ArrowQuick Brings Hi-Tech Solutions To Tipton
“The Internet” “World Wide Web” “Cyberspace”…no matter what you call the vast expanse of electronic information once dubbed the “Information Superhighway”, there is little doubt that the ‘net has become a major outlet for entertainment, education, communication and commerce. Navigating the web is at times a daunting task itself — but what about creating your own website? At one time limited to large companies and computer enthusiasts who had the money and expertise to develop the many lines of code needed to create a website, having a quality site on the internet is now a very real possibility for everyone — if Melinda Stonebraker of ArrowQuick Solutions has anything to say about it.
Originally an Oskaloosa-based business, ArrowQuick (Arrow, as a reference to Oskaloosa’s rich Native American heritage and Quick, because the company prides itself on fast customer service) has expanded to two more cities, Centerville and Tipton. Stonebraker, a Tipton resident, heads up the Tipton operation. Her title of Web Developer / Project Manager means that she works directly with clients to translate their desires into a high-quality, user-friendly website. “I give the web team the information to create the tool that the customer wants,” says Stonebraker, who holds a computer science degree from William Penn University in Oskaloosa.
The business was originally conceived while Stonebraker was still a student and was a joint venture between herself, another student, and two of her class professors, Rob Hammann and Perry Lund, who knew the company would be viable because of the steady stream of requests they received from the public to develop websites. “In the beginning, we were primarily giving companies and organizations their first websites,” recalls Stonebraker, “but now we do a lot of re-vamping and improving existing sites — adding features and making the sites even more useful.” The company started in March of 2001 and has been growing ever since.
ArrowQuick completes around ten major projects per year, with their recent clients including the Hearst Ranch in California, Superior Machine in Albia, MidWestOne Bank in Davenport, Pella Regional Health Center, and TEDCO / Tipton Chamber of Commerce.
If you’re looking to have a website created for your business or organization, it’s important to have it professionally done, notes Stonebraker. “Part of ArrowQuick’s process is to conduct internet research to determine key words and phrases to include in the site. This makes your site rank higher in web searches, like Google.” She stresses that websites need to be strategically constructed to ensure that web users can easily find your site. “If people can’t find your site, what’s the point of having one?”
In addition, with the growing number of web browsers being used, sites need to be developed for universal compatibility. “ArrowQuick tests their sites on a wide array of browsers and operating systems to ensure they look good across the board,” she adds.
While Stonebraker’s main focus is on web development, ArrowQuick offers a number of additional services, including IT consulting and management, software training, graphic design, digital printing and multimedia production.
“QuickSites”, one of ArrowQuick’s new services, are templates that allow the customer to post a website and add content via a web browser. Not only does this simplify the process of creating and maintaining a site, but it provides an inexpensive option for first-time website owners. Future products include “Life Impressions”, a service that will allow customers to upload photos to a website and order custom printed materials, such as Christmas cards or calendars.
ArrowQuick’s Tipton branch doesn’t have a physical office space yet, but expansion is on the horizon. “We’re always looking for young, skilled people who are ready to learn and to get some good experience in the field,” she says. “There’s definitely a market in Tipton and the surrounding area.”
ArrowQuick’s website states that customer education is one of the company’s passions. Stonebraker couldn’t agree more. “I specialize in helping companies and organizations discover what a website can do for them. Most businesses can benefit greatly by providing a way for customers to easily contact them and find out about their services from home. This is especially true for attracting out-of-town customers.”
Stonebraker stresses that her company is dedicated to improving the communities they serve: “Our goal is to help small towns grow economically.” A local Chamber member, they also offer discounts for non-profit organizations. Stonebraker adds: “I really enjoy building relationships with the community. I’m a people person.”
Contact Melinda Stonebraker toll-free at 1-866-673-4109, or at stonebrakerm at arrowquick dot com. Find out more about the company, including links to client websites, at www.arrowquick.com.