy solutions, Gear Up with the best devices and infrastructure, and Transform the learning process.

Session presenters include experts from Backupify, Bettercloud, CloudLock, Edsby, and Eduscape Learning.

Click Here for more information, or to register for one or more of the webcasts. Feel free to Contact Us with any questions.

As a featured exhibitor, Cumulus Global is able to offer the following discount codes for FETC 2014 attendees:

  • Register using code FREE974 for your free Exhibit Hall Pass and access to the Learning Labs, a $50 value.
  • Register using code EDUCATE to save $60 on FETC Full Conference Registration.

CIOReview names Cumulus Global a Top 20 Education Tech Solution Provider

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The Navigator for Enterprise Solutions
Annual list showcases the 20 most promising education technology solution providers.

 

Boston, MA, December 13, 2013 – CIO Review (www.cioreview.com) has selected Cumulus Global (www.cumulusglobal.com) as one of CIOReview’s 20 Most Promising Education Tech Solution Providers.  The annual list, published in CIOReview’s December issue, identifies solution providers offering innovative, value-add solutions to the education market.  CIOReview’s selection panel and editorial board selected Cumulus Global after reviewing the company’s growing portfolio of cloud-based solutions for K-12 and higher education, as well as Cumulus Global’s track record of success.

“Cumulus Global is helping transform the in-classroom learning process,” stated  Harvi Sachar, Publisher & Founder of CIO Review. “Beyond helping schools move to Google Apps for Education and deploying Chromebooks in the classroom, Cumulus Global delivers the professional development and consulting services necessary to use the technology in a transformative way.”

Cumulus Global assists schools and districts with both educational and administrative computing initiatives.  The company’s services extend beyond the technology to include policy and administrative guidance for Google Apps for Education deployments, staff development, and 1:1 programs.  Examples of these services include: the company’s Google Guides program, which creates a peer-to-peer support team within the school, and 1:1 program policy guidance, asset planning, and financing services.

“We are honored that CIOReview recognizes our work with schools, nationally, as innovative and forward thinking,” noted Allen Falcon, CEO of Cumulus Global.  “We continue to learn from schools about how they want to improve the learning process and outcomes.  We will continue to find and deliver solutions that enable success.”

Cumulus Global is a Google Apps Premier SMB Reseller and an authorized reseller for Google Apps Vault and Chromebooks for Education.

About CIO Review
CIO Review (www.cioreview.com) constantly endeavors to identify “The Best” in a variety of areas important to tech business. Through nominations and consultations with industry leaders, our editors choose the best in different domains. Top 20 CIOReview Education Tech Solution Provider is a listing of 20 Most Promising Education solutions companies in the U.S.