John Bolduc: He's Our Man!

Technology Abounds
You often hear it said that people don't truly appreciate what they have until it's gone. We found this to be quite true during our recent studio move. While we were always aware of our increasing dependence upon computers, it took this move to show us how deep our reliance had really grown. Once faced with the situation of being without our computers for a day, we recognized that we'd be lost without them. In this way, the move was a rather enlightening experience. Not only did it open our eyes to the challenges and excitements of moving into a fresh, new location, but it also revealed to us the extent to which this business thrives on the latest technology.

It's difficult to imagine that only five years ago, Rossi Studios relied very little on computers. Back then, our computer usage was limited to Word documents and accounting needs. Since that time, our technological needs have been increasing rapidly. We've replaced snail mail correspondence with e-mail. Artwork is no longer documented through 35 mm photography or slide film; instead, we scan or digitally photograph each art piece to add to our constantly growing digital library of images. Approval of new products can happen within a day or two when images from China are emailed to the United States and then sent from the companies to us. Even our monthly newsletters are proof of our expanding use of technology.

Every day, we rely heavily upon the powers of our computers. Whether it's communicating with companies via e-mail, sending and receiving updates about the latest products, or researching on the Internet, we're truly living on the edge of the technological world.

Computer Genius to the Rescue
One of our biggest supporters in this area has been John Bolduc. Thanks to John, Rossi Studios was able to get the computer systems up and running again very quickly after the move. We never would've been able to tackle all of the server glitches and email malfunctions without him. Whenever we were in need of computer information or assistance, he was willing to answer our questions or volunteer his time during the evenings or weekends. After watching John at work over the past couple of weeks, we have become even more inspired by his vast knowledge of computer systems. So, we've decided that this makes him more than worthy of being featured in this month's Karen Rossi newsletter.

How it all Began
John first became interested in computers when he was in college. During his time at UConn, Thames Valley, and Eastern Connecticut State University, his strong interest and background in math led him to delve into the computer classes. It wasn't long before he was using his skills outside of the college environment.

Soon after obtaining his first full-time job, John was pushed full-force into the "real world." Following only three short weeks on the job, he found himself in a surprising situation. The company's computer support person quit, and John was left to "man the ship." So, suddenly, he found himself in the position of an instant computer professional. Now, 14 years later, John puts his years of experience to very good use as he helps clients to set up new networks for their businesses. He spends his days doing computer consulting work for clients throughout Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. He finds his job highly rewarding. Meeting new people, creating solutions to match business needs, and solving technical problems are among his favorite aspects of the job.

Tales from the Studio
We have to hand it to John. When it comes to working under stressful situations, he's your man. One Saturday morning, John stopped by to get to the bottom of our email glitches. He was the first and only one here. Bright and early in the morning probably seemed like the perfect time to get a lot of work done. However, John was unaware of what would await him when he unlocked the front door. As he entered the kitchen, the newly installed alarm began to ring out its insistent cry, begging to be assured that there was no reason to panic. Unfortunately, John had not yet been given the alarm code. He tried several numbers that he thought might be possibilities, but none had the desired effect. Instead of panicking, John kept his cool and just sat down to begin the work that he had come to do. All the while, the siren was wailing even louder than it had been at first. Within a short period of time, the police arrived, and silence was restored. We knew, after that day, that if John could handle working with an ear-piercing alarm screaming at him, he could handle just about anything.

Down Time
When he's not busy working, John can often be found wakeboarding (which is like water-skiing on a board) or snowboarding. He also enjoys happy hours after those long days in front of the computer screen. In addition, he has a love for learning that helps to keep him up-to-date on the constantly changing world of technology around him. We've seen firsthand how he puts this learning to use, and we know, without a doubt, that Rossi Studios is running smoother because of it.