About Synectic Technologies
Synectic Technologies is a certified Avaya Business Partner recognized for its ability to incorporate communications technology into effective business management and marketing systems. Headquartered in Sacramento, Calif., and with locations in the Bay Area and throughout California, the company has expertise in voice, VoIP, Carrier Services, Wire, Call Center, and IP telephony equipment and services. With more than 15,000 satisfied customers, Synectic has been honored with Avaya's prestigious Alti award both for its commitment to customer service and for its significant revenue growth in the sale of Avaya products. For more information, visit www.synectic.us.

About Avaya
Avaya Inc. designs, builds and manages communications networks for more than 1 million businesses worldwide, including over 90 percent of the FORTUNE 500®. Focused on businesses large to small, Avaya is a world leader in secure and reliable Internet protocol (IP) telephony systems and communications software applications and services.

Driving the convergence of voice and data communications with business applications - and distinguished by comprehensive worldwide services - Avaya helps customers leverage existing and new networks to achieve superior business results.  For more information visit the Avaya website: www.avaya.com.

For further information regarding a press release please contact:

Jeanette M. Towne
Synectic Technologies
(877) 521-8821 x 2121
jmtowne@synectic.us

Press Release
Source: Synectic Technologies
February 8, 2010; 3:33 pm, Sacramento, California

Synectic Technologies Named to California Top Business List for 2010

In recognition of the economic power of privately held businesses, DiversityBusiness.com, the nations’ leading business-to-business internet site, recently named Towne Communications, Inc., DBA Synectic Technologies as one of the top 100 businesses in California.

This is the 10th annual listing of the California’s 100 top businesses by DiversityBusiness.com. Companies listed on the Top Business Lists represent the Nation’s top multicultural earners and challenge the long-held notion that a privately held business is small or insignificant. Winners are sought after by major corporations wishing to increase spending with small businesses.

“Entrepreneurs are a growing force in the U.S. economy, and a force to be reckoned with,” said Kenton Clarke, CEO of Computer Consulting Associates International, the company that built

DiversityBusiness.com. This is a whole business segment that can carry its own, that provides jobs, products and services, and generates wealth for their communities. These are the new leaders in American business.”

“We are thrilled to be named as a Top 100 Women Owned Business in California”, said Jeanette Towne, President and CEO of Synectic Technologies. “We have grown each year since the starting of our company, January of 1995.”

The List

This List is a classification that represents the top small businesses in the U.S., in sectors such as technology, manufacturing, food service and professional services. Large organizational buyers throughout the country that do business with multicultural, small and women-owned businesses use the list. The List is produced annually by DiversityBusiness.com, the nation's leading multicultural B2B Internet portal that links large organizational buyers to multicultural product and service suppliers.

The winning companies will be honored at a special awards ceremony at DiversityBusiness.com’s “10th Annual Multicultural Business Conference”, taking place April 27-29, 2010 at the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center in Washington, D.C.

For the complete list of winning companies, please visit: www.diversitybusiness.com

About Synectic
Synectic is a Gold Certified Avaya Small Business Expert. Installing over 1200 customer engagements a year, Synectic just celebrated 15th year in business and is running 99% customer satisfaction.

About DiversityBusiness.com

Launched in 1999, DiversityBusiness, with over 46,000 members, is the largest organization of diversity owned businesses throughout the United States that provide goods and services to Fortune 1000 companies, government agencies, and colleges and universities. DiversityBusiness provides research and data collection services for diversity including the "Top 50 Organizations for Multicultural Business Opportunities", "Top 500 Diversity Owned Companies in America", and others. Its research has been recognized and published by Forbes Magazine, Business Week and thousands of other print and internet publications. The site has gained national recognition and has won numerous awards for its content and design. It is a leading provider of Supplier Diversity management tools and has the most widely distributed Diversity magazine in the United States. DiversityBusiness.com is produced by Computer Consulting Associates International Inc. (CCAii.com) of Southport, CT. Founded in 1980.

Press Release
Source: Synectic Technologies
Monday February 2, 2010

Synectic Celebrates their 15th Anniversary 2010

SACRAMENTO, CA. Synectic, the Number One Provider in the Western Region, of the Avaya IP Office Product, today celebrated 15 years as an Avaya (AT&T Lucent) Loyal Business Partner. Synectic has been an Avaya Business Partner since 1995. Avaya is the leading global provider of communications networks and services for businesses.

