Rubi McGrory created this fabulous QR Quilt out of second-hand clothes from a charity shop. The quilt backing is material her husband had used as a drop cloth.

Ruby says the quilt was tricky to make from a technical perspective. She needed to keep the precision of the grid structure while working with materials of different weights and stretch, and then there was the matter of contrast. “I couldn’t be sure the code would actually work until the whole thing was complete, unsure of the threshold for color and mistakes.”

Her 50″ textile art sends a message: How to be happier: – buy art – recycle – consume less

If you need a free reader for your smart phone so you can scan QR codes, go to http://www.funbeach.com/reader.

If you live in Savannah, Georgia you can see the quilt and more of Rubi’s art work at the Oglethorpe Gallery.  Long Beach, Washington, area locals and visitors can take a QR tour of the town, starting at the Arch on Bolstad, just a block from the town’s main stoplight intersection.

For more interesting uses of QR codes, check out 2d code.

4 Easy Ways to Engage Your Facebook Fans.  Mashable has a gift for cutting to the chase.  These four tips will help you move from broadcast mode and into engagement.  This one is a must-read.

5 Essential Apps for Your Business’s Facebook Fan Page.  If you are using Facebook for business, give this article a read.  If any of the apps sound like something you want to engage, but you’re a bit overwhelmed about HOW to do that, we can help.

The Small Business Guide to Google Apps.  Using the suite of apps essentially places all of your data in “the cloud”, meaning yuou can access it anywhere, any time, from any internet connection.  They integrate with one another, making it easy to increase your productivity.  There are free and pay versions of many of the products; the best way to start is to sign up for a Gmail account and start clicking.  And don’t forget to claim your listing in Google’s Local Business Center!

10 Essential Social Media Tips for B2B Marketers.  If your business sells to other businesses, and uses Social Media, Mashable has some solid advice on how to maximize your efforts.

Yelp for Business:  4 Steps for Success.  Yelp, if you’ve been nose to the grindstone and not noticed this popular site, is a site where customers recommend (or leave negative feedback on) businesses based on their experiences.  In urban areas, this is a BIG deal as end users see it as a go-to place for deciding where to spend their money.  As the article says, If your business has been around long, you probably already have a page; you’re just not holding the reins yet. You’ll want to step in and take control of it as soon as possible, because using it correctly can bring you new business and prevent any negative word of mouth from hindering your growth and success.

Alas, Sabrina’s life has taken significant turns that have her, as I type, on a road trip back to the cheese-filled land of Wisconsin, state of her birth.   We hope she’ll be back to rejoin our happy pack; in the meanwhile, we wish her all the best on her journey.

Kathy has returned for a short stint, bless her code-wrangling heart!  She’s filling in while we look for the next member of our team.  We’re all delighted to have our favorite Twilight Mom back in the kennel.  Karl is positively giddy to have a fellow coder on the web team.  The web/online marketing end of the office is in good hands and projects are but a whisper from being back on schedule.

Over here on the design/marketing end of the beachdog-world, we’re still a bit buried.  It’s the ‘gear up for the season’ season for our tourism-dependent clients, which means a lot of post cards, brochures, flyers, advertisements, banners, signs, stamps, labels, and marketing plans.  Don’t get me wrong;  I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing and Wendy and Keith are both having fun, too.

The only down side to this time of year is that I don’t get as much time chatting with clients.  Sue, Wendy and Keith do their best to keep me hunkered down and focused on the work (thanks, guys!).  We expect the design/consulting end of the office to be spot-on schedule within the next two weeks and send apologies to anyone waiting longer than they’d like.  We don’t like that you’re waiting either and are going as fast as we can without compromising quality. Thanks for your patience!

Keleigh

Overview

This full-time position is responsible for client website development and maintenance, as well as maintenance of web hosting accounts, research and implementation of additional web-based technologies, and assisting clients with other needs fulfilled by the company.

Salary

Commensurate with experience.  Benefits include paid time off, flexible scheduling, AFLAC, retirement.  Bonus program rewards results.

Work Context

This job requires working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions and sitting for long periods of time.  In-person, phone and email contact with clients and co-workers, and long periods of time working on a computer, are included in daily activities. Company offers job security, along with a creative and fun work environment.

