Atlantic Business Technologies, Inc.

Category: ABT Culture

On Edge about Leaving Internet Explorer?
Our Answers to Your Internet Explorer FAQs

On January 12, 2016, Microsoft ended support for older versions of Internet Explorer (IE). For those of us in web development, this was cause for rejoicing—we now had fewer browsers to support.

However, for the many organizations and businesses who have relied on older IE versions to run their applications and websites, this news left them feeling a bit on edge. At Atlantic BT, we’ve heard a lot of questions from our clients who depend on IE: Why is Microsoft ending support? Which versions are affected? What happens for applications that remain on IE? And (most importantly) what are next steps I should take?

Though we don’t know why Microsoft made the decision to end support for older versions of IE, we can help with the other frequently-asked questions.

What Does End of IE Support Mean?

Companies like Microsoft announce the end of support when the company feels their product is at the end of useful ‘life’. This decision usually means the company intends to focus its resources on supporting and developing newer software rather than patching older versions.

For Internet Explorer, end of support means that Microsoft will:
- Cease technical support
- No longer provide downloads of the browsers
- Stop security updates
All of these changes are excellent reasons to transition your company away from older versions of Internet Explorer.

Which Versions Are Affected?

The end of support announcement affects several versions of IE. Specifically, Microsoft has decided to end support for IE 10 and all previous versions; while IE 11 will continue to receive security updates this year, Microsoft has announced IE 11 will be the last version of Internet Explorer.

This makes it vital to transition away from Internet Explorer. If you’d prefer to stick with Microsoft’s browser, then you should begin using Edge, Microsoft’s new browser for Windows 10. Microsoft developed Edge to better compete with Chrome and FireFox, so it offers new features found in these browsers. In addition, Microsoft is offering free upgrades to WIndows 10 for a limited time. Because only Microsoft knows how “limited” this time is, it’s important to upgrade sooner rather than later.

What Happens to Applications Running on Unsupported Versions?

Older versions of Internet Explorer will not be automatically uninstalled from computers. So applications running on unsupported versions can still run on old computer systems. However, this is not recommended because of the risks involved, including:
- The end to security updates. This risk opens the application or website up to vulnerabilities from malware or malicious attacks. This puts your business application and its data at risk.
- Appearance issues. If a user attempts to open your application or website in newer browsers, there’s a strong chance your site will not look the way you intended. The user may experience broken images, misplaced buttons and text, and an interface that appears scrambled.
What Are My Next Steps?

Considering the answers to these questions, it’s important for your business to plan its transition away from older versions of Internet Explorer. As digital problems solvers, AtlanticBT can provide direction as your business moves to newer technology. We can help you:
- Evaluate your current web applications and website to determine the most effective way to upgrade.
- Redesign apps and webpages using cutting-edge technology that works across modern browsers such as Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Firefox; these web browsers provide faster and more secure access to websites and services.
- Develop a solution that is mobile-friendly; this means being more accessible on tablets and mobile devices, unlocking another path for business growth and productivity.
And once your application or website has been updated, we can help you to stay up-to-date. If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help your business transition away from Internet Explorer, please contact us.
March 31, 2016
The Great Atlantic BT Egg Hurl
If you want to soar to the heights, you’d better be able to survive the landing.

Atlantic BT employees discovered this truth firsthand during our annual Egg Hurl competition on the afternoon of March 24. 10 teams of Atlantic BT programmers, designers, and other experts united to find the best way to catapult an egg into the sky and have it land without breaking.

This was a daunting task, so we followed the traditional Atlantic BT system of testing a variety of solutions to see what worked. Each team constructed a protective chamber for their egg out of whatever materials seemed best to them. These chambers ranged from a duct-tape cocoon to a tiny safe packed with a towel.

“I thought to myself: What’s the safest, most secure part of my desk?” asked Andrew Bartlett. “After a glance around, I had my answer. In all my years at Atlantic BT, no one had been able to crack my desk safe. That meant this little safe was guaranteed to prevent my egg from cracking.” Andrew’s device would go on to survive the first round.

Only gravity could crack this safe.

Using a homemade trebuchet built by Billy Bonar, each team launched their eggs and protective casings across the Atlantic BT parking lot. If a team’s egg survived a round, more weight would be added to the trebuchet to launch the egg higher and farther. The ultimate winner would be the egg casing that traveled the farthest without breaking.

“It’s a simple machine driven by basic Newtonian physics,” Billy said, “While I originally built this trebuchet to defend my home against roaming bandits, I was glad to lend it to Atlantic BT in order to test our ability to protect chicken embryos from asphalt and gravity.”

However, the winning egg casing relied on more than just science for its victory. Emily Davidson and Jennifer Herndon designed a protective netting of plastic straws for their egg, then coated it in glitter for maximum elegance.