Synectic is planning an Open House and Anniversary Celebration, TBA. For information about the Open House and Anniversary, please contact Muriel Garcia (916) 993-2119.

Press Release
Source: Synectic Technologies
Wednesday November 25, 2009, 8:01 am Pacific Standard Time

Synectic announces their ‘Spotlight’ on 2-1-1 Sacramento.

SACRAMENTO, CA. Synectic, the Number One Provider in the North Western Region, for the Avaya IP Office Product, today announced a Spotlight on Synectic Customer, 2-1-1 Sacramento.

Like 9-1-1 for emergency services, 2-1-1 has been set aside nationally by the Federal Communications Commission for the public to more easily access community information. 2-1-1 is also a central resource for community information during disasters and in the recovery afterwards.

In Sacramento County, 2-1-1 Sacramento launched in April, 2008. Available 24/7/365, this program helps connect people to community, health and social service organizations--especially those that provide essential services such as food, shelter, counseling, and employment assistance. Callers receive personalized attention from a live resource specialist. For more information, visit www.211sacramento.org

2-1-1 Sacramento is operated by the Community Services Planning Council (CSPC), a non-profit organization established in 1939. Recognizing the need for better technology in order to launch the 2-1-1 program here in Sacramento, CSPC consulted with Synectic Technologies, a Gold Certified Avaya Business Partner, to develop a call center network to handle the new demands.

Synectic assisted CSPC in upgrading the communications infrastructure and installing the Avaya Call Center system to support increased call volume of 50 per cent in the first year and the ability to accommodate growth and future plans.

"The partnership with Synectic has been everything hoped for and more. We receive on-the-spot customer service 24 hours a day that has kept our service line open and seamless to the public since we launched 2-1-1 Sacramento almost two years ago," according to Bob Diercks, Call Center Supervisor.

Press Release
Source: Synectic Technologies
Tuesday January 20, 2009, 8:06 am PST

Number One Western Region, Voice Over IP, Avaya Business Partner, Opens New Technical Demo Center and Business Offices in Sacramento, Ca.

SACRAMENTO, CA. Synectic, the Number One Provider in the Western Region, of the Avaya IP Office Product, today announced that they are expanding their physical locations to include a new technical demonstration center and business offices in Sacramento, California. Synectic has been an Avaya Business Partner since 1995. Avaya is the leading global provider of communications networks and services for businesses.

The Sacramento location will provide customers in the Northern California local support and a newly designed technical demonstration center and lab. Synectic supplies customers with communication sales, installation and service of basic telephone and voice mail systems, dialtone solutions, wiring schematics, wireless networks, Enterprise Communication Solutions and Voice over IP Technology.

Press Release
Source: Synectic Technologies
October 9, 2008

Number One North Western Region, Voice Over IP, Avaya Business Partner, Opens New Technical Demo Center and Business Offices in Sacramento, Ca.

SACRAMENTO, CA. Synectic, the Number One Provider in the North Western Region, for the Avaya IP Office Product, today announced that they are expanding their physical locations to include a new technical demonstration center and business offices in Sacramento, California. Synectic has been an Avaya Business Partner since 1995. Avaya is the leading global provider of communications networks and services for businesses.

The new Sacramento location will provide customers greater technical support with an enhanced contact center and remote diagnostic capabilities. The Sacramento site will also host a newly designed technical demonstration center and product testing lab. Synectic Technologies supplies customers with communication sales, installation and service of basic telephone and voice mail systems, wiring schematics, wireless networks, Enterprise Communication Solutions, major company Carrier Services Products, and specializes in Voice over IP Technology.

The Voice over IP Technology is based on an Avaya IP Office solution, which was recently named as a Product of the Year winner for 2008 by Internet Telephony® magazine. Part of Avaya's industry-leading IP telephony portfolio, IP Office supports up to 280 users at a single site, small community networking for multi-site locations and offers a choice of communication protocols so that small- to mid-sized organizations can move to IP telephony at the pace they choose. The system also incorporates comprehensive voice and data applications normally reserved for large businesses.

Synectic’s new offices will be celebrating their Open House and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at a date TBA 1st Quarter of 2009.

