Featured on meraki.cisco.com – June 14, 2016
Not to be confused with ‘Meraki-Gives’, our Meraki-Giving campaign spread holiday cheer to nonprofits last November with the help of our Meraki partners.
Last November, the Meraki team launched Meraki-Giving, a seasonal campaign aimed at fostering relationships with our partner reseller community and their nonprofit customers. This initiative was designed to provide valuable support to nonprofit organizations by offering them the opportunity to receive 5 Meraki Access Points (APs) free of charge. The only requirement for participating partners was to assist with the installation and deployment of the new network equipment if their nonprofit customer was selected.
We were thrilled to receive an overwhelming number of submissions, each highlighting the incredible work being done by nonprofits across the country. The detailed submissions and inspiring mission statements made the task of narrowing down the list to 50 winning organizations quite challenging. One of the standout winners in this campaign was The Drake House, a nonprofit organization based in metro Atlanta, GA, which has been collaborating with Carmichael Consulting Solutions for the past four years.
The Drake House & Carmichael Consulting Solutions
The Drake House is a nonprofit organization located in Roswell, GA, dedicated to providing temporary emergency housing and support services for single mothers with children. The organization operates a 16-unit apartment complex that serves as a safe haven for families in need. In addition to providing housing, The Drake House offers a range of programs designed to support residents in achieving self-sufficiency. These programs include tutoring, mentoring, career counseling, and access to basic provisions.
The organization’s mission is to keep families together, particularly mothers with sons who are often separated in traditional shelter environments. By offering essential resources and support, The Drake House aims to help residents secure employment and achieve financial stability, ultimately allowing them to sustain their independence within the community. Under the leadership of Executive Director Kathy Swahn, The Drake House has achieved an impressive 78% success rate with its residents.
Carmichael Consulting Solutions, a local managed service provider in the Atlanta metro area, was founded by Tyler Jones just over five years ago. Tyler and his team had previously collaborated with Cisco Meraki and The Drake House to set up a Meraki security appliance for their network. When Tyler learned about the Meraki-Giving campaign, he recognized it as an ideal opportunity for The Drake House to enhance their network infrastructure. The new Meraki Access Points would provide improved wireless performance and security, while Carmichael Consulting Solutions would benefit from the proactive monitoring, visibility, and management that come with the Meraki cloud-managed solution.
Tyler described his partnership with Cisco Meraki as “fantastic” because “Meraki essentially becomes an additional employee” for them, providing a significant advantage for a small team like theirs. With the new Meraki APs in place, Carmichael Solutions assists The Drake House in managing their wireless and wired network without the need for constant on-site presence. This enhanced network connectivity is crucial for The Drake House, as it supports the use of cloud-based tools essential for managing sensitive client data required to secure funding for the organization.
Residents of The Drake House utilize the network from a computer lab within the center or from their private apartments. This connectivity is vital for children working on school assignments and mothers searching for and applying to job opportunities. By integrating Meraki wireless and security devices, Carmichael Solutions helps manage bandwidth usage, prioritizing mission-critical applications over recreational activities such as YouTube or Netflix.
When Kathy Swahn commented on the performance of the new network, she initially expressed concern over apparent network issues, a reaction that might seem counterintuitive. However, this feedback was indicative of the increased visibility into network problems that the Meraki APs provided. Tyler explained that the enhanced visibility allowed them to identify and address previously hidden issues, leading to a more stable and reliable network.
At Meraki, our goal is to create technology that connects and empowers people. The partnership between The Drake House and Carmichael Consulting Solutions exemplifies this mission, showcasing how technology can support and enhance the work of nonprofit organizations. We are proud to support this strong partnership and celebrate the positive impact it has on the community.
For more information and to explore additional Meraki case studies, visit Meraki’s case studies. We are always eager to hear more partner and customer success stories, so if you have a compelling story to share, reach out to a Meraki representative.
By Margaret Good