Specific Tasks, Tools & Technology

• Supports web-based products and services through email, face-to-face, and telephone support.
• Interacts with customers and troubleshoots problems to provide expectation-exceeding customer satisfaction.
• Consults with clients and other team members to build and manage web products.
• Researches, installs, customizes, and configures programs for websites.
• Develops and opens new accounts, maintains existing accounts and handles customer inquiries.
• Develops website structure, design and flow.
• Troubleshoots, tests and oversees the launch of new sites.
• Identifies challenges, recommends and implements solutions.
• Demonstrates working knowledge of commonly used concepts, practices, and procedures within the web field (i.e., HTML, PHP, AJAX, CSS, database applications; Mac, UNIX and Windows platforms), as required.
• Tracks projects, deadlines and deliverables.
• Demonstrates high-level knowledge of broadcast email technology, including setup, configuration, templates, statistics, client training.
• Demonstrates high-level knowledge and ability in web and graphic design, template design, photo and image editing, using assigned applications and platforms.
• Demonstrates knowledge of web 2.0 technworkologies, installation, configuration, editing, SEM optimization, and training.
• Demonstrates knowledge of shopping cart technology, installation, configuration, editing, SEM optimization, and training.
• Demonstrates impeccably accurate record-keeping.
• Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals.
• Relies on instructions and pre-established guidelines to perform the functions of the job.
• Meets deadlines.
• Assists with additional projects as directed and other duties, as assigned.
• Interacting With Computers — Uses computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Getting Information — Observes, receives, and otherwise obtains information from all relevant sources.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeps up-to-date technically and applies new knowledge to the job.
• Thinking Creatively — Develops, designs, or creates new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Processing Information — Compiles, codes, categorizes, calculates, tabulates, audits, or verifies information or data.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzes information and evaluates results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, and Subordinates — Provides information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, email, or in person.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifies information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Develops specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish work.
• Analyzing Data or Information — Identifies the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Work Activities

• Interacting With Computers — Uses computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Getting Information — Observes, receives, and otherwise obtains information from all relevant sources.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeps up-to-date technically and applies new knowledge to the job.
• Thinking Creatively — Develops, designs, or creates new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Processing Information — Compiles, codes, categorizes, calculates, tabulates, audits, or verifies information or data.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzes information and evaluates results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, and Subordinates — Provides information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, email, or in person.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifies information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Develops specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish work.
• Analyzing Data and Information — Identifies the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Education & Experience

• Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required. Specifically, an associate’s degree, training in vocational school(s), apprenticeship or related on-the-job experience.
• Computers and Electronics — Knowledge of Macintosh and Windows platforms, with an emphasis on Macintosh systems and peripherals.
• English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting high quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Design — Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of results-oriented web technologies.
• Communications and Media — Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
• Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, statistics, and their applications.
• Troubleshooting — Able to determining causes of errors and decide what to do about it.
• Problem Sensitivity — Able to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong; recognizing there is a problem.
• Programming — Able to create, modify and manipulate databases for various products.
• Active Listening — Consistently give full attention to what other people are saying, take time to understand the points being made, ask questions as appropriate, and not interrupt at inappropriate times.
• Reading Comprehension — Able to understand written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
• Critical Thinking — Uses logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Time Management — Able to manage and track own time and the time of others.
• Active Learning — Understands the implications of new information for both current and future problem solving and decision-making.
• Complex Problem Solving — Identifies complex problems and reviews related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Analytical Thinking — Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
• Inductive Reasoning — Able to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Technology Design — Generates or adapts equipment and technology to serve user needs.
• Operations Analysis — Analyzes needs and product requirements to create designs.
• Attention to Detail — Demonstrates impeccable record keeping and thorough follow-through of work tasks.
• Importance of Accuracy — Accurate record keeping is essential to this position.
• Deductive Reasoning — Able to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Category Flexibility — Able to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
• Information Ordering — Able to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Near Vision — Able to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Oral Comprehension — Able to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Written Comprehension — Able to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Selective Attention — Able to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
• Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
• Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
• Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
• Independence — Position requires employees to work on their own and with others, and to make decisions.
• Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
• Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
• Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
• Innovation — Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
• Achievement — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. Position is results-oriented and allows employee to use their strongest abilities and be rewarded for results.
• Contact Human Resources Officer Sue Skinner for an application packet: sue@beachdog.com or 360-642-4431

Knowledge

• Computers and Electronics — Knowledge of Macintosh and Windows platforms, with an emphasis on Macintosh systems and peripherals.
• English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting high quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Design — Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of results-oriented web technologies.
• Communications and Media — Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
• Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, statistics, and their applications.

Skills & Abilities

• Troubleshooting — Able to determine causes of errors and decide what to do about it.
• Problem Sensitivity — Able to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong; recognizing there is a problem.
• Programming — Able to create, modify and manipulate databases for various products.
• Active Listening — Able to consistently give full attention to what other people are saying, take time to understand the points being made, ask questions as appropriate, and not interrupt at inappropriate times.
• Reading Comprehension — Able to understand written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Critical Thinking — Uses logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Time Management — Able to manage and track own time and the time of others.
• Active Learning — Understands the implications of new information for both current and future problem solving and decision-making.
• Complex Problem Solving — Able to identify complex problems and reviews related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Analytical Thinking — Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
• Inductive Reasoning — Able to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Technology Design — Generates or adapts equipment and technology to serve user needs.
• Operations Analysis — Analyzes needs and product requirements to create designs.
• Attention to Detail — Demonstrates impeccable record keeping and thorough follow-through of work tasks.
• Deductive Reasoning — Able to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Category Flexibility — Able to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
• Information Ordering — Able to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Near Vision — Able to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Oral Comprehension — Able to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Written Comprehension — Able to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Selective Attention — Able to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
• Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
• Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
• Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
• Independence — Position requires employees to work on their own and with others, and to make decisions.
• Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
• Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
• Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
• Innovation — Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
• Achievement — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. Position is results-oriented and allows employee to use their strongest abilities and be rewarded for results.

To Apply

Contact Human Resources Officer Sue Skinner for an application packet: sue@beachdog.com or 360-642-4431

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