Press Release
Source: Synectic Technologies
September 30, 2008

Sacramento, California – September, 30, 2008 – Towne Communications, Inc., DBA Synectic Technologies a Gold Certified Avaya Business Partner, specializing in Voice, VoIP, Cable Infrastructure, Technical Services and Dialtone Products, received national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Astra Women’s Business Alliance, a regional certifying partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

WBENC’s national standard of certification implemented by the Astra Women’s Business Alliance is a meticulous process including an in-depth review of the business and site inspection. The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women.

By including women-owned businesses among their vendors, corporations, and government agencies demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity and the continued development of their supplier/vendor diversity programs.

About WBENC
The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council is the nation’s largest third party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women in the United States. WBENC is a resource for the more than 700 US companies and government agencies that rely on WBENC’s certification as an integral part of their supplier diversity programs.

Press Release
Source: Synectic Technologies
Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Synectic Technologies Achieves Gold Certification with Avaya

Sacramento, CA. — Synectic Technologies announced today that it has been named a Gold Business Partner by Avaya Inc. (NYSE:AV) a leading global provider of communications networks and services for businesses. The Gold Certification indicates that the Synectic team has developed the comprehensive skills needed to help today’s businesses transform their operations with Internet protocol (IP) telephony and reap the benefits of new Intelligent Communications applications.

Synectic sells Avaya business communications systems, design and implementation services to businesses in California and throughout the Nation. The company has consistently received top honors from Avaya, including the ALTI Award for Customer Service and Enterprise Business Growth. Synectic is one of 12 Business Partners that has a seat on the Avaya National Business Partner Council.

In recognition of the multivendor nature of today’s business networks, Avaya Gold Certified Business Partners earn their status not only by certifying staff members in the operation of Avaya systems and software, but also in the operation of solutions offered by other major information technology vendors. In addition, Gold partner companies must meet rigorous service delivery and customer satisfaction criteria, develop comprehensive marketing plans and meet annual revenue commitments for the sale of Avaya solutions and services.

“Synectic and our more than 1,500 Avaya Business Partners here in North America are integral to Avaya’s strategy – helping us extend our reach, support a broader set of customers and develop new specialties in specific technologies and markets so we can offer our customers more complete solutions,” said Ken Archer, vice president, North America Channels, Avaya. “Offering a certification program means our customers can be assured they are working with a trusted vendor who can help them use communications as a strategic business tool to deliver new value to their bottom line.”

Subhead on the customer reference that follows, calling out the benefit
One of the customers benefiting from Synectic’s relationship with Avaya is Metropolitan Life Insurance Corp., a company that has chosen Synectic for support for the past 7 years. Synectic offers MetLife, the latest in communication advancements and excellent customer service.

“Jeanette Towne, President and CEO said “It is extremely important for our staff to maintain high levels of technical acumen. With these certifications we can help our customers navigate down the sometimes confusing but necessary path of technology advancements. Our desire is to empower our customers through technology, to obtain and retain, effective and satisfied employees, better communications with their vendors and a competitive advantage over their competitors.”

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Press Release
Source: Synectic Technologies
Thursday, October 26, 2006

Synectic Technologies Achieves “Small and Medium Business Expert” Distinction from Avaya

Sacramento, CA – Synectic Technologies announced today that it has been designated as a “Small and Medium Business (SMB) Expert” by Avaya Inc. (NYSE:AV), a leading global provider of business communications software, systems and services.

To achieve ranking as “SMB Expert,” certified resellers who are part of Avaya’s BusinessPartner program must demonstrate that their account executives and systems engineers are proficient in core areas that include customer support, technology knowledge and expertise, sales revenues and marketing support. 

The program is the first such specialized ranking established by Avaya for certified resellers in North America who are part of Avaya’s BusinessPartner program and serve the SMB market.  It includes training that focuses on IP telephony and Avaya solutions, sales and technical training on Avaya IP Office, one of Avaya’s leading IP telephony solutions for small and medium businesses.  IP Office is a secure, intelligent, and easy-to-use converged voice and data system designed especially for small and medium businesses.  Avaya has sold 80,000 IP Office solutions to companies around the world.   Synectic sells Avaya communications systems, design and implementation services to businesses across the state of California as well as across the United States.

Sam Towne, president and CEO, Synectic, said: “It is extremely important for our staff to maintain high levels of technical acumen. With these certifications, we can help our customers navigate down the sometimes confusing but necessary path of technology advancements. Our desire is to empower our customers through technology, enabling them to have more effective and satisfied employees, better communications with their vendors and a competitive advantage in their specific fields.”

