Brian Durkin Writing Portfolio

Dominion East Ohio Case Study

While at Opvantek, Inc. I published a case study. I interviewed someone in a supervisory position

overseeing pipe replacement programs at Dominion East Ohio (DEO). With the answers from

the interview I developed the case study with approval from management. I created the design

and copy as seen in the final product below.

Excerpt from “The Cloud: The Future of Business” Whitepaper

Business managers and entrepreneurs receive an introduction to cloud computing and the cost

benefits available. The first page is the opening paragraph about the cloud. The second page

builds on the previous content to explain why businesses move to cloud services. Whitepaper

cover pictured below.

Line Systems 1645 West Chester Pike West Chester, PA 19382 855.733.1000 [email protected]

Cloud webhosting differs from typical web hosting because it balances the demands of maintaining a website over several servers, as opposed to the company website living on one server. Besides outsourcing the hardware and security for a website, cloud webhosting provides companies with the flexability of growth. The architecture of shared servers allows dynamic management of resources; therefore, the service provider can immediately and effortlessly grow or reduce the hardware dedicated to a company’s website as traffic to that site fluctuates. Even if a website receives a sudden spike in traffic, cloud webhosting will prevent the site from crashing due to overloads.

A company should consider cloud webhosting whenever a company expects growth, experiences volatile web traffic patterns, or experiences seasonal sales spikes. The dynamic nature of cloud webhosting enables service providers to allocate their resources efficiently, creating a “Pay for What You Use” structure for businesses. No more overpaying for webhosting to insure against spikes in traffic.

Cloud Webhosting

Page 3LINE SYSTEMSCLOUD-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Line Systems 1645 West Chester Pike West Chester, PA 19382 855.733.1000 [email protected]

Another common and imperative business function improved by the on-demand architecture of cloud computing, cloud email allows members of a business to access mail anywhere. Server-based email systems require work-issued devices for remote users. With cloud-based email, workers can access email immediately from any and all devices. This type of access creates a much more efficient workflow for business.

Efficiency doesn’t stop with users’ ability to access mail; internal IT departments no longer need to spend time supporting the necessary hardware elements of server-based email, which enables IT staff to focus on new ventures. Refocusing staff on value-adding projects as opposed to budgeting time for support is cost effective, and this shift in focus is possible thanks to cloud-based email. Utilizing cloud services provides companies with scalable and well-distributed resources, so businesses can predict the bottom line more easily. When cloud computing providers take on the responsibility, companies eliminate the surprise hardware upgrades to support server-based email systems.

Cloud Email

Page 4

Learn more about Hosted Web and Hosted Email

LINE SYSTEMSCLOUD-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

http://linesystems.com/services/cloud/hosted-web/

Excerpt from “The Advantages of SIP Trunking in Today’s Environment” Whitepaper

The piece demonstrates that purchasers should consider SIP Trunks for IT needs. The first page

introduces how the technology works. The second page breaks down the positive impact on the

bottom line, and the third page highlights the flexibility associated with SIP Trunking.

Whitepaper cover pictured below.

THE ADVANTAGES OF SIP TRUNKING IN TODAY’S ENVIRONMENT LINE SYSTEMS, INC.

WWW.LINESYSTEMS.COM l [email protected] l 855.733.1000

How It All Works

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Trunking connects a private branch exchange (PBX) to the Internet by utilizing Voice over IP (VoIP). VoIP allows customers to bypass conventional telephone trunks and transfer both the voice and data traffic over the Internet. A PBX allows an office to utilize external access lines to connect all of its internal telephone lines. When partnered with SIP, a business can combine data, voice, and video into one single line; therefore, foregoing the cost and upkeep for multiple physical lines for each type of media.

Customer Office

PBXIP Phone System

Internet



Reducing the Bottom Line

Why use SIP VoIP systems rather than a hosted PBX?

Hosted PBXs do offer customers inherent flexibility. This flexibility, however, comes at a price. Businesses typically pay almost double per extension with a hosted PBX versus a SIP VoIP system. Unlimited calling or bundled minutes are built into the cost structure for a hosted PBX, increasing the premium. When using a SIP system, customers only need to buy as many lines as they need for inbound/outbound calling. For example, If a business does not expect more than ten calls at one time, they can reduce costs by only paying for ten SIP trunk lines, instead of paying for unlimited calling or bundled minutes on each office extension as they would a hosted PBX. With SIP Trunk burstability, you can eliminate minute packages, hardware costs, or call paths and pay as you go.

VoIP technology is cheaper than traditional phone calls.

By carrying calls over the Internet, VoIP byspasses the costs associated with transmittiong voice and data packets over analog Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) networks.

