Specifically, NCC will provide ongoing on-site webcasting support, as well as closed captioning, transcription, and annotation services for NIH events taking place off the main campus.  Among other responsibilities, NCC personnel will set up equipment, test connections, continuously monitor live webcast streams, troubleshoot issues and questions, and maintain a robust webcast archive.

Webcasting is one of the primary mediums that NIH uses to publish and share information with national and global research communities.  The thousands of hours of video available in NIH’s webcast archives are evidence that NIH began leveraging this technology well before many of its contemporaries.  NCC’s technical experience and shared dedication to pursuing innovative approaches in the dissemination of information position us to well as we strengthen our partnership with NIH.

We are excited by this opportunity to implement world-class webcasting solutions for NIH and add it to our roster of satisfied clients that includes such federal agencies as the Department of Energy, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  NIH DMA was NCC’s first client upon our inception in 2002 as a requestor of voice-to-text services, and a decade later our relationship has proven to be productive and enduring.  In 2012, we will add new depth to our experience with the provision of webcasting support services.

The range of information is vast; books we’ve been reading or looking forward to reading: now we know why the author was compelled to write the story.  Movies we’ve been anticipating: we hear how the actors came to prepare for the role.  Real-life events that pop up in the headlines in the morning are often being discussed, transcribed, and edited by us that afternoon.  No topic is off-limits, no idea too old or new, no stone left unturned.

Perhaps the one of the best perks of the job are the surprises that come our way.  When Multimedia Editor Sawyer Smith began to work on a talk from the Library of Congress’ Book Festival, he’d never read anything by author James Swanson before, and didn’t know anything about the topic of his most recent book.  By the end of the day however, Sawyer was making plans to buy and read the book, Manhunt: the 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer.  Why?  “This isn’t a guy who looked up stuff on the Internet,” Sawyer explains. “He did the legwork.”  Hearing about this author’s personal dedication to his material in his own words, in his own voice, was a powerful motivator to read his book.

At NCC, our work enriches our experiences of life by teaching us new things about topics we are already familiar with and by introducing us to new ideas.  Maybe they’ll become our new passion; maybe they won’t.  But no matter what, we come out of the experience a little more knowledgeable — and a little more curious about what’s next.

Our refreshed logo emphasizes our transparent approach to conducting business, one of our founding values.  It visually depicts the interconnectedness of our service offerings, of our clients and partners, and of our company to the community.  We have also incorporated the capitol building into the logo to highlight our location in the Washington DC area and our overarching commitment to deliver the highest quality services to our large federal client base.

NCC President & CEO Chris Marquez notes, “Since our inception 10 years ago, NCC has been committed to exceeding each client’s expectations.  We have refreshed our logo to better reflect the collaboration that takes place between our partners, our divisions, and our clients.  In our second decade of service we will continue to embrace the beliefs that have led to our continued success and that comprise the foundation of our corporate culture: adherence to the highest ethical standards, dedication to excellence, and focus on achieving our clients’ objectives.”

• Built lasting relationships with government and commercial clients
• Led logistics efforts for NCC’s first conference contracts and wrote winning proposals for additional contracts
• Acted as AV Project Manager from 2008 – 2010
• Oversaw design and marketing efforts to update website and expand NCC brand

In her capacity as VP of Operations, Lorene will collaborate with division managers and directors to identify and implement changes in operations necessary to support our continued growth while simultaneously improving quality, employee job satisfaction, productivity and customer service.  We look forward to her continued contributions at NCC for many years to come!

NCC wishes our clients, partners, vendors, and every employee health and happiness in the New Year.  2012 marks an important milestone for our company as we celebrate 10 years since our inception in 2002, so we invite you to check in regularly as we release news and notes to commemorate this special year.

NCC’s new employees started working on December 15th at DOE’s Germantown, MD facility.  Our team, led by Project Manager Ms. Amy Clark, will provide customer assistance as well as support in preparing grant announcements, receiving and distributing grant applications, coordinating the evaluation process, commercialization monitoring, assistance with outreach activities, and other requirements associated with the electronic grants management process.

Each year, federal agencies that participate in the SBIR/STTR programs set aside 2.5% and 0.3%, respectively, of their extramural research and development (R&D) budgets to provide funding to small businesses through grants or contracts to stimulate technological innovation to meet federal agency research and development needs.  The DOE SBIR/STTR programs currently provide $167.5 Million ($149.6 Million for SBIR and $17.5 Million for STTR) annually in research grants to high-technology small businesses in support of high-quality research or R&D on advanced concepts concerning important mission-related scientific or engineering problems and opportunities that are likely to lead to significant public benefit.

