When ServerWare Corporation approached RochesterWorks! for assistance in applying for a training grant in October 2003, it was in the midst of a company-wide training initiative.

In business for just five years at the time, "Our training budget was in the six figures," says Jim Kegelmeyer, President of the systems integration company. "Receiving a grant was instrumental in helping us cover the expenses we were incurring."

Connie Felder, Director of RochesterWorks! Downtown Career Center, worked with ServerWare to guide the company through the grant application process. Within a month, ServerWare was awarded a training grant for $35,000. The grant was used over nine months to train two employees on Sun Microsystem products as well as products ranging from storage and operating systems to infrastructure technologies.

Not only did these employees gain more senior-level technical knowledge to increase their contributions to ServerWare's customers and bottom line, but the employees also improved their own compensation and career growth.

"Ongoing training is a staple in our business. You need highly trained technical staff and manufacturer certifications to be successful," says Kegelmeyer. "Both people who received training from the grant have become tremendous assets to our company."

Recruiting Services Also Beneficial
In addition to applying for a training grant, ServerWare also turned to RochesterWorks! for help with recruiting new employees. As a provider of complex technology solutions, ServerWare has specialized needs for its technical staff. The company used RochesterWorks! online service to post job openings for a contract manager and a marketing coordinator.

Says Vice President Sandy Kegelmeyer, "We had a huge response rate from very well-qualified people. The quality of candidates was truly exceptional." ServerWare filled both positions with respondents from the RochesterWorks! posting and is pleased with how well the new employees fit the company.

ServerWare continues to grow and thrive, and has been named a "Top 100" business for two years in a row. President Jim Kegelmeyer attributes some of that success to the help RochesterWorks! has given them. "RochesterWorks! helps us be competitive with companies that are not locally based, but who have sales offices in Rochester. By helping us secure training and qualified staff to be more competitive, they in turn help support the local economy."

With plans to continue growing its business, ServerWare will look to RochesterWorks! again for help recruiting and training more employees. "We found RochesterWorks! to be very responsive and easy to work with," says Jim Kegelmeyer. "We're very appreciative of their help, which has made a real difference for ServerWare."

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