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Phone+ Magazine
August 1, 2008 Tim Wise
As professionals in the telecommunications industry, we all can appreciate the complexity of managing an enterprise’s overall communications environment and expense. With today’s challenging economic conditions, enterprises are even more likely to consider telecom expense management solutions in hopes of achieving cost savings and improving efficiencies. That’s good news for the channel. The bad news is that many of them will fail.
Click here to read the full article >>>
Find out how Chick-fil-A is embracing the VoIP Workforce with assistance from Advocate Networks.
PGi
I want to thank you and your team for your continued excellence regarding your work on our most recent wireless sourcing engagement at PGi.
As a former wireless sourcing customer we were unsure how much additional benefit could result from continued sourcing and optimization. Your strategy of providing savings through a multi-faceted approach resulted in a 16% overall reduction in wireless spend that will continue into 2012. Additionally, your team was able to secure agreements with service providers to contribute free equipment to PGi that will increase wireless signals in our primary locations that have historically had degenerated service signals.
Even though PGi challenged Advocate Networks with complex goals and a truncated timeline to complete the RFP, you were able to bring the project to closure on time and with fantastic results. Your deliverables and advice allowed us to make well informed decisions on the future of our wireless networks and prepared PGi to approach that future with a heightened confidence.
Thanks to you and your team, PGi continues to significantly reduce its cost for wireless telecommunications services over the next 2 years and will streamline the time we spend managing our wireless services. You and your team continue to impress and I will certainly refer Advocate Networks to anyone!
Sincerely,
Mike Vonderscher
VP of Procurement
Augusta Sportwear
On behalf of Augusta Sportwear Group, I would like to thank you for your assistance in the recent renegotiations of our wire line and wireless services. Your industry experience and market knowledge were essential to our success and allowed our associates to concentrate efforts in other areas knowing that our telecommunication sourcing was in good hands.
Through the efforts of Advocate Networks, we reduced our annual telecommunications costs by more than 20% for each of the next 3 years and, at the same time, improved our flexibility by reducing our total financial commitment. In addition, we eliminated billing issues by combining our subsidiaries under one collective unit.
While the overall level of savings is impressive, we appreciate that our investment in Advocate's services will be recovered in less than four months. This is in line with your initial projections.
I could not be happier with the outcome of our engagement, and I hope that the partnership between Augusta Sportswear Inc. and Advocate Networks will continue in the future.
Sincerely,
Wade Vann
CIO & VP of IT
Transfield Services North America
I wanted to express my appreciation for everything you and your team have done for Transfield Services over the last few months. It has been a great experience and pleasure.
As you know, Transfield Services North America came to Advocate Networks with a truly unique situation in which
we did not have a good grasp on total telecommunication spend due to multiple recent acquisitions. IT management was given the task of cutting cost and delivering efficiencies by finding synergies throughout our new companies and utilizing economies of scale. Even given the disparate nature of our current landscape, Advocate Networks' team led by Kathy Alverson had no trouble in developing and executing a plan to get the job done right and with out tight timeframe. These dedicated efforts lead to and average of over 25% savings across all of our wireless and wireline telecom services. Kathy and her team were instrumental in achieving these savings for our corporation and were very detailed and prompt throughout the entire process and obviously have a very good deal of knowledge of the telecom landscape. We are very pleased with our decision to engage Advocate Networks to help us achieve this piece of our integration project.
We look forward to continuing our relationship with Advocate Networks and preventing the erosion of these gained savings with your Telecom Expense Management group.
Sincerely,
Blaine Williams
Infrastructure & Architecture Manager, North America
Andrew Verone
CIO & EVP
I would like to thank you and your company for your partnership in developing and implementing significant cost reductions in our telecommunications services in 2003. As you know, in July 2002, we hired Advocate Networks to optimize our local telecommunications services with BellSouth. As we close the 2003 business year we are looking at savings of over $130,000 as compared to our previous year. As we look in to 2004, we expect additional savings of $100,000. Our return on investment in 2003 on your fees is less than three months. During this project, we have also upgraded on main hospital PBX at a considerable savings to our original vendor proposal.
