In The News

Maureen Osako selected as guest speaker for Cedar Valley Chapter of Iowa Credit Unions

Maureen Osako presented "5 Internet Strategies to Grow Your Business" as part of the monthly meeting for the Cedar Valley Chapter of Iowa Credit Unions.

Their meeting was held on Tuesday, March 11th at Cibo Fusion in Marion, IA.

Maureen Osako is Vice President of Client Services at Informatics, Inc., an Internet development company in downtown Cedar Rapids specializing in web design, custom software development, and high availability hosting services. If you are interested in Maureen speaking at your next event, please contact Informatics.

Sigma Pharmaceuticals helps fight the young Iowan “brain drain”

In an age when Iowa is experiencing an unprecedented “brain drain”, it is a positive sign to see one of our young adults return to work in Iowa. This is the case with Nichole Fisher and Sigma Pharmaceuticals.

Sigma Pharmaceuticals, LLC is a wholesale distributor of ophthalmic products to eye care practitioners across the United States. The company offers name brand and generic pharmaceutical options as well as an extensive line of unique ophthalmic items, and Sigma strives to meet the individual needs of practitioners while offering competitive prices.

After graduating from Harvard Law School and working in New York City, Monticello native Nichole Fisher returned to Iowa and was hired in 2007 as the Director of Operations at Sigma. ”When I first returned to Iowa, I have to admit that I did not plan on staying here.  I was simply going to help my parents out with a few projects while I looked for a job elsewhere.  However, as I began working with my parents at Sigma Pharmaceuticals, I started recognizing that there were tremendous opportunities for growth and development of the business.  I also realized how much I love living in Iowa.  Consequently, I decided to remain in Iowa and to lead a restructuring effort at Sigma.  Since that time I have been involved with some significant and exciting changes in the business.”

One of the projects that Ms. Fisher spearheaded was the redesign of the company website. “A couple of years ago, our company recognized the need for a web presence, so we had an e-commerce website developed.  The original website, however, was extremely basic, it was not user-friendly, and it simply did not make us appear to be the professional and reputable company that we are.”

Sigma Pharmaceuticals partnered with Informatics, Inc. to create an e-commerce application that focused on products and the ability to easily order online. A simple Content Management System was created that allows Sigma Pharmaceuticals to maintain products and process orders, as well as other tasks.

“With our new website, we are finding that many of our customers who, in the past, may have called us to place their orders now find it easier and more efficient to place their orders online, which in turn has allowed our employees to spend less time on the phone and more time focusing on other aspects of customer service.  In addition, because our new website is so user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing, our customers are taking the time to explore and learn about our entire product selection instead of purchasing only those products they have ordered from us previously.  Finally, our new website is one of the primary marketing tools we are using to attract new customers, especially younger eye care professionals who are likely to use the web as their first resource when looking for the products they need.”  

For more information about Sigma Pharmaceuticals, please visit sigmapharmaceuticals.com

Maureen Osako selected as guest speaker for Cedar Rapids Public Relations Associates

Maureen Osako presented "Web Trends" as part of the monthly meeting for the Cedar Rapids Public Relations Associates.

The meeting was held on January 10th, 2008 at the Coe College Clark Alumni House. For more information, please visit their website at http://www.crpra.com.

Maureen Osako is Vice President of Client Services at Informatics, Inc., an Internet development company in Downtown Cedar Rapids specializing in web design, custom software development and high availability hosting services. If you are interested in Maureen speaking at your next event, please contact Informatics.

Maureen Osako selected to speak at Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance Business Summit

Maureen Osako is Keynote Speaker for Erb's Open House

Maureen Osako, Vice President of Client Services, was selected to present "Top 5 Internet Strategies to Grow Your Business" as the Keynote Speaker for the Erb's Open House.

The Open House was held on Friday, October 26th, 2007 from Noon and 7:00p.m. and was a joint venture with Erb's and Microsoft Across America. Other events during the day including vendor fairs, workshops from HP, and a drawing for the Extreme Technology Makeover.

If you are interested in Maureen speaking at your next event, please contact Informatics.

Informatics Voted Best Web Developer in the Corridor for 2nd Year in a Row

Informatics has been voted Best Web Developer in the Corridor for the 2nd year in a Row by the readers of the Corridor Business Journal.

Maureen Osako, partner and vice president at Informatics, said the company has seen a lot of web development companies come and go over the years.

But at Informatics, voted best web site developer in the Corridor two years in a row, several unique factors have given it staying power, including its experience, its multidisciplinary team approach, the fact it is a “one-stop Internet shop,” its high level of customer service and its process.

“We have a unique, tried and true web development process that ensures each project is developed correctly to the client’s requirements and specifications,” said Ms. Osako. “This process also enables us to get projects completed on time and on budget.”

Informatics — which has been doing business since 1998 and employs 16 people locally — develops approximately 50 web sites a year and provides hosting services for several hundred clients to help them use technology to do their business better.

It is those clients that contribute to their continued success, Ms. Osako said. “We have built our business without a sales force and with very little advertising. We are strictly a referral-based company. Our clients are happy with their projects and tell others about us. We feel referrals and recommendations from satisfied customers are the best form of advertising a company can have.”

