Mediaura

Many people often wonder what the difference is between secure website hosting and regular website hosting. Simply put, secure website hosting will afford you the ability to sleep at night, without the worry of whether or not your website or valuable information will become compromised.

Even more alarming, most webmasters are often clueless when their websites are hacked. Over 90% of webmasters surveyed did not notice any strange activity when their website was compromised, despite the fact that their sites were being abused to send spam, host phishing pages, or distribute malware, according to the report Compromised Websites: An Owner’s Perspective.

Perhaps more surprising, nearly two-thirds of the webmasters surveyed did not know how the compromise had happened.

The Threat of Hackers

The portrayal of hackers in the media has ranged from the high-tech super-spy to the lonely anti-social teen who is simply looking for entertainment. The reality, however, is that hackers are a very diverse bunch, a group simultaneously blamed with causing billions of dollars in damages. In 2011 alone, hackers were responsible for cyberattacks against the Justice Department, the FBI, Universal Music Group, The Recording Association of America, Motion Picture Association of America, Visa, PayPal, and MasterCard just to name a few.

The Internet abounds with hackers, known as crackers or "black hats," who work to exploit computer systems. They are the ones you've seen on the news being hauled away for cybercrimes. Some of them do it for fun and curiosity, while others are looking for personal gain.

Adrian Lamo is a good example of a black hat hacker.

Lamo's claim to fame is his break-ins at major organizations like The New York Times and Microsoft. Lamo's intrusions consisted mainly of penetration testing, in which he found flaws in security and exploited them. His hits include Yahoo!, Bank of America, Citigroup and Cingular. When he broke into The New York Times' intranet, things got serious. He added himself to a list of experts and viewed personal information on contributors, including Social Security numbers. Lamo also hacked into The Times' LexisNexis account to research high-profile subject matter.

Hackers that use their skills for good are classified as "white hat." These white hats often work as certified "Ethical Hackers," hired by companies to test the integrity of their systems. Others, operate without company permission by bending but not breaking laws and in the process have created some really cool stuff. Stephen "the Woz" Wozniak, one of the co-founders of Apple, is a well-known example of a white hat hacker. Woz got his start in hacking making blue boxes, devices that bypass telephone-switching mechanisms to make free long-distance calls.

However, no matter the nature of their intent, there is never any reason for a hacker to have access to your system nor the information stored on your servers to risk compromise.

Mediaura Secure Hosting

Security has always been a prime focus for our company. Our clients have long been aware of the lengths Mediaura goes to as a company to protect and secure their information and website systems. We have been vocal advocates regarding a focus on security and the need for extra protective measures, long before this current uprising of cyberattacks and malware began to take place.

Although we formerly only offered our Fort-Knox-level of secure hosting to existing clients, after numerous requests and inquiries from the outside public, we have decided to begin offering secure hosting to outside companies and organizations as well. Therefore companies who either need extra-security around their information or for companies that would just like the peace-of-mind, Mediaura hosting is now available to you.

The Mediuara Difference

While we can't go into all of the details and measures we've taken to insure that our systems are impenetrable (and there are many), we can share with you some key factors.

- HIPPA compliant
- PCI compliant
- Military clientele
- SSL certificates and secure business transactions

We take our virtual security just as seriously as our physical security. Our entire network operates behind redundant high-throughput transparent stand-alone firewalls powered by pfSense. We also maintain a series of VLAN configurations on our private networks in order to further increase security and efficiency between the various segments of our network. As a rule of thumb every single point of failure maintains at least one identical backup. This is true for our servers' power supplies and NIC's as well as our managed switches and firewalls

Mediaura has expanded our cloud by embracing a new and larger rollout of Vmware Vsphere 5 running on multiple Dell Enterprise servers and a fancy new SAN for the ultimate in data redundancy and efficiency. Having expensive equipment and software for the ultimate in redundancy would be a moot point without a highly secure, redundant and reliable data center. That’s why Mediaura chose Peak 10.

