The MQCCC is was a public authority created by Michigan governor Granholm to leverage technology for improved training, screening, and selection of home care providers. I was initially brought on to market the “QC3″ to its main constituencies – those in need of in-home care and those providing it. Because the organization was very early in its start-up phases, I almost immediately began to assist the interim Executive Director in bootstrapping the organization. The complexity and challenges of supporting a fledgling organization made this an amazing and invigorating consulting experience for me.

Launching the QC3 required working with several state agencies, participating in board communications, and meeting with agency liaisons and elected officials. Early communications needed to be developed which would clearly explain the new organization’s objectives and purpose to multiple stakeholders with diverse perspectives. Another key task early on was the development and implementation of a multi-phase technology plan for the QC3.

I had the opportunity to be part of creating an organization whose entire IT system was built completely on open source software- from the desktop applications to the phone system. The developers on the project even authored this article in Linux Journal about the experience.

I continued to work with the IT vendor, Ideal Solution, over the next few years as an employee and a business partner. In the process, I’ve learned a lot about the challenges of implementing enterprise open source software solutions.