Letter from Mark

From time to time, I like to give an update to our clients and friends about what’s been happening at Phase 2, and it's about time for one of those again. It's been a year since we grew our scope of services by acquiring Brainworks Advertising to increase our marketing capabilities for our clients. Over the past year, we've found that although there are some opportunities to integrate marketing with technology, there are also many advertising- and marketing-related activities that don’t integrate very easily with a technology company. Based on what we've learned, we've decided to pull back on those activities that are not Web site or technology-centric in nature, allowing us to focus more of our time and energy on technology-related services.

The trend we've seen in the last several years from our clients is an increasing dependence on using their Web presence as a multi-faceted business tool. From robust e-commerce initiatives to fully functional customer service portals, our customers are demanding more from their Web presence and thus demanding more from us as a technology partner. By focusing our efforts in the areas of interactive Web design, custom programming and technology implementation, we feel like we'll continue to be the best positioned firm in Oklahoma to help clients with those needs.

If your firm is ready to enhance your Web presence ... if you're ready to take your technology to the next phase, so to speak ... please drop me a note. We look forward to focusing our efforts on your needs.

Kind Regards,

Mark Towler

Triple Crown

Phase 2 has been named to the 2006 Metro 50 list, marking the third time for this accomplishment. In 2002, Phase 2 ranked as the 18th fastest growing, privately owned company in the Oklahoma City metro area. The company made the list for the first time in 2001.

“We’re honored to have been named to the Metro 50 list for a third time,” said Heath Clinton, president of Phase 2. “The hard work of all the employees at Phase 2 is what earned us this recognition.”

Metro 50 is an annual awards program sponsored by the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce.

Welcome, Jamie Russell!

Jamie Russell has joined Phase 2 as an application architect. His responsibilities will include project management, web site architecture and creative development.

Jamie has been recognized for his outstanding skills in web design, e-mail marketing and online branding by the Public Relations Society of America, Ad Club, the Journal Record and MerComm Inc.

Before joining Phase 2, Jamie served as a project manager and web developer at Third Degree Advertising. Before that, he worked as a senior web developer at Pinnacle Business Systems in Edmond and a web developer/project manager at Main Street Enterprises in Edmond. Jamie earned his bachelor’s degree in management information systems from the University of Central Oklahoma.

In addition to spending lots of quality time with his wife, Stephanie, and sons Max (3 ½) and Zeke (10 months), Jamie spends his spare time cheering on the Sooners and serving as an elder at Grace Covenant Church.

Check out the latest Tech Buzz!

One of our own, Shane Kempton, has entered the blogosphere to help business leaders better understand technology and use it effectively to grow their businesses.

Shane’s Blog, Tech Buzz, explains recent technology crazes and innovations in a business-minded sense, making the topic less frightening and much more intriguing for those who wouldn’t understand (or care) what RAD means. (For those of you wondering, it stands for rapid application development).

“My goal is to spark an interest or new idea in business leaders’ minds about how they can be using technology in their own industries,” said Shane. “I want to excite business leaders about ways they can save time or increase profits or boost their ROI by using technology-based tools.”

Tech Buzz also focuses on technology developments in a variety of industries, such as the relationship between tractors and technology.

Check out what Shane has to say this week about the epidemic of stupid password rules at techbuzz.phase2online.com.

Panelite’s customers are enjoying a much easier to use web navigation system, thanks to Phase 2.

Panelite is the leading manufacturer of decorative stainless steel accessories for heavy trucks. If you see a good-lucking semi truck whiz past you on the highway, you may be getting a brief glimpse of Panelite.

Phase 2 recently completed Panelite’s web site redesign, which included a product catalog that integrated with Panelite’s back-end business management system and an interactive product gallery.

“This allows us to maintain our marketing content at a single point through our existing database, which ensures greater consistency across all our sales materials, both in print and online,” said Jason Blankenship, advertising and marketing coordinator for Panelite.

Shane Kempton, Phase 2 project manager, said in addition to ease of use for Panelite, the main goal of the product catalog is to help Panelite’s customers quickly and efficiently find what they’re looking for.

The new site also allows visitors to create a shopping list of parts, quickly locate a dealer of those parts in their area and request price quotes.

“Essentially, we are providing an online shopping experience for our visitors and providing sales leads to our dealers at the same time,” said Blankenship.

To check out Panelite’s new site, go to www.panelite.com.