Blog
Contact us 303.581.7760 - toll free 866.700.7760 or email us.
The following posts were made in April 2012. You may subscribe to the RSS feed for this archive if you would like to take your time reading through our posts.
Firm recognized for significant growth
BOULDER, Colo., May 29, 2012 — Catapult PR-IR, (http://www.catapultpr-ir.com), a leader in high tech public relations and marketing, was named by the Boulder County Business Report as one of the fastest growing privately held companies in Boulder and Broomfield counties. The Report’s Mercury 100 Award is based on revenues in 2009 versus 2011 and celebrates the success of those private companies achieving a high growth rate in their industries. Catapult PR-IR was ranked 30th among 100 companies to earn a spot on the award list with a growth rate of 24 percent.
“It is rewarding to be recognized among the top growth companies in Boulder and Broomfield Counties,” said Guy Murrel, Catapult’s co-founder and principal, “During the past year, we have rolled out some new market-disruption strategies and services that have led to an increase in client wins. It’s been a great year for our company, employees and clients and we look forward to continued growth during the coming years.”
Catapult’s current client list includes Agile Alliance, CollabNet, FreeWave Technologies, Inovonics, JNBridge, SparkFun Electronics and Tasktop Technologies.
Connect With Others About this Story:
Tweet This: Good to see @catapultpr ranked as a top growth company by @bcbr #PR #publicrelations #merc100
About Catapult PR-IR
Catapult PR-IR provides strategic public relations and investor relations services exclusively for technology companies. Catapult helps its clients establish new market positions that are shared by only an elite few within their industry. The firm has won numerous awards, including PRSA’s Gold Pick Award, Holmes Report’s “Best Agency to Work For” award and the Boulder County Business Report’s Mercury 100 Fastest Growing Companies Award. Catapult’s client roster includes the Agile Alliance, CollabNet, FreeWave Technologies, Inovonics, JNBridge, SparkFun Electronics and Tasktop Technologies. For more information on Catapult, call 303-581-7760 or visit the company’s Web site at http://www.catapultpr-ir.com
Contact:
Mary Cochran
Catapult PR-IR
303-581-7760X10
West to highlight the four key tenets of Lean ALM
WHO: Dave West
Chief Product Officer
Tasktop Technologies
West is one of the foremost industry experts on software development and deployment, having helped advance many modern software development processes, including Agile and Lean methodologies and tools. At Tasktop he engages with customers and partners to drive Tasktop’s product roadmap and market positioning. He also is instrumental in building Tasktop into a transformative business that is driving major improvements in the software industry.
WHAT: Lean ALM: The Changing Face of ALM
Historically, ALM served as the discipline, providing the structure, tools and practices to enable software to be planned, delivered and maintained. But, as software delivery velocity increases, and certainty reduces and ecosystems take control, what is the impact on ALM? In this free webinar West will discuss the impact of living in a software economy where business innovation and value are directly tied to software. He will explore why software delivery has not kept pace and the impact traditional approaches are having on the market. He will conclude by describing what Lean ALM is and its four primary tenets.
WHEN: Thurs., May 31, 2012, 11 a.m. Eastern
To register please visit: (http://www.tasktop.com/about/webinars)
SHARE: Share this news:
Tweet This: Dave West @davidjwest shares the four key tenets of #lean #ALM on free #webinar register at http://www.tasktop.com/about/webinars #Tasktop #Software
Helpful Links
INFO: To arrange an interview with Dave West please contact Christie Denniston at 303-581-7760 or by email at (cdenniston@catapultpr-ir.com).
Five-day education program in June teaches prototyping skills to emerging electronics enthusiasts
BOULDER, Colo., May 22, 2012 – SparkFun Electronics (http://www.sparkfun.com) a provider of parts, knowledge and passion for electronics creation, is proud to offer its fourth Summer Semester program. The five-day event in June will focus on teaching prototyping skills — including schematics, breadboards, Gerber files, soldering, and stenciling. Students are encouraged to bring their ideas, half-finished designs, enthusiasm and lunch!
