Welcome to the TCGi Blog
This is where we will share exciting news, upcoming events and information of interest. I invite you to post your comments as well as respond to ours. If you would like to see a topic covered here, feel free to suggest it.
TCGi Blog
Apr
22
22
Apr
22
22
Woman Business Owner Taps Unlikely Industry
Entrepreneur Makes Forays into Equipment Leasing Industry
By: GLENN TOWNES
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
One would be hard pressed to find another African-American female owned and multi-million dollar equipment leasing company in the New York metro area or the country for that matter. It’s a unique factoid that entrepreneur Avis Yates Rivers is quick to share with everyone. As the owner and CEO of Technology Concepts Group International (TCGI) in Somerset, NJ, “her baby”, as she affectionately calls it, will top revenues of $20 million by the end of the year.
Under Rivers’ watchful eye, TCGI has carved a niche into a market that is virtually untapped by women—especially women of color. Equipment leasing and servicing is the primary component of TCGI and includes the monitoring, replacing or disposing of a company’s computer system. The disposing of outdated or inoperable technical equipment is not as simple as it may seem. For example, when a company wants to get rid of old equipment, TCGI offers them several options, some of which require certain legal and environmentally friendly requirements. “There are specific guidelines that we must follow,” Rivers said. “We can sell the equipment, refurbish it, dispose it or donate it.” TCGI’s client list includes, Bank of America, Cisco Systems, Freddie Mac and Verizon. With her calm demeanor, quiet sophistication and elegance, some might contend that the job of overseeing the disposal of bulky and potentially hazardous technical equipment is an anachronism for someone like Rivers, a serial entrepreneur. But it’s not. “I always knew that I would eventually own my own business,” she said. “I just didn’t know what type of business it would be.”
After her job as an account executive for a relatively obscure division of oil giant Exxon Corporation ended, Yates launched her first company—Word Processing Express from the basement of her home in 1985. After a series of setbacks, comebacks, challenges and wins, the company eventually morphed into her current enterprise.
Rivers, 55, is perhaps one of the most effective people to offer advice and guidance to would-be entrepreneurs. She did just that earlier this month as a panelist at a daylong conference in New Brunswick, NJ that was hosted by the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). The event awarded more than $45,000 in seed money to three emerging women owned businesses.
Rivers encouraged the crowd to network, keep abreast of changes in their industry and to remain involved in the community no matter how large or successful they may become. Additionally, she encouraged the crowd of women business owners to remain vigilant and amenable to current and future investors. “With more capital and equity partners, any small business will grow a lot faster and vigorously,” she said. “Attracting the right partners and keeping ahead of the competition affects the bottom line—by making it bigger.”
Mar
10
10
Avis Yates Rivers is speaking at the 2011 Enterprising Women Business Conference in Boca Raton, FL on March 10, 2011
“Using Technology to Grow Your Global Business.”
Considering the following topics:
-How is technology making it easier to grow your global business?
-What recent advancements are the most significant and how can small business owners best embrace them?
-How can technology bridge the global divide?
-If your business is currently doing business entirely in the U.S., how can technology help you grow into other markets?
-What are the top five technology tools that every woman business owner should be using in her business?
These and other applicable experiences will be explored during this thought-provoking session.
Mar
08
08
TCGi is featured in the current issue of Diversity/Careers in Engineering & Information Technology magazine
We are excited to announce that TCGi is featured in the current issue of Diversity/Careers in Engineering & Information Technology Magazine. TCGi was praised by Jamie Crump of United Rentals for our financing services that will help them keep their technology up to date, critical to remain competitive in today’s marketplace. Please click here to read the full article.
Feb
18
18
Welcome Allan Hall
Allan Hall is TCGi’s new IT Manager. Allan leads the Technical Services Department and comes to us with over 15 years of information technology experience which includes:
• IT Infrastructure Management
• Project Management
• Network Management
• Technical Training and Support
Allan is committed to customer service and is an asset to TCGi’s customer satisfaction.
Feb
18
18
Welcome Tina Alhashim
Tina Alhashim comes to us from Hewlett Packard Financial Services and has over 10 years of Leasing experience. She has expertise in Enterprise, Public Sector and Small Business Customers. She brings knowledge of entire lifecycle leasing management that entails documentation, credit, pricing, account receivables and portfolio. She has strong relationships with the HPFS Sales and Operations Teams that will undoubtedly enhance our mutually beneficial relationship.
Jan
14
14
Avis Yates Rivers appearing at Wall Street Conference
TCGi’s President and CEO Avis Yates Rivers is appearing at the 14th annual Rainbow PUSH Wall Street project conference on Friday, January 14, 2011. She will be speaking on the topic “Deal Flow” a changing paradigm to keep the collaborative business entrepreneurial environment functioning at peak capacity.
Jan
12
12
Transition from Efficiency to Productivity
The economic transition from recession to recovery is changing business expectations on the role of Information Technology (IT). During the recession, IT was a major force in cutting enterprise and IT costs. As we start the New Year and the economy turns from recession to recovery, leaders are changing their view on IT as a source of enterprise productivity. This opens the door for CIOs and IT business units to redefine IT’s operational and strategic role in the enterprise now and in the future.
Dec
30
30
Nov
23
23
Avis Yates Rivers featured in MBE Magazine
The November/December issue of MBE Magazine features Avis Yates Rivers as its cover feature. This is truly an honor, and our CEO is humbled by the gesture. If you are not a subscriber of the magazine, you can get your very own copy here.
Nov
23
23
Strategies
In today’s demanding and volatile global economy, it is critical to make intelligent investments in IT, while controlling costs, enhancing shareholder value, and mitigating risks. What strategies has your company employed to achieve this set of ideals?