BlueBerryIT

Something to celebrate this week: Hazel recently passed her Te Reo Level 1 certificate!

Join us in congratulating Hazel on this fantastic achievement in her Te Reo Māori journey - we're excited for her to share her newfound knowledge around the office. Ka Pai!

If you’re wondering what all the palaver about AI is - check this out. Not yet available but coming very soon.

A simple prompt and this is what was created.

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Welcome back to our customers who are back in the office this week! We're looking forward to getting stuck into the new year with you. 🫐

Join us in congratulating Hamish and Kenny on their graduation from NMIT last week! They both graduated with a Bachelor of Information Technology majoring in Systems Development.

We're super proud of both of these two, and looking forward to growing further with them on the team!

The first few trips from our Christmas fairy Andries have been a big success, visiting the Nelson Aviation College and Te Āwhina Marae to deliver some goodies, as well as the news about our Christmas donations to Nelson Tasman Hospice. Thanks for having us!

*** Christmas Support ***
The BlueBerryIT offices in Nelson and Blenheim will be closing at the end of the day on Friday 22nd December reopening Wednesday 3rd January.

If you have any urgent support requests during this time please call our BlueBerryIT Support line on 03 548 4923.

All calls during this period will be routed to Call Care who will contact our on-call support engineer.

Great to visit the 'Bridge to Better' presentation this week, learning about the planned infrastructure work on Bridge street, and the council's wider plans to improve the Nelson CBD.

There are stacks of innovative ideas floating around to revitalise our city! Check out the What if Whakatū Nelson space at at 263 Hardy St, or their website for more information: https://www.whatifnelson.co.nz/

Season's Greetings and a Heartfelt thank you!

In recognition of this being the season for an abundance of food and drink, we've decided to forgo the customary BlueBerryIT cakes this year. Instead, on behalf of our customers, we will be making a donation to the Nelson Tasman Hospice — a cause that strongly aligns with our values and dedication to creating a meaningful and positive impact.

The Nelson Tasman Hospice plays a crucial role in providing compassionate, specialist palliative care for those facing life-limiting illnesses; supporting them, their whānau and carers through illness, death and bereavement.

Christmas Support:
The BlueBerryIT offices in Nelson and Blenheim will be closing at the end of the day on Friday 22nd December reopening Wednesday 3rd January.

If you have any urgent support requests during this time please call our BlueBerryIT Support line on 03 548 4923.

All calls during this period will be routed to Call Care who will contact our on-call support engineer.

Continuing on with birthday season, the team made Richard's day with a thoughtful and considerate gift last week!

It's been a big few weeks for birthdays around the office, with both Kenny and Hannah celebrating the big Three Zero!

Happy birthday from the BlueBerry bunch.

Tense scenes in the office this afternoon as we prepare for the RWC final this weekend!

Normally we'd be All Blacks all the way, but our recent South African additions might have something to say about that....

Either way, there'll be some long faces and humble pie in the office on Monday.

Just a quick announcement to celebrate the fact that every member of our exceptional engineering team has successfully earned their Microsoft certifications!

This achievement showcases our commitment to delivering top-notch services to our customers - every single one of whom rely on Microsoft products every day. With these certifications, we are better equipped than ever to provide you with expert support and solutions.

It was great to attend a Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce talk this afternoon by Cawthron Institute CEO Volker Kuntzsch about Moananui - a project to develop New Zealand's 'blue economy' into a world leader in sustainable and regenerative ocean business.

Keep an eye on their website for more information: https://www.moananui.org.nz/

We're berry proud to continue our sponsorship of the Nelson Arts Festival.

This year, we're supporting 'Rise of the Olive', an action-packed comedy circus act by Laser Kiwi - so full you’ll be given a run sheet on arrival so you can keep up!

This show will be at the Theatre Royal Nelson between 24-25 October - find out more and buy tickets at the link below:

RISE OF THE OLIVE Rise of the Olive features World Record Bounce Juggling & Jenga Stunts (as seen on TVNZ’s recent season of 60 Seconds talent show), and a whole host of other high caliber left field skills and comedy. 3D glasses and morph suits will make a comeback, a heart stopping innovative Aerial…

Cake day in the office to celebrate some recent wins!