The program will start with a discussion of the design process, sourcing parts, datasheets and creating schematics, and will be followed by an introduction to Arduino. The second day will cover soldering, a brief discussion of SparkFun’s Lilypad with an optional take-home activity, solder stenciling, and an introduction to processing. On day three, students will work with Eagle PCB layout software and cover more Arduino programming concepts. Day four will be dedicated to learning about GPS and wireless.
On the final day of the event, SparkFun will provide a whole day of support for independent projects. After all, the Summer Semester is about giving students the tools they need to execute their ideas. Instructors will make sure students get exposure to a wide variety of concepts and plenty of time to discuss design details with SparkFun’s engineers.
SparkFun is dedicated to sharing ingenuity and hopes the Summer Semester will provide a wide range of basic skills to give students the confidence to pursue their own electronics projects.
“Every year is a new experience as we grow, as the hardware grows, and as our customers grow,” said Educational Outreach Coordinator Jeff Branson. “We have a broad range of people in the classroom. A student might sit with a physicist on one side and a high school student on the other. The classroom chatter is very engaging and, much like the open-source model that drives SparkFun, it’s fun and accessible for everyone.”
Summer Semester will take place Monday, June 11 – Friday, June 15, 2012, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at SparkFun’s headquarters in Boulder, Colorado. Students are asked to bring a laptop, several ideas to pursue over the course of the week, and lunch. More information about Summer Semester and event requirements can be found at http://www.sparkfun.com/products/11180.
About SparkFun Electronics
Founded in 2003, SparkFun shares its passion by providing parts, knowledge, and innovation for those looking to explore the world of embedded electronics. It helps anyone discover their inner inventor and enables individuals to create their own electronics projects.
SparkFun currently offers more than 1,800 products, ranging from simple components, like capacitors and resistors, to GPS units and Bluetooth modules. The company employs 140 people and is based in Boulder, Colorado.
Find SparkFun on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, Vimeo and Google+.
Press Contact:
Jeremy Douglas
Catapult PR-IR
303-581-7760 ext. 16
jdouglas@catapultpr-ir.com
Company to exhibit and display full range of wireless data radio offerings for government and defense applications
ITEC, LONDON (Booth #B144), May 22, 2012 – FreeWave Technologies, (http://www.freewave.com), manufacturer of the most reliable, high-performance spread spectrum and licensed radios for critical data transmission, today announced it is exhibiting at ITEC (http://www.itec.co.uk/), a London-based conference focused on defense, simulation, training and education, May 22-24, 2012. At ITEC, FreeWave will display a full portfolio of its wireless data radio offerings that are used for a variety of government and defense applications, such as soldier training and range data systems applications; command and control of unmanned vehicles and robotics; biological and chemical sensing; asset tracking; Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and Micro UAV; guided parachutes; and, more.
“This is our first time exhibiting at ITEC and FreeWave is excited to bring its government and defense solutions to a new audience,” said Ashish Sharma, chief marketing officer at FreeWave Technologies. “By exhibiting, we have a great opportunity to connect with organizations across the globe that can benefit from our reliable and versatile communication solutions. We especially are excited to demonstrate how our products are ideal for soldier training applications.”
At ITEC, FreeWave will demonstrate how its wireless radios are being used by the U.S. Department of Defense and other government organizations for multiple major training programs and ranges. Currently, FreeWave’s MM2 and F Series radios are deployed during soldier training exercises to transmit performance data for After Action Review (AAR). During training exercises, soldiers wear the radios for GPS positioning and to register speed, hit data and other diagnostics for player units, targets and effects. Upon evaluation of the data, a soldier’s performance can be modified to better prepare for combat situations.
