Posted by tom on December 12, 2012 under Company News | 
As a part of Rakuten, we have truly learned the power of loyalty. We have built a portfolio of clients that include the leading loyalty programs around the world. Because of this exposure, our parent company and us have decide to launch a new initiative named “Rakuten Loyalty“.
This unit will be led by our people, our technology, and our expertise. Our mission is simple in definition, but grand in scope – we will seek to develop the most innovative rewards acceleration platform in the world.
This journey is already underway, as we have become experts in utilizing our industry-leading rewards technology to connect members to the rewards that they love anytime, anywhere. You’ll begin to see that soon, but at a high level, Rakuten will be supporting our efforts to build the most innovative rewards technology across all devices and for all online activities, enabling members to earn and redeem rewards like never before.
We’ve also moved to a brand new stunning office that will allow us to continue to build the technical team needed to accomplish this exciting goal. We will be posting updates and photos soon, so keep checking back.
Posted by tom on November 29, 2012 under Company News |
When we realigned our team to focus on a more streamlined client implementation process and for updating our clients’ RewardsBars and eMarkets, we knew we needed someone who could coordinate all of the moving parts, making sure that time and resources were being best utilized for successful projects. Fortunately for us we have someone on our team who can do just that. We have Noe Carmichael.
Noe joined our parent company’s US division, Rakuten USA, in March of 2006 and came to FreeCause in September of 2009 when Rakuten acquired FreeCause. As our Client Operations Project Manager, Noe manages our sprint/scrum process for our Client Operations team, managing the team’s resources for our client launches and updates in development, leading team meetings, and coordinating communications between our technical, project management, client operations, and management teams. Noe also serves as representative to our parent company on a number of regulation and company-wide initiatives and updates.
Currently Noe is coordinating several key client operations projects that will help further streamline our practices and improve efficiency. The main initiative is improving our scrum process for our client operations team, ensuring that our engineers are able to work faster and smarter, using the time allotted to better manage client-side expectations. It will enable us to provide our clients with a better level of communication so that they are aware of each step during the implementation process. In the end it will lead to a more successful launch for a client, allowing us to provide our rewards technology sooner to clients’ members.
Noe received her BA from Mount Holyoke College and a MLS from Simmons College Graduate School of Library Science. When not at FreeCause, Noe is more than likely doing something music related. As her alter ego – Saucy Lady – she is constantly busy DJing, performing, singing, and song-writing. She also started a music entertainment booking agency and is currently working on launching a music production tutorial program early next year. Other than her extensive musical interests, Noe enjoys yoga, gardening, hiking, and watching Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.
Posted by tom on November 14, 2012 under Company News |
Yesterday we recognized outstanding performance from Q3 with the announcement of our “Golden Toolbar Award” winner. The Golden Toolbar Award is presented quarterly to the employee(s) who achieved unprecedented results during the specific quarter. For 2012 Q3, our Golden Toolbar Award goes to Emmy Jonassen.
Emmy was honored for her leadership in drastically improving the marketing and performance of our B2C properties, which in turn will positively impact the success of our clients. Emmy has led our SEM efforts, significantly lowering our user registration cost and helping diversify install paths. She has also provided a wealth of experience and expertise in helping us create effective email, web, video, and user acquisition strategies that have continued to reap tremendous results.
Last but certainly not least, Emmy has been a great leader to the rest of the team. She’s given a number of coworkers the opportunities and guidance to succeed, further improving our overall performance. Emmy had a truly fantastic quarter in which she not only excelled in her individual goals, but also continued to step up as a leader by helping her coworkers to excel. She’s truly deserving of our Golden Toolbar Award.
Posted by tom on November 2, 2012 under Company News |
We are pleased to announce that FreeCause was named one of the 101 National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For.
The winning companies were assessed on a number of key measures including compensation, benefits, engagement, retention, employee development, recognition, communication, work-life balance, community initiatives, and strategic company performance.
Congratulations to the entire team on this wonderful achievement!
Posted by tom on October 31, 2012 under Company News |
Not surprisingly, through our innovative technology solutions we are able to collect a wealth of data about users’ online behavior. From clicks, conversions, lifetime values, you name it and we more than likely can tell you a lot about it. In order to be able to accurately decipher the information and utilize the valuable insights learned to effect significant results for our clients, we need to have talented individuals who love to crunch numbers, test variables, and analyze trends. We need people like Corinne Salchunas.
Corinne joined FreeCause last January as our Data Analyst, adding a much-needed analytical mind and level of expertise to our team. Her day-to-day responsibilities focus on analyzing our vast amount of user data to recognize various trends and identify opportunities for our company and our clients to continually build a stronger, more profitable relationship with members. Our advanced technology provides a robust amount of detailed data, which enables Corinne to scrutinize all of it and create a series of sophisticated reports and projections. These help us gain valuable insights into users’ behavior, wants, and needs, which we in turn can utilize to help our clients improve their technology solutions and marketing.
