Supporting his experience is a solid educational foundation including a BBA in End-User Technologies from University Wisconsin Whitewater and a MBA from Wright State University.

“With a unique blend of technical and marketing skills, and a tremendous passion for maximizing business value, Andy is a great addition to the iNET team”, stated Kevin Gold, Director of Marketing at iNET Interactive. “Andy brings to the table the right mix of experience and capabilities to drive iNET’s Consumer Tech Vertical to a new level of growth.”

“iNet is the most forward-thinking and progressive company that I have had the privilege of working for; I am thrilled to be a part of the iNet team,” stated Andy Boyd. “I am looking forward to leading the consumer tech vertical and contributing to iNet’s continued success.”

About iNET Interactive
Founded in 2002, iNET Interactive is a social media company operating prominent online communities for Internet professionals and technology enthusiasts. Its vertically-focused communities incorporate user-contributed ratings, reviews, and discussion augmented with professionally-produced content.

West Chester, OH – August 25, 2010 — For a third consecutive year, iNET Interactive, a social media company serving Internet professionals and technology enthusiasts, has been named one of the nation’s fastest growing private companies. In the recently released 2010 INC. 5000 list, iNET Interactive ranks among the top 5000 fastest growing companies in the United States and among the top 50 fastest growing in the media category.

“iNET Interactive joins the rarified company of enterprises who have appeared on the list multiple times, many of which have grown to become national icons,” stated Jane Berentson, Editor in Chief of INC. Magazine in her congratulatory letter.

“More than anything, we feel extremely fortunate that we’ve been able to continue to grow our business and hire new employees when so many other businesses and workers are struggling,” stated Troy Augustine, President and CEO of iNET Interactive.

The 2010 Inc. 5000 list measures revenue growth from 2006-2009. To qualify, companies must be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, independent – not subsidiaries or division of other companies and have had at least $2 million in revenue in 2009.

About iNET Interactive
Founded in 2002, iNET Interactive (www.iNETinteractive.com) is a social media company operating prominent online communities for Internet professionals and technology enthusiasts. Its vertically focused communities incorporate user-contributed ratings, reviews, and discussion augmented with professionally produced content.

Job Description
The customer service manager duties include handling subscriber communications (mostly via email). The tasks include the following:
• Read and respond to messages sent by readers
• Route any readers’ tips to the appropriate editor
• Help readers who have questions about their subscriptions
• Send thank-you’s to readers cited in recent columns
• Fulfill back issue orders

The office management duties include:
• Ordering office supplies
• Picking up and routing the mail
• Light office cleanup
• Answer calls to the main line (light call volume)

This position will report to the editor-in-chief, who is located in the Seattle office.

Required Qualifications
• Clear and professional spoken English
• Excellent written communication skills
• Experience with Microsoft Outlook and other Office applications

Desired Qualifications
• Prior customer service work history
• Technical knowledge of Microsoft Windows

Work Environment / Hours
This position is a part-time position targeted at 20 hours/week. The work environment and hours are flexible within the normal office hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Dress is casual.

About iNET Interactive
Founded in 2002, iNET Interactive (www.iNETinteractive.com) is a media company operating prominent online communities for Internet professionals and technology enthusiasts. Its vertically-focused communities incorporate user-contributed ratings, reviews, and discussion augmented with professionally-produced content.

**Application Instructions: Please send your RESUME and SALARY REQUIREMENTS to Angela Marasco at angela@am-recruiting.com with “Customer Service Manager” in the subject line.

The Planet, the global hosting leader, and Web Hosting Talk, the largest, most influential web hosting community on the Internet, announced the beta development of a free, online cloud benchmarking tool designed to save businesses time and money when selecting a cloud provider. The new service, known as Bench the Cloud (http://www.benchthecloud.com), gives visibility into the performance of cloud or virtualized server platforms, and provides standardized performance feedback and comparisons.