Attendees are encouraged to stop by FreeWave’s ITEC booth (#B144) for an introduction to the company and to learn about its latest government and defense technology offerings. FreeWave also will showcase a diverse collection of its popular ruggedized data radios in its booth including:
For additional information about these products please visit: (http://www.freewave.com/Products.aspx)
“Many attendees at ITEC will be looking for the latest defense, training and simulation solutions available today that will streamline operations and ensure sensitive data can be securely transported,” said Sharma. “Our booth visitors will have the opportunity not only to learn about our offerings in these markets, but gain an understanding as to why FreeWave’s radios are the most reliable within the industry and are trusted around the world to transmit critical data.”
To learn more about FreeWave, please visit (www.freewave.com). For the latest updates from FreeWave Technologies, follow the company on Twitter or Facebook.
Share this story via Twitter: @freewavetech, exhibitor at #ITEC London, brings #wireless solutions for #soldier training and #defense applications to booth #B144.
About FreeWave Technologies
Founded in 1993, FreeWave Technologies manufactures the most reliable, high performing, lowest power consumption, spread spectrum and licensed radios for mission-critical data transmission. Through engineering excellence and a relentless commitment to best-in-class manufacturing, FreeWave customers enjoy superior radio up-time, range and the lowest cost of ownership available. Based in Boulder, Colorado, FreeWave designs and manufactures radios that are the leading choice for oil and gas, utility, military and numerous other industrial applications. Organizations that count on radio data communications for operational success – where failure and down-time are not an option – trust FreeWave for custom network design, system engineering and customer support that are unparalleled in the market. For additional information, contact FreeWave directly at 866.399.4930 or at (newsinfo@freewave.com). Visit the company’s website at (www.freewave.com).
###
Media Contact:
Christin Jeffers
Catapult PR-IR
303-581-7760 ext. 19
One-day event unites software executives to share experiences and map strategies for the continued adoption and advancement of Agile-based approaches for software development and deployment
PORTLAND, Ore., May 21, 2012 – The Agile Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of Agile software development principles and practices, today announced the second annual Agile Executive Forum (http://execforum2012.agilealliance.org/) to be held Aug., 13, in conjunction with the Agile2012 conference in Grapevine (Dallas area), Texas (www.agile2012.com). The Agile Executive Forum, presented in collaboration with the Agile Leadership Network, brings senior executives together to share experiences and insights on the latest strategic thinking in agility practices, and bridges communities that rarely get a chance to exchange ideas and thoughts.
“The use of Agile software development is one of the major mega-trends impacting organizations, from software teams on through to overall operations and the strategic direction that is driving organizational success,” said Todd Little, Executive Forum Conference co-chair. “The Agile Executive Forum provides the opportunity for software and business executives to learn from and build relationships with peers that are activity deploying Agile practices to improve efficiencies and drive value from the software development and deployment processes.”
The craft of building and deploying software has been modernized during the past decade through Agile development approaches that have matured from team-based, grassroots initiatives to enterprise deployments that extend across all functions within the software development process. The Agile Executive Forum addresses how Agile methods and frameworks are increasing speed-to-value, creating enterprise agility and driving large-scale transformations for increased productivity, collaboration and innovation. The one-day event will look at real world examples shared by practicing executives.
“Last year we had more than 60 senior-level executives from organizations like Dell, Salesforce.com, GAP and Sabre share experiences on how Agile is impacting their organizations,” said Lisa Shoop, Executive Forum Conference Co-Chair. “The conference breaks new ground in the decade-long advancement of Agile delivery and how agility, adaptive leadership and advanced technologies help increase and organization’s competitive edge.”
The Agile Executive Forum is structured as a combination of compelling keynotes and short presentations of experiences spotlighting innovative success stories and transformation challenges, breakout discussions with exploration and problem resolution, and group events with opportunities for networking and community-building. Offered as a convenient one-day event, attendees can tailor their agenda with carefully selected portfolio of presentations, workshops and conversations to integrate enterprise agility into future strategies that align seemingly disparate goals, teams and reserves.
