Campbell, CA (June 28, 2007) - Groupware Technology has a big heart. A rock n' roll heart, as a matter of fact. Groupware Technology, Inc., one of the nation's fastest growing information technology solution providers, helped sponsor a charity rock concert in May featuring The Burnt Factory Band, a group made up of Cisco Systems employees who are as skilled with music as they are with technology.
Over 200 people turned out on May 10th at Monte Carlo, a Mountain View, California nightclub, to hear Cisco employee Kevin Harrington and his six colleagues crank out Steppenwolf's Born to Be Wild and two full sets of other great songs. Combined with a funding match from Cisco, the concert raised $6,350 for the Katrina Relief Fund.
Groupware was the event's title sponsor and, with help from Jooven8 Marketing and Consulting, led the charge in rallying support for the show. Groupware also paid for commemorative T-shirts that were sold to raise money for the Katrina Relief fund. Mike Thompson, President and CEO of Groupware, a Cisco Systems Partner, said, "We leapt at the opportunity to support this event and were moved by the fanatical commitment of the Burnt Factory Band to their work, their music and to this great cause."
Harrington and the other band members started playing together about a year ago when they were gathered at a Cisco event. They quickly bonded and grew in popularity. The Burnt Factory Band is now the unofficial rock group of Cisco Systems and plays frequently at company functions.
"We call ourselves the Cisco house band," joked Harrington. "It came together purely by happenstance." Joining Harrington in the band are rhythm guitarist Erich Shaffer, drummer John Kern, bassist Mark Brillhart, singer/guitarist Angel Mendez and singer/guitarist Dino Vittoria.
Harrington said a concert on behalf of Katrina victims seemed important, especially to the band's drummer, John Kern, who is a Louisiana native. "We agreed that once the media spotlight dimmed on Katrina, the nation moved onto other things," said Harrington. "Music is about bringing people together," said Burnt Factory guitarist and vocalist Dino Vittoria. "Nearly two years after Katrina, there is still work to do. If this helps just one family, one child, in the south and if this enlightens people to the fact that our work as a national family is not complete, then it is worth its weight in gold."
About Groupware Technology, Inc.
Groupware Technology, Inc. ,headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, is a leading information technology solution provider and a member of the Sun (SM) Partner Advantage Program . The company provides enterprise technology solutions to its Fortune 1000 customer base and specializes in storage, security, networking and enterprise systems. For more information, contact (408) 540-0090 or visit www.groupwaretechnology.com.