Synectic has consistently received top honors from Avaya, including the Alti Award and Silver Certification, and the National Association of Women Business Owner’s Award.

“Smaller companies need crystal clear information on the capabilities of IP telephony and the difference it can make to the way they operate their businesses, because whatever change they make can have a huge effect on their bottom line,” said Patricia Hume, global vice president, Small and Medium Business solutions, Avaya.  “Certified Avaya resellers in our BusinessPartner program who achieve ‘SMB Expert’ status are sending a message to their customers that they have the professional and technical expertise that’s honed for the smaller firm.  Because Synectic is now qualified as an ‘SMB Expert’, they have increased credibility with their smaller customers, and it reaffirms Synectic’s commitment to excellence in serving small and medium firms with the highest standards and with the communications solutions from Avaya specifically designed to meet smaller companies’ needs.”

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Press Release
Source: Synectic Technologies
Monday, May 2, 2005, 8:06 am PST

Number One Western Region, Voice Over IP, Avaya Business Partner, Opens New Technical Demo Center and Business Offices in Novato, Ca.

NOVATO, CA. Synectic, the Number One Provider in the Western Region, of the Avaya IP Office Product, today announced that they are expanding their physical locations to include a new technical demonstration center and business offices in Novato, California. Synectic has been an Avaya Business Partner since 1995. Avaya is the leading global provider of communications networks and services for businesses.

The Novato location will provide customers in the San Francisco Bay Area local support and a newly designed technical demonstration center and lab. Synectic Technologies supplies customers with communication sales, installation and service of basic telephone and voice mail systems, wiring schematics, wireless networks, Enterprise Communication Solutions and Voice over IP Technology.

The Voice over IP Technology is based on an Avaya IP Office solution, which was recently named as a Product of the Year winner for 2004 by Internet Telephony® magazine. Part of Avaya's industry-leading IP telephony portfolio, IP Office supports up to 360 users and offers a choice of communication protocols so that small- to mid-sized organizations can move to IP telephony at the pace they choose. The system also incorporates the kinds of comprehensive voice and data applications normally reserved for large businesses.

The Avaya IP Office supports multiple communication protocols, and is able to use a mix of digital, analog and IP handsets and to incorporate Avaya IP-based Softphones for secure, remote access to telephony and systems administration capabilities from a laptop or personal computer. The IP Office Avaya Phone Manager Pro application is used to manage call activity and preferences. Through the application's simple graphical interface, users can establish speed dials, control their voice mailboxes and call directories, and "click to dial" from a PC screen. Avaya Phone Manager also allows the school receptionist to see all 106 analog and digital extensions and IP Softphones and to determine whether they are busy.

Synectic’s new offices will be celebrating their Open House and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with the Novato Chamber of Commerce, on Thursday June 2, 2005 at the Novato offices. For information about the Open House, please contact Amy Lawrence at (877) 521-8821 x 50XX.

Ledson Vineyards Transforms Communications with One of 35,000 Avaya IP Offices Sold Worldwide to Small and Medium Firms

California wine country landmark harvests benefits of Avaya IP telephony system to give its customers a taste of superior customer service; New software launched in customer trials will bring additional business features to small and medium companies

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Press Release
Sonoma Valley, Calif., US
October 24, 2004

Ledson Vineyards Transforms Communications with One of 35,000 Avaya IP Offices Sold Worldwide to Small and Medium Firms

California wine country landmark harvests benefits of Avaya IP telephony system to give its customers a taste of superior customer service; New software launched in customer trials will bring additional business features to small and medium companies

Ledson Vineyards, a 5th generation winery that prides itself on customer service for the thousands of aficionados in its wine club, is using one of the 35,000 Internet Protocol telephony small and medium business solutions sold by Avaya Inc. (NYSE:AV), a leading global provider of business communications software, systems and services. Using this solution, the winery can more efficiently handle calls and provide superior customer satisfaction.

IP telephony, a technology that uses VoIP to transmit voice as data over a computer network, empowers businesses with mobility, cost-savings, increased productivity and business continuity. Avaya's early recognition of IP telephony and IP contact centers as two of the fastest-growing segments in the telecommunications industry earned for Avaya market leadership for both of these segments globally1.