Attendance at the 2012 Agile Executive Forum is limited to 80, and costs $2,400 for the event. The price includes a non-transferable admission to the Agile2012 Conference that is co-located and runs from Aug. 13 to 17 (valued at $2,199). For more information on both events please visit: (http://agile2012.agilealliance.org/).
About the Agile Alliance
The Agile Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the concepts of Agile software development, as outlined in the (http://www.agilemanifesto.org/). With nearly 6,000 members located around the globe, the Agile Alliance is driven by the principles of Agile methodologies and the value delivered to developers, organizations and end users. The Agile Alliance organizes the annual Agile Conference, the industry’s leading event that attracts practitioners, academia, business and vendor-partner community members from around the globe. The Agile2012 Conference (http://agile2012.agilealliance.org/) is scheduled for August 13-17 in Grapevine (Dallas area). For more information about the organization, visit (http://www.agilealliance.org/).
Agile Alliance Media Contact:
Catapult PR-IR
Christie Denniston
Office: 303-581-7760 ext. 13
Cell: 303-827-5164
Using out-of-the-box JNBridgePro, company provides specific instructions and source code demonstrating how to write .NET-based Hadoop mapreducers in process and without streaming
BOULDER, Colo., May 21, 2012 — JNBridge, (www.jnbridge.com), a leading provider of interoperability tools that connect the Java and .NET Frameworks both on the ground and in the cloud, today announced a new JNBridge Lab demonstrating how to build and use .NET-based mapreducers with Apache Hadoop. Using the out-of-the-box functionality of JNBridgePro, JNBridge’s flagship product, this new lab provides a faster and better way to create heterogeneous Hadoop applications than other current alternatives.
JNBridge Labs is a series of newly developed interoperability kits designed to help developers address new ways of connecting disparate technologies both on the ground and in the cloud. The labs are distributed freely, with pointers to documentation and links to source code. They are announced on the company’s blog (http://www.jnbridge.com/jn/blog/) and are available on JNBridge’s website (http://www.jnbridge.com/labs).
The Hadoop lab demonstrates how developers can write .NET-based Hadoop mapreducers against the Java-based Hadoop API — without having to use Hadoop streaming or incurring the overhead costs of parsing the stream. The resulting .NET code can run inside the Hadoop process, greatly reducing both development time and performance costs.
“We expect developers who want to implement or use Hadoop mapreducers written in C# or other .NET languages will find this much easier than other alternatives,” explained Wayne Citrin, CTO of JNBridge. “The beauty of this lab is that the hardest part was getting educated on Hadoop. JNBridgePro is versatile enough that once we understood the problem, a straightforward and elegant solution pretty much just fell into place.”
JNBridgePro connects Java and .NET Framework-based components and applications together with simple-to-use Visual Studio and Eclipse plug-ins that remove the complexities of cross-platform interoperability. JNBridge’s interoperability software and adapters have received numerous accolades over the company’s past 10 years, including being cited as a Gartner Cool Vendor and the Reader’s Choice Award from Visual Studio Magazine.
JNBridge expects to offer several more labs throughout the course of the year. The Hadoop Lab is available now and can be downloaded at (www.jnbridge.com/labs).
Share this story via Twitter: #JNBridge shows how to use #dotnet (.NET) #mapreduce with #Hadoop. Get the code at www.jnbridge.com/labs
About JNBridge
JNBridge connects Java and .NET Framework-based components and applications together with tools and adapters that are fast, simple to use and remove the complexities of cross-platform interoperability, both in the cloud and on the ground. See what JNBridge can do in 3.5 minutes on (www.jnbridge.com/videoscribe.htm).
JNBridge is a privately-held company based in Boulder, Colorado. Celebrating 10 years, JNBridge counts 25 percent of the Fortune 100 as its customers. The company has more than 500 unique customers in 40 countries that use its award-winning solutions in a wide variety of applications in financial services, insurance, media, manufacturing and other industries. Please visit (www.jnbridge.com) for more information.