Thanks again for your efforts. We look forward to a long-term relationship.
Sincerely,
William Zimmermann
Vice President and Chief Information Officer
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AVX Corporation - A Kyocera Group Company
This letter is to thank you for all the excellent, dedicated work you and your staff participated in to help AVX Corporation work through our negotiations with ATT. We are confident that your vast knowledge and experience in the telecom industry saved AVX Corporation a considerable sum of money, both with the Release and Settlement Agreement and the new contract.
Advocate Networks was very professional in all aspects of the settling the dispute and the renegotiations of a new agreement. Your attention to detail was outstanding; making sure every step was documented and reviewed carefully before any transactions were finalized.
We were pleased with your level of professionalism and your pleasant mannerism. In the future we are sure AVX will consider you for additional help and consultations as needed. Thank you again for your efforts.
Sincerely,
Larry W. Edwards
Divisional VP Corporate Strategic Planning & Services
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I want to thank you and your team for the excellent work Advocate Networks did for us on the recent sourcing initiatives for Brambles.
Advocate’s assessment of our services proved to be extremely accurate with regards to the potential for savings and optimization. The recommendation to take both wireline and wireless services to market via two competitive RFP’s was well received, and proved highly beneficial to Brambles.
When faced with a challenging, dynamic business environment Advocate Networks was able to adapt and bring both projects to closure with superior results. Advocate’s financial and contract analysis allowed us to make informed decisions in a timely manner. Brambles now has four state-of-the-art contracts with its primary telecommunications carriers, which contain superior pricing and flexible terms that reduce our risk of doing business.
Thanks to you and your team, Brambles will be able to significantly reduce its cost of telecommunications services over the next three years. We also have a better understanding of how to more effectively manage these contracts and the underlying services.
I would be glad to recommend the Advocate team to anyone!
Sincerely,
Julie Brignac
Group Vice President - Procurement, LeanSigma and Quality
Brambles Limited
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I am writing to thank you and Tom McLean for the great results derived from our telecommunications analysis project. In November 2002, we contracted with Advocate Networks to inventory and analyze our local telecommunications services, and assist in implementing the findings of the project. As a result of this project, we expect to reduce our annual local telecommunications costs by $200,000. As part of the project, we also established a complete inventory of all local telecommunications services to enhance our on-going telecommunications management operations. Advocate Networks advised us on various services and contract configurations, and educated us further on key contracting practices. Based on our combined efforts, I believe DRHS was also able to secure the most competitive agreement for local telecommunications services from a Tier 1 provider.
In addition, we recently selected Advocate Networks to develop a Request for Proposal for new DRHS voice network systems. We value the partnership with Advocate Networks, and I would be happy to serve as a reference for any business considering a relationship with your company.
Sincerely,
Cynthia K. Adgate Davis
Vice President and Chief Information Officer
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I wanted to take a moment to personally thank you and Scott for helping us objectively assess our telecommunications services. When we engaged you in November 2002 we were nearing the end of our voice and data term agreements, and looking for options. We benefited greatly from the market intelligence you provided regarding alternative tier 1 service providers, and your third-party objectivity is just what we needed before proceeding with a new agreement.
After you presented us the inventory and benchmark analysis report comparing our voice and data rates vs. best-in-class in the industry today, it confirmed in our minds the need to make a change. You were able to help us negotiate a very competitive term agreement which resulted in a significantly lower rate for our long distance service. In addition, you helped us plan and implement a successful migration from frame relay to an IP-VPN. As a result, the savings that we will realize for the next few years will be material to our business.
We greatly appreciate your partnership with Fairfield Financial Services, and look forward to working with you for years to come. We would be happy to serve as a reference for any business considering your services. Keep up the great work!
Sincerely,
Tino Sheridan
Preseident
Fairfield Financial Services
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I want to thank you and your team for your excellent work at Hagemeyer, North America. With a savings of over $292,000 already, and another $440,000 in projected savings, the local services telecommunications project has been a great success.