The site was co-developed by Web Hosting Talk and The Planet. Web Hosting Talk will own and manage the site, and The Planet will become a charter member of Bench the Cloud’s advisory board.
Bench the Cloud is built on a suite of open-source benchmarking tools and measures three key criteria essential to running cloud applications: CPU performance, disk read and disk write speed. Further information about these three performance indices is detailed in an individualized dashboard. Users can sort and filter the public benchmarks according to provider, virtualization status, total RAM and CPU cores. The application can also be used to test non-virtualized machines, and can be downloaded onto any Linux-based machine.

“One of the many popular discussion topics on Web Hosting Talk is how to accurately compare cloud providers based on a standard set of measurements,” said Kevin Gold, director of marketing for iNET Interactive, owner of Web Hosting Talk. “We hear from our community members that it’s difficult to make informed cloud buying decisions. As active members of Web Hosting Talk and an industry leader, The Planet approached us about co-developing a community-driven benchmarking tool that would bring the transparency the global community is seeking.”

“We contributed real-world feedback into building this industry-first tool with Web Hosting Talk,” said Carl Meadows, senior product manager for cloud solutions at The Planet. “We’ve seen first-hand from our customers the time spent researching various cloud providers, and the amount of confusion and misinformation that exists in the marketplace. Our goal in participating is to provide additional value to customers by offering a quick, transparent view of the strengths, weaknesses and performance of solutions – a virtual ‘Consumer Reports’ for the cloud. Customers can now objectively compare solutions before purchase, and make their first pick the right one.”

About Web Hosting Talk
Web Hosting Talk (http://www.webhostingtalk.com) is the largest, most influential web hosting community on the Internet with over 240,000 registered members and over six million posts generated. It is one of many social media properties owned and operated by iNET Interactive.

About iNET Interactive
Founded in 2002, iNET Interactive (http://www.iNETinteractive.com), owner of Web Hosting Talk, is a social media company operating prominent online communities for Internet professionals and technology enthusiasts. Its vertically focused communities incorporate user-contributed ratings, reviews, and discussion augmented with professionally produced content.

About The Planet
The Planet is the leading provider of On Demand IT Infrastructure solutions, hosting more than 18,000 small- and medium-size businesses and 12 million Web sites worldwide. Customers have the power to choose from the broadest range of hosting solutions in the industry, from dedicated servers, Managed Dedicated Servers, Managed Hosting and data center colocation, all backed by 24x7x365 support. With the best choice of servers, software tools and world-class service, backed by state-of-the-art data centers and an enterprise-class network, The Planet turns IT into a powerful competitive advantage that enables customers to grow their businesses. For additional information, visit http://www.theplanet.com.

West Chester, OH – July 19, 2010 — iNET Interactive has announced today the location and date for the seventh annual HostingCon, the world’s premiere conference and trade show serving the hosted services industry. HostingCon 2011 will be held in San Diego, California, from August 8-10 at the San Diego Convention Center situated beautifully on the glistening San Diego Bay.

HostingCon attracts web hosts, cloud services, data centers, software-as-a-service (SaaS), ISVs and other Internet service providers from across the world. In 2010, HostingCon attendees represented more than 33 countries. Whether traveling from near or far, HostingCon attendees expect a high-class location to conduct business but they also want to have fun and relax – all of which San Diego delivers.

As the nation’s eighth largest city, San Diego is easily accessible for domestic and international travelers, home to over 11,000 high-tech companies and showcases great entertainment and attractions. In addition, San Diego `experiences beautiful weather year-round with an average daily temperature of 70.5 degrees (21.4 degrees Celsius.)

“San Diego has earned a worldwide reputation as a top convention and meeting destination,” commented Bev Yuellig, Event Operations Manager for HostingCon. “It is the type of destination that generates broad appeal from professionals who arrive for business and stay longer for vacation.”

The San Diego Convention Center is just three miles from the San Diego International Airport and just steps away from a 16-block urban paradise featuring some of Southern California’s finest dining and nightclubs.