###
Contact information:
Christie Denniston
Catapult PR-IR
Office: 303-581-7760, ext. 13
Cell: 303-827-5164
TechAmerica Foundation Presents “Best Of” Awards Recognizing Technology products and Services Across the Technology Industry
BOULDER, Colo., May 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — FreeWave Technologies, Inc., (http://www.freewave.com), manufacturer of the most reliable, high-performance spread spectrum and licensed radios for critical data transmission, has been named a finalist in the Smart Grid and Smart Instrument category for the 2012 TechAmerica Foundation’s American Technology Awards (ATA). These awards run the gamut across the technology industry recognizing technology products and services like FreeWave’s FGR2-PE wireless data radio. The FGR2-PE is ideal for Smart Grid and utility applications and offers industrial serial and Ethernet wireless connectivity using license-free spread spectrum for data communication over long distances. The winners will be announced at the Technology and Government gala dinner in Washington, D.C. June 13, 2012.
“The FGR2-PE’s industry-leading RF performance as well as its versatility and flexibility provides a number of applications and benefits to utility customers, including distribution automation and many other telemetry and SCADA applications within the Smart Grid,” explained Ashish Sharma, chief marketing officer at FreeWave Technologies. “Having it recognized by such a distinguished panel of judges as part of the American Technology Awards is very gratifying.”
“The caliber of this year’s nominees was incredible. Our judges had their work cut out for them,” said Jennifer Kerber, President of the TechAmerica Foundation. “We congratulate FreeWave Technologies for its outstanding work and thank it for its contribution to the growth and innovation of our vibrant tech industry.”
The awards, also known as the “Termans” in honor of the widely credited father of Silicon Valley, Frederick Emmons Terman, are awarded on the basis of a thorough evaluation by industry experts and technology leaders.
Kevin Johnson, CEO of Juniper Networks will also be honored during the dinner with the American Technology Awards Corporate Leadership Award and Department of Homeland Security Chief Information Officer, Richard Spires will be recognized as the Government Technology Executive of the Year.
About FreeWave Technologies
Founded in 1993, FreeWave Technologies manufactures the most reliable, high performing, lowest power consumption, spread spectrum and licensed radios for mission-critical data transmission. Through engineering excellence and a relentless commitment to best-in-class manufacturing, FreeWave customers enjoy superior radio up-time, range and the lowest cost of ownership available. Based in Boulder, Colorado, FreeWave designs and manufactures radios that are the leading choice for oil and gas, utility, military and numerous other industrial applications. Organizations that count on radio data communications for operational success – where failure and down-time are not an option – trust FreeWave for custom network design, system engineering and customer support that are unparalleled in the market. For additional information, contact FreeWave directly at 866.399.4930 or at newsinfo@freewave.com. Visit the company’s website at www.freewave.com.
About TechAmerica Foundation
TechAmerica Foundation educates industry executives, policy makers and opinion leaders on the promise of technological innovation to advance prosperity, security and the general welfare. Launched in 1981, the Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan affiliate of TechAmerica, which is the leading voice and resource for the U.S. technology industry. The Foundation disseminates award-winning industry, policy and market research covering topics such as U.S. competitiveness in a global economy, innovation in government, and other areas of national interest. It also organizes conferences and seminars to explore pertinent issues with government and industry representatives and to share the Foundation’s findings. Learn more about TechAmerica Foundation at www.techamericafoundation.org.
| Media Contacts: | |
| Christin Jeffers | Stephanie Craig |
| Catapult PR-IR (for FreeWave Technologies) | TechAmerica Foundation |
| 303-581-7760, ext. 19 | 202-682-4443 |
| cjeffers@catapultpr-ir.com | Stephanie.craig@techamericafoundation.org |
CollabNet outlines a five-step blueprint for embracing Enterprise Cloud Development as the next evolution in software development and deployment
BRISBANE, Calif., May 16, 2012 – CollabNet® (www.collab.net), a global leader for Enterprise Cloud Development and Agile ALM products and services, has created an animated video scribe that succinctly outlines five principles IT organizations can use to adopt and scale cloud development practices. CollabNet worked collectively with its internal experts, cloud platform partners and enterprise customers to develop a practical roadmap for Enterprise Cloud Development that addresses the cultural, technical and process aspects of cloud development and how it extends the value of Agile and DevOps in the enterprise.
