Their Situation...

• Four organizations merging into one (ASAE, GWSAE, The Center, the magazine) created an opportunity for this new entity to rethink its disparate websites.
• Members and nonmembers were splintered across several websites and the new organization needed to unify the audience and make better use of its technology resources
• Challenges also included consolidating disparate databases and 3rd party web applications to create a more seamless experience with the new organization.

Our Solution...

• We conducted extensive staff interviews and reviewed internal strategy documents and member research.
• We designed member/nonmember focus groups and examined each of the sites to make recommendations for how to consolidate these efforts and eliminate operational redundancies
• Once the vendor was selected, we were asked to be part of the design team to represent the user’s perspective in the design concepts

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Their Situation...

• The Horizon Foundation broke new ground in Howard County, Maryland by planning a single-source web site that will function as the premiere resource for information about health and human service providers, as well as a means of exchanging information among nonprofit organizations in the area. This visionary endeavor involved hundreds of social service agencies in the region and is intended to become a national web-based information and referral model.

Our Solution...

• Ellipsis Partners helped identify and articulate a complex set of technical requirements and oversaw the technical development of the site. In addition, our expertise in community building and online marketing was used to ensure that the tool provided interactive service to the residents and provide multiple access points so the services can be utilized by all populations. In tandem, we provided The Horizon Foundation guidance and support in the planning and maintenance of their organizational web site.

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Their Situation...

• APICS has a long history of providing premiere educational products in support of production and inventory control professionals. Over the years it has successfully expanded its education and certification offerings across industries, defining the standard body of knowledge that supports manufacturing, production, etc. As it looks to the future, APICS is looking to gather valuable market research to assist them in determining the viability of new products and services (e.g., eLearning) for the membership and the industry at large.

Our Solution...

• Ellipsis Partners has worked with APICS to develop online surveys to target three markets: current members, former members and potential customers. We also facilitated a series of focus groups to further define customer needs. The results of this research will enable APICS to develop a marketing plan for membership recruitment and retention, and for their existing product line. The organization will also gain the information they need to develop new services for the resource management industry.

Their Situation...

• The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a federal agency that was mandated to promote the economic development of Appalachia. It sees the Internet as another way to reach a group that finds itself geographically isolated from themselves and the rest of the world.

Our Solution...

• Ellipsis Partners facilitated a series of tasks to define strategy, requirements and to write an RFP for an online "resource center" that will help ARC more efficiently reach and support their unique audience. Ellipsis Partners was also engaged by ARC to assist staff in managing the project though vendor communications and staff training. Through the development of a style-guide for the content management system to advising on accessibility issues, we have helped ARC staff in multiple ways.

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Their Situation...

• The Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development, (formerly a Division of National 4-H Council), is a leader in youth involvement and youth development. The organization engaged our efforts to help in the planning and developing of a web site to serve as the definitive source of information and tools for Youth in Governance. The site launched this fall as www.atthetable.org, and will serve youth development practitioners, the youth-in-governance field, and young people through information sharing and community building tools.

Our Solution...

• Ellipsis Partners served as the technical advisor for this endeavor, participating in the strategic planning, identifying and communicating technical and functional requirements and consulting on the development and marketing of the site.

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Their Situation...

• The NEA called upon our market research expertise to help define member needs for their online community portal.

Our Solution...

• We created unique data-gathering instruments, including member surveys and focus group agenda. Using Ellipsis Partners skilled facilitators, we conducted a series of nationwide member focus groups to obtain a frontline perspective on the association's web activity and future direction. This information was crafted into an executive summary and used to define NEA's member services and online community features.

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Their Situation...

• The National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) plays an important role in the continuing legal education of university counsel. Prompted by changes in member travel and work patterns, improvements in technology tools, and the success of their initial virtual seminars, NACUA sought Ellipsis Partners' expertise to assess member readiness, and to develop options for electronic delivery of the association's education programming.

Our Solution...

• We conducted an online member survey, researched the experiences of similar higher education and professional associations, and perform a vendor scan. These tasks resulted in a recommendations report assisting NACUA in developing its eLearning strategy.

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Their Situation...

• The NEA called upon our market research expertise to help define member needs for their online community portal.

Our Solution...

• We created unique data-gathering instruments, including member surveys and focus group agenda. Using Ellipsis Partners skilled facilitators, we conducted a series of nationwide member focus groups to obtain a frontline perspective on the association's web activity and future direction. This information was crafted into an executive summary and used to define NEA's member services and online community features.

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Their Situation...

• The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) sought the assistance of Ellipsis Partners to help get started with web strategic planning.

Our Solution...

• After a comprehensive audit of the site and web statistical analysis, we conducted a series of facilitated discussions and focus groups with staff, members and volunteer leaders. This allowed us to: (1) educate each group about CCM’s potential with the Web (2) articulate a mission statement and goals for their web initiative and (3) define their web direction in the context of available resources. The outcome was a strategic direction for their web initiative, plus recommendations for how to achieve their goals. Our relationship with CCM continues as we design, disseminate and analyze a Municipal IT survey for the cities and towns in the state of Connecticut.

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Their Situation...

• The Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) represents the elected county officials in the state of Maryland and has a unique opportunity to use Internet technology to serve its members.

Our Solution...

• Our work with them has included stakeholder interviews, a member survey, comparable organization scan and site assessment, all leading to the creation of a web strategy and RFP for development of their next generation web presence.

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Their Situation...

• PIAnet.com serves as the association’s information resource to its members and the general public. The association sought to explore more of what Internet technology can do to serve the organization, and provide service to its state affiliates and members.

Our Solution...

• Ellipsis Partners conducted a site analysis, stakeholder interviews and both member and state affiliate surveys to establish the operating baseline of their web presence. Using the results of this research, we developed an outline of the proposed web strategy and provide guidance for evaluating their current content management strategy. Our final report enumerated the tasks that should follow this effort in order to complete the strategic planning process.

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Their Situation...

• Ellipsis Partners provided market research design and support for the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE).

Our Solution...

• Ellipsis Partners worked with the association to develop online surveys targeting markets: current members, former members, nonmembers and influencers, in an effort to elicit feedback on current products and services, and to generate ideas for future or revised offerings. The results of our work is an aggregate perspective from these segments on NSPE’s product and services offerings, and specific suggestions for next steps.

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