As a company that paints lane markings on streets in cities and towns, and on airport runways, Preferred Services, Inc. has been helping guide the way since its founding in 1996.

What started out as a home-based business eventually grew into a small firm of 25 employees. And when it came time for PSI to migrate from a computer server stored in the home of company Founder and CEO Betsy Maginnis, PSI relied on JTC, Inc. to help lead it on a path to the cloud.

“I got into the business to do what I love to do, not to become an IT person. And that’s why we have JTC is I don’t know what I would do without them,” said Maginnis.

With employees working on-site in the field, as well as office staff working remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic, PSI now relies on its ability to have its files are stored in the cloud.

JTC Sky not only allowed for a seamless transition from working in the office to working remotely when the pandemic hit, but it has also given the firm a competitive sales advantage.

Proposals can now be viewed securely and in real-time, without the need of waiting for someone to get back to the office to review and approve the bid.

“Well, in today’s real-time, everybody wants it yesterday. Always. That’s just the nature of any business. And so by us being able to have a quick turnaround, we get our foot in the door and give them the first impression of us being very responsive,” said Maginnis.

PSI’s transition to the cloud was seamless, thanks to JTC and its proprietary software, JTC Sky, which guarantees 99.999% for its customers across the board.

“So, you know, the old saying a little bit of knowledge is dangerous. I had a little bit of IT knowledge, but they were able to explain in detail how things would work, what they were going to be responsible for maintaining on the JTC cloud,” said Maginnis. “It was a very small, smooth movement into that new cloud infrastructure. And each time typical technology, things are faster and smoother and less cumbersome.”

JTC provided training to PSI employees on its suite of cloud applications that it uses to streamline its business.

“And they’ve always been really helpful, especially when our computers have gone from these big desktop type things or sit under your desk things to now something the size of a small DVD player,” said Maginnis. “So it’s definitely been a transition. And I have no complaints. It’s been wonderful.”

In addition to JTC Sky, PSI also uses JTC’s cloud-based VoIP telephone service, to ensure it never missed a call from a client. PSI is based in Fairfax, Virginia, and has been serving its customers for the past 22 years.

About JTC, Inc. 

JTC has just released its 5th generation of Private Cloud Hosting Services.  The firm owns and operates its own Private Cloud Infrastructure located in multiple data centers, as noted in this exclusive LeaseWeb article: Leaseweb USA Accelerates JTC’s Infrastructure Update

Dataverstiy has also highlighted JTC’s work to build a trusted IT cloud infrastructure:  Case Study: JTC Grows its Cloud Services Core through Trust and Teamwork

JTC was also named “Tech Company of the Year” for 2020 by the Prince William County Chamber.

Founded in 1996 and incorporated in 2002, Jewell Technical Consulting is a leading provider of technology-based business solutions to small and medium-sized businesses in Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area.

Headquartered in Manassas, Virginia, Jewell Technical Consulting services the business needs of a variety of clients and employs Cisco and Microsoft Certified full-time professionals that are truly some of the best in the business.

Our staff has many years of experience and strives to continue learning all of the new products and features the technology world has to offer. Every JTC employee is committed to making your technology function the best way possible, so you and your company get the most out of it.

Contact JTC, Inc. today by visiting their website, by calling 703-794-1225, or by visiting them on Facebook.

During these trying times, healthcare workers have had to adapt during this pandemic. This includes hospital chaplains like Cindy Hardy. Cindy, a board-certified chaplain, has been with Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center for nearly five years.

Traditionally, her ministry involves visiting and praying with patients and their families and sharing her healing touch, but with COVID-19 isolation and social distancing, the ministry has changed. Reverend Cindy Hardy, MDiv, shares how she’s still able to help her patients.

What would your interactions with patients look like in a typical day (before COVID)?

“I spend time with patients and families at the bedside providing spiritual care and advanced care planning. Now I am unable to go into positive COVID-19 room, I provide tele-chaplaincy for positive patients and all family members. I am still able to go to the bedside with a mask and eye protection with negative COVID patients. I also try and provide spiritual support to our staff of all faiths.

Touch is such a big part of healing- where now I have to imagine, it’s restricted. How do you help/offer comfort without it?

