CTS

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director, Human Resources & Office Administration of Nordblom Company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Creating and operating dynamic real estate environments.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire CTS to accomplish?

• Obtain a new Information Technology Managed Service Provider (ITMSP)
• Move all servers and applications to the cloud
• Develop a road map for needed critical services and projects

SOLUTION

How did you find CTS?

Referral

Why did you select CTS over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from CTS were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Our company needed a new IT MSP.  After a rigorous RFP process, we chose CTS.  They onboarded us and audited all of our equipment at 11 locations.  CTS was instrumental in getting our company on an even keel in regard to day-to-day incident management by providing an onsite Field Services Engineer two days a week and providing a call-in Customer Support Center.  
CTS was able to work with us and outside vendors to get all of our servers and applications into the cloud over a 2 month period.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• All company computer equipment is now accounted for and documented at 11 locations.
• Employees receive excellent customer support both in person, over the phone, and through email. 
• All of our servers and applications are now in the cloud.  

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

• The CTS project management team was terrific.
• I was kept in the loop for the duration of each project. 
• The high-touch customer service CTS provides is unlike any other IT company I have worked with.  All needs were addressed. 
• Projects are delivered on time.  

What was your primary form of communication with CTS?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The integrity, mindset, and professionalism of each CTS employee is important to the owner, and it shows!  It's always a wonderful and positive experience with CTS no matter which employee you are working with.      

Are there any areas for improvement or something CTS could have done differently?

Our company could not identify anything that we wish was done differently.  

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Executive Director of WHIN Music Community Charter School

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

WHIN is a single, standalone public charter school.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire CTS to accomplish?

• Complete all of the tech infrastructure for our new $44mil construction project
• Procure all of the necessary technology to complete the construction project for our new school facilities.
• Manage the support all tech operations of our 70+ employee and ~500 student school

SOLUTION

How did you find CTS?

Referral

Why did you select CTS over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from CTS were assigned to this project?

10+

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

We hired CTS to help us design and build the entire technology infrastructure of our new 56,000 facility. The team took great time to understand our needs, design a plan that met all of our needs, advised on nuanced areas outside our expertise and worked closely with our architecture and construction teams to bring it all to life. Upon seeing the high degree of excellence and customer support they offered we then hired them to manage all of our ongoing IT needs. After working with them in the capacity for almost six months, I can easily say they have met our expectations. Specifically, they are very responsive, solutions oriented and timely in service delivery. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Measurable outcomes included but are not limited to 

• Design tech infrastructure for new building construction
• Install total tech infrastructure during construction process
• Open and install new phone lines, POTS lines, and internal messaging and bell systems
• Clean, repair, set up, and procure ~400 student chormobooks/ipads and ~75 staff laptops. 
• Install and train staff on how to use interactive view boards, projectors, phones and internet services. 
• Manage helpdesk and resolve tech issues in a timely manner. 

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

CTS has excelled at the project management needed for such a large project. They have consistently crafted meaningful plans in advance of various work scopes and consistently followed through to ensure plans are achieved. 

What was your primary form of communication with CTS?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

I have been impressed with many aspects of CTS's work but what is most impressive is the high-touch care, attention, and values of their founder.

Are there any areas for improvement or something CTS could have done differently?

None that I can think of. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Business Operations Manager of Bold Charter School

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

K-5 Charter School in District 12 of the Bronx.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire CTS to accomplish?

• Technology Management and Support for Devices/Network
• Tech Infrastructure Buildout for New Facilities
• Tech Consultants on School-Tech Projects

SOLUTION

How did you find CTS?

Referral

Why did you select CTS over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from CTS were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

CTS helped us develop our latest facility, which is a full K-6 school, with the requisite technology infrastructure and IT services. Deliverables included network and network backup, staff and student technology setup, cyber security, phone lines and PA system, etc.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

CTS worked with us to make sure the most essential aspects fo the projects were in place ahead of our key milestones for staff returning to campus, and subsequently, students starting school. While ultimately, these things fell into place and CTS made sure to deliver when necessary, communication and priority planning could have been better aligned. That said, the project was a huge undertaking and one that the team at CTS was committed to delivering on.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Project management was one area for improvement. Guiseppe led our project and admittedly, we found it challenging. We went to check ins and the updates on status were not particularly strong, and there were even cases where he referenced the wrong school or would not respond to any questions on our Zoom calls (camera and audio off). Things felt disorganized and there some points where we had to redo certain things because there were not done properly to begin with. 
One example that comes to mind is the height of Promethean boards for our older students. They were installed at the Kindergarten height even though we specified the height needed for our older students. We ultimately had to repay for them to be adjusted. A similar situation arose when one of our exit doors was set up so that it was Maglock, which was flagged as a violation by FDNY. 
We ultimately had to remove this and have CTS requote replacing the door strike. This corrective work is only being done now. (mid-November). 