If you've been around the office recently, you might have met Hamish Drogemuller, who is currently interning at BlueBerry while he finishes the final year of his Bachelor's Degree in IT.

Hamish has had a huge variety of jobs, but started his IT journey with a Tech Diploma course at NMIT, which ended up turning into a full degree, leading him to us! Hamish is working on a project which focuses on increasing the ease in which various data sources are analysed and reported on.

Outside of work Hamish prefers to get away from the screen by getting out and about around the Tasman area (annoying his partner by stopping to take photos of birds every 10 seconds).

Moving forward, Hamish plans on focusing on data science roles, working to develop and train Artificial Intelligence models.

Say hi to Hamish if you see him around! We're happy to have him with us.

This week, Hazel shared some of what she has learned about Te Reo Māori. Hazel has been studying the language since March, and it was great to have her insights on how we can use it more correctly around the office.

We learned about the Te Reo names of cities and towns around Aotearoa, as well as the correct pronunciation of some of the words we use often with our iwi clients.

We're looking forward to being able to kōrero more effectively in future!

We're excited to introduce Hannah Wilson, the newest addition to our software development team here at BlueBerryIT.

Before joining us, Hannah's background includes a stint as a dairy farmer in Southland and the West Coast. She then transitioned to Nelson to study a Bachelor of Information Technology at NMIT.

Hannah spent a year and a half honing her skills in full stack development and diving into a solo project through which she taught herself Microsoft Power Platform. This journey sparked her passion for all things Power Platform, which ultimately led her to BlueBerryIT.

When not immersed in the tech world, Hannah finds joy in active pursuits, going for runs and walks with her golden retriever, Lilly. And when it's time to unwind, you might find her gaming, knitting, or crocheting. Hannah makes 'a banging pair of socks' and giant woolen blankets.

Looking forward, Hannah's goals include gaining Microsoft Power Platform certifications and staying up-to-date with the latest developments in the Power Platform realm. We're thrilled to have her as part of our team, and we're excited to see her achieve these milestones with us. Welcome Hannah!

Last Tuesday, Hamish and Kenny were invited along to NMIT to present to a Web Framework Development Class. The class serves as a springboard for students to delve into industry-standard tools and technologies within the M365 ecosystem, and we were happy to shed light on our use of Power Platform in this environment.

Hamish and Kenny gave a brief introduction about BlueBerryIT, and shared some of our example work to showcase Power Platform's functionality. The students then pitched their planned projects, and we offered advice on how best to implement them, as well as additional options for them to explore.

This is a fantastic opportunity for both NMIT students and BlueBerryIT, allowing us to build our IT community engagement. It also provides us both with a space to investigate new ideas and ways to work within the platform, as well as giving the students some hands-on experience they can use to show to potential future employers.

We look forward to visiting again in future to see how the students are progressing!

Our team recently embarked on an adventure at Xscape Space escape room. Solving puzzles, deciphering clues, and working together in a race against time was an absolute blast.

We're looking forward to using our newfound mystery-solving abilities next time someone forgets a password!

Yesterday, Kenny and Hannah gave a presentation at a careers exploration day, aimed at high school students searching for pathways into study and the IT industry.

As a leading IT service provider in the region, BlueBerryIT was invited to present, and gave an introduction into the company, services and key IT roles.

Their presentation also covered Kenny and Hannah's own experiences - as students, and now as graduates working in software development. It was great to shed light on the wonderful innovative work and opportunities that Nelson region has to offer. We also gave away a BlueBerryIT-branded Bluetooth speaker to a lucky student!

Kenny and Hannah had a blast, and enjoyed passing on advice to students looking to make their first step into the IT industry. It is important to BlueBerry to be continually active in fostering local IT talent!

Richard had an great time last week attending the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Sales Bootcamp. He gained valuable insights to enhance our services, and had the opportunity to network and make new connections (and enjoy those breathtaking Queenstown views!).