Peak 10 Facility Overview

General Facility Features

• 11,500 Square Feet Raised Floor
• Subfloor Cable Management and Power Distribution
• 18" Raised Floor
• Conditioned AC power
• Customized Cage, Private Suite and Cabinet Space Available
• 24/7/365 Customer Access
• 24/7/365 Network Operations Center
• Built above 100 year flood plain

Security Features

• Biometric Fingerprint Readers
• Card/PIN access
• 24/7/365 Monitored Video Surveillance

Environmental Controls/Redundancy

• Internally Redundant and Double End Fed Power Grid
• 2.4 MW Generating Capacity
• Redundant Backup Power via Multiple UPSs and a Generator
• Redundant Network Infrastructure
• Controlled Temperature and Humidity via Redundant HVAC Units
• VESDA/FE-25 Gas Fire Suppression System
• Geographic Diversity/Redundancy via Other Peak 10 Data Centers

Internet/Access Options

• Diverse Fiber Entry Points: OC-12 up to OC-192
• Internet/Network Access Options: DS-1, DS-3 or OC-X Connectivity
• Network BGP Connected to Multiple Carrier Networks
• Internet Access through KDL and TelCove/Level 3
• Tier 1 Gateways through Qwest, AT&T and TelCove/Level 3
• Metro Ethernet at 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps and 1 Gbps Connectivity

Disaster Recovery

• Multiple Equipment Procurement Options
• Hot/Warm/Cold Site Recovery Solutions
• Dedicated Work Area Recovery for Customers
• Direct Connections to Customer Networks
• Mobile Recovery Solutions

VMWare Overview

The VMware approach to cloud computing starts with the best virtualization platform, vSphere 5, and adds a suite of intelligent cloud infrastructure products – VMware vCloud Director, vCenter Site Recovery Manager and VMware vShield. Together, this VMware platform provides customers with an evolutionary transition to the cloud that transforms existing datacenters into secure private clouds, adding seamless extensions to compatible public clouds, and combines the best aspects of each into federated hybrid clouds.

Run business critical applications with confidence and respond faster to your business needs with VMware vSphere, the industry-leading virtualization platform for building cloud infrastructures. vSphere accelerates the shift to cloud computing for existing datacenters, while also underpinning compatible public cloud offerings, paving the way for the only hybrid cloud model.

Host With Mediaura Today

Contact Mediaura today (502-554-9649) or email us This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to learn more about the exciting new Web Hosting services and plans that we offer. With the ability to customize packages to meet the needs of your business, we will work together with you in order to develop the most stringent level of security possible.

Corey Capps has been on the Mediaura team almost since the inception of the team itself. His hard work and dedication to the company not only sets the example for everyone else that joins our team, but it also inspires and motivates them to become better workers themselves. It's not uncommon to find him working until midnight or happily coming in to finish up projects on the weekends of his own accord. Corey is also the person that people in our office turn to when they are having difficulty figuring out a solution to a problem, because even though he may not have an immediate answer he knows how to ask the right questions to help you down the path or see it from an outside perspective.

Corey is also aptly dubbed the "Devil's Advocate" in our office, because he is the person that will highlight or lists problems that may arise on a project before we begin working, so that we have already developed solutions in case they arise. For this reason he is crucial to streamlining our implementation and strategy processes. There have been countless times that this foresight has saved us many hours when the "unexpected" has occurred. It's almost like having an experienced military general on the team, because he is prepared for any situation. This is probably why his mind has compelled him to develop a very thorough Zombie Apocalypse strategy plan, which is quite impressive to say the least.

Corey is also one of the most fun people you could possibly want to work with. An avid lover of Haunted Houses, last year he inspired team members to drive to Atlanta and back in a single day because he heard that there was a particularly scary haunted house (there was).

So without further ado.....

1. Zombie Attack preparedness is important. What are some things people need to have and/or plan for in the event of an undead uprising?
Zombie Attack preparedness is a personal situation.  We all react and plan for the catastrophic in different ways and there are lots of things to consider.  Is this a biological outbreak, or have the dead risen from their graves?  Are these fast or slow zombies?  Did you have time to plan or did an arm just burst through your window?  Taking all these into account you can't prepare for them all.

3. What makes you laugh?
Almost everything, the world we live in is full of things to laugh at and people to laugh with. 

Electronic music is a passion for many of the team members at Mediaura. Since electronic music involves a lot of technology in its creation, you often find many programmers/designers DJing or involved in music somehow. In our office for instance, there are several DJs and a few people who have previously ran record labels (our CEO Andrew Aebersold amongst them). However, the one style of electronic music that has our entire office divided is a form called dubstep.