Since businesses can skip the Basic Rate Interface (BRI), Primary Rate Interface (PRI), or Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) they would typically need for traditional voice services, they see greater savings.

Without the need for gateway hardware, the business also saves on maintenance and support fees.



Burstability Equals Flexibility

So SIP Trunking saves businesses money by eliminating the need for unlimited calling or bundled minutes on each office extension, but the savings come from paying for a set amount of SIP Trunk lines. What happens when my business with ten SIP Trunks takes eleven external calls? Burstable SIP Trunks include enhanced channel features that temporarily allow more call channels than initially provisioned in order to accommodate bursts of high call volume. This common feature varies on the level of burstability.

High volumes ebb and flow, and each business experiences certain times of the day or year when more peple are calling in and out. When a business only needs additional lines some of the time, why should they be required to pay for those additional lines month after month? Burstable SIP Trunking provides the cushion businesses are looking for to keep costs down, while still serving their customers at full capacity.

Excerpt from “The SMB Business Continuity Guide” Whitepaper

Small business owners start here to learn how to protect their voice and data services against

catastrophes. The first page opens the whitepaper with the importance of business continuity.

The subsequent pages in this excerpt detail the impact of disasters on a business, evaluating a

business’s continuity needs, and how business continuity can yield positive ROI. Whitepaper

cover pictured below.

Line Systems West Chester, PA www.linesystems.com 855.733.1000 [email protected]

Why Business Continuity Matters

Disaster can strike at any time. Weather conditions don’t always follow predictable seasonal changes. Natural disasters tend to strike fast and year-round. Even in the temperate climates free of tornados or hurricanes, businesses aren’t always safe; property damage, such as from fire, can compromise data storage and voice connections. Without access to data and voice services, small to midsized businesses (SMBs) lose productivity; loss of production reduces cash flow. SMBs cannot afford to close their doors while recovering. Companies need a business continuity plan to maintain critical functions during disaster recovery.

Page 1


The Impact of Disasters on Business

The Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) Annual Disaster Statistical Review 2013 reports that the Americas suffered 34.3 billion dollars (USD) in damages caused by diasters. According to the IT Disaster Recovery Preparedness (DRP) Council’s 2014 Annual Report, over one third of companies lose one or more critical applications, virtual machines, or imperative data files for hours at a time when disaster strikes. 63.3% of businesses affected by a disater will incur costs due to losing critical applications or data; 10% of those businesses will incur costs upwards of $100,000 USD.

SMBs cannot expect to absorb these windfalls of expenses, and saving funds to self-insure for such emergency expenditures is unreasonable and impractical.

Page 2


Data and processes necessary for regulatory compliance

Systems, applications, networks, and facilities critical and necessary to function

Personnel responsible for required business functions

Dependencies on each critical business function

Acceptable length of time for breaks in functionality

Evaluating Business Continuity Needs

In order to determine the appropriate business continuity and disaster recovery plan, companies need to evaluate the mission-critical functions to their business. Only then can a company estimate the cost to maintain production during disater recovery. To begin evaluating business continuity needs, companies should make a list of the following:

Page 3


A Strong Business Continuity Plan Yields Positive ROI

Thinking about the issues presented when evaluating business continuity needs will show a company how fast and long production can stop during a major disaster. Lost revenue during down times can sink a SMB, which is why companies need to invest in contingency plans to mitigate the consequences of disasters. Business continuity plans generate positive returns on investment (ROI) because the money spent now is worth preventing devastating potential losses.

Every business knows the importance of voice and data. More than ever companies maintain continuous communication with customers, and rely on constant connection to company data to perform business functions. Companies must hedge against potential outages in voice and data services, as well as insure against loss of sensitive information.

Page 4

“Opvantek Response to USA Today Pipeline Safety Investigation” Press Release

In the autumn of 2014 USA Today published an interactive and comprehensive report about the

dangers of aging infrastructures in the utility industry. Opvantek services this industry with

decision support and risk mitigating software products. This press release, which starts below,

adds context to the conversation and combats the scare tactics of the USA Today campaign.

Opvantek, Inc. 28 S. State Rd. Newtown, PA 18940 Contact: Andy Benedict Phone: (215) 968-7790 ext. 100

For Immediate Release

OPVANTEK RESPONSE TO USA TODAY PIPELINE SAFETY INVESTIGATION

Newtown, PA – October 2, 2014 – As one of the country’s premier providers of software and consulting

services for evaluating risk associated with natural gas distribution systems, Opvantek is qualified and

obligated to comment on the recent USA Today network investigation into the “…dangers of aging, leak-

prone natural gas pipes.” Our decision support software (Optimain® DS) is used to assess risk and

prioritize replacement in many of the country’s largest and oldest gas distribution systems, accounting

for over 25 percent of the total US distribution mileage. In continuous development for over 20 years,

Optimain® DS has algorithms for evaluating risk across diverse and complex piping systems and

environments comprising every piping technology in use since the early 1900s.