Ledson sales increased 68 percent with Avaya IP Office
Located in the heart of Sonoma Valley, Ledson sells its award-winning wines exclusively at its winery and through direct sales to club members. That places much of Ledson's success in the hands of the agents in the company's contact center, who telephone club members to make them aware of special reserve wines and other offers available throughout the year.

"Our biggest challenge is customer service," said owner and vintner Steve Ledson. "There are a lot of companies that make good wine, and we believe the way we serve our customers distinguishes Ledson from its competitors.

"The Avaya IP Office used by Ledson Vineyards is an "all-in-one" office communication solution that brings together voice, data and communications applications for small and mid-size businesses. Since its introduction in 2002, Avaya has sold 35,000 IP Office systems to businesses worldwide.

An Avaya IP Office call center application gives Ledson the reporting tools managers need to measure and improve agent productivity, allowing the company to make management decisions that have resulted in a significant jump in bottom-line revenues. With a new Avaya IP Office solution in place, Ledson has improved the productivity of its customer service team and increased sales by 68 percent.

"In addition to superior customer service, we are a volume business, and it is absolutely critical to keep in constant touch with our customers," Ledson said. "One way we provide excellent service is with the IP Office call handling feature, which enables us to ensure our customers aren't sent into a recorded voice mail message. So we route our incoming calls, allowing them to ring at the main reception no more than three times before the call is routed to an extension where we know it will receive personalized service.

"Of equal value are the reports Ledson creates with the IP Office, because they help ensure that his high volume business stays high volume. "For example," he said, "we can compare our outgoing call volume with our data base of customers, and determine when we need to add another sales person to make additional customer contacts. In fact, since the advent of IP Office and the reports we can compile on all our call center activity, some of our top sales people have doubled the number of daily phone calls they make to clients, because they are striving to improve their productivity levels.

"In addition to call routing, the call handling features of IP Office give small and medium firms "big business" features they can tailor for their operations — from messaging and call accounting to multiparty conferencing on demand.

New software for IP Office launched in customer trials
This week, Avaya introduced new software for IP Office, which will bring additional features to the solution. With the new software on IP Office, mobile phone users will be able to record calls when it's not possible to take notes, and use their laptop as a phone. The system will work as a "key system," the type of phone system many small and medium businesses use, with telephone lines illuminated on the phone sets for a visual display of a line in use, making it simpler for more people in an office to see incoming calls and provide coverage; and system setup and upgrades will be faster and easier, with more installation tools available.

The new software, which will be in trials at 40 sites globally, will be generally available worldwide in December.

The IP Office for Ledson Vineyards was sold and installed by Avaya BusinessPartner Synectic Technologies (www.synectictech.com). Based in Sacramento, Calif, and with locations in the Bay Area and throughout California, Synectic Technologies is a Gold certified Avaya reseller, with more than 25,000 enterprise customers. The firm specializes in incorporating communications technology into effective business management and marketing systems and has expertise in voice, data, Internet, call center, e-commerce and IP telephony equipment and services.

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Press Release
Source: Avaya Inc.
Tuesday January 20, 2004 8:06 am ET

High-Tech San Jose High School Uses Avaya IP Office to Support a Flexible Workplace

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Jan. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Avaya (NYSE: AV - News), a leading global provider of communications networks and services for businesses, today announced that Presentation High School in San Jose, Calif., a leader in the use of state-of-the-art educational technology, is using an Avaya IP Office solution to help teachers stay in touch with parents and the community. 

A private school for women, Presentation High is located in the heart of Silicon Valley and prides itself in offering high-tech computer labs and other state-of-the-art technology to enrich student learning. When the school decided to replace its out-of-date telephony system, it looked for a solution that not only would fit its high-tech environment, but would also support a flexible workplace. 

"We were looking for a number of specific features to help parents reach teachers and staff members who are on the move throughout the day and share classrooms, offices and phones," said Jeffrey Martin, information technology manager for Presentation High. "In addition, though we aren't ready yet, we wanted a system that would give us the option of moving to new technologies like IP telephony. Avaya offered us a flexible, forward-looking platform and was the only vendor able to demonstrate all of the specific capabilities we needed." 