Dubstep is a form of dance music that originated in South London. Its overall sound has been described as "tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals." In other words, it sounds like slowed down music with heavy bass thrown in. If you want to know what dubstep sounds like, click here to have a listen. Dubstep has also generated a new form of dancing, which typically includes a lot of popping and locking and very slow precise movement. When people know how to do it right, it can be quite impressive. One of our favorite videos demonstrating this style of dance is this one.

Now the other half of our office favors a style called Electro House. This is a style of music that originated in America (specifically Chicago) in the 1980s. Early house music was generally dance-based music characterized by repetitive 4/4 beats and rhythms centered around drum machines (specifically the Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer) off-beat hi-hat cymbals and synthesized basslines. Did you ever wonder why Mediaura's office address is Suite 808? Probably not, but now you'll know that Suite 808 is our nod to the 808 drum machine that was the signature sound of Electro House music. Click here to listen to what Electro House sounds like.

Tecktonik dance (or Electro Dance) is a style that originated on the streets of Paris, France. At the old Mediaura office we used to watch Tecktonik dance videos and tried our best to figure out how it was done. It's a pretty frenetic style and you get a massive workout from it. The best example of this dance style is found in this video. It's a very Euro style of dance.

Since there is a constant debate in our office regarding house music and dubstep, we decided to handle it the only way that was fair....a dance battle.

A few weeks ago I was invited to participate in a panel discussion about Talent Attraction for GLI. If you're not familiar with GLI (Greater Louisville Inc), they are an amazing professional organization that is doing incredible things for both businesses in our community and the city as a whole. As a small company, Mediaura can testify first-hand how becoming involved with their organization can truly transform and help grow a business. There are so many resources and helpful GLI employees that really go above-and-beyond what you would expect, because they believe in their mission and want to help local-area businesses succeed. One of the best decisions we ever made as a company was to become a member and get as involved in GLI as possible. I strongly recommend you check them out if you haven't already done so.

As I said, this morning I was invited to participate in a discussion about Talent Attraction and how corporate culture plays a role in recruiting talent. Joining me on the panel were Melissa Leary from Zappos and Kelly Helegeson from Signature HealthCARE, and they were able to talk about how their own corporate culture plays a role in attracting the talent they require. I was aware of the Zappos culture, because they really do innovative things and have a unique corporate culture that I feel is quite similiar to Mediuara's own model of business. They are a great example of a large corporation that retains "small company" values and celebrates their employees.

For those that were able to attend the presentation, I apologize for my cold (thanks for the water Greg) and the rush (we were running short on time!), but I hope everyone was able to walk away with an idea of Mediaura's innovative approach to corporate culture and how it plays a massive role in our business strategy.

My presentation focused on how attracting the right talent by building a unique environment that makes people want to go to work every day, is imperative - especially for a small business. What many small businesses and startups don't always realize, is that in order to attract extremely talented employees, you have to be able to offer them something that they won't be able to have at a larger corporation. You really have to offer them incentives and a culture that can compete against the type of salary benefits that a larger company can offer. Where I see many small businesses failing their potential, is when they create a rigid and stringent environment. Where is the incentive for that talented individual? What is going to attract them to work for your company if they can join a role in a similiar environment, and frankly make a lot more money at a larger conglomerate? Instead, what you need to do is create a culture that is attractive and engaging enough for them to 'take a chance' and come work for you.

So what are some of the challenges that small businesses face with recruiting accomplished talent? There are many, but here is just a sample that we go up against everyday:

1. Talented Individuals thinking that they must relocate for opportunities that match their potentional (commonly referred to as "the Brain Drain")
Speaking from my own personal experience as someone born and raised in Louisville, I always felt that I was going to have to leave the city in order to achieve the type of success that I wanted for myself. At the time, that was the predominant sentiment in the city as a whole. If you wanted to work in manufacturing, healthcare, or QSR then this was the place to be; but if you wanted to work in a high-tech environment or some other innovative job field, there wasn't much for you in the city. So the bulk of my career has been out-of-state and out of the country for these reasons. The local government has realized this problem can be solved and when I returned to Louisville after a decade of living and working elsewhere, the transformation of this city astounded me. Louisville is quite aptly dubbed "Possibility City" because your potential here is as great as you choose to make it. As a high-tech company, the level of support and promotion that we receive from this community is second-to-none. Think of the early days of Seattle, or Portland, Oregon 4-5 years ago. That's sort of where Louisville is at right now in the realm of technology growth. In a few years, I have absolutely no doubt that Louisville will become a major player in the realm of technology nationally and internationally, because the ambition, drive and community support is there. This is why Mediaura has been able to grow from a one-man operation into a quite competitive (and Nationally Award Winning) small business. Most importantly, the level of talent we have formerly sought out from other cities can now be found locally due to those individuals no longer feeling the need to relocate for opportunities in the tech realm. People are quickly becoming aware that the opportunity and the potential for that sort of career now exists in our city. Organizations such as GLI and the Mayor's office really deserve massive amounts of credit for raising that awareness. It's incredible what they have done to support our industry and help nuture its growth in our community.