“Whether it be at the direct bedside or on the phone I listen to patient and family stories of life review, provide prayers, humor, request outside rituals when available, and provide comfort blankets. With the staff, I use the “PositiviTEA” Cart and Code Lavender Cart, I round on the staff and use my three associate chaplains to provide additional support.”

What sort of “creative” measures have you relied on during this time?

“Technology has been integral during this time. I’ve used FaceTime, telephone support, personal letters, and WebEx with system chaplains, just to name a few.”

What words of wisdom/healing have you been offering to patients, MOTs, and families?

“One day at a time. I daily pray for our MOTS safety and strength. Sometimes it is not what you say it is being there. Offering prayers in real time. I provide motivational quotes to encourage true feelings and self-care.”

Cindy spearheads the Chaplin’s Closet, which accepts new clothes for patients who can’t wear their original items once discharged from the hospital. If you’d like to donate, Cindy is currently accepting new men’s and women’s items of all sizes, including pants, shorts, underwear including bras, flip flops, crocs, and slippers.

For more information or to arrange a donation drop off, please contact 703-523-0680.

Sentara Healthcare is a not-for-profit healthcare organization committed to serving the patient and becoming the healthcare provider of choice in the communities we serve.

As bad as it has been financially for many individuals, 2020 does provide some unique tax opportunities for those who have traditional IRA accounts.

Sentara is now offering services to help people with diabetes meet support groups and management programs to help improve their health.

Sentara Diabetes & Nutrition Management Services at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center has achieved the significant milestone of accreditation by the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES).

Accreditation represents a high level of quality and service to the community, and the ability to better meet the needs of Medicare recipients and others affected by diabetes in the Greater Prince William County, Stafford County, and southern Fairfax County area.

“We are proud of our designation and our continued commitment to improving the lives of individuals with Diabetes and providing support to patients and their families. We offer a friendly environment based on open dialogue to personalize and help improve health through prevention, wellness and education. Services are offered in person and via telehealth.” – Robyn Johanson, Program Quality Coordinator.

Sentara Diabetes & Nutrition Management Services, located on the campus of Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, will be offering diabetes education and nutrition management sessions and support groups in person and by telehealth.

Diabetes education services utilize a collaborative process through which people with or at risk for diabetes work with a diabetes educator to receive individualized care to help them reach their health goals.

Diabetes education is a covered Medicare, Medicaid and most commercial insurances when delivered through an accredited program.

“Evidence shows diabetes education and support is helping people with diabetes to lower their A1c’s and obtain the knowledge and skills to better self-manage their condition,” said Sacha Uelmen, Director of Accreditation at ADCES. “That is why we need programs like Sentara Diabetes & Nutrition Management Services to make these services available in their community.”

ADCES is a National Accredited Organization (NAO) for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Accredited programs must meet the 2017 National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support; 10 standards that are revised every 5 years by a group of diabetes educators representing both ADCES and the American Diabetes Association and approved by CMS.

Programs must maintain compliance with the Standards during the 4-year accreditation cycle. To join our Diabetes Support Group or schedule your Diabetes Management and/or Nutrition Management appointment, please call 703-523-0590 or visit sentara.com/diabetes to learn more.

Didlake Inc., a Virginia-based non-profit that connects people with disabilities to employment, education, and opportunities throughout the National Capital Region, announced the launch of Didlake Photo Imaging at 8472 Kao Circle in Manassas.

“When we launched Didlake Document Imaging, we were regularly asked if we provided photo scanning services,” said Didlake Director of Business Development, Valerie Spencer. “Our 20 years of imaging experience started in microfilm. We knew that we could provide an exceptional digital product to customers looking for photo scanning.”

Didlake Photo Imaging, a division of Didlake, Inc., provides high-quality digitized photos. The service focuses exclusively on photo scanning, helping customers preserve their priceless memories. As a division of Didlake, Inc., Didlake Photo Imaging fulfills Didlake’s mission by employing people with disabilities who receive valuable job training and work experience.

“Scanning photos to digital format helps to preserve and share memories with family and friends for generations,” said Didlake Vice President of Corporate Communications and Marketing, Erika Spalding. “For many, their family’s paper photos live with one family member. Digitizing photos makes it easy to ensure that everyone in the family can share in the family’s history.”