The winners of both the Overall Best and Most Creative

“I didn’t just want to win the egg hurl. I wanted to look really sparkly while doing it,” Emily said. She then hurled a handful of glitter in the air while hoisting her trophy aloft with Jennifer.

“I’m just glad no one got hurt when our egg device completely dominated,” Jennifer said. She serves as Atlantic BT’s Chief People Officer when she’s not using glitter to protect breakable objects.

Besides the overall winner, the competition also recognized teams with the following accolades:
- The Spirit Award—For the egg device that inspired us all; given to Bradford Foxworth-Hill for sending his egg aloft in a simple blue box with streamers.
  The Face of Best Spirit
- The Always a Bridesmaid Award—For the egg device we all wanted to do better than it did; given to Matt Deal and Kendall King’s “Dank Tank,” which flew far, broke hard, and rhymed.
  Dank Tank never failed to inspire. Until it failed.
- The Epic Fail Award—For the egg device that did not work at all; given to Rachel McKay, Jessica Harper, and Jennifer Reaves, whose egg casing was bound together with only drinking straws and shattered dreams.
  This did not work.
- The Most Creative Award—For the egg device with the most flair; given to Jennifer Herndon and Emily Davidson’s glitter-fueled vehicle of egg protection.
  A Vehicle for Glitter and the Imagination
For a live action look at the Atlantic BT Egg Hurl, check out this video of the event created by our own Wes Jobes:
March 28, 2016
How to Become a Meeting Whisperer
Every day, there are 11 million formal meetings in the United States. That’s more than 3 billion meetings per year. By one estimate, this means that the average professional spends 37% of his or her workday in meetings. That’s a lot of time. As project managers, it is up to us to set up our meetings for success and make the best use of everyone’s time.
When I think of someone who’s an expert in taming problems, I think of Cesar Milan, the dog whisperer. He’s a master of controlling wayward animals with a simple click of the tongue—a small gesture that makes a big difference. That in mind, it’s time for project managers like us to become meeting whisperers, taking the small but important steps needed to control wayward meetings.

How Meetings Lose Their Way
When was the last time you walked out of a meeting thinking, “Wow. That meeting was incredible!” Most likely you’ve left feeling drained and with an action item of a follow up meeting. But it doesn’t have to be this way. It’s up to you, project manager, to not be the main culprit of bad behavior. If you’ve ever set up a meeting and did/thought any of these things, your meeting could be a waste of time:
- Who needs an agenda? I’ve got this.
- I don’t need to explain why we’re meeting. We’ll cover that in the meeting.
- I can squeeze another one hour meeting between my 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock. It’s not like I need to prep the room.
- It’s cool if people use their phones/laptops during the meeting. I know they’re busy.
- This collaborative meeting is turning into a one-man show, but I can’t interrupt him. That would be rude.
- Is this phone working? Why is nobody talking, and why are they all looking at me?
Become A Meeting Whisperer

Scheduling a meeting shouldn’t be taboo. Your meeting shouldn’t be unproductive or uninspiring. It should be to the point, drive results and get things done. Here’s a helpful checklist to make this happen. What project manager doesn’t like a checklist?

1. No Agenda | No Meeting

If you walk into your meeting and you don’t have an agenda, your meeting will not be productive. Instead of getting things done, you just charged your client money to talk to your co-workers about their weekend plans. Create a firm agenda with a desired outcome and plan, then send it out with your meeting request. Remember to be flexible, but having a set agenda for the meeting sets you up for success.

2. Have A Set Meeting Time Every Time

When you plan a project, you know there will be demos with the client. You also know that weekly check-ins lead to success. Plan for these meetings, and schedule them at the same day and time every week. This gets both your team and your client into a rhythm. It also guarantees your developers will always have their next release in mind and helps them avoid unexpected disruptions of their work.

3. Think Like A Boy Scout

Follow the scout motto and always be prepared to handle possible technology and room issues. Give yourself enough time to set up the room, clean the whiteboard, and make sure you can start your meeting on time. If you are using a conference line, dial in early. If you need to walk through a presentation, have it on screen as people walk in. Set out copies of the agenda on the table. Taking time for these preparation tasks will help you start your meeting on the right foot.

4. Assign A Note Taker

If you are running the meeting and doing most of the talking, then assign someone to help you take notes. If you are operating as the facilitator, then assign yourself as the note taker. Don’t be afraid to pause the conversation to let everyone know you’re jotting down what they said. Repeat back key points. At the end of the meeting, share out your meeting notes so everyone is on the same page. This will help your team leave the meeting ready to work instead of feeling drained and unsure.

5. Please Mind The Clock

It’s up to you to control the pace and respect everyone’s schedule. If you scheduled a meeting for 30 minutes, start wrapping it up at the 25 minute mark. Use your agenda to time-box the meeting and set a end time. Time-boxing will discourage the group from wanting to ramble. It will also reveal if a topic is too large to cover in one session. If a topic starts to run long, carve out time for a micro-meeting to stay on schedule.

