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' Page 2 The Blue Banner April 8,2004 Features Alumni hooking it up in Asheville BY Tabitha Bailey Staff Reporter ,'V UNCA alumni Ryan Hodges and Brian Scheewe, class of 2003, started Advanced Data and Net work Solutions over a year ago, and the business is still going strong. Hodges and Scheewe also work with fellow alumni Chris Pittman, for programming, and Clay Catinella, for cellular sales and marketing. The fifth member of the staff is Ja.son Scheewe, an un declared sophomore, who covers the position of computer techni cian and handles repairs. It’s no sur prise the company feels a strong connection with the university - they’re all UNCA students. “We’re proud of that fact,” said Hodges, company president. “We want to emphasize that.” Perhaps part of the bond Hodges and Scheewe feel for UNCA comes from the fact that they met in an introduction level multimedia class when they worked together on a Web site project. “We just kind of clicked as far as approaching the project, and we each have our strong points and they really complement each other,” said ffodges. “So it worked in the project and just kind of carried be yond that.” Advanced Data and Network Solu tions is located on Merrimon Avenue. The office is also a retail store for com puter systems and components, plus cell phones, acces- .sories and U.S. Cellular plans. “We’ve got a great location here,” said Scheewe, vice president. “Were close to the campus, we’re close to the city.” Plus the company offers a “fun” work environment. “It’s a good environment con ducive to getting work done, even though it’s not structured,” said Catinella. “We have a good time.” Before setting up the business last March, Hodges and Scheewe TOMMY CREENWOOD/staff photographer UNCA alumni and students operate Advanced Data and Network Solutions and hope to offer internships and employment opportunities for other students. did Web designing individually for four years each. With their own ex perience, plus the fact that both come from entrepreneurial fami lies, the two started with some business ex perience. “It took a lot of work to get started. It wasn’t insur- “I guess the most benefi cial part was the network ing we learned at UNCA. You know, having con tacts, knowing people, that sort of thing.” Ryam Hodges UNCA alumnus and company founder mountable. It’s something that you have to have a drive to do,” said Hodges. “I guess the most beneficial part was the net working we learned at UNCA. You know, having contacts, knowing people, that sort of thing.” The company offers a number of services that put the presidents’ computer science degrees and Scheewe’s second degree in multi- media arts and sciences to work. Business for Advanced Data in cludes servers, networking, Web sites and databases. According to Scheewe, they also cover telephone systems for small offices. I’he company is keeping the fu ture in mind with constant train ing, like Cisco certification and ex perience with advanced technology, like networking with fiber optics. “We have so many sides to our business. We really specialize in be ing the one place to go for a busi ness, for any of their communica tion needs. We want to be that one phone call for them, instead of hav ing four or five different providers,” said Scheewe. “And we really love what we do.” Advanced Data does more than work with businesses. They also offer computer services for indi viduals, like repairs and upgrades. “If students have computer problems, we’re here to help,” said Hodges. “Even though our primary fo cus is business,” said Scheewe. “Just for the campus community to know, they shouldn’t be intimi dated by that at all. Everyone here is from UNCA, alumnus or stu dent, and we love it when UNCA people come in here.” Business aside, the alumni of fered advice for students approach ing business. “A lot of people complain about (working in groups) as students, but it helps out more than you know,” said Hodges. “There’s al ways a group project to work on, whether you work for a company, whether you’re doing it yourself or something.” And when looking for a job, re sumes are important, but the in terview is “where they really shine,” ad van ced COMPUTERS networking s websites adnsolutiom.oora 285:8883 J J TOMMY CREENWOOD/staff PHOTOGRAPHER Advanced Data and Network Solutions is located on Merrimon Avenue. said Hodges. “They really need to have a make-it-happen attitude, that’s the most important part,” said Hodges. “Someone who’s driven.” “They’ve got to be ambitious and just want to get stuff done,” said Scheewe. “(Someone) that is naturally driven to accomplish and to suc ceed.” Students interested in real world experience in their field will be happy to hear that Advanced Data and Network Solutions is inter ested in working out internships. Broadway play dares to bare all BY Kerrin Smith Staff Reporter guard at their former mill; Haro’ their old boss at the mill; a. “Horse,” an older black The Broadway Musical produc tion of “The Full Monty” had the audience laughing and cheering-on the actors at Greenville’s Peace Center March 27. “I am really enjoying the