“Surveys of past attendees indicated that many wanted HostingCon to visit the West Coast,” stated Kelly Kleiner, VP Sales of iNET Interactive, the producer of HostingCon. “San Diego was a logical choice — it’s home to many high-tech companies and the city’s easygoing lifestyle, vibrant economy and nearly perfect weather make it an ideal location for HostingCon.”

About HostingCon
HostingCon is the world’s premiere conference and trade show serving the hosted services industry. In its sixth year, HostingCon brings together web hosts, cloud services, data centers, software-as-a-service (SaaS), ISVs and other Internet service providers. HostingCon is an iNET Interactive event. For more information on iNET Interactive, visit www.iNETinteractive.com.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES /​RESPONSIBILITIES:

Grow Revenue, which includes:

• Plan and execute marketing, community and product strategies to achieve revenue plan.
• Lead the management of business unit performance on an ongoing basis, conducting analysis to understand drivers of business unit performance and working across relevant stakeholders to improve business unit performance.
• Create strategic vision for vertical’s long-term growth and sustainability.

Grow Community, which includes:

• Identify, plan and execute audience and member engagement strategies.
• Work with cross functional team to build community and increase audience size.
• Plan, execute and measure event, PR and online marketing plans.

Drive Innovation, which includes:

• Lead product planning and management efforts from needs assessment, business case justification, requirements, positioning, pricing and launch/promotional plans.
• Identify market opportunities to launch new events and/or web properties.
• Maintain an ongoing and deep understanding of emerging market trends and developing technologies to plot future vertical growth.
• Interact with key industry analysts, provider, partners and trade media.
• Manage business unit P&L with full accountability.
• Identify, prioritize, plan and launch new vertical assets including events and/or web properties.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• 7 to 10 years of product management/marketing experience in Internet services, web hosting or hosted service technology business experience preferred.
• MBA or relevant graduate degree required.
• Experience with event development and online community/social media a plus.
• Proven success with planning and executing large-scale online marketing strategies.
• Working knowledge to assess and implement ROI-driven Internet business models.
• Proven people management skills to lead, collaborate and influence without authority.
• Strong track record of being able to learn and get up to speed on new products and industries.
• Strong analytical, financial and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal, presentation and written communication skills.

About iNET Interactive
Founded in 2002, iNET Interactive (www.iNETinteractive.com) is a social media company operating prominent online communities for Internet professionals and technology enthusiasts. Its vertically-focused communities incorporate user-contributed ratings, reviews, and discussion augmented with professionally-produced content. 

**Application Instructions:  Please send your RESUME and SALARY REQUIREMENTS to Angela Marasco at angela@am-recruiting.com with “iNET Sr. Product Manager” in the subject line.

Last year’s iNET Cares Day was held at The Wellness Community. The Wellness Community is part of an international nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people affected by cancer.  iNET spent an afternoon performing general outdoor maintenance including yard work and weed pulling to help beautify the facility.

The 2010 iNET Cares Day event was held at Matthew 25: Ministries Blue Ash, Ohio. Matthew 25: Ministries is an international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization helping the poorest of the poor locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.  The mission is achieved by acquiring obsolete, slightly distressed, or overstock inventory from corporations, hospitals, and individuals in the United States. These goods include clothing, personal care products, medical supplies, non-perishable food, cleaning products, educational materials, and other items essential for daily survival.  These donated goods are processed at the Center for Humanitarian Relief in Cincinnati and then shipped via forty-foot seagoing containers and by semi-trailers throughout the United States and around the world.  In 2010, Matthew 25: Ministries has helped 7.2 million people and has shipped in excess of 289 containers filled with over 6.4 million pounds of goods.

The iNET staff worked the afternoon in Matthew 25: Ministries’ warehouse sorting and packaging donated items.  Troy Augustine, iNET’s CEO commented, “It was great for iNET to have the opportunity to assist a local organization dedicated to providing aid to those in need on a global basis.”  Anita Bowman, Warehouse Manager at Matthew 25 stated, “On behalf of the board members, staff, and the families we help, thank you iNET for taking the time to lend a hand.  Volunteers like you, play an essential role in the work that we do.”