Currently Corinne is working on a number of key data initiatives including:
- Compiling and analyzing user data so that we can better understand user behavior online. We have begun creating user profiles which will help our clients better interact with and market to their members.
- Developing and testing new ways to better engage the user. One example is testing our notification sliders to make them more noticeable and enticing. Once achieved, this will increase the user’s ability to earn rewards and in turn increase their loyalty to our client.
- Segmenting users based on purchase history, browsing behavior, and search term choices. This will allow us to provide clients with detailed look into their users’ intent and actions.
- Generating detailed reporting on the health of our technology solutions so that we can always remain focused on providing our customers with the best solutions possible.
- Establishing best practice standards for our Push Notification messaging technology based on the extensive testing we’re conducting. These practices will be shared with our clients in order to help them fully leverage this engaging new technology.
Corinne graduated Trinity College, receiving a bachelor’s of science degree in Economics. When not crunching numbers at FreeCause, Corinne enjoys Pilates, reading, cooking with local produce, and volunteering for Achilles International.
Posted by tom on October 24, 2012 under Company News |
Yesterday we announced the winner of our “Shugi Award” for September. The Shugi Award is given out to the employee(s) who go above and beyond during the month to help the company reach its goals.
For September we are proud to award the Shugi Award to Jessica Reinhard.
Jessica is our Graphic Designer and over the past few months, due to staff changes, has taken on the design responsibilities of two people and has delivered crucial creative assets for several key client launches and product updates. Jessica has handled each urgent design request with an unmatched level of determination, collaboration, and creativity. She has managed a mountain of design projects, in spite of being up against one tight deadline after another, and her work has continually exceeded expectations.
Jessica has embodied the type of get-it-done attitude we applaud here at FreeCause. We are very fortunate to have her on our team and she is well deserving of our Shugi Award.
Posted by tom on October 18, 2012 under Company News |
Want to work at one of the fastest-growing tech companies in Boston? We’re hiring here at FreeCause!
Learn more about what it’s like to work here and see what positions we’re currently recruiting for. Interns, software engineers, sales – we’re looking for talented professionals to join our team and if you’re one of those people, we want to talk to you!
Check out our listings and apply today!
Posted by tom on October 2, 2012 under Company News |
What are you doing next Tuesday between 6-8PM? If you’re free, why don’t you swing by our office and meet our team.
Next Tuesday, 10/9 between 6-8PM at our office (located a block from the Downtown Crossing train station) we’re having an informal Mixer where people can tour our office, meet our team, and learn more about what we do. It’s a casual and low pressure way to introduce yourself to us and meet some cool people. Plus we’ll have food and drinks on hand!
Looking forward to seeing you on the 9th!
Posted by tom on September 28, 2012 under Company News |
FreeCause has some big plans for the future. Using the experience and expertise gained from helping more than 300 major brands and loyalty programs launch successful loyalty solutions, we have aspirations to change the way people are rewarded for their online behavior. To accomplish ambitious goals like this, it requires having the right team of technical talent in place. Fortunately for us, we have the team of engineers to accomplish this – one of them being Greg Langlais.
Greg joined FreeCause in December 2011 as one of our Software Engineers, overseeing a number of core scalable software solutions for us. Since joining FreeCause, Greg has helped shore up our current systems and technology for clients, while also helping begin re-architect our technology platforms for future rewards technology. In the little free time Greg could find, he even recently taught himself node.js (which our technology sits on) and helped fellow teammates learn the software system. Impressive to say the least!
Currently Greg is immersed in some of the higher level priorities for FreeCause, including a re-architecture which will allow us to offer more solutions, services, and data for our clients. The re-architecture will enable us to continue to offer the fastest and most reliable solutions available in the industry. Greg is also involved in updating our transaction reporting system, allowing us to process a far greater number of transactions than currently capable of, manage fraud systems, and provide improved internal and external reporting. Lastly, Greg distributed a new processing system for running big data algorithms and jobs which in turn offers data with better behavior predictions and accuracy.
Since his early childhood years Greg has had a lifelong love of flying, reinforced by family trips to Europe and countless hours in Microsoft Flight Simulator. Believing he wanted to be a fighter pilot, Greg attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University where he studied in Aeronautics and Traffic Control. Though his love for flying only continued to grow, Greg realized a career in it was not for him. Lucky for us, he then refocused on his other passion – computer programming.
When not helping build the future of FreeCause’s technology, Greg likes to remain active – be it shark diving, hiking, cycling, running, swimming, and not surprisingly flying.
Posted by tom on September 24, 2012 under Company News |
Career Fairs can be a great way to meet and attract top talent to your company. They can also be a waste of resources if not properly managed.
Our Director of Human Resources, Mellissa Santos, provides some helpful tips in this BostInno article on how companies can best utilize career fairs to provide a higher ROI and a steady stream of candidates.
As a part of Rakuten, we have truly learned the power of loyalty. We have built a portfolio of clients that include the leading loyalty programs around the world. Because of this exposure, our parent company and us have decide to launch a new initiative named “Rakuten Loyalty“.
