Playing basketball on the Palace floor

Nuspire rented out the Palace Floor for a basketball game.  Always done in style, the Nuspire game inlcuded jerseys, announcers, and scoreboard.

Pie Day

Pie Day Managers 2013.  Our pie this year was a classic.  Jimbo's Reeses Peanut Butter Pie,

Nuspire Holiday Party

Written By: Dan

This year's theme was "Nuspire Games."  We brought in arcade games, table games, and casino games (all free).  Winning tickets from the games were put into a drawing.  Winning tickets were allowed the owner to play "guess the box" for prizes.  Some awesome (TVs, Xbox, Go Pro Cameras, etc..), some not so much (bags of candy, fake crowns, etc..)....

Great time at White Lake Oaks.

Back to the Mac

Written By: Dan

We're back to the Mac again.  Annual Nuspire company trip.  Same agenda as year's past, and it doesn't get  old.  Horns on Friday night, Saturday breakfast, followed by the Annual Dorks Vs. Nerds basketball game.  We had a great room at the Lake View, where we learned some great news.

Breakfast at Nuspire

Good Times committee catered breakfast,  made pancakes and waffles, and showed cartoons in the board room.  Employees wore pajamas.

Pi Day

Written by:  Dan

Annie made a Oreo Mud Pie.  I got Pied in the face.  Twilight raised about $70 by throwing pies at managers.

The Pistons private jet ride and Treetops golf

 

Written By: Dan

I am one lucky dude.  Today I was given the privilege of taking RoundBall One to Tree Tops.    Let me explain.

RoundBall one the the Piston's private jet.  Yes, the jet the Pistons players fly on to get to and from games.  Because Nuspire has a suite, we were treated to a trip of a lifetime.  The Jet departed from the Piston's private hanger (Guardian Glass Hanger) at Metro.  This is the way to fly!  No lines, no boarding zones, tickets.  Just an ID and quick security screen and you are on your way.  Some people arrive around 15 minutes before departure.  The plane itself is unreal.  It is the size of a regular regional jet.  The inside of the plan has been gutted and remodeled.  The seats are designed to make a seven footer feel comfortable.  The seats make first class seating seem small.  Some of the rows are inverted to face each other, with a table in the center.  I bet millions have been bet on those tables between games.  We didn't have time to play a card game.  Only 45 minutes to Gaylord for the next stage of our trip.

The next stage was golf at Tree Tops Golf Course.  Tree Tops has to be the best course I have ever played.  I can't say it was my best round, but I enjoyed it none the less.  We even has a 45 minute rain delay, but no one's mood dampened one bit.  

We left around 4pm from Gaylord, and were back to Metro in a heartbeat.  I was to Gaylord, golfed 18, and was back home for dinner.

Not a bad day in the office.

Back to the Mac

 

Written By: Dan

Another Nuspire company trip to the Island.  This year's highlights included:

• Drew being named C-Mac.  Best I can tell the police seperated him from two different main street wrestling matches.
• Computer Nerds reclaimed the trophy by defeating the Band Dorks easliy.
• This year our horse went crazy during our carrige ride.  He ran head first into a tree.  Good thing the the tree stopped the horse's head - because he was headed for the lake!  Last year the horse was so old he colapsed during the ride.  I'm not sure which is better.  
• Annie and the ladies did a midnight haunted tour. 

Pie Day

Written By: Dan





My Picture made the paper!

Written by: Dan

I took a picture of the Nuspire NOC (Network Operations Center) for an article the Detroit FreePress was doing on our company.  It made the paper! 

Top places to Work awards breakfast

 

Once again Nuspire has been voted as one of Detroit's top place to work.  The Detroit Free press celebrated with a breakfast to honor the award winners.    We even made Freep.com.  Check it out http://tiny.cc/zbz3y

Back to the Mac

Written by: Dan

Well, it is that time of the year, back to Mackinaw Island with the Nuspire crew.   A highlight of the work year when our company takes us to the Island for some real teambuilding.  Horns bar, Frontmen, Carrage rides, Breakfast meeting, and the annual Band Dorks Vs. Computer Nerds.   We've done all of these things about 7 or 8 times now I think, but every year is different.

