The YMCA of Youngstown, with three locations in Youngstown, Boardman, and North Springfield, PA embarked on a transformative partnership with infinIT more than 17 years ago. At that time, the local organization was grappling with the challenges of a growing workload, manual processes, and the need for scalability. Tom Grantonic, VP of Facility Operations, saw the need for change and automation, serving as the preamble to a pivotal meeting where infinIT proposed the concept of Managed Services.
The YMCA’s challenges were rooted in the lack of IT expertise and a rapidly evolving business technology landscape. Grantonic faced difficulties managing a growing organization with thousands of members and outdated infrastructure.
Initially, the agreement with infinIT was simply to proactively maintain systems, preventing issues from escalating. Challenges persisted, however, as the YMCA staff was hesitant to report problems because only remote support was part of the initial agreement, and onsite support incurred additional charges. Additionally, lacking an experienced IT executive, the organization struggled with strategic IT decisions.
Recognizing the need for a paradigm shift, infinIT introduced the Premium Managed Services model with a dedicated Virtual CIO (VCIO). This innovative model eliminated barriers to reporting issues, creating a win-win scenario. Grantonic states, “The convenience of fixed monthly charges motivated us to report problems without hesitation. InfinIT’s proactive analysis and prevention of larger issues have significantly increased our efficiencies and productivity, making the partnership a true win-win scenario.”
The fixed monthly charge model also allowed infinIT the ability to perform analysis that would prevent larger issues. Ultimately, increased efficiencies and productivity more than offset the increase in cost.
InfinIT’s VCIO service included proactive planning, and driving regular communication with YMCA’s IT Management Team. This significantly reduced problems, optimized resources, and increased profitability.
Grantonic says that choosing infinIT was necessary because the organization was in dire need of guidance in facing its technology challenges. InfinIT’s expertise, particularly in transitioning from peer-to-peer networking to a more secure and efficient server-based setup, would be invaluable.
“The transition from peer-to-peer networking to a server-based setup was a critical step for us. InfinIT’s expertise and guidance were instrumental in navigating this complex process, ensuring a more secure and efficient IT infrastructure for our growing organization,” says Grantonic.
The relationship between infinIT and the YMCA was a hit, delivering managed services conveniences, and expertise not typical with an internal IT model. The YMCA praises infinIT’s expertise, and the convenience of priority ticketing, along with infinIT’s holistic approach to managing and planning technology changes to seamlessly align them with the YMCA’s goals.
“InfinIT has been an invaluable partner for over 17 years, providing solutions that go beyond just fixing problems. Their Premium Managed Services model with a dedicated VCIO transformed the way we approach IT, making it easier for us to report issues and proactively plan for the future,” Grantonic says.
Metrics and performance evaluations became integral to the ongoing relationship, with regular check-ins, SWOT analysis, and budget planning sessions. The level of trust developed over the years allowed the YMCA to rest easy, knowing that infinIT was looking out for their best interests.
The story of infinIT and the YMCA exemplifies a journey of transformation and collaboration. From the early days of break/fix to the establishment of a robust managed services model, the partnership stands as a testament to the power of innovation, trust, and expertise in navigating the ever-evolving, complex world of information technology.