I was pleased with your “proof of concept” approach - evaluating 20 of our 172 total dedicated sites. The findings from this project were not only unexpected, but also provided me with the needed justification for a corporate-wide project at Hagemeyer. Through this corporate-wide project, your team was able to inventory all 172 locations as well as perform a detailed analysis in preparation for a results oriented implementation plan. Your team then performed the project management on the agreed upon changes without any unexpected downtime. We look forward to Hagemeyer having a consolidated, well-managed local telecommunications infrastructure at a significantly lower cost as well as a more simplified operational environment at the conclusion of the project.
Thanks to you and your team, Hagemeyer plans to reduce its cost for local telecommunications services in excess of $2,000,000 over the next 3 years. I am happy to recommend you and your team to anyone!
Sincerely,
Derrick Clayton
Manager, Network Services
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On behalf of IMPACT Resource Group, I would like to thank you and your staff for the exemplary service provided by Advocate Networks. The diligence of Jeff Fields, Scott Fogle and you, led to sizeable monetary savings and significantly improved service efficiencies of our entire telecommunications solution. In a more specific example of excellence, Jeff Fields displayed a robust knowledge of industry expertise in his dealings with Major Tier One providers on our behalf. He was no less than persistent, patient, and calculated in assisting us in the execution of the recent relocation of our sister company, Sales Talk INC.
Advocate Network's performance as a Telecommunications Management service clearly exceeded our expectations. I highly recommend your service to any company interested in maximizing their telecommunications services and most importantly, their profits. Your staff is to be commended. I look forward to continue working with Advocate Networks for years to come and benefiting from exemplary service and equitable results.
Sincerely,
Marvin N. Auston
Vice President of Communications
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I am writing to thank you and your team for your valuable service to MACTEC, Inc. Advocate Networks' lead in the planning and negotiations of a new telecommunications services agreement for MACTEC was executed in a very professional and effective manner. I believe that we achieved the most competitive agreement for long distance, frame relay, Internet access, calling card, and audio-conferencing services from a leading Tier 1 service provider that we could obtain. Your team assisted us in uncovering new offers and bonuses available from our desired service provider partner that we were unaware of, and educated us further on key contracting practices to increase flexibility and prevent future price increases.
In addition, Advocate Networks has played an important role in assisting our telecommunications team in implementing the new network services we contracted for last fall. I appreciate your partnership approach for providing services, and we will continue to look to Advocate Networks as our trusted telecommunications advisor. I would be happy to serve as a reference for any company considering your services.
Sincerely,
Lawrence J. White
Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer
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On behalf of Maritz Inc., I would like to thank Advocate Networks for their outstanding efforts on our Carrier RFP. I reviewed several possible firms for this endeavor and it was clear that Advocate would be the best choice for Maritz. Your experience, fresh perspective and defined processes, coupled with our own resources and knowledge, had all the makings of a winning team.
Our circumstances were unique, as most of the responding carriers are also valued clients of Maritz. In addition, we also had a very aggressive timeline in which to complete this entire process and Advocate helped Maritz to achieve that goal.
In the end, your firm was instrumental in helping Maritz save in excess of $4 million dollars over the next three years. In addition to that success story, we were able to utilize these savings to fund several other key technology projects. In all, we have had one heck of a year!
I look forward to continuing our relationship with Advocate Networks and will certainly call upon you and your services again in the future.
Sincerely,
Mark. A. Bryzeal
Vice President, Director
MGTS - Network Operations
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I wanted to let you know in writing the value of the recent telecommunications inventory, benchmark and assessment project that Advocate Networks completed for Mirant Corporation. As I said during the final project review meeting, this has been one of the best projects that I have been involved with at Mirant. Your deliverables were exactly as I requested, and the information provided in your analysis will allow me to best manage the telecommunications expenditures at Mirant. Based on your recommendations, we have implemented changes that will reduce our telecommunications costs by $1.5 million over 3 years.
Your efforts have added significant value to our focus on best-in-class telecommunications management. I would be glad to provide a reference to any business considering a relationship with you and your company.