2. Location, Location, Location....
When you approach individuals from outside of the area with an opportunity to relocate to Louisville, their reaction isn't always exactly one of elation and enthusiasm. It's more like, "You want me to move where?" because the preconceived notions of the city (while terribly unfounded) do permeate and exist quite heavily. I think they tend to imagine the Beverly Hillbillies sat behind monstrous Commodore 64s trying to program "the interwebs." It's a stereotype and a stigma that again, organizations such as GLI and the local government, have done an amazing job at helping to eradicate. I always feel that there are two types of people; those who have been to Louisville and those who haven't. The people who have never spent any time here, have a very skewed perception of the city to those who have visited and know what it is like. Those who have come to Louisville, they know that it is probably the country's best kept secret. It's safe, it's innovative, the tech industry is growing here at an incredible rate, and there is so much to do socially. The culture of the city as a whole is just phenomenal. Typically when we're trying to bring someone onto our team from outside of the city, all we really have to do is have them spend a day here, because the city does an incredible job at selling itself. I mean let's face it, who doesn't want to live in GQ's "Manliest City in America?"

3. Salary Requirements vs. Talent Level
Let's face it, you're probably not going to have a successful startup if you only hire junior or entry level talent. However, if you're a small company (especially one that is entirely self-funded such as our own), you probably don't have the financial resources to woo that mid-level executive or experienced professional from their comfy corporate job to your team. So how do you win them to your cause? You have to offer them an environment and culture that they can't find anywhere else. If you can't compete with the larger companies on salary then you have to win them through other means. This is where I see most companies missing the mark. At Mediaura we have created a company that we want to work at and an environment that other people are anxious to become a part of. We're quite unconventional, but you have to be, because you have to figure out how your company is going to stand out from the competition and compel people to want to join. If a talented individual is disillusioned with aspects of the larger corporate machine, you can often convince them to bring their talents to a smaller organization as long as you let them know they will be not only appreciated, but that freedom comes with it.

4. Guaranteed Long-Term Employment
Let me share some statistics with you
- 20-30% of Venture Capital based businesses fail (we were not one)
- Almost 90% of startups fail
- Only 48% of new businesses are able to last longer than 5 years
Now imagine you have a secure and stable job at a larger company, but you're terribly unhappy or feel that your talents aren't being utilized or that you're not being challenged. Perhaps you'd like to work somewhere else. Chances are, you'd love to work at a company with a unique corporate culture or in a fun and exciting environment; however you'll be risking a lot in order to do so. Talent attraction comes into play for small businesses here, because you have to sell your dream or the company potential to these people. You need to make them understand and believe in your vision, so that they want to come on board and help make that a reality. You also need to appreciate the gamble these individuals are taking, and that's why it's so important to let them know how valuable they are to your organization whenever possible. As long as a talented individual feels appreciated and that the company is loyal to their needs, they will return the favor.

5. Multi-tasking / Multiple Hats Worn
Smaller companies aren't going to have the resources to fulfill all of the roles traditionally found at a larger company. So there is going to be a lot more that needs to be done and a lot more responsibility expected for someone taking on a role in a smaller business. That's why it's important to not only find individuals that fit into your corporate culture or that meet the job requirements, but also people with that "can do" attitude who rise to challenges. Within our company it's not atypical for one person to have the responsibility of three people. These people being able to operate in such a capacity and not skip a beat is crucial to our success. We have been extremely fortunate at finding and hiring talent that exceeds those expectations. Think of it as getting more "bang for your buck" in terms of talent and salary. What also can be attractive to individuals is the possibilty this creates in experimenting in another field. If they are a programmer but they have a strong interest in graphic design as well, for example, this can be the opportunity for them to explore that avenue.