NCC will be providing end-to-end support of DOE’s SBIR/STTR program, and we are very excited and proud to be associated with this important and unique program.  We are confident our newest team members will provide DOE staff members and prospective grantees with the superior support and commitment to customer satisfaction our clients have come to expect.

In addition to the IRG Meetings that took place in late October and early November, our team’s assistance was requested for Contract Review Meeting in mid-October. Along with overseeing the basic meeting requirements for venue and travel coordination, our Conference Planner collaborated with our subcontractor, Rose Li and Associates, in response to a last-minute request for a technical writer to capture the meeting’s proceedings on-site. NCC’s responsiveness set the tone for how our services would be provided for the upcoming Study Section Meetings.

Our team members arrived on-site two hours early on the first meeting day to verify room and equipment configuration, set up registration displays, and finalize all meeting collateral.  With everything in order, NCC staff welcomed participants, distributed paperwork, and directed them to the spacious conference rooms to begin the reviews.  During the meetings, our Meeting Planner assisted in establishing a conference phone line into the meeting room, enabling remote participants to offer their input on the proposals without hindrance or interruption to the review process.

One popular inquiry our planners addressed pertained to a new software system to streamline the reimbursement process, resulting in a faster turnaround for payments to the reviewers.  Post-meeting, CPRM team members were available to field phone calls and emails regarding the system, and within five business days, funds were being directly deposited into participants’ bank accounts.  More than 450 unique reimbursements will be processed by our CPRM division within the next year.

As a result of our excellent responsiveness and customer support on-site, our Conference Planner received the following note: “Just want to thank you very much for all you did to make my meeting a success.  I especially love the way you went out of your way to make sure I was comfortable and how you waited on me; it made me feel very special.  Again, thank you and I look forward to working with you in the future.”

The CPRM team has already begun preparations for the next set of IRG meetings in February to March 2012 and anticipates exceeding AHRQ’s expectations once again.

Prior to beginning the walk, members of Team NCC prepped and hydrated themselves while enjoying live entertainment from jugglers, magicians, and clowns.  Ronnie Adler, the Hearing Loss Association of America‘s (HLAA) National Walk4Hearing Program Manager, presented awards to the top individual fundraisers and announced HLAA had exceeded its fundraising goals for the year.  She also read a motivational and appreciative message from the National Honorary Chairman, Washington Redskins Safety Reed Doughty (#37), who has been supported by HLAA as he copes with a genetic and progressive hearing loss.

As Ronnie fired up the soon-to-be-walkers, participants who were deaf or had a hearing loss could use their smart phones to view streaming CART text of her speech.  When the ceremonial ribbon was snipped in two to launch the Walk, Team NCC joined over 300 walkers on foot to show their support.  Members of our team posed for pictures and captured video to commemorate the brisk stroll around the Tidal Basin.

NCC’s participation in the Walk4Hearing, including financial support from NCC employees who were unable to walk, reflects our company’s dedication to supporting the deaf community and individuals with a hearing loss beyond our specialization in voice-to-text services.  We congratulate HLAA on a record fundraising total that exceeded their original goal of $1.2 million, and look forward to supporting HLAA again at the 2012 DC Walk4Hearing.

Click here to read more about NCC and the Walk4Hearing.

On October 31, 2011, NCC employees suited up in their funniest, scariest, and oddest ensembles for our first-ever costume contest.  Employees were treated to the unusual Monday morning sight of our Pizza Slice and Betty Rubble Conference Planners carrying event posters across the parking lot.  As they and the rest of our creepy crew entered NCC headquarters, our Little Red Riding Hood receptionist took their photographs, which were made available for all employees to view so each could vote for their favorite costumes.

The Pink Power Ranger brought justice to employees by safely depositing paychecks into the bank accounts of their rightful owners, while 50s gals in poodle skirts, the tanking U.S. Economy, and even Zombies came to life and vivaciously transcribed.  Senior management joined the fun, as a Penguin set out on an expedition to scour the land for new contract opportunities and a Chipotle Burrito ensured that each division was operating effectively.

Categories for best costumes recognized the diverse creativity and talent of NCC employees.  Best Overall went to a Terrifying Clown and by unanimous decision our Penguin VP of Business Development accepted the title for Funniest.  Other prizes for scariest, cutest, and most original were also presented, and afterwards employees devoured ghoulish monster eyeballs, deviled eggs, and other treats.  See the picture below to view all the imaginative disguises.

All of us at NCC hope your Halloween was light on the tricks and heavy on the treats!