Dramatic growth, promotions, new technology keep Drake Software on cutting edge of online services

To ensure complete customer satisfaction and remain on the cutting edge of online tax preparation services, Drake Software recently announced several promotions and additions in its rapidly growing Web Development Department.

Jami Gibson, formerly Web Development Manager, was promoted to Director of Web Development, according to Brian Stork, vice president of application development at Drake Software.

“Jami’s promotion and new title better reflect her leadership role and value to our company,” said Stork. “Through her vast experience at Drake with both internal and external customers, she has developed an outstanding ability to see and understand the big picture.”

Gibson joined Drake Software in 1999 while still attending college at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC, where she graduated cum laude with a degree in Business Computer Information Systems. She initially worked in applications development as a Windows and web programmer and was named Web Development Manager in 2005. She was instrumental in the formation of the Web Development Department within the company’s overall Applications Development Division.

Since she became manager in 2005, the department has grown from five to 17 members and more growth is planned. In the past few months alone, Gibson has hired four new web team members including two software developers and two technical analysts.

Mike Barber, a 4-year member of the Web Development Department, has been promoted to web product manager. He’ll continue to serve as lead architect/developer while also taking on a more active role in larger decisions regarding the direction and technical aspects of the company’s web products, according to Gibson.

Barber has a BSBA in Information Technology from Appalachian State University and spent eight years as technical lead and lead developer for Wachovia Bank, now Wells Fargo, prior to joining Drake.

“Basically, I take customer requirements and turn them into technical solutions,” said Barber. “I’m excited about the opportunity to take an even stronger lead role in web product upgrades and develop new and better ways to serve our customers.”

More About Web Development Department
Drake’s Web Development Department has extensive, diverse responsibilities focused on both internal and external customers.

Internally, the department is heavily involved in application development and internal databases for various company departments. It’s instrumental in designing, maintaining and improving the sales team’s tracking software, ordering and reporting modules, accounting’s payment processing systems, the call log system for Drake’s customer support call centers and more.

Drake Software customers can credit the department with a wide variety of highly acclaimed online products and services such as DrakeSoftware.com, 1040.com, preparer websites, the Drake Software Support site, web1040, web check printing and more. It’s also responsible for the company’s Enterprise Office Manager (EOM) portal that allows multisite customers to manage their various offices and control many aspects of their tax business.

The Web Development Department has tremendous depth with the best minds in the industry as well as the most advanced software and technology available. For example, the company recently upgraded all Structured Query Language (SQL) Servers to SQL Clusters that are fully redundant and all running the latest SQL 2008 software.

“Vital information and filings for our customers and their clients are extremely safe even in the event of massive power outage,” said Gibson. “All data is fully redundant in real time, so if one server cluster does go down, another kicks in instantly.”

This year, the Web Development Department also will transition to software that allows for Web 1040, online filing updates and more with no interruption to Drake customers, according to Gibson. Currently, sites could run slightly slower as the Web Development Department makes and uploads updates. Drake will soon publish updates offline and releases them seamlessly to all customers at once.

“Dramatic staff growth as well as major upgrades in our technology, software and systems is a reflection of increased customer demand for web based tax software applications,” said Gibson. “Of course our ultimate goal is complete customer satisfaction based on fewer defects, better quality and better service.”

About Drake Software
For over 33 years, Drake Software has provided tax preparers the tools they need to build their business and attract new clients. Today, over 30,000 customers use Drake Software. Drake delivered over 15 million federal and state accepted returns last year. The company continues to meet its goals of customer satisfaction and product improvement by encouraging open customer feedback, listening closely to evaluations from industry authorities, and backing the product with a knowledgeable and innovative programming and support team.

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