6. Long Hours Likely
Nurturing and growing a small business takes a lot of TLC and a lot of time and attention. So another challenge that we often face is that you are essentially asking people to work longer hours for less money (than they would receive at a larger corporation). You may be wondering, "how can you do that?" The answer isn't simple, but if you create an environment that people want to be in, then the battle is already halfway won. Nothing is worse than working in an evironment where you're looking at the clock every 15 minutes to see how much closer you are to going home. I know, I've been there. However, when you develop a corporate culture that brings out the best in your talent and nurtures their skills, then they almost never want to leave the office. At Mediaura we have developed quite a unique problem, in that our CEO often has to force people to take a vacation. Why? Because every day is different and there is always something exciting going on, and no one wants to miss it. It's not uncommon for me to come into the office on a weekend or late-at-night and find someone sat at their desk working on a project for no other reason than they had some free time and wanted to get back to work. As a small business, let me tell you, it's a great "problem" to have.

Those are just some of the things we're up against when trying to recruit the level of talent we need. As a software development and Interactive company, we pride ourselves on innovation. Yet, in order to be innovative and cutting-edge, you need to have a team of talented, innovative, and cutting-edge minds. So how do you create that environment? It's a multi-step process but here are some things that small businesses can offer that not all larger corporations can:

1. Autonomy
This facet of our corporate culture, probably more so than any other, is the main attraction for working at our company. Everyone in our organization has at one point in their career worked for a larger company, and while there are many benefits to larger organizations, there are many drawbacks. One of the greatest complaints that our employees have had about that type of environment is the rigid corporate structure. No one likes to be micro-managed and talented individuals - they loathe it. Why? It hinders their creativity and limits their freedom. Think of it like high school versus university. In high school you have a very stringent organization and everything is monitored, whereas at university you're able to work at your own pace in a space of time alotted. That's how the structure at Mediaura operates. Looking at lines of code or dealing with complex algorithms all day can be very taxing, but there is also an art to doing it right. If we were to micro-manage on top of that stress, the burnout rate would skyrocket and employee satisfaction would plummet to paralyzing lows. That's why we focus more on accountability as a whole. Every team member is aware of their project deadlines, and as long as their work is done correctly and on time, we allow them the freedom to work at their own pace. If you want to work for three hours straight and check out your Facebook page for a bit, so be it. As long as your work is getting completed, we're not going to worry about it. This also promotes collaboration amongst the team, because if someone has a question they can take the time to get advice or ask questions rather than hurrying up to get something done. Rushed projects are always filled with issues.

2. "Make An Impact"
One of the most compelling things that small businesses have going for them is the impact an employee will have on a project. Talented individuals really love being able to demonstrate their skills, and in a smaller environment those assets have a major impact. There aren't 10-20 people performing the same function, so a person's skillset becomes their calling card. That same individual at a larger corporation may only work on a small fraction of a project, but at a smaller company their role is much more substantial and vital. Talented professionals want to feel valued and appreciated. They want their skills and talents to be recognized. No one ever wants to feel replaceable or just a cog in a machine, and in a small business environment they are able to see the immediate impact they have on a project. It becomes clear to them that they are a valuable asset and crucial to the overall business. This can also expand past the company and permeate into the community or the overall industry as well. At Mediaura we develop software solutions that transform the way companies are able to do business, and I mean that quite sincerely. Our programmers and developers know that they are working on projects that will have an impact not only on our clients' businesses but also for the community as a whole. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing something you helped to develop change people's lives or their business dynamic, and know that you played a major role in its creation.

3. Freedom to Experiment and Challenge Ideas
A problem with larger corporate cultures is that they are not always quick to evolve or respond to emerging technology. They may be operating on a business model that hasn't changed for 20-30 years; and while some people may think "well if it's not broke don't fix it" and they would be right, the problem arises when something does need to change and doing so becomes quite a large ordeal. Anyone that has worked for a large business knows about those dreaded two words: Red Tape. Smaller businesses have an edge, in that they are often quite more adaptable to change. Therefore, talent that prefers to work at a quick pace and at the forefront of new technology will be attracted to the possibilites that a small business can offer them.