I think as a larger piece of feedback, it would be best for CTS to have written logs from check ins or nexts steps. In both cases described above, we went back and forth because Guiseppe was sure he said something about these on calls, and we didn't have anything written on emails to prove that this wasn't what we wanted. (causing us to ultimately doublepay on several things). 
The communication around timelines and delays was also very unclear. One example here was the A/V setup in the Gym and Cafeteria. The delays on this were so significant that we had to rent several thousand dollars in A/V equipment for our orientation in late-August, despite asking about it through the summer and being assured we'd have it on time. 

While the intention is not the discredit the incredible work that CTS as an organization did on this buildout, working with Guiseppe proved to be quite challenging throughout, and project management was not its best.

What was your primary form of communication with CTS?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

CTS as a general matter tends to go out of their way to outline our options when faced with a decision and remain solutions-oriented throughout. I can count on them to figure out a hard problem for us!

Are there any areas for improvement or something CTS could have done differently?

See project management/comunications notes.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of MESA Charter High School

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

MESA operats charter high schools and workforce development programming in New York City

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire CTS to accomplish?

• Set up our technology infrastructure
• Maintain, enhance, and expand our use of technology in support of our mission

SOLUTION

How did you find CTS?

Referral

Why did you select CTS over others?

• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from CTS were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

MESA was founded in 2013, and we didn't know anything about technology.  Over the last dozen years, they have been our go-to for everything tech.  They built our infrastructure, provide all our tech support, and provide advice and strategic planning on technical issues.  They're our go-to for everything and we trust them without reservation.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We went from literally nothing to a school that is outfitted for our technical needs.  We are now opening a second school and CTS is leading that project as well.  The founder, Sachin, is incredibly hands on and the team is super-responsive.  They're really a delight to work with.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

We've had CTS run projects for many years, and always been happy with the service, cost, and result. Too many to name.

What was your primary form of communication with CTS?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The level of service even as they've scaled.  We started workign with CTS right as they were founded, and it was Sachin and one other employee.  A dozen years later they propbably support half of the charter sector, but the relationship is as valuable as ever and the level of service and dedication remains unchanged.

Are there any areas for improvement or something CTS could have done differently?

On the whole, given the amount of time I've worked with them over the years, I'm extremely happy.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of IT of Leaders In Our Neighborhood Charter School

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

K-12 Charter School

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire CTS to accomplish?

• We hired CTS to migrate our on-premises server environment to Azure, streamlining our infrastructure and replacing OKTA IAM with Azure's native identity and access management solutions

SOLUTION

How did you find CTS?

Other

Why did you select CTS over others?

• Great culture fit
• Other

How many teammates from CTS were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

The project involved migrating the organization to Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) to centralize identity management, streamline operations, and eliminate dependency on Okta. This migration leveraged Microsoft's highly redundant cloud-based services without requiring additional Azure infrastructure.

Key Deliverables

• Migration to Entra ID (Azure AD):
  • All user identities were migrated to Microsoft Entra ID as the central identity solution.
  • Okta authentication was replaced with Entra ID across approximately 20 key applications, reconfiguring them for SAML or SWA authentication.
• Device Configuration and Deployment:
  • Entra ID Join was implemented for staff devices.
  • Microsoft Intune policies were configured for device management.
  • Autopilot was enabled for automated workstation deployment.
  • Training was provided to the IT team on Autopilot usage for workstation imaging.

Network Configuration Adjustments:

• DHCP and DNS functions were transferred from Windows Servers to firewalls at key locations.

Server Decommissioning:

• Legacy servers were decommissioned as they were no longer needed post-migration.

Password and MFA Configuration:

• Entra ID was reconfigured, requiring staff to reset passwords and set up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on their devices.