6. Leave Your Cell Phones At The Door

Messing with your cell phone during a meeting is disrespectful. We understand how busy everyone is, but the world will not end if you go for 30 minutes without a phone. At the start of the meeting, ask everyone to stay off their phones. If there are a lot of laptops, go around the room and ask everyone to identify how they will be using their laptop. If it’s not being used to bring value to the meeting, ask them to close it. These measures sound strict, but they’re essential to keeping everyone focused in the meeting.

7. Be The Enforcer

If you called the meeting, you control the pace. We’ve all experienced the meeting hijacker—a person who takes advantage of having everyone in the room to interject his/her own agenda. This can rapidly eat up important time while distracting from the purpose of the meeting. If someone interrupts the agenda, it’s up to you to speak up. You can diplomatically interrupt to get the meeting back on track. Listen to his/her point, express appreciation and then suggest tabling that topic for another time. Engage with the group and be a facilitator.

8. Leave With A Plan

What project manager doesn’t love action items? The most successful meetings are those that end with actionable tasks and a clear understanding of what’s expected. At the close of the meeting, recap what was discussed, address each person by name who has a takeaway, and get their confirmation that they understand what’s expected of them. After the meeting, send out a recap email. Don’t forget to thank everyone for participating.

What’s Your Approach?

Ultimately, we project managers are the ones responsible for the success of our meetings. We can prevent our meetings from being a waste of our colleagues’ and clients’ time. Becoming a meeting whisperer doesn’t mean being bossy or condescending; it’s simply about being respectful of everyone’s time.
We all have our own style and rules to live by when it comes to meetings. Some of these techniques may not work for you, but they should give you new ideas on how to transform your meetings. Do you have any tips or suggestions you’d like to share? Atlantic BT would love to know!
March 9, 2016
Making Atlantic BT a “Best Place to Work”
Since our founding in 1998, Atlantic BT has been fortunate to win a number of prestigious awards. In recent years, some of these honors include the Fast 50, Inc 5000, 40 Under 40, and Best Places to Work in the Triangle. In fact, we’ve even won a few of these awards multiple times and it is always exciting to have your work recognized. But the single most meaningful award we have ever won is the one received last week: the 2015 Best Places to Work award from the Triangle Business Journal. It was our third time winning the award in four years, but I’d like to share a little about why this honor was extra special.

How Culture Became #1 at Atlantic BT

An amazing culture is more important to me than any other measure of business success, including how much revenue we generate. This is deeply personal to me and it has been since our first days in business and was even more so when I took over the reigns as CEO once again in October 2014. At that time, I told the entire company that I don’t care if we make a single dollar of profit in 2015; we had to bring back the amazing culture we are known for.

So where did great culture at Atlantic BT come from? When I started the company the salaries we could offer were not remotely competitive. We operated out of a one-room office rented from my parents’ law office. I had to convince amazing candidates how bright the future was for the company and what values were important to me.

When talented people joined the company we had to have a workplace that was fun, engaging, and rewarding to retain them. Our first employees had to trust their future and the livelihood of their families to me and the company. I am fiercely loyal toward our people, especially people that went on a limb and took a chance with us.

On a more practical basis, there were a few things I focused on that reminded me about the importance of our culture:
- I didn’t want to work at a company that I didn’t enjoy and I doubted anyone else did either
- You will spend more than 20% of your waking life at work. It needs to be amazing if you’re going to spend that much time there.
- I would rather spend money on our culture than recruiting new people. Just like sales and marketing, it is much more expensive to hire new people than it is to train and retain the people you have.
7 Keys to Atlantic BT’s Culture