Sincerely,
Bob McClure
Vice President
Chief Information Officer
Mirant Corporation
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I want to thank you and the folks at Advocate Networks who have worked with me over the past few years to improve Motley Rice's telecommunications systems - both from a technical and cost effectiveness standpoint. Your prior experience with companies and law firms of a wide variety gave you, and us, the needed breadth of domain knowledge to help us sort through the telecommunications maze and determine and acquire the best overall solutions for our firm, Motley Rice.
Through your efforts, we have reduced our annual telecommunications costs by more than 40% with no reduction in the quality of service provided. I hope that the partnership between Motley Rice LLC and Advocate Networks will continue and I wish you and Advocate Networks continued success.
Sincerely,
Stephen M. Beckman
Chief Information Officer
Motley Rice, LLC
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Nexsen Pruet Jacobs & Pollard, LLC
I am finally taking a moment to write this letter of thanks to you and Advocate Networks for your research, dedication and hard work on behalf of Nesen Pruet.
To recap our relationship, we began our discussion in the Fall of 2001 as we were starting our own research to determine whether the firm should reinstate an existing and long-standing contract for our long distance, in-wats and data network facilities. That contract was to expire in May of 2002. In conjunction with this process, we requested that you conduct a full audit of all out communication facilities, including our local services. As you know, the results of your audit have already saved the firm a great deal of money and we still have some local issues pending which will further those savings over a long period of time. You also brought a better and more reliable ISP to us, which again saved us money. Additionally, you were there with is throughout all conversion processes after you brought all the facts to the table and we agreed we should change "carriers".
Since the conversion, which was complete in the Summer of 2002, you and Jeff Fields have been responsive to other voice and data communication needs and questions as they have arisen. Not only have we found you to be knowledgeable in your field of expertise, but more importantly, honest, sincere and available to us.
I would highly recommend you, personally, and Advocate Networks to any business looking to save money while maintaining good, solid service in the network facilities arena. You have truly become our ADVOCATE and I look forward to working with you on upcoming projects!
Sincerely,
Linda J. Abbott
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I wanted to drop you a quick thank you for your benchmark and evaluation of our inter-exchange carrier services. As a result of your work, we were able to negotiate a 25% reduction in our monthly costs with our primary carrier, which is producing a significant savings for Numerex. As you indicated in your initial analysis, we had a complete inventory of our current services. Based on our inventory, you were able to apply your market experience to our situation and deliver a strong negotiating position and strategy that produced a very competitive services agreement for voice and data connectivity.
I would be glad to provide further customer references as necessary.
Sincerely,
Mike Marett
Executive Vice President - Operations
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OSF Healthcare System
Please accept this communication as OSF Healthcare System’s expression of appreciation for Advocate Networks magnificent performance in assisting our telecommunication cost reduction initiative. Your firm’s collective market and technical knowledge met our expectations in every way.
Being a nearly $3B dollar company, our supply chain is complex and occasionally requires outside expertise in highly technical product categories and/or those with significant oversight by regulatory agencies. As these catagories many times have significant spend with primary vendor domination, the opportunities for major cost savings are real, but elusive without an in-depth, well planned and executed sourcing event. Prior to our contract expiring, we assessed our internal capacity and resources. We determined it would be in our best interest to seek external expertise to identify and maximize our long distance savings. Advocate Networks came highly recommended from our peers in the health care industry and our due diligence affirmed these recommendations.
OSF Healthcare System was delighted with every step of the process in the sourcing initiative. The data collection, strategy planning, Request For Proposal development, analysis, negotiation and ultimately the contract review and recommendation were exemplary. It was a pleasure to work with a group of such dedicated professionals, who seemed to be a part of our team, rather than consultants. Every document, teleconference, and strategy was well planned and executed. Our new 3 year contract, which was recently signed with our existing vendor, includes a
Clearly, this aggressive ROI and cost savings were anything but certain. Such success is nearly always associated with strong leadership and a commitment to excellence. This initiative was no exception. I would be greatly remiss without personally recognizing the efforts of Kathy Alverson. Her dedication to our best interests, prompt responses, detailed analysis, and vast industry knowledge contributed heavily to the success of this initiative.
