The day after the iPad was released, I received a request from a Chicago contact for referrals to people who wrote applications for the various phone platforms. I sent that request out to my networks and within days had references for six qualified people. The request did not come from a client. I will never make a dime on those referrals, but I got great pleasure from finding solutions with collaborators and sometimes competitors. Those referrals came from outside Chicago, but included referrals back to resources within Chicago. That was fun!

I have the pleasure of working with some of the best people. My business benefits from those relationships. What follows are acknowledgements of those within the Chicago area with whom I have recent history.

Without Jean Newcomer and Demetrio Maguigad, this website would not exist. Demetrio architected (is that a word?), Jean designed, and I provided content. Bill Geraci did the first review.

Bill Geraci and I have traded clients, subcontracted under each other, referred to each other, and he is the person who got me into this business and provided my initial training…

Mary Visconti and I have gotten to work on a couple of her recent proposals. We will see what comes out of them. For about three years, she and I have collaborated in servicing Better Boys Foundation.

Tim Crawford is an Apple Consultant Network member operating out of Chicago’s western suburbs. When I was recently asked for the name of an Apple consultant to service a client near him, I was happy to make that referral.

Jason Bosket helped me design and implement a multiple subnet and multiple VLAN network, has been a great encourager, and I have looked to him for advice on a number of occasions.

Pam Lefkowitz is a long time supporter and signed me up as a subcontractor for a client project of hers near me.

Dean Shavit has been a trainer, an advisor, and a service provider to me. I have taken classes from him, checked with him for counsel, hired him to write the specifications for a complex wireless network proposal, and actively use his product, Mac HelpMate. I hired Dean to assist me remotely with troubleshooting a server in an out-of-state co-location site.

David Shoulty has been a good lunch partner at Apple Channel Camps and is always a good person to check with regarding Sonicwall networking devices.

Ben Greiner provides model managed services within the graphic arts community. We have shared business strategy ideas and I hope to use his services for 24/7 monitoring of some of my clients’ servers.

Adam Karneboge’s MacSpecialist has been a great place to get warranty service for customers and training for myself. He is the consummate professional.

Some of those with whom we work, with whom we exchange referrals, or whose services may be beneficial to some of our customers, may choose to list their services on our business services directory page. Such networks of collaborating service providers are powerful resources and we invite our customers to explore them. Regardless of whether or not they list themselves in our directory, the above listed above have helped to make my business what it is today. Thank you.

The strict divisions of competitor, colleague, and collaborator seem to no longer apply. I am grateful and our clients benefit.

Charlie