The system for Presentation High, designed and installed by Synectic Technologies, is based on an Avaya IP Office solution, which was recently named as a Product of the Year winner for 2003 by Internet Telephony(r) magazine. Part of Avaya's industry-leading IP telephony portfolio, IP Office supports up to 360 users and offers a choice of communication protocols so that small- to mid-sized organizations can move to IP telephony at the pace they choose. The system also incorporates the kinds of comprehensive voice and data applications normally reserved for large businesses. 

To address the issue of shared classrooms, offices and phones, IP office allows Presentation's teachers and staff to look at a phone display and see who the incoming caller is trying to reach. Avaya was the only vendor evaluated by the school to offer this unique capability. Employees also can program calls and messages to follow them as they move throughout the school day and can see and access voice messages from their Microsoft(r) Outlook(r) email inbox. As a result, they have easy access to messages from any phone or PC-whether in a classroom, the teacher's lounge or a school office. 

Since IP Office supports multiple communication protocols, Presentation High is able to use a mix of digital, analog and IP handsets and to incorporate Avaya IP-based Softphones for secure, remote access to telephony and systems administration capabilities from a laptop or personal computer. 

The school is using Avaya PhoneManager Pro to manage call activity and preferences. Through the application's simple graphical interface, users can establish speed dials, control their voice mailboxes and call directories, and "click to dial" from a PC screen. Avaya PhoneManager also allows the school receptionist to see all 106 analog and digital extensions and IP Softphones and to determine whether they are busy. 

In a unique blending of telephony and data applications, Presentation plans to use IP Office to automate attendance reports -- eliminating the need for staff to take phone calls from parents and then to enter the information via PC. Instead, parents will call a dedicated extension to report absences, with IP Office logging their verbal and touch-tone responses. The information will be automatically transmitted to the school's data base, freeing up staff time. 

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The Modesto Bee

Sunday, November 29, 1998

Jeanette Towne never intended to start her own company. The Modesto mother of four simply wanted to spend more time with her children. So she fled the voracious time and travel demands of the corporate world and retreated to the "virtual office" tucked in her garage. Towne Communications started four years ago as her part-time solo venture. Now she manages 20 employees, five subcontractors and more than $3million in annual sales in the surging telecommunications industry. "Our sales tripled our second year, then tripled again, then doubled the fourth year," said Towne, 41, whose company helps businesses take advantage of the latest advances in telecommunications. She projects annual sales will top $5 million in the year 2000. But some fundamental things have stayed constant for Towne; She still puts her family first, works part time and runs everything from her home. Towne paved her own path along the high-tech highway. The one-time nursing student graduate, rose quickly through the technical sales ranks of industry leaders like Motorola and AT&T before giving it all up for her family.

"Once I had those babies, my whole life's focus changed," said Towne, recalling the birth of her twins six years ago. The constant traveling required as an AT&T account executive overwhelmed her. "I wanted to be with my babies, but they didn't have anything that worked for part-time hours."

She confided in her friends at Central Valley Christian Fellowship.

"They said, 'Why don't you just trust God and quit,' "she recounted. "So that's what I did. I quit."

That was in December 1994. One month later, AT&T asked if she would consider working part-time as a private contractor selling telecommunications systems to small and medium-sized businesses.

Towne Communications was formed. Now it sells products from Lucent Technologies (formerly a part of AT&T) and Nextel Wireless Communications, along with assorted computer hardware. Her company sets up telecommunications systems, including phone, data and high-speed Internet connections (like ISDN lines), voice mail, call centers and communication networks (like LANs and WANs). It provides installation, training and financing options.

"At the start, I picked my own hours and worked from home 10 to 15 hours a week," Towne said, noting her company's modest beginnings.

Controlled Growth

But as her babies grew, so did her business. Nine months after she started Towne Communications, she hired her first employee. The growth - of both her family and her business - has been steady since.

"If we wanted, we could have 50 employees now, but we've opted for controlled growth instead," she said. These days, she works 25 to 30 hours per week and spends much of her time managing and training her staff.

One of her key hires has been her husband, Sam Towne, who joined the firm as vice president.

"I've been sucked out of my plastics company and now I'm doing this full time," said Sam Towne, who owns the KFM Inc. manufacturing plant in Modesto.

He now specializes in integrating telephone and computer systems. "Getting up to speed in this industry is like trying to climb on a rocket," said Sam Towne, 40, whose desk is a few feet away from his wife's in the garage.

