Al Poullis, President & CEO – Senior e-Business Consultant Al – a process-oriented professional in the IT Industry – has 20 years of Canadian and international experience developing technology infrastructure and innovative solutions in e-business, e-commerce and manufacturing environments. He is no stranger to the world of Small-to-Midsize Businesses (SMB): In Europe he founded “Ledasoft Computer Solutions Ltd.”, which provided solutions to SMBs and government agencies from 1993 to 1998. Since 1998 he has dedicated himself to the world of e-business and e-commerce in N. America. In his position as VP, I.T. of Carbiz.com – a large financial portal for the automotive industry – he led a team of 50 to build complex systems, websites and infrastructure that included a $1M Internet Data Center, along with the software systems needed to successfully implement the company’s B2B initiatives. Later on, in his position of CTO at World English Center.com – a Toronto-based e-learning start-up – he developed a $3M technology plan to deliver e-learning multimedia content to over 90M people in Asia. Al founded COMMbits in 2001 and his role includes spearheading new projects and products. A Systems Analyst by trade, he is also involved in the Systems Analysis that preceeds most custom projects. He has developed a unique methodology for website design whereby content is completely separated from underlying structures, which translates to easier content maintenance from the client’s side and consistency of navigational structures. In the area of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Al has developed a unique formula for legitimately boosting a website’s ranking in popular Search Engines, including Google. In the area of transactional e-Commerce (credit card processing), Al has developed unique implementation methodologies whereby the seamingly complex world of e-Commerce can by explained in lay men terms and adopted and utilized by everyone. Al holds a post-graduate degree in Management from the Mediterranean Institute of Management and a B.Sc. degree in Business Administration with a Major in Computer Information Systems from the American College of Greece (1989). He is fluent in English and Greek. Al is also a Black Belt holder in Tae Kwon Do. June 2006 – “Business Edge” Magazine interviews COMMbits founder & President Al Poullis. Click here for details. To contact Al, please use the COMMbits contact form. Al’s personal blog is here.

Nick Onoufriou, Senior Network Administrator Nick, with over 15 years of hands-on experience on Network Systems, is overseeing our Systems Administration and Technical Support services for server and workstation environments. A seasoned professional with an impressive certification portfolio including Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP/MCSA/MCSE), A+ and Server+, Nick is also Toshiba Laptop Certified and holds current and valid server-product certifications from numerous Vendors including HP, Compaq and Dell. Nick possesses current and advanced knowledge on Windows Server systems enabling him to provide expert support on General Windows Networking. In addition to his extensive knowledge on Windows Systems, Nick has in-depth knowledge and experience on Linux and Unix systems. This combination allows him to configure, troubleshoot and support complex systems including OS setup, firewalls, load-balancers, backup systems, Network Storage Devices and other network devices, functions and peripherals. Nick’s past experience includes an important role at Celestica, where he planned and executed operations on Windows 2000 rollout, backup administration and custom software installation support for complex systems. At Carbiz.com he held a Systems Administration role and was intimately involved with the planning, installation, configuration and maintenance of the startup Company’s $1M Internet Data Center. At Infinity Technologies (now OTG – On the Go Technologies Group) Nick was responsible for notebook, desktop, server configuration and repairs, in addition to remote and on-site support. One of Nick’s biggest strengths– a direct result of his long experience and analytical thinking skills – is his ability to quickly come up with custom solutions addressing specific business needs, providing answers to even complex technical issues. See also our On-site Toronto Support services for more on our Networking and Support services and to submit your inquiry to Nick for an assessment and solutions provision for your own business needs.

Jeannie Vasilakos, Accounts and Administrative Support With over 15 years of professional experience in Business Administration and Account Management, Jeannie is the pleasant voice behind our front-end operations. Other than overseeing overall Office Management and Administration at our office, Jeannie’s role involves assisting new and existing customers with their enquiries. With intimate knowledge and hands-on technical experience of our products, Jeannie is able to guide our new customers into the right direction and acts as a liaison between customers and our internal specialists in addition to ensuring that contract requirements are followed-through from project inception to project completion. She also provides confidential administrative support to the President & CEO. Jeannie’s past professional experience includes important roles at ISP Advanced Knowledge Networks Inc. in Toronto as a Marketing Manager and later on as an Executive Administrative Assistant, as well as a role as an Office Administrator & Support Consultant in yet another ISP, Spidernet Services Ltd. in Europe. Earlier in her career Jeannie worked as an Executive Recruitment Officer & Administrator for the British Council in Europe and taught English as a Second Language in Greece. She also successfully completed a two-year role at the Consulate General of Greece in the United States as an office and PR Administrator producing important documentation for the Greek Navy Marine Minister. Jeannie has both a Master’s Degree and a BA from Brock University in Sociology/Psychology and Business Administration and she is fluent in English and Greek.

Konstantine Arnokouros, Creative Graphics Designer and Musical Composer Konstantine joins the COMMbits team bringing with him his tremendous creativity, talent and experience in the creative fields of graphic design and music composition. Professionally trained and with over six years experience in the graphics and web design industry, Konstantine has art-directed projects for Public Television, Sony Music and various major and independent companies. As a musical composer, Konstantine has completed impressive work for independent artists and major record companies. He has also produced jingles for Toyota and Lexus, as well as scores for independent films. His private recording studio has accommodated artists such as Pavlo, John McDermott and Sommerset Entertainment, to name a few. His compositions and production work have earned him Gold Record status in Canada. Being a successful “gigging” musician himself, Konstantine understands the public and clients’ needs thus creating a harmonious environment that always produces superb results. He is behind our Custom Website Music services. With his experience in corporate branding, promotional and editorial design, but also in music composition, Konstantine makes the COMMbits creative-design team even stronger and diversified, able to offer design solutions to meet any corporate or individual creative design business needs, including custom audio design – a highly-desired component in modern websites.

Robert Starr, Professional writer, researcher, editor, proofreader Rob is a graduate of Ryerson University’s School of Journalism (’86). Throughout his career as a professional writer, researcher, editor and proofreader has edited and written business brochures, manuscripts, speeches, theses, and other academic worksfor several North American and off-shore firms. He worked on several newspapers in the 1980’s and 1990’s as an editor and reporter before leaving journalism to write his first novel, The Apple Lady, which was published in 2004 by Stonegarden publishing in California. Since then he has published two more works of fiction, Creekwater in 2006, and Sophisty by Degrees in 2008, and has fostered his own successful freelance writing and editing business catering to web copy and a variety of written and editing concerns for international and local business. To date, Starr has written copy for companies as far away as Sweden and as close as Toronto, and he’s edited business documents and manuscripts for clients in places like Nigeria and Norway. He works for several international companies on-line, and remains a backup editor for another firm that deals exclusively with Chinese business. Rob oversees our Professional Writing Services.