4. Flexible Work Environment
A lot of employers don't quite comprehend the positive impact that a flexible environment can have on employees. Mediaura has won awards based on our flexible work environment, and we continue to evolve those ideas because we have seen what a difference it makes to our bottom line. People, by their very nature, live quite dynamic lives. They have families or personal situations that occur unexpectedly that necessitate their full attention. We recognize that life can be unpredictable sometimes, and we never want to penalize a team member for those types of situations, because we realize that they are often helpless to prevent them or the situation is out of their hands. Andrew and Amy (the owners of Mediaura) worked very hard at developing a flexible work model that accomodates situations such as these. Companies often tell their employees how valued they are, but they don't often put that into practice. A flexible work environment is a great way to demonstrate that you're a company that means what you say. One of the benefits of our industry is that if an employee needs to work from home for whatever reason, they are able to do so. Our team members appreciate this, because they see that what is important to them (their own well-being, their families, etc.) is important to us as well. It's just another way of showing how valued and appreciative we are of the people who work at our company.

5. Appreciate The Individual
People work an average of 40 hours a week (more if you're in technology, trust me), so a major portion of their lives are spent in an office setting and around their co-workers; but how often do you really get to know the people you work with? Not just the people you like but the entire office? More companies need to see their employees as not only functional in their job capacity, but also as walking advertisements for the business itself. What that means is, companies need to start engaging with their employees and learning about them as individuals. A good example of this that I like to give, is the story of the birthday. For many years I worked at a larger company, and whenever it was someone's birthday, we all gathered into the breakroom, sang "Happy Birthday" and ate some cake. In theory, it's a nice sentiment - in reality, it becomes a hollow practice really fast. It felt like we were in the breakroom every-other-day to celebrate someone's birthday (even if I had never seen them before) and aside from an increased potential of diabetes, nothing was really gained from the experience. Even when it was my own birthday, I found myself thinking that I'd rather just stay at my desk and work. There is only so much cake one person can handle in a year. My point is, it became a very generic thing to do and a few times the recipients didn't even eat or like cake. So here they were sat in a room full of relative strangers watching them all eat cake that they couldn't have or want. That doesn't really make a person feel special on their birthday, does it? Employers should take the time to build team comradery (more than just yearly team outings) and make it a daily occurence. The more you can make an employee feel appreciated and unique, the more loyalty to your brand and the company you will build with them. It's an invaluable investment. The Mediaura philosophy is, the more team unity that exists the higher quality of work results. We make it a point to not only get to know the individual but to also celebrate who they are and their interests. For example, we just had a team member who had a birthday and one of his passions is video games. So we planned a surprise for him, and yesterday afternoon we all got together and spent an hour or two having a LAN party with the entire team playing Starcraft. Not only was he surprised, but the first thing he did was to log onto his social media accounts and talk about it; saying things like, "I work at the coolest company ever" "my boss is the best." This not only had a positive impact on him, but his enthusiasm was now apparent to the whole world-wide-web. His friends (and strangers) alike were responding with, "How do I get a job there?!?" By taking the time and making an effort we are now known as "The Coolest Company Ever" and that will have a positive impact on how we are perceived by people in the community.

These are just a few of the examples of things we do to enhance our corporate culture. Mediaura has become quite legendary in the community for our Beer & Ping-Pong Fridays, where every Friday at 3pm those who have some downtime can drink some beer and play ping-pong. It promotes team bonding and helps to alleviate the stress of the week, so that everyone goes into the weekend feeling refreshed and excited to return on Monday. Now you don't have to have a ping-pong table and drink beer to get the same results, you can go about building relationships in countless ways - the point is that you make the effort to do it. Because when you create an environment that people look forward to participating in, job satisfaction increases, productivity increases, work quality exceeds expectations, accountability reigns supreme, and your HR requirements decrease. Most importantly for small businesses, your ability to attract high-quality, competitive talent becomes unstoppable, because you are seen as "a cool company to work for."

At Mediaura we're often asked how we've been able to build such a diverse and talented team. Through careful strategy and talent attraction, we've recruited a team of amazingly talented individuals. Each one of our team members wears several hats and our corporate culture is one that has created an atmosphere or profesional productivity and yet we still manage to have a lot of fun together (both inside and outside of the office).

When clients and other individuals come into our office they frequently remark on the climate and energy. At any given time, you may have 4 people strategizing in a conference room, other individuals mapping out designs or discussing how to improve a project, and at the same time folks standing around our ping-pong table in the midst of a competitive challenge. Our office is always lively and creative.

