Blog

Imagine being on Apollo 8, on December 24, 1968, with the astronauts who became the first humans to circle the moon. The mission was historic but, the famous “Earthrise” photo that resulted, showing Earth rising above the lunar landscape was even more memorable. Up until that point, no human eyes had ever seen our blue marble from such a distance.  The photo has been described by Nature photographer Galen Rowell as, “the most influential environmental photograph ever taken.”   Ironically, of all the objectives NASA had set before launch, no one had thought of photographing the Earth from lunar orbit.  They did not predict the importance of that moment, and the photo that would forever change our view of the earth. Nonetheless, the moment was upon them and, they were ready.
(more…)

Comfort Zones. We all have them. We approach our jobs in routine, ritualistic fashion, shop at the same stores, eat at the same restaurants, and solve problems in a way that feels the most comfortable to us. Many of us have seen, however, that when we break through them and challenge ourselves to try something new–learning a new skill for work, seeking a different type of vacation, trying out unfamiliar foods– the results can be dramatic. (more…)

The annual conference, by the Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), is fast approaching with only 2 short weeks left. It’ll be an impressive gathering, where “Champions of Health Unite,”-the theme this year-coming together from different areas of the healthcare spectrum and exploring the possibilities of today’s most innovative technology for the future of the healthcare. (more…)

“Smile. You’re on Camera.”- Has a new meaning with Intelligent Video Security Services

As a kid, I remember walking into department stores, looking up to find, well… me. I’m on TV! Of course, like many of you, I took the opportunity to fool around on camera before my mom pulled me away from the intrusive lens. Before reel-to-reel media was developed to offer on-site recording, video surveillance systems involved constant monitoring. Then in the 70’s, about the time that I was acting out a scene from Sesame Street in the store lobby, VHS revolutionized videotaping and storage finally making it convenient for the user. (Man, I would love to have some of that old footage!) The point is, like countless other technologies, video surveillance systems have advanced exponentially, growing well beyond yesterday’s CCTV (closed-circuit television) systems. (more…)

Automation and Innovation. At first glance, these two words referenced in the same sentence could understandably be seen by some as a paradox. The irony is that one can create capacity for the other. The challenge lies in the inability of some businesses to leverage the newly-found free time created by automation into innovation. And that innovation comes in many forms; from more face time with clients to developing new products and business solutions. (more…)

More than ever before, government officials feel increased pressure to provide easy access to public records, and often face legal mandates for fulfilling requests. Unfortunately, an overreliance on paper-based, manual public records request fulfillment makes meeting request deadlines difficult. Hunting down documents from multiple departments, locations and filing cabinets puts a strain on government staff and leads to lengthy fulfillment cycles. Given the increase in public document requests and the scrutiny from the federal government to provide the public with better access to records, there is no doubt constituents want better access to public records. With this comes an expectation that government offices responsible for complying with these requests are prompt in their response. (more…)

Keeping in spirit with Konica Minolta’s dedication to giving back to the community, I jumped at the chance to return to my alma mater, Ramsey High School, to speak to a group of marketing students about who we are as a company, and the practical lessons learned from the first year of my career. (more…)

For the last 2 years, it’s been all over the news. There has been a lot of activity within our current White House administration that impacts our national – and global – economy. While much of this activity may be a source for more news articles and debates at the dinner table, it is important to understand how these changes have a direct impact on your own businesses and your income. For any business in the United States, there are two major changes that are happening now that business decision makers should understand:

1. Tariffs against Chinese imports
2. Upcoming changes to corporate income tax

By understanding the implications of these two government policy changes, businesses can take advantage to minimize costs and maximize their bottom line. (more…)

When an award is won, there are always individuals who are not in the forefront but provide the necessary support for the win to occur. For example, in order for a Super Bowl MVP to be named, the entire team needs to be in sync with one another; if the quarterback wins the award (which is most often the case) the offensive line has to block and receivers have to catch the ball. A movie cannot win an Oscar for best picture without a team of talented actors, writers, directors, cinematographers and a marketing team. And, Konica Minolta Business Solutions could not have been awarded the recent Buyers Laboratory Inc (BLI) PaceSetter Award For The Legal Vertical without the support of many individuals. (more…)

There are several different ways we can help schools with physical security needs. Examples include active shooter situations, family abductions, problematic teacher/student relations, as well as vandalism. The unfortunate reality of today is that these scenarios, almost unthinkable a generation ago, have occurred with increasing frequency. Schools today regularly practice ‘active shooter’ drills, complete with classroom lock downs and door barricades. (more…)