He and the entire Towne Communications staff go through constant training to stay current on products in the ever-changing market.

"Bell Labs alone is registering three new patents a day," Jeanette Towne said.

Helping businesses throughout the Central Valley take advantage of technological advances is Towne Communications' focus. Finding employees who can provide such technical advice is a challenge.

"You want someone who is both a techie and a people person," she said, noting that she posts job openings exclusively on the Internet.

'Virtual offices'

The big advantage she offers high-tech employees is the one she sought when she was in their shoes: The option of working from home.

"Most of our employees are mothers with kids who work in virtual offices," she said.

They are scattered throughout California, and they communicate with each other primarily through telephones and computers. When meeting with customers, they have the option of using Lucent Technologies' demonstration site offices.

Customers, for instance, never visit the Towne home or see the couple's cramped work space.

Not everyone - nor every family - is cut out for work out of a home office. "You have to be self-motivated," Jeanette Towne stressed. "Sam and I, for instance, are always in our office by 8 a.m."

They never meander in wearing pajamas, she assured. They dress in casual business attire or better.

And while their commute to the office takes just a matter of seconds, the Townes contend they maintain a tight focus on work while they're there.

"When I'm in here, I get my job done so I can get off to my life out there," Jeanette Towne said. The children, who have a full-time nanny, know the drill. "They've been trained to understand this is the office."

The Townes also know the difference between home and work.

"We never answer business calls when we're inside the house," Jeanette Towne said. she even has her pager programmed to turn itself off during evenings and weekends. "Otherwise, we could be overwhelmed by the calls. It's easy to put in too many hours when you work from home."

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Sacramento Bee

Local businesswomen honored:
Chapter recognizes seven success stories

By Mark Glover
Bee Staff Writer
(Published Nov. 18, 1999)

The Sacramento chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners' second annual Outstanding Women Leaders awards luncheon on Wednesday might well have been subtitled "Beating the Odds."

Recipients of this year's OWL awards at the Sutter Club either started from humble beginnings or overcame major obstacles to succeed in business.

Janis Agopian started in sales in 1973, a time when businesswomen faced a tough climb up the corporate ladder. Today, Agopian is vice chairman of Rocklin-based TASQ Technology, a service provider to the payment-processing industry. In its five years of existence, TASQ revenues have grown to $80 million.

On Wednesday, Agopian won the Wise Woman Award as the area's businesswoman of the year.

Jeanette Towne of Walnut Grove-based Towne Communications won the Woman Innovator Award, recognizing success in a nontraditional business.

Today, Towne oversees 22 employees, many of them mothers who work in virtual offices. Agopian and Towne said business opportunities for women are increasing but added that they succeeded with approaches universal to all business people.

"I didn't plan the growth we have had," Agopian said, "but I think it's something that happens when you work to improve every single day. And then the next day, you start doing it better."

Towne joked that she and her husband figured they could get jobs in fast-food restaurants if her gamble had not worked.

"But it didn't come to that," Towne said. "We were determined and we played it out."

Dorothy Lombard, a partner with Porterfield & Co. certified public accountants in Sacramento, won the Lifetime Achievement Award. OWL recognized Lombard for her trailblazing efforts locally, including heading up some of the area's most powerful business organizations.

Other award recipients were:

Linda Rogers, head of Linda Rogers & Associates in Folsom, won the Woman On the Way Award, recognizing accomplishments by a woman in business for less than five years. Rogers' company specializes in searching for and placement of high-tech personnel and services. Revenues have doubled for four straight years.

Lisa Kohl, chief executive officer of Community Resource and Business Alliance Inc., was recognized with the Luminary Award for service and mentoring in the community. Besides heading her organizational management and consulting firm, Kohl volunteers 20 to 25 hours a week as the director of the Sacramento Young Women's Christian Association.

Susan Irwin, a vice president and general manager of Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Sacramento, won the Executive Woman Award. She oversees 61 Enterprise outlets throughout Northern California.

Big Hairy Dog Information Systems, a Sacramento firm that sells and supports computer software and networks for the retail industry, won the Vision Award for providing opportunities to businesswomen. Sandy Malaney is the company's co-founder and chief executive officer.

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For further information regarding this press release please contact:

Jeanette M. Towne
Senior VP of Sales & Marketing
Synectic Technologies
(877) 521-8821 x 5025
jmtowne@synectictech.com