For instance, this year the Band Dorks beat the Computer Nerds.  That has only happened one other time.  Also, this year our horse keeled over during the cartage ride - I haven't seen that one before.

Mackinaw Island is always a good time to spend with co-workers and friends.  It also reminds you that "work" is with a great company and a good group of people.

Zap zone

Nuspire team building laser tag event.   Great time.  We were by far twice as old as any other patron.

Key Largo

Dan got to finish his travels with a trip to Key Largo. The best part of the Nuspire manager's Trip is Annie got to come too! Not only does Nuspire put up the managers, but pays the way for thier spouces as well. When many other companies are letting people go everyday, we are lucky to be with a company that does so much for thier employees.

Dan and Annie spent the first part of the trip relaxing poolside. On Wednesday they ventured to Key West for a day trip. Annie's first time, and Dan's first in the last decade or so. The final day was spent shark fishing. The lesson learned is the hardest part of shark catching is catching the bate. Dan was able to net Annie though :)

After 17 flights in thirty some days, Dan's travels couldn't have ended a better way.

metamorphosis

Dan preformed magic at the Nuspire Christmas party. Dan's show (the Great Danweenie presents Bad Magic) started poorly. Until the grand finale, his best trick might have been making beers disappear on stage. However, with the help of his lovely assistant, Annie, they ended with a great trick. Houdini's Metamorphosis.

Floor seats

Dan got to sit next to Chucky Atkins at the Pistons game last night. What made this so special is Chucky was playing in the game! Nuspire had the next four seats at the end of the pistons bench. It is an entirely different experience from the floor. You realize how small (and slow) you are next to the players...

Dan's Trip to Orlando

Written By: Dan

Earlier this week I went down to Orlando for the Gartner IT Symposium. It was held at the Swan and Dolphin Hotels. Good show, very informative - Nuspire may sponsor next year.

One of the highlights was an evening event at Epcot. Normally, being at Disney World by yourself isn’t a good time (it really is a small world after all). However, this time was an exception. Disney cleared out the park for the Gartner event. So the only people in all of Epcot were Gartner Attendees and Disney Employees. All the rides were open, and there was plenty of free food and beer. This made for a fun time. What made things better was all the IT nerds seemed to be more interested in the different buffets than the free rides. Because of this there were literally no lines at any of the rides. I could walk straight onto the ride. If I liked the ride I could stay on and go again. As I dashed from ride to ride I kept thinking “WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE THINKING! YOU DORKS! OPEN RIDES! YOU CAN FIND A BUFFET ANYWHERE!” This is another example of book smarts VS. what the hell are you thinking.

By the time I got back to the hotel I was exhausted. I spent 3 hours in a full blown sprint, running from ride to ride. The only thing that would slow me down was to grab a beer, which I would grab (and drink) like a marathon runner takes water during the race.
What an experience. I’m not sure “kid in a candy shop” relays my excitement. Maybe “immature young man in an empty theme park with beer” is a better expression to use.

Pumpkin Carving Competition at Nuspire

Team building event at Nuspire (http://www.nuspire.com/) today was a pumpkin carving competition. Great fun.

This is Dan's team pumpkin. It is by far the best one he has ever done; though other team members did most of the work. It placed came in second to last!

Gartner IT security confrence

Dan is spending a few days in DC for the Gartner IT Security confrence. Nuspire is a sponsor. These IT nerds know how to throw a party....

Back to the Mac

This weekend was Nuspire's annual company trip to Mackinac Island. Two nights at Horns bar watching Huckleberry Groove, romantic buggy ride, and Dorks Vs. Nerd Basketball game were the highlights. Fun as always. Even after 5 years, it doesn't get old.

P.S. Dan did not win the Cmac award this year. Better luck next year.