We can't wait to see Richard's newfound knowledge and connections translate into even better solutions and support for our clients.

Our team has had an amazing week achieving their Fortinet qualifications!

Dedicated to cybersecurity excellence, they invested time and effort into intensive training. Now, they are certified experts in Fortinet solutions, strengthening our ability to provide top-notch security services.

Stay tuned as we continue delivering cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions to protect businesses in the digital age.

Yesterday, we celebrated a major milestone as BlueBerryIT turned fifteen!

We are immensely proud of the journey we have undertaken, the relationships we have built, and the exceptional services we have delivered to our clients.

None of this would have been possible without our amazing team, whose dedication, expertise, and passion have been the driving force behind our success. We are thankful for their hard work and commitment to delivering excellence each and every day.

Join us in celebrating fifteen years of BlueBerryIT! Thank you for being a part of our journey. Here's to many more years of success and collaboration!

Yesterday, Lisa and Richard spent the day with one of our longest-term customers, based over in Blenheim. This is Indevin are the largest winemaker in New Zealand!

We shared our time there with the team from Sophos and managed to sneak in a tour of the winery between discussions about Cybersecurity. Not a bad view!

We're excited to introduce our newest team member at BlueBerryIT, Mark Holland, who is joining us in the role of Service Delivery Manager.

With over three decades of experience in information technology, Mark brings a deep understanding of business technological requirements and the importance of exceptional service and support. His expertise includes successfully delivering technology projects for businesses of all sizes, from small companies to corporate enterprises. Prior to joining our team, Mark held the position of Chief Information Technology Officer for PHI, an international helicopter company. We're thrilled to have him bring his global experience back to his hometown of Nelson.

Outside of work, Mark's passion for technology extends into his personal life as well. He enjoys reverse engineering tech for fun, and staying up-to-date with the latest advancements. He also find joy in reading, painting, discovering new music, and embarking on travel adventures. Mark's beloved dog, Charlie, a Bichon Shih Tzu, is a cherished member of his family.

Looking ahead, Mark's goal is to hit the gym and get back in shape (not that we think he needs to). Welcome to the team!

A day of hybrid meetings can be exhausting, especially when you’re distracted by how you or your background looks.

According to Microsoft's research, video usage is highly correlated to meeting participation, inclusiveness, and effectiveness. However, currently only around 30% of participants meet with their video on. Avatars for Microsoft Teams offers an alternative to the current binary option of video or no video.

Avatars is currently in Public Preview, which means it will be available to the general public very soon - keep an eye out!

BlueBerryIT is hiring!

We are looking for a bright, enthusiastic team player to join our close-knit crew. Based in our Blenheim office, this Solutioneer/Engineer role has been created to complement our existing team of Solutioneers delivering a modern, secure, remote working environment to our valued customers.

If you're passionate about technology and helping people, we want you to join our team!

Apply here: https://www.seek.co.nz/job/67206750

Solutioneer/Engineer Job in Blenheim Central, Marlborough Do you love the pace of technology and how it can be harnessed in new and exciting ways? Is helping people what you live for?

Our very own Kenny, Hazel, and Julia recently had the opportunity to speak to a group of IT students at the Nelson Tech Talks Careers Night.

The event was geared towards anyone interested in learning more about careers in the information technology field. Our team members shared their wealth of knowledge and experience, providing valuable insights into the industry and the opportunities available for those looking to pursue a career in IT.

We're so proud of our staff for giving back to the community and inspiring the next generation of IT professionals!

We have three staff (Julia, Hazel & Kenny) speaking at the Nelson Tech Talks Careers Night tonight!

From 5:30 at NMIT room T309, join us for an informative careers evening, geared towards anyone interested in learning more about careers in the information technology field. Ideal for young IT enthusiasts and academics!

Register at the link below:
https://www.meetup.com/nelson-tech-talk-meetup/events/293004541/

Nelson Tech Talks Careers Night , Thu, Apr 27, 2023, 5:30 PM | Meetup Kia Ora 👋 Please join us for an informative Careers Evening geared towards anyone interested in learning more about careers in the information technology field. ideal for