As a company we have made every culture mistake you could make. Fortunately many of them when we were much smaller. At Atlantic BT, there are seven keys to our culture. To us they aren’t just words in a blog post. Ask our people if we live and consistently reflect these keys in our approach to people and each decision and they will absolutely confirm it. This isn’t something that you do a month before the Best Places to Work survey. For us, being authentic about our workplace culture the month the survey is taken is just like any other month.
1. Ownership. Good people don’t work for a paycheck. They work because they feel they are contributing to something worthwhile. They don’t like to be instructed what to do. They want to be inspired to use their incredible talent to make the company better.
2. Real transparency. You can fool some people with buzzwords and hocus pocus for a while, but you can’t fool engaged, smart, motivated people for long. The real question is why do companies feel they need to fool people at all? If you share the real truth about what is going on, what your objectives are, and how you are doing, you earn the trust of your employees. If you make a mistake, take responsibility for it. You gain respect by tackling rumors or questions head-on in an open forum. We encourage our employees to ask tough questions. The trust you build by being honest and transparent is amazing.
3. Communication. Communication is related to ownership and transparency. You really can’t have either one without good communication. Each Friday we hold an all-hands meeting for 15 minutes to discuss news and deliver kudos to fellow team members. We all go to lunch together and the company picks up the tab. It’s a way for us to celebrate the hard work completed that week, recognize people that played an important part, and say a big “thank you” to everyone all at the same time. In addition, I personally send a “What’s Happening” email every couple weeks describing what is happening with our people, processes, and systems.
4. Equal recognition. I grew up playing sports and nothing was more discouraging than giving your all to the team only to have it go unrecognized. Even worse was to have a peer recognized when they contributed less effort than you did. This is a challenge in the work environment as well. I continually ask ABTers to make sure they recognize the people that are working the hardest and putting in the best effort.
5. Values. Organizations are built on values. Without firm values, every decision is a crap shoot. Our #1 value is “We care about people.” I didn’t want it wordsmithed and spruced up. To me it’s simple. We don’t make decisions because “we care about money.” We make decisions because we care about people and it gives everyone in the organization a very clear picture of what is most important to us, spelled out in plain straight-forward language.
6. Good people attract more good people. Once you have good people and you treat them like gold they will attract other good people. We have gained so many amazing people, in both talent and personality, simply because they love the environment and the other people who work here at Atlantic BT. Likewise, bad people attract other bad people. And bad people drive good people away. You must be vigilant against the infiltration of bad people within your work culture.
7. Support your people. When you work with clients or customers you might naturally assume the customer is always right. Right? Wrong. If you don’t support your people you will lose them and then you will lose your best customers. If a customer is wrong, politely tell them they are wrong and you will not continue working with them if they ever abuse your people in any way. End of story. Nothing is more valuable than your people. If your customers are abusive or don’t value your company, get rid of them. Fast.
These seven keys have been critical to Atlantic BT’s success for the past 18 years. We are excited to be recognized as a 2015 “Best Places to Work” by the Triangle Business Journal. But as excited as we may be about the award, we’re more energized about the place that we’ve built. Atlantic BT is a place where some of the best and brightest minds gather every day to solve some of the toughest digital problems that businesses face. And we do it in a fun and creative way. To me, that’s what every workplace should be like. I’m grateful we’ve had the opportunity to create it here at Atlantic BT.
August 11, 2015
Lean UX Workshop with Jeff Gothelf

Jeff Gothelf, author of Lean UX, will be leading a Lean UX workshop at Atlantic BT on March 26.

Atlantic BT is excited to host an all day workshop on March 26th with Jeff Gothelf, author of Lean UX. The workshop titled “Lean for Enterprise Teams: Combining Agile, Lean and User-Centered Design in large companies” focuses on ways to “structure and incentivize teams to discover, design and deliver the best products for your existing lines of business.”

Jeff will explore what to do with existing customers, brand expectations, competing corporate priorities and legacy product lines and business. You will leave with specific techniques you can put to work immediately.

Don’t miss out on an insightful hands-on workshop with renowned UX author, Jeff Gothelf.

Event details
March 26, 2015
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
4509 Creedmoor Road, 1st floor
Raleigh, NC 27612

For more information and to register, visit this page: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/lean-for-enterprise-teams-raleigh-full-day-workshop-tickets-15697920904

March 24, 2015
Atlantic BT Named to the 2014 TBJ Fast 50 List
The Triangle area in North Carolina is widely recognized as one of the strongest business communities in the country. Last night, leaders of the Triangle’s fastest growing private companies gathered at the Raleigh Convention Center as part of the Triangle Business Journal’s Fast 50 awards banquet. This banquet is an annual celebration to recognize the area’s privately held companies that are leading the market in growth. And this year, for the first time, Atlantic BT was named to this this list.

The award is an honor to receive, but it is also humbling to be in the company of so many amazing companies. And it truly was a celebration as each company was enthusiastically represented by members of their teams. These awards, especially at this time of year, are a great opportunity to look back on a year of accomplishments. I especially want to congratulate the many Fast 50 winners Atlantic BT has had the privilege of working with over the past several years, including:
As I reflected on the evening two emotions stand out most in my mind. The first, pride. I am so proud of our team for their hard work, commitment to our clients, and commitment to each other. The second, resolve. We weren’t built for

Atlantic BT founder/CEO Jon Jordan accepting the TBJ Fast 50 Award

simply placing on the list. I can see in the eyes of our team they are focused on the mission at hand and achieving far greater honors in the future.

Of course, like any business, we would not be here if it were not for our loyal clients. One thing that motivates our team every single day is the chance to help great clients solve their business technology challenges. Whether it is an ecommerce site, a complex Web application, a new Web site or a mobile app, our team is ready to help our clients succeed.

We want to thank the Triangle Business Journal for this honor and congratulate all of our fellow Fast 50 award winners! May you find even greater success in 2015!
November 19, 2014