play,” said Earle Spenser, a Greenville resi dent. “The cast is very good at what they do.” Based on the film, the play portrays a group of laid off steel mill workers living in Buffalo who are struggling with their own personal lives due to the loss of their jobs. The men, unemployed for about a year, lose their self-es teems and bank accounts. After finding their wives and girlfriends spending money to see male strippers, the men get a wild idea that they, too, could become strippers to get some much needed income. There is one problem though. The men are middle-aged, overweight, beer drinking guys that can’t dance to save their lives. One of the main characters, Jerry (played by Jeremiah Zinger) needs to get money fast so his son, Nathan (played by Tyler Griffin), won’t be taken away due to unpaid child support. Jerry comes up with the idea to become strippers for the needed money. Dave, played by Joe Goots, fears of his unman like position at home since he has been laid off He is now the maid and cook of the house. Also, Dave steers away from sex with his wife because of a weight problem. Jerry and Dave team up to start their stripping group. Hot Metal, by holding auditions. The two are looking to have a group of six danc ers. They team up with Ethan, a well-endowed (where it counts) only one of the six that can date “The story line is good. ItisJ larious actually,” said Boni- Spenser, a Greenville resident. “Bj cause of the subject matter, I really surprised to see all ofil older patrons. I thougi. ‘These poor people j going to have heart t tacks if they do not rc; ize what the play 1 about.’” The play does have the ni(| stripping down to their shiny thongs, and they even go “ monty,” but the back lighting the stage blinds the audience to point they cannot see the chan ters on stage. “I loved the character of N( ‘Horse’ T. Simmons,” said Robti Smith, an Asheville resident song, ‘Big Black Man,’ if you bo; what I mean, was absolutely hilaiJ ous. He was the funniest charactf in the show.” “Horse” brought laughs, asw( as the other cla Fc roan, tl how acters “The context of the play is a little risky for Greenville. We are in the Bible belt. But I came here to be entertained. The show is amusing.” Earle Spenser Greenville resident througl out the perfoi mance. Seeinj “Horse,” playti by Troi Scarborougl dance around tl stage with the ergy of a twenty one year old m hysterical const ering his cJiarat ter was in his la fifties. His ami and energy stole any scene he w “I am really enjoying the mi sic,” said Sizemore. “The lyrics at easy to understand. There are many plays that you can’t heartl words to the songs. These actorsai doing a good job of keeping tin from happening.” The music and lyrics by Davi Yazbek have a catchy pop like fee but they are full of witty remaii and jokes. Yazbek did a great ji on this work and earned a Dram Desk Award and Grammy an Tony nominations for his work# young man; Malcolm, a security See play on page 3 WestSound jams at Tressas BY Kelli Fowler Staff Reporter Local band WestSound enter tained an enthusiastic audience at Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues April 1. “My brothers and 1 have been playing together about 25 years,” .said Randy Weston. “This particu lar band, WestSound, has been to gether for about four years. Before (we formed) this band, we were United Souls. We faded .it with that and we kept with the family thing. WestSound is derived from our last name.” Randy Weston, keyboard player and band leader for WestSound, operates a recording stud WestSound Productions, in down town Asheville in the flat iroi building. The guitarist for the band, Randy’s oldest 1 brother Oscar, and the li drummer, another (Weston brother, Cecil, jlround out the family affair. At the ri ressa's show, Raymond Kelly sat lin on the drums. WestSound fea- ^tures Regina Duke as lead vocal ist. Joni lUta Intel “F ippc tretc how nusi ains re i ear her 10 W( on 'ette D :he c iheir laye “1 nk ,nd I .Iwa; TV t: ,ndl lotol hey level, N fth .tlei and ord “V ■ang UP6-(M weuu ©Too'f ii IvvA+t' KELLI FOWLER/staff reporter Regina Duke, Raymond Kelly and the 'Weston brothers help spice things up at Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues. Jio, Super Saturday (at UNCA), Randy Weston. “We had a won derful time.” The talented group performs different types of mu sic, ranging from Marvin Gaye to “I Like the Way You Move,” by Outkast. The stage presence ofWestSound offers the audience a lively perfor mance. The band performed a ren dition of “Happy Birthday” for an audience member who visited Tressa’s to celebrate her birthday. “Tressa’s is great,” said Lauren said Bridges, a Shelby, resident. “This IS the first time I have been here. I am up here for my friend’s birth day. We had a great time. I have never really been to a place like this. It was definitely a good time, good company, good everything.” Guitarist Oscar Weston steps off-stage and meanders around the room with his guitar and wireless microphone. He appears to enjoy this thor oughly. Band members agree that they never know what to expect
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