- Katie Giorgio
Corridor Business Journal

Iowa Asian Alliance Announces Winners of 2007 AdmirAsian Achievement Awards

The AdmirAsian Selection Committee has selected Informatics, Inc. as one of the winners of the 2007 AdmirAsian Achievement Awards. The AdmirAsian Achievement Awards honor individuals and organizations that have demonstrated outstanding leadership and contributions to the community.

Winners of the AdmirAsian Achievement Awards will be honored at a formal reception, dinner, and awards ceremony on Saturday, October 13, 2007 from 5pm to 9pm at The Meadows Events and Conference Center at Prairie Meadows in Altoona. AdmirAsian is the fall signature event of the Iowa Asian Alliance (IAA) and is hosted by Prairie Meadows and sponsored in part by Citi, Des Moines Register, and Polk County Board of Supervisors.

The selection committee is comprised of Iowa Asian Alliance stakeholders from sponsoring companies, past winners, and the community at large. The goals of this unique and prestigious event are to celebrate the accomplishments of the honorees and to inspire future community leadership. Approximately 350 business and community leaders are expected to attend the event. For more information, please contact Kim Poam Logan at 515-273-5100/ klpoam@iowaasianalliance.com, or visit: www.iowaasianalliance.com/ or www.admirasian.org/.

Maureen Osako speaks at Chamber Technology Seminar

Maureen Osako was selected to present "E-Marketing Options and Trends" as part of the summer seminar series hosted by the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce.

The presentation luncheon was held on June 27th from 11:30 - 1:00pm at the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce. The presentation covered topics such as: "Find out who's online and what they are doing. Discover tips on how you can reach this growing market."

Interested in attending the other available seminars this summer? Please visit the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce website, designed by Informatics, at www.cedarrapids.org.

Maureen Osako is Vice President of Client Services at Informatics, Inc., an Internet development company in Downtown Cedar Rapids specializing in web design, custom software development and high availability hosting services.

New Website Redesign - HACAP

Informatics has recently launched of new website redesign for HACAP (Hawkeye Area Community Action Program). Informatics was selected from four finalists to develop a new site for Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP).

Informatics provided HACAP with a new, user friendly website that makes it easier for the public to learn about the various programs at HACAP, search upcoming events and training sessions, download forms and find answers to their questions. An easy-to-use Content Management System allows non-technical staff to maintain various portions of the website such as: Programs, Events, News, FAQ, Links, Form and Photo Upload.

The mission of HACAP is to promote economic and emotional strength toward a goal of self-sufficiency for poor people in our communities. Programs that support this mission include Head Start, WIC, Transitional Housing and more. HACAP embraces the philosophy of “a help up, not a hand out” in their commitment to empower and improve the lives of families, living with the everyday barriers of poverty. HACAP provides service in eight counties.

For more information about HACAP, please visit www.hacap.org

Frank Osako chosen as 2007 Corridor Economic Forecast Panelist

Frank Osako has been selected by the Corridor Business Journal as a panelist for the 2007 Corridor Economic Forecast Luncheon.

The luncheon will be on held on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007 at 11:30am at the Coralville Marriott Hotel.  Attend the meeting to find out what is in store for the Corridor's economy in 2007.

Osako is Founder and President of Informatics, Inc., an Internet development company in downtown Cedar Rapids specializing in web design, custom software development and high availability hosting services.

New Website Redesign – Trilogy Communications Ltd.

tesselSUITE Website Redesign - Professional Women's Network

John Osako selected as one of the Forty Under 40

Informatics is pleased to announce that John Osako, co-founder and vice president of development, has been chosen as a recipient of the Forty Under 40 Award from the Corridor Business Journal for 2006.

For more information about this award, please the full article at www.corridorbiznews.com.

John Osako is the co-founder and vice president of development for Cedar Rapids-based Informatics, a web agency that defines, designs, develops and hosts web sites and custom web applications.

Mr. Osako has served as a primary architect for a variety of business applications such as simple web catalogs and comprehensive web-based data acquisition and reporting systems, amoung other things.

He is a charter and board member of Metro North Rotary and represents the international commitee. He is also a high school classroom volunteer with Junior Achievement, a 2006 graduate of the Leadership for Five Seasons program and is current the chair of the Nucleus Retail Incubator board.

Linn County Supervisor Linda Langston touted Mr. Osako as a significant contributor to Cedar Rapids' Nucleus Incubator since its inception and described him as "quietly passionate about his interests, his business, and life in general."

In addition to his work with Nucleus Incubator, Mr. Osako also has been active in the recent efforts to change the form of government in Cedar Rapids and with the 2006 mayoral race.

- Christina L. Erb
Corridor Business Journal

Informatics Wins Bid

Informatics was selected from four finalists to develop a new site for Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP), www.hacap.org.

The mission of HACAP is to promote economic and emotional strength toward a goal of self-sufficiency for poor people in our communities. Programs that support this mission include Head Start, WIC, Transitional Housing and more.

Informatics will develop a new, user friendly site for HACAP that will make it easy to learn more about services and programs available across a seven county region. A back end Content Management System will enable each program to keep their content up to date.

Informatics Voted Best Web Developer in the Corridor

Governor Vilsack Appoints Cedar Rapids man to state-wide task force