Application Reconfiguration:

• Approximately 20 applications were reviewed and migrated to Entra ID, ensuring seamless authentication.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

1. Centralized Identity Management: Successfully transitioned from Okta to Microsoft Entra ID, streamlining identity management across the organization.
2. Application Migration: Seamlessly reconfigured approximately 20 applications to work with Entra ID, enhancing security and accessibility.
3. Improved Device Management: Implemented Intune policies and utilized Autopilot for automated deployment, simplifying device management and boosting efficiency.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

CTS provided excellent project management throughout the engagement. Eugene effectively led the team, keeping tasks on track and meeting deadlines. The biggest milestone was the smooth transition from Okta to Entra ID, even with Okta set to be cut off prior to the cutover. The CTS team prioritized the transition, ensuring our organization retained access to core applications without disruption. Rob played a crucial role in the technical implementation and support, proactively addressing items outside the overall scope and educating the team to better prepare for post-migration work. Both Eugene and Rob were responsive and proactive, ensuring a seamless transition and quickly addressing any challenges that arose.

What was your primary form of communication with CTS?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

What I found most impressive about CTS was their ability to seamlessly adapt to changing requirements and priorities. Even with the Okta service set to be cut off, they managed to successfully transition to Entra ID without any disruption to core applications. Eugene and Rob’s proactive communication and technical expertise were key to ensuring a smooth migration. They were also very responsive to our needs, quickly addressing any challenges and providing valuable guidance throughout the project. Their dedication to delivering high-quality results was evident at every step.

Are there any areas for improvement or something CTS could have done differently?

An area for potential improvement could have been to provide one more person on the team to assist with support. While CTS completed their work effectively, our internal IT team also had tasks to manage, and there were times when questions arose that could have been easily mitigated with an additional team member, especially to support Rob, who was handling a significant workload. However, beyond that, there were no major issues, and overall, CTS performed exceptionally well. Their dedication to delivering high-quality results was evident throughout the project.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CFO of Equality Charter School

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a publicly funded K12 charter school.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Charter Technology Solutions to accomplish?

• Turnaround failing IT infrastructure and supports in our Middle and High Schools
• Design and implement IT infrastructure at newly constructed Elementary & High School building
• Act as a strategic and operational partner on long term tech goals

SOLUTION

How did you find Charter Technology Solutions?

Referral

Why did you select Charter Technology Solutions over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Charter Technology Solutions were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

• Security: CTS to provide power requirements and location of power for security monitors, add data that is not there where it may be needed, and heights of cameras 
• Access control: CTS to spec intercom, spec door control type/lock for access control, receiver for intercom, power requirements for these items and locations for power 
• IT: 
  • CTS to design typical classroom layout identifying teaching wall and spec for either projector or smart board, create elevation for power and data for teaching wall in classroom and power requirements 
  • Allow for discussion with Equality to discuss specialty rooms for usage relating to IT and power CTS to spec IT equipment, power locations, and power requirements for IT room 
• AV: CTS to provide power locations, and AV power requirements for specialty areas such as cafeteria and gym, specs for AV equipment as well, heights for items

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Our internet health has gone way up and staff have restored faith in our ability to address tech concerns.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

They've done a terrific job communicating about the projects and timelines, as well as organizing the questions/ answers needed to complete a project.

What was your primary form of communication with Charter Technology Solutions?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They were able to effectively address concerns I had about our client relationship in a way that productively and professionally shared the burden of the relationship between themselves and us as a client. They also took important feedback from me early on and developed a tool that made it easier for me to gauge the health/ status of all our tickets.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Charter Technology Solutions could have done differently?

At some point after our first quarter or six months, I would love to have an invitation from the principal to a virtual coffee break. Because they effectively addressed my initial concerns, I haven't needed to be in touch with him. I am realizing now that some intentional touchpoint that's not reactive or problem based would be a good opportunity for both of us to connect/ reinforce shared values.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director Of Finance and Operations of New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Sexual Assault Advocacy

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Charter Technology Solutions to accomplish?

• Tech Support

SOLUTION

How did you find Charter Technology Solutions?

Referral

Why did you select Charter Technology Solutions over others?

Good value for cost

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

IT management

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

N/A

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Yes, they deliver on time and are responsive to our needs.

What was your primary form of communication with Charter Technology Solutions?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

N/A

Are there any areas for improvement or something Charter Technology Solutions could have done differently?

n/a