Gas utilities are well aware of the safety issues related to infrastructure deterioration, and have

continued to increase investments to replace underground infrastructure for the past several decades.

Nevertheless, as the USA Today article points out, it will take many more decades and billions of dollars

to replace all of the “at risk” pipes in the system. Most of that pipe is found in some of the oldest and

most congested cities in the country. As recently as 2013, there have been congressional efforts to

force the acceleration of pipe replacement. We hope that USA Today’s investigative journalism builds

awareness and support for what will be a huge cost and public inconvenience.

As the country and the utility industry take on this challenge, we believe it is vitally important to put the

risks into perspective. Recognizing that the country cannot afford to replace all the aging pipes at the

same time and that not every leak has the same risk, the best approach is to objectively assess which

pipes have the highest current risk. That assessment should be based on all available data regarding the

history and condition of each pipe and the location in which it is installed. This is exactly the approach

suggested by the Distribution Integrity Management (DIM) regulations, as implemented by each

operator’s written DIM plan. This is also the approach taken by Optimain® DS.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/09/23/gas-pipes-cast-iron-deaths-explosions-investigation/15783697/

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/09/23/gas-leaks-interactive/16089751/

http://www.opvantek.com/index.php/products/optimain-suite/optimain-ds/


https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/s1767

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=c3bcc5957c4785de1955a8855c834455&node=sp49.3.192.p&rgn=div6


The USA Today report and many of the local articles focus on gas leaks caused by pipe deterioration.

However, the interactive maps are based on “Reportable Incident” data as published by the Federal

Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (DOT/PHMSA)

since 2004. It is critical to recognize that only a small subset of reportable incidents is due to leaks

caused by pipe deterioration. It is also important to recognize that a pipe that has higher risk relative to

other pipes is not the same thing as an unsafe pipe.

Figure 1 provides a pie chart of all 417 nationwide reportable incidents that resulted from gas leaks

(unintentional release of natural gas) since 2010. This shows that the two leading causes of more

recently reportable incidents were excavation damage and other outside forces. Only 90 of 417 were

from causes that might be related to aging infrastructure1. Aging infrastructure is not the cause of over

75% of incidents related to the unintentional release of natural gas. Furthermore, less than 1 in 5,000 of

all leaks reported annually by the industry will lead to an incident like those displayed on USA Today’s

interactive maps.

Figure 1 - PHMSA Reportable Incidents - 2010-2014: from unintentional release of gas; all causes.

1 This assumes that every incident caused by Corrosion, Material, Pipe, Weld, or Equipment Failure, and Natural

Force Damage was the result of aging infrastructure.

http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/incident-report

http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/incident-report

http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles/PHMSA/DownloadableFiles/Pipeline2data/annual_gas_distribution_2013.zip



As shown here, excavation damage is the nation’s leading cause of reportable incidents that resulted

from unintentional release of gas since January 1, 2013. Opvantek offers the only commercially

available, data-driven engine (Optimain xDR) that assesses (in real time) the risk of excavation damage

from any one call notification reported via the National 811 call system. We therefore encourage the

media to raise public awareness of this even more risky threat. We continue to encourage all

stakeholders in the damage prevention industry, including federal and state legislatures, to adopt the

best practices that have been identified by the Common Ground Alliance.

To be clear, Opvantek is dedicated to assessing and reducing risk within our nation’s gas piping system,

regardless of cause. We are committed to helping our customers justify and prioritize spending to most

efficiently improve the already excellent safety record of our natural gas transmission and distribution

infrastructure. Opvantek’s dedicated staff and industry-leading technology are ready for this challenge

today and into the future.

About Opvantek (http://www.opvantek.com)

Opvantek, Inc., a leader in utility software solutions, delivers best-in-class software solutions that focus

on strategic asset management, infrastructure knowledge acquisition and assessment, distribution

integrity, and regulatory compliance management. Since 1997, Opvantek, Inc. has grown and evolved

into a talented team of utility industry and software development professionals, providing exceptional

asset management software products, implementation and integration services, and focused business

process consulting to the utility industry. For more information, please contact Mr. Andrew Benedict,

President and Co-Founder ([email protected]) or Mr. Tony Sileo, Vice President of Sales and

Product Management ([email protected]).

