Challenge: Internal IT Running Low on Bandwidth

As Senior Director of Technology for the Boston Celtics, Jay Wessel was responsible for managing all aspects of technology - from strategic direction down to help desk support for his end users. The sole technical resource for the Celtics, Jay found himself getting pulled in multiple directions on a regular basis, severely impacting his time to focus on initiatives and priorities. Although Jay had always been open to assistance, he was never convinced on the value of his options.

"My experience was that most consultant-type IT help was more trouble than it was worth. Many times when I would try to get help we would end up spending a lot of money for someone to come in, do 90% of the work, then disappear with the hardest parts still left undone. Because of that, for many years I wouldn't even bother with outside help."

Solution: Flexibility and Getting Time Back

Jay decided to take another look at augmenting his IT after attending a Thrive Networks "Business and IT Strategies" seminar. Impressed by Thrive's knowledge and experience, he agreed to a consultative meeting. Through a process that outlined the Celtics needs and the potential options for support, Jay and Thrive decided that the most appropriate way to start the relationship would be for Thrive to perform their comprehensive Network Health Assessment. The outcome of this was a prioritized list of recommendations and solutions that turned into a mutually agreed upon action plan.

"After the Network Health Assessment we discussed internally if it made sense to work with Thrive, and the answer was yes. It was less expensive than hiring another internal resource, and Thrive brought more than a single person could. Thrive brought expertise that we wouldn't get with a lower-level hire"

With Thrive now on board, immediate priorities were addressed through a team driven approach that leveraged the knowledge and experience of both Jay and Thrive. Once all pressing issues were resolved, it was time to focus on how Thrive could help the Celtics with technology on an ongoing basis. Thrive worked to develop a plan that would fit Jay's exact needs and give him time back to work on higher value strategic initiatives for the Celtics.

Result: A True Partnership

Today Thrive provides the Boston Celtics and Jay with a support structure that is flexible enough to adapt to their constantly changing technology needs. During the basketball season, Thrive gives Jay time back to focus on maintenance, stability, and ensuring that IT for all end users and facilities works seamlessly. During the off-season, Thrive works with Jay to address strategic initiatives and make necessary improvements to the overall infrastructure.

The result is that Jay and the Celtics now have a true partner when it comes to their technology support needs. Thrive's three main goals of seamless IT, time back to internal employees, and the leveraging of best practices continue to be the cornerstone of this relationship and its ongoing success.

"Where Thrive adds the most value for me is in the comfort level they provide. I know that when I run into problems I won't be scrambling to try and find a solution because I can always turn to them for help. And when I'm not having problems, I look to them to make sure that I avoid issues going forward."