1. Reached over 1,250,000 students with our readiness assessment - SmarterMeasure (formerly known as READI)
2. Changed company name from DECADE Consulting to eLearning Tool Box.
3. Have operated for ten years as a zero-debt company!
4. Went through a complete rebranding from eLearning Tool Box to SmarterServices that included new logos, colors, literature, websites, displays, and product names.
5. Grew client base consistently every year for the past decade.
6. Created 3 fully functional profitable solutions.
7. Secured 10 state wide contracts.
8. Successfully became the industry leader in assessing student readiness.
9. Secured contracts with the 5 largest for-profit schools.
10. Experienced no turn over - only adding to current staff but no one left the company. 

10 Milestones in 10 Years - Happy Birthday SmarterServices

Can you believe that we are 10 years old?  Neither can we!  It is exciting to know this month represents our 10th birthday as a company.  Would you like to know where it all began?  Yes, it all started on Interstate 65 driving under Lakeshore Dr in Homewood, Alabama.  The acronym READI came to Dr. Mac Adkins as he contemplated what to call the online readiness tool.  Shortly after arriving safely home, he purchased the URL and registered READI.INFO. That my friends is where it all began.  So what's happened in the past 10 years?  A LOT!  Stay tuned for tomorrow's post "Top 10 Milestones of the Past Decade". 

Happy 10th Birthday SmarterServices

In honor of our Friday Fun series, I thought we'd give you some dirt on members of the SmarterServices team.  Read about Julie Owen below our Vice President of Marketing & Operations and get to know her.

Question: What is the most beautiful place you’ve ever visited and why?

Answer: Estes Park, Colorado- amazing wildlife, beautiful, breathtaking scenery, frozen lakes, sunshine, and snow drifts

Question: What is your most embarrassing moment?

Answer: I was a junior in high school tripping over a cord in Walmart while walking to meet a boy that I hearted :). He was gracious but needless to say we didn’t ever speak after that incident.

Question: If you could dine with someone who is deceased who would it be and why?

Answer: Jesse James - to hear about all of his adventures!

Question: What is the one thing you love to do and wish you had more time to spend doing?

Answer: Writing. I love to write and do it a good bit but it just takes more time than I have right now.

Question: What is your favorite decade? Why?

Answer: 80s…big hair of course! LOL just kidding...I love the 80s and 90s for the music but mostly I love the current decade.  It feels good to know who you are and where you are going!

Question: Name one thing that you’ve done that was on your bucket list.

Answer: I ran a half marathon in 2011. Great experience!

Question: What is your biggest fear?

Answer: Someone finding a way to read my mind!  SCARY! LOL

Question: When you were little what did you want to be when you grew up?

Answer: Fashion designer

Question: What is your favorite meal?

Answer: Pecan parmesan encrusted rainbow trout with garlic mash potatoes and Caesar salad (Bonefish)

Question: Who is your favorite person?

Answer: My husband (honestly, he really is)

Friday Fun - Staff Interview - Julie Owen

The Pearson Foundation just released a recent survey that addresses tablet use among students both high school and college. According to the findings usage among students has almost tripled in the past year.  It also found that the majority of college and high school students believe that tablets are as good for education as they are for personal entertainment.  In addition, almost 60% of students when asked prefer reading from a digital medium instead of print.  To view the full report click here.

Tablet Use Up Among High Schoolers and College Students

As reported this week in The Washington Post the Encyclopedia Britannica has stopped the presses and will cease production of its print based books.   After 244 years of production of one of the world’s most respected information resources, the publisher must now change its way of doing business.  When I first heard this news it evoked some sentimental sadness.  I remember the great joy each time that my family would get a new set of encyclopedias or the annual edition of the Year Book.  OK, so I was one of those geeks who enjoyed learning.  Well, I still enjoy learning, but it is rarely in the form of a book that I hold in my hand.  After going down memory lane for a couple of minutes I was then jolted back to reality by the realization that as a business owner, I must realize that no business – however well-established or well-respected, can continue doing business the same way forever.  Visions of Woolworths, Oldsmobile, and Polaroid flashed through my mind. 

So what are we at SmarterServices doing to remain relevant?  We are listening.  Listening to you.  We are listening to the expressed needs of our clients and then envisioning services that can be done in a smarter way.  The evolution of all of our services has been prompted by the suggestions of our clients.
•    Just over ten years ago we listened as there was a need expressed by the US Army for an online learning readiness assessment.  Now over 1.25 million students have benefitted from the SmarterMeasure Learning Readiness Indicator.
•    Then as distance learning exploded we listened to schools as they needed an efficient way to find online faculty.  Now over 12,000 online faculty have created searchable profiles in SmarterFaculty.
•    Next we listened as schools needed a smarter way to collect student perception data.  Now over a half million course evaluations have been submitted through SmarterSurveys.
•    Most recently we listened as schools requested a way to ensure online student authenticity and learner integrity.  We will soon be releasing SmarterProctors. 

What will we be doing next?  We are not sure, but we are listening to you to find out.  Let us know how we can help you be smarter as you educate learners.

Reflections from Company President - Dr. Mac Adkins