Please thank all of the members of your team on our behalf. In this time of financial uncertainty, the savings associated with this event are critical to OSF Healthcare System’s ability to best serve our patients and our Mission.
Sincerely,
Dan Noeth
Asst. Corporate Director of Materials Management
As you know, we recently commissioned our new Disaster Recovery Data Center based on the planning and implementation process that Advocate Networks initiated in March 2005 and lead to a successful conclusion on July 31, 2006. We would not have been successful without the valuable knowledge, experience and collaboration of your team. In particular, I would like to recognize Gary Balbuzowski and Tom Warden for their dedication and hard-work during the project that lead to this outcome.
I would be happy to serve as a reference for any business considering your professional services in data center and disaster recovery planning and implementation. Good luck with your business.
Sincerely,
Nick Grecco
General Manager
Vice President, Technology Services
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Sowell Gray Stepp & Laffitte, LLC.
I can not thank you enough for committing your time and expertise to our recent telecommunications project.
Being assigned the task of selecting a new telephone system, negotiating with service providers, and managing the installation and training for our law firm was overwhelming to me. After our first meeting, I felt confident that your expertise and experience in the field would be invaluable as I determined what the right answer was for our law firm. With your help, I was able to do just that. We chose the right telephone system. Our date and voice systems are more reliable. We are experiencing savings. My partners are happy.
I would not only highly recommend you and Advocate Networks to any company in need of your services; but hope that I will have the opportunity to work with you again as well.
Sincerely,
Robin L. Hodge
Director of Administration
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I wanted to take a moment and express my appreciation and satisfaction with our partnership with Advocate Networks. Your initial engagement with us in early 2002 was a critical factor in our very successful Wide Area Network upgrade project. Your team's work to validate our design concepts, benchmark our pricing, and assist us in negotiations was of consistently high quality and value. Your team provided us with some knowledge and insight to the telecom marketplace that continues to benefit us.
Our experience to date in your current engagement with us has been equally positive. I have found Advocate to bring a thorough, reasoned, and carefully crafted approach to the table, lending to conclusions and recommendations we can put to use. Your team's approach is always open, positive, collaborative, and customer focused.
I would be happy to provide reference for you in appropriate customer situations to reinforce the value we have seen and our satisfaction with our partnership. Thanks again to your entire team for your efforts with Synovus.
Sincerely,
Kevin P. Gowen
Vice President
Director, Network Services
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On behalf of our members and our team at VHA Georgia, I would like to offer our sincerest appreciation to Advocate Networks for the significant telecommunications cost reductions you have derived for our healthcare systems across Georgia. Over the last three years, we have worked with Advocate Networks to analyze, assess, and procure a range of telecommunications services and develop telecommunications management plans for our members. In total, your work has resulted in over $2 million in hard dollar cost reduction in the first year and over $4 million in the next 2 years. In addition, our members greatly improved the competitiveness and flexibility of key telecommunications service provider agreements.
We appreciate your commitment to our partnership. I would be happy to provide a reference to any business evaluating a relationship with Advocate Networks.
Sincerely,
Terry Johnson
Vice President, Finance & Administrative Services
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On behalf of Rob Lipson, M.D., our President/CEO, I would like to express our appreciation for your efforts in analyzing our telecommunication needs and auditing our local service charges, as well as your guidance and assistance in renegotiating our local service contracts with BellSouth. Your efforts and support throughout these business processes far exceeded our expectations and resulted in annual savings of some $900,000.00. We found you both, as well as your supporting staff, to be very knowledgeable, courteous and professional and your fees for services rendered more than reasonable. We look forward to a continuing business relationship.
If Kirk or I may be of service in referring Advocate Networks to future clients please do not hesitate to call upon us. Again, our appreciation for all that you have done on behalf of WellStar Health System.
Sincerely,
Stanley C. Bishop, CHPA
Security, Telecommunications & Parking
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