#####

http://www.opvantek.com/index.php/preventing-excavation-damage/

http://www.opvantek.com/index.php/products/optimain-suite/optimain-xdr/

http://www.call811.com/

http://www.commongroundalliance.com/Template.cfm?Section=Best_Practices

http://www.commongroundalliance.com/template.cfm?Section=Home

http://www.opvantek.com/

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Aastra Quick Reference Guides

Designed for end users, these one sheet guides demonstrate how to program and use a

particular model of as Aastra phone. I designed the graphics in addition to writing the copy.

Below is the first of four guides.

Aastra 6753i Quick Reference Guide

Goodbye/ End Call

Options

Hold

Redial

Decrease

Volume

Increase

Volume

Default Soft Keys

Mute

Speaker/

Headset

Lines

Default Soft Keys

Voicemail – First time accessing

your voicemail box will require:

Creating a Pin

Recording your Name

Recording your Greeting

Voicemail Menu Prompts

Press 1 = listen to voice messages

Press 2 = send a message

Press 3 = change greetings

o Press 1 = Personal Greeting o Press 3 = System Greeting o Press 5 = Busy Greeting

Press 4 = change mailbox settings

Press 0 = help menu

Press 11 = listen to other messages

Press * = go to previous menu

In Message Controls

Press 1 = Restart

Press 2 = Save

Press 3 = Delete

Press 4 = Dialer Caller

Press 77 = Rewind

Press 8 = Pause

Press 99 = Fast Forward

Press * = Return to previous menu

Press # = Skip to next message

Directory – Displays corporate

wide list of names and extensions. Allows you to add your own personal listings for a total of up to 200 entries.

Callers List – Scroll through the last

200 calls missed (marked by an icon of a phone) and or calls received (marked by an icon of a phone with its receiver pulled off).

LSI Support – Speed dial entry for

Customer Support. The LSI Support number is 888-808-6111

Call Forwarding – Dial *72 and

then the extension or 10 digit number you want as the new destination

On Call Soft Keys

Dial – After entering a number, bypass digital timeout by

pressing this arrow key. Dialing a number and then pressing dial will result in entering Speaker mode.

Conf – When on a regular call, press this key and dial the person you want to join the call. Once

this person has answered, press this key again to set up the three way conference call.

Transfer – Transfers a call, but enables three different ways to do it:

Consultative: o Press Transfer to place the call on hold. o Dial the extension or ten digit number. o Remain on the line or press Dial to skip the digital timeout. o Press Transfer again to finish the transfer after speaking with the recipient.

Blind o Press Transfer to place the call on hold. o Dial the extension or ten digit number. o Press Transfer again to complete the transfer.

Send to Voicemail o Press Transfer to place the call on hold. o Dial “7” then the extension (not a ten digit number). o Press Transfer again to complete the transfer to voicemail.

Aastra 6755i Quick Reference Guide

Goodbye/

End Call/

Return to Home Screen

Options

Hold

Redial

Decrease

Volume

Increase

Volume

Customizable

Soft Keys

Default Soft Keys

Mute

Speaker/

Headset

Lines

Default Soft Keys



Creating a Pin

Recording your Name








Press 0 = help menu



In Message Controls

Press 1 = Restart

Press 2 = Save

Press 3 = Delete


Press 77 = Rewind

Press 8 = Pause










On Call Soft Keys


pressing this soft key. Dialing a number and then pressing dial will result in entering Speaker mode.



Xfer – Transfers a call, but enables three different ways to do it:

Consultative: o Press Xfer to place the call on hold. o Dial the extension or ten digit number. o Remain on the line or press Dial to skip the digital timeout. o Press Xfer again to finish the transfer after speaking with the recipient.

Blind o Press Xfer to place the call on hold. o Dial the extension or ten digit number. o Press Xfer again to complete the transfer.

Send to Voicemail o Press Xfer to place the call on hold. o Dial “7” then the extension (not a ten digit number). o Press Xfer again to complete the transfer to voicemail.



Aastra 6737i/6757i Quick Reference Guide

Options

Hold

Redial

Decrease

Volume

Customizable

Soft Keys

Default Soft Keys

Goodbye/

End Call/ Return to

Home Screen

On Call Soft Keys


pressing this soft key. Dialing a number and then pressing dial will result in entering Speaker mode.



Xfer – Transfers a call, but enables three different ways to do it:

Consultative: o Press Xfer to place the call on hold. o Dial the extension or ten digit number. o Remain on the line or press Dial to skip the digital timeout. o Press Xfer again to finish the transfer after speaking with the recipient.