We are all looking forward to iNET Cares Day 2011!

Every summer iNET sponsors a family event and brings together the entire iNET team including its many remote team members from around the world.  The event supports iNET’s values.  In addition to flex-time, flexible personal days, and tele-commuting, the family event is another way for iNET to demonstrate its commitment to a work/life balance.

Kings Island is an excellent location that satisfies the diverse  interests of the iNET team with tons of rides and attractions for the whole family.  Known for its thrill rides including The Beast, DiamondBack and FireHawk, the anticipation is building for me to see my comrades’ expressions after getting off a roller coaster that swings you 115 feet in the air through five inversions at speeds of more than 50 miles per hour – all while facing the ground!!  Can’t wait to see those pictures!!!  And next week’s “water-cooler” stories? I am sure they’ll be more than one memorable experience shared from this weekend.

The educational part of the program occurs within an un-conference setting.  The open dialogue between community leaders and iNET staff uncover exceptional insights on how to grow and support the health and satisfaction of all community members.   iNET also shares its vision, product road map, and other metrics with the community leaders.

The “all-expenses-paid”, two-day event gives the community leaders a chance to meet and mingle face-to-face with each other (six of iNET’s online communities were able to participate this year) as well as with iNET’s staff.  The 2010 conference pulled in community leaders from all over the country including Illinois, Arizona, Michigan, Washington, and Pennsylvania as well as from Canada.  In 2009, iNET’s Australian community, Web Hosting Talk Australia, made the trip to Cincinnati.

This year’s entertainment included an unbelievable Red’s baseball game  in the Great American Ballpark.  A private suite snug along side the third base foul line was a perfect setting to mingle and build relationships.  Great food & drink, great conversation and plenty of laughter rounded out the weekend.  The important work for iNET though doesn’t end with the conference’s close.  Afterward, iNET gets to work on the tremendous ideas and opportunities shared by the community leaders.  Ongoing communications and idea exchange also continues via iNET’s community portal, “ClubMod,” where community leaders help further shape ideas and opportunities.

The 2010 Community Leadership Conference was outstanding!  Thanks to all community leaders who were able to attend this year and we look forward to seeing you and new leaders in 2011!

• New & Improved Educational Program – The HostingCon 2010 educational program features 35% more speaking panels and a roster of speakers that includes 40% new people. New speakers at the conference include thought-leaders from HP, Cisco, VMWare, Switch and Data, rackAID, The United States Defense Information Systems Agency, and many, many more. The most well received companies from HostingCon 2009 are returning to speak, including Rackspace, Tier1 Research, SoftLayer, Cheval Capital, Exact Target and SEOmoz.

• Bustling Exhibit Hall Floor – The HostingCon 2010 exhibit hall is SOLD OUT! More than 120 companies, 25% of which are new to HostingCon, will call the exhibit hall floor at the Austin Convention Center home this July. The Exhibit Hall will be open for two days to allow attendees to learn about the latest products and services the industry has to offer.

• Invaluable Networking Events – The opening and closing networking receptions have been a staple of HostingCon since it’s inception and are renowned for being the place where business and partnering between companies gets done. For HostingCon 2010, a third networking event has been added on Tuesday evening in the exhibit hall to further encourage partnering between companies and networking between attendees.

• Strong Attendance - With still 60+ days remaining until HostingCon, attendance is up by more than 90% over 2009 same time out.  Both international and domestic attendance is outpacing 2009′s rates.  A new and improved educational program, larger exhibit floor, more networking events and great entertainment all are contributing to this record setting pace.  Early bird registration ends May 31st – register to attend today.

Over 1,500 industry professionals from over 30 countries are expected to attend HostingCon 2010. Don’t miss the chance to attend the premier networking and educational event of the year for the hosting industry. Ensure you’re piloting your company into the cloud and beyond by registering for HostingCon 2010 today!