Even though we play hard, we work even harder; but the most important (and difficult) piece of that puzzle is finding talented people who can rise to the occassion and fit our employee model. As a young technology company, talent attraction has been the key to our success. However, most of the individuals with the talent and skills we seek often leave our city for employment elsewhere. This is commonly known as the "brain drain" and Mediaura is committed to help stopping it in Louisville.

So mark your calendars, because on Thursday, April 19th, I will be joining Kelley Helegeson of Signature HealthCARE and Melissa Leary of Zappos on a panel discussion for GLI to discuss how we've managed to succeed in this quest.

Mediaura has been growing and adding new team members, and during that process we've been taking a few moments to learn a little bit about the new additions. These entries have been so much fun for us to make, and based on feedback, our readers have been enjoying them as well. So we figured, why not get to know the rest of the team a little bit as well?

When people step into our office, they frequently comment on how young, motivated and energetic our team is. We are of a generation that has always known the Internet and the world wide web, and for some of us, we were on the forefront of the digital revolution as it was happening. This is why we, as a company, are focused on the future, what is next; and it is why we are always looking to see how to make the impossible....possible.

This is what pushes us to innovate and not merely create. We know what can be done, but how do you improve upon the foundation of existing ideas? How do you make a process even more simple? How do you create solutions that save businesses time, money, and reduce overhead while simultaneously driving profits? How can technology be the catalyst or play a role? These are the questions that we ask ourselves every day that we walk through the doors to our office.

One of our youngest team members is also the individual who embodies the Mediaura ideal. He is young, ambitious, driven, intelligent, and doesn't take easy to the word "No." Instead, he finds solutions to problems and ways around roadblocks. Brad first joined the Mediaura team as a high school intern and he has quickly grown into one of the cornerstones of our development team.

If Brad Cypert is the future of Interactive and Software Development, then kick up your feet and relax. Your future is in good hands.

Meet Brad Cypert

1. If you could have one super power what would it be?

Super power... hmm...The power to calm others and to create an instant state of peace within them.

2. What is your favorite movie and why?

Anchorman by far. I feel like the classy wits of Ron Burgandy reflect very well upon my own sense of humor.

3. What makes you laugh?

I laugh at a lot really. I always find humor in well developed jokes, or a dry sense of humor, and in reality as well. Oh, I also enjoy bad puns, they're most definitely my favorite.

4. So why do you like computer programming?

Well, I'm not exactly the most creative person in the world. Drawing was never my thing, and I couldn't paint an apple properly in middle school. I found that programming allows me to flex my creative side through the use of logic. At first, It's hard to grasp how those two work together, but once you understand it and can implement it, It's amazing what you can accomplish. The satisfaction of looking at your own work and saying, "Yes. I did that." always helps too.

5. What is your favorite color?

Blue

6. What is your favorite album?

Right now it'd have to be Some Nights by Fun.

7. Android or iPhone?

It's all about personal preference, and I prefer an iPhone.

8. If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be?

Im not sure I would trade places with anyone else for a day. I'd love to see things from someone elses shoes, but I would also be afraid of missing something important in my life for that day. If I had to choose though, I'd say Dale Carnegie (back when he was writing books and giving lectures). What that man has taught me is remarkable.

9. One of Brad's many talents, is playing the ukulele. He often brings it to work and uses it to lighten the mood or to entertain the team. But none of us really know how he learned to play such a unique instrument. So Brad, how did that come about?

Originally, I started playing Piano, and I didn't enjoy it. I moved onto Bass guitar, and it was alright. I finally picked up an acoustic guitar and loved it. It produced the sound that I desired to hear, but I didn't want to stop there. I recieved a ukulele for my birthday and it has been what I've been hooked on since. I love the tone and the style. It's relaxing. I plan on tackling the banjo next though.

10. Finally, what is one piece of advice you would give to someone looking to have a mobile app created?

I would recommend that they make the most of their app. A mobile app and a mobile website are two completely different things, although they often get confused as the same. If it can't be accomplished on a website, it can probably be accomplished on an app; vice versa. Just make the most of it, because there are plenty of apps that don't reach their potential.

Mediaura has long been a proponent regarding the value that membership in the American Advertising Federation of Louisville brings to any business, especially a small one. The connection and networking opportunities are endless, in addition to the informative luncheons and speakers on best-practices that they bring to our community. As an organization there is truly something for everyone to find.