Blind o Press Xfer to place the call on hold. o Dial the extension or ten digit number. o Press Xfer again to complete the transfer.

Send to Voicemail o Press Xfer to place the call on hold. o Dial “7” then the extension (not a ten digit number). o Press Xfer again to complete the transfer to voicemail.

Lines

Increase

Volume

Mute

Speaker/

Headset

Default Soft Keys



Creating a Pin

Recording your Name








Press 0 = help menu



In Message Controls

Press 1 = Restart

Press 2 = Save

Press 3 = Delete


Press 77 = Rewind

Press 8 = Pause












“Life Isn’t Decided at Seventeen” Article

Published in Motivos, an English and Spanish printed magazine that empowers Latino youth, this

article assures young people that no one knows all the answers about career paths in high

school. The article includes an interview with a local entrepreneur whose job history stretches

from janitor to lawyer. He passes on sage advice about collecting experience and how each

position is a step to something better. The article I wrote in English appears on the next page,

and the Spanish translation is pictured below.

negotiatebetterrentalterms forhis retail space.“It was $1200 a month[rent] but I negotiat-ed the contacts so that itwas $800 for the first year and $1600for the second.” His book distribution experi-ence aided his understanding of product

turnover and planningreleases far in advance,and his time with thetrucking company pro-vided valuable bookkeep-ing experience thathelped him manage hissmall-business finances.Even his janitorial workprepared Coyle to keephis store clean and wel-coming.

“If you can get a job,get one,” Coyle advisedyoung readers. “If thatmeans slinging burgers orcleaning toilets, youknow, it’s better thannothing. That experiencewill help you out later.”He emphasized that

career paths don’t always run in a straight line,and that’s not always a bad thing: “I think it’sobvious from my career that the decision youmake today may not be the [right] decisionor where you want to be five years fromnow. You’re going to change over thecourse of your life. And what you wantto do may change along with it.”

money, but I live comfortably.” His postureshifts, and his smile becomes more confidentand content as he speaks about the work heloves. “Some parts of me think we’re helpingthe community. We’re helping kids out. I cer-tainly know it helped my kids out when theywere growing up, because they had a place togo where there were a lot of people with sim-ilar interests. In high school there may beonly one or two of you, but in a card storeyou’re all like that.”

Alternate Univers-es—Coyle’s retail busi-ness, with three locationsin two states—specializesin selling collectiblegames such as Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Pokémon. Thestores run Organized Playevents for young gamers.Alternate Universes alsoputs on larger events atthe Pennsylvania Conven-tion Center—game com-petitions that allowplayers to qualify for invi-tational tournaments. Thegaming company Konamiasked Coyle to oversee itsYu-Gi-Oh! ChampionshipSeries stop in Philadel-phia; the main eventattracted 1,500 players.

Coyle’s wildly varied work experi-ence gave him a wide range ofskills he never expectedwould prepare him formanaging AlternateUniverses: for example,he used his legal savvy to

Photog

raph

yby

Steffany

Ramos

career

at seventeenYou work your waythrough high schoolas a janitor, then yougraduate from col-lege. Instead of get-ting a job in your dis-cipline, you tend bar,but quit makingdrinks to work for atrucking company.After that you attendlaw school and openyour own practice,but quit to work inretail and obtainanother degree, thistime in library sci-

ence, which leads to a book distribution job—all of which leads to your latest endeavor: run-ning a hobby and gaming retail business thatalso orchestrates events for hundreds, some-times thousands, of people.

Wait, what?How does this happen?Mike Coyle, owner of Alternate Univers-

es, can tell you; that’s his career, his life.“I’m a little over-educated,” he admits,

bellowing with laughter as he sits up. Hewears blue jeans, a matching sweater, and ajolly smile that connects his rosy cheeks.Pushing his hands out as if to brace himself,he adds, “I like school folks. I like to learn.”

We both relax into the cushions of ourrespective sofas in Mike’s simple living room,with its wood furniture and white plasterwalls, and he talks about life in the hobbyand game business.

“I like what I’m doing. I like being myown boss. I’m not making tons of money. Inthe hobby business you don’t make tons of

By Brian Durkin

Life isn’t decided

You’re goingto change overthe course of

your life.And what you

want to domay change

along with it.

About the AuthorBorn and raised around Philadelphia, BrianDurkin received his Masters of Arts in Writingfrom Saint Joseph's University. He caresabout helping young people while pursuingscreenwriting.

Mike & two of his young employeesRight: Shelves in store

Picture this:

28

moti

vos

Brian Durkin Writing Portfolio

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Transcript of Brian Durkin Writing Portfolio