Animated video scribes are fun, highly engaging presentations that highlight and simplify often complex concepts through the use of visual and audio learning queues. Through a blend of audio storytelling and professional animation, video scribes help magnify and reinforce key learning points for enterprise and industry organizations. To view CollabNet’s video scribe, Five Steps to Software Development and DevOps in the Hybrid Cloud please visit: (http://tinyurl.com/bwmwqm5).
“The rate or change and the accompanying complexity within the IT industry can be overwhelming, especially within the software development and cloud computing industries,” said Jim Ensell, chief marketing and strategy officer for CollabNet. “We challenged ourselves to outline the core principles of Enterprise Cloud Development in five practical steps and to detail them within a fun and engaging video scribe that runs just more than three minutes.”
Based on its years of experience and patterns of customer success, CollabNet has outlined a blueprint containing five practical steps to guide organizations on their path to Enterprise Cloud Development as they adopt hybrid cloud IT into the application development and deployment lifecycle. The steps include: 1) embrace the cloud for centralizing access and visibility to tools and processes; 2) create a robust coding community to encourage reuse; 3) codify development processes by standardizing tools, workflows and processes; 4) automate DevOps practices; and 5) take a hybrid approach by leveraging public and on-premise private cloud resources in a secure, compliant and optimal way.
In addition to the video scribe, CollabNet has developed additional videos and a white paper that outlines in more detail the principles of Enterprise Cloud Development. All of the content is available free by visiting (www.collab.net/ecd).
Share this story via Twitter: Watch #CollabNet’s innovative animated video scribe on Enterprise #Cloud Development, #Agile and #DevOps at (http://tinyurl.com/bwmwqm5).
About CollabNet CollabNet is a leading provider of Enterprise Cloud Development and Agile ALM products and services for software-driven organizations. With more than 10,000 global customers, the company provides a suite of platforms and services to address three major trends disrupting the software industry: Agile, DevOps and hybrid cloud development. Its CloudForge™ development-Platform-as-a-Service (dPaaS) enables cloud development through a flexible platform that is team friendly, enterprise ready and integrated to support leading third party tools. The CollabNet TeamForge® ALM, ScrumWorks® Pro project management and Subversion Edge source code management platforms can be deployed separately or together, in the cloud or on-premise. CollabNet complements its technical offerings with industry leading consulting and training services for Agile and cloud development transformations. Many CollabNet customers improve productivity by as much as 70 percent, while reducing costs by 80 percent. For more information, please visit (www.collab.net).
CollabNet, TeamForge, and ScrumWorks are registered trademarks of CollabNet, Inc. CloudForge is a trademark of CollabNet, Inc. Subversion is a registered trademark of the Apache Software Foundation. Other names may be trademarks of their respective holders.
Contact: Christie Denniston Catapult PR-IR M: 303-827-5164 O: 303-581-7760 cdenniston@catapultpr-ir.com
Engineering TV was on hand to cover SparkFun’s inaugural Soldering Competition at Oskar Blues Homemade Liquids & Solids in Longmont, CO. The brain-child of SparkFun’s production department, the event was set up as a bracket-style tournament with the fastest competitors moving on through successive heats. There were a trove of prizes awarded, kits for first-time solderers, and plenty of delicious beer flowing from Oskar Blues’ taps!
Videography by: Curtis Ellzey Edited by: Curtis Ellzey
SparkFun-Electronics-and-Open-Source;Only-Engineering-TV-Videos
Hosted by: Bill Wong Videography by: Curtis Ellzey Edited by: Curtis Ellzey