As a company we have sponsored previous events, helping to bring keynote speaker Paul Dery of R/GA to Louisville and our team has been working diligently at placing the final touches on the AdFed Mobile App (launching soon).

I have been a member of the Executive Board, Vice President of Communications, for the past year and I am so proud to have the opportunity to have helped put together the latest version of the print Communique' with my amazing team of committee volunteers.

This issue of the Communique' focuses on the future of advertising; highlighting best practices, sharing tips for what works & what doesn't, and looking forward to the changing climate of our industry as a whole. Featuring contributions from the leading professionals in our area, this issue of the Communique' has something for everyone; whether you're a sales professional, a charity, government official, or an interactive company, etc. Just like the AdFed itself, we've got you covered.

This issue of the Communique' has been a labor of love, and being able to see it materialize from a concept into a tangible magazine has been a wonderful adventure that I am so honored to have helped lead.

Make sure to check out the article entitled "Interactive Technology and Change" written by Mediaura's CEO Andrew Aebersold. As a company, thinking ahead to the future is what helps set us apart from other organizations; so Andrew has a few tips to share on what companies should keep an eye on.

Special thanks to Mary and Julie at the AdFed for helping make this become a reality, Doug Prater for giving me the opportunity to participate on the Executive Board this year, Mark Cable for his wonderful artwork and helping to realize the vision, and to all of whom helped to contribute to this project. It couldn't have been done without you.

Make sure to pick up your copy today or contact the American Advertising Federation of Louisville's office to find out how you can get your own. They make an eye-catching, and valuable read for any business lobby or waiting area as well!

-Dawn

Mediaura would like to welcome the latest addition to our team, Courtney Blanton!

Courtney joins the team as our lead administrator and Executive Assistant. From now on, when you call our offices, she will be the person with whom you are speaking. So in order to get to know the voice that will be on the other end of the line, here are 10 random facts about Courtney.

10 Random Facts About Courtney Blanton

1. She has a secret obsession with disco music.
2. She has been a vegetarian for four years.
3. She worked as a professional model for six years.
4. She loves hiking and the outdoors.
5. Her biggest pet peeve is when people chew with their mouths open.
6. Her sense of humor can best be described as that of a kindergartner. "I laugh at things that a two year old would find amusing."
7. While she is spending her Spring Break in the Bahamas, she really dreams of visiting Rome, Italy.
8. Her favorite color is baby blue.
9. Courtney's favorite book is, "The Kingdom of God is Within You" by Leo Tolstoy
10. She studied karate for five years. That makes her an expert, right?

Welcome to the team Courtney. We are excited to have you join the growing Mediaura family.

Mediaura ProBuilder Print (formerly known as ADBuilder) is our proprietary, patent-pending web-based software that lets you create templates for your organization to easily and rapidly create customized print-ready content that meets brand standards.

Key Features:

• Patent-pending visual editor allows for real-time creation of content
• Full dynamic sizing capabilities
• Image library allows you to choose from approved content for image customization or upload your own
• Image placement tools allow you to scale and move images on the canvas in real time
• Business database allows you to store custom information specific to a business and auto-populate that on the template, including custom logos per business
• Create black & white or full color CMYK content
• Full control of font face, size and colors
• Choose from approved background images and colors to maximize template capabilities
• Capable of supporting high quality billboard-sized content
• Create single page content or multiple page brochures
• E-Commerce ready means you can send your created designs directly to a printer upon completion
• User-rights management built-in

Mediaura is proud to welcome Zachary Winter.

Zach is the latest website developer to join our growing team. With a strong background in front-end design, website development, programming, mobile applications and software implementation he is a perfect fit for our team.

10 Random Facts About Zach

1. He has a cat named Oliver (that he rescued with the help of Mediaura's CEO Andrew).
2. One of his favorite movies is Airplane, starring Leslie Nielsen.
3. He went to high school at Walden and graduated at the age of 16.
4. Zach is a certified SCUBA diver, and was once in the water with approximately 35 reef sharks.
5. While he doesn't feel like he has any abnormal phobias, he readily admits to hating spiders.
6. He is big on typography.
7. His favorite color is red.
8. He enjoys recording music and has a mini-setup at his house.
9. Currently reading Jack Kerouac.
10. Death Cab For Cutie's "Transatlanticism" is one of his favorite albums.

Everyone at Mediaura is excited to have Zach as the newest addition to our team!