To learn more about Didlake Photo Imaging, visit didlakeimaging.com/photo-scanning-service

Some refer to it as “creative accounting” or just “a little fudging here and there,” but if your tax return is missing some income that should have been reported or includes overstated deductions, regardless of whether you prepared your own return or had it prepared, you are the one who is ultimately responsible.

El Dorado Marketplace for gamers is providing tips on how to improve your internet for optimum playing experience during the pandemic.

Video games, like MMO (Massive Multiplayer Online) and MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-playing Game), have already become one of the main methods of entertainment for a large part of the population because they can create hours of fun and are increasingly accessible to the public. In the current state of the pandemic, video games have stood out more since they can help maintain constant fun and socialization without having to leave home.

However, MMO videogames require a good internet connection in order to be played smoothly without any problems. If the internet connection deteriorates slightly, it is very likely that there will be slowdowns that will hinder the gameplay.

It is worth mentioning that in this quarantine, many players find themselves in a situation where they have to live almost all day with a considerable number of family members, each of whom occupies a certain part of the internet. This ends up producing a destabilization in the connection that can slow down online videogames considerably in most cases.

Because MMOs and MMORPGs are totally dependent on the user’s internet, any drop in connection can end up affecting the gameplay and this can lead to latency, Ping and Lag. A small latency difference between our connection and that of the other players can be enough to completely ruin a game.

In order to optimize the internet connection so that players can play MMO or MMORPG games smoothly, El Dorado Marketplace for gamers provides several methods to optimize our internet connection:

Using VPN when playing an MMO
More than half of all MMORPGs have their main servers in Asian countries, so connecting to these games from the west can cause delays due to the long-distance and sometimes other IP blockages based on the region. These problems can be solved quickly with VPNs (Virtual Private Network), which are tools widely used by MMO and MMORPG players.

By using a VPN, it is possible for anyone to play using the IP Address from anywhere in the world. This also allows you to have a secure and private connection while playing any videogame.

Getting a VPN is extremely easy because they are abound on the Internet. The best countries to connect to are South Korea (in the case of Asian games) and the United States (in Western MMOs) since their connections are more efficient and usually do not suffer from regional blockage.

Check the devices used for connection
For a more optimized connection, it is always recommended to connect with an Ethernet cable, instead of a Wi-Fi connection. A wired connection has no obstacles such as walls, floors, or ceilings, so it is not affected by interference. Although, this option is not viable for many who do not have direct access to the Ethernet cable.

In some cases, it is also recommended to check the telephone wiring and rosettes to ensure that they are in perfect condition. This check is simple and is important to ensure that internet slowdowns are not due to external problems, if so, you should call the appropriate technical service.

Optimize PC software to improve your Internet connection
To optimize the connection on some MMOs or MMORPGs, it is necessary to open ports on the router. Each game uses different ports, so it will be necessary to get information on that aspect through the help section provided by the videogame.

Another option is to close any other service that may be occupying part of the internet of our PC in the background. These background services can be video conferencing programs, cloud storage services, anti-virus, and automatic updates to our OS.

It is also important to make sure that you give the firewall permissions to allow connections from online videogames. Problems caused by the firewall are largely ignored by some players and can be the cause of a bad connection.

It is hoped that these tips will help you improve your internet connection to play your MMO or MMORPG in these times of quarantine. Another element that greatly enhances our MMORPG playing experience is to use gaming marketplace such as Eldorado.gg to obtain quickly and economically, various advantages that will help save a lot of time and effort on these games.

For example, there is the case of RuneScape Old School, which is characterized by requiring too much time from its players to improve the skills of their characters or get large amounts of gold.

But by using reliable and intuitive websites such as Eldorado.gg, it is possible to buy OSRS gold, OSRS power leveling, or boosting services, quickly and without any complications, so these methods are highly recommended for less experienced players.

A new scam is getting some attention. It really is a mashup of a few scams, some seemingly not all that harmful, and some indicative of a more serious problem.

The Treasury Department and the IRS released updated state-by-state figures for Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) on May 22, reflecting the opening weeks of the program.