Second Star News
over the years
October 2007 -- CMS Energy Second Star began providing Covast EDI Accelerator for BizTalk 2006 support and EDI mapping support on behalf of Covast.
September 2007 -- SSPS began converting Driscoll's from their BTS/Covast architecture to the new BizTalk 2006 R2 architecture. This included moving all EDI functionality from the Covast EDI Accelerator to the BizTalk 2006 R2 native EDI engine.
July 2007 -- SSPS has provided all EDI, BizTalk, and Covast related services direct to Driscoll's since 2002. Beginning in July, SSPS began to upgrade Driscoll's server from the the floor up, and to add new trading partners, new transactions, and new communications protocols.
May 2007 -- Covast won the continuation of the Acuity contract, with SSPS continuing to be the prime services provider for Acuity under the new contract.
February - March 2007 -- SSPS attended the very first training on the R2 release of BizTalk 2006 that introduces, among other features, full native support for EDI. SSPS continues to evaluate the R2 product and to provide feedback to the Microsoft R2 Jumpstart team.
February 2007 -- Acuity -- SSPS returned to Acuity on behalf of Activ Technologies to support the final preparation for the move to production. SSPS continued to provide mapping support during this period also.
January 2007 -- Joan Fabrics/Mastercraft - SSPS provided Covast B2B Suite 2006 for GXS Trading Grid, BizTalk 2006 orchestration, and mapping services for Joan Fabrics Corp. / Mastercraft
January - February 2007 -- American BOA - The first deployment of the Covast B2B Suite 2006 for GXS Trading Grid began. Covast called on SSPS to handle the full implementation of Biztalk2006, the Covast EDI Accelerator for BizTalk 2006, and the GXS Trading Grid at American BOA
December 2006 -- SSPS assisted the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) in bringing their BizTalk 2006/Covast EDI Accelerator for BizTalk 2006 online to enable them to switch their AS2 connections from their Gentran implementation.
December 2006 -- TTX Company, for whom SSPS had provided training, integration, and mapping for implementation of BizTalk 2004 and the Covast Accelerator for BizTalk 2004, called on SSPS to assist them in upgrading to BizTalk 2006 and the Covast EDI Accelerator for BizTalk 2006.
October 2006 -- Active Technologies again called on SSPS, this time to provide training, analysis, design, implementation, and support services for the migration of their EDI operation to BizTalk 2006 and the Covast EDI Accelerator for BizTalk 2006. The initial contract has been followed by a contract for remote mapping services.
July 2006 -- Activ Technologies called on SSPS to partner with them in providing EDI integration support to to their clients. The first assignment was to assist L'Oreal, USA, to upgrade from BizTalk 2002 to BizTalk 2006 and the Covast EDI Accelerator for BizTalk 2006. The initial project has been followed by a service contract with Activ wherein L'Oreal may obtain support from SSPS.
June 2006 -- GCommerce, Inc., proving EDI translation and VAN services for the automotive parts industry, called on SSPS to assist them in getting their Covast/BizTalk operation flowing smoothly. SSPS provided training, mapping, architecture, and design support, with the end result that GCommerce is now able to bring trading partners on line much faster.
April 2006 -- ModusLink called on SSPS to provide mapping support, creating EDI maps in XSLT outside the BizTalk mapper. This long-term contract was the first time SSPS had created maps by coding the entire maps in XSLT -- previously we had limited ourselves to using XSLT templates within the BizTalk mapper. We have found that coding maps in XSLT provides means of overcoming some of the limitations of the BizTalk mapping engine
Mar 2006 -- SSPS celebrated the second year of providing EDI services to Driscoll's Berries. This direct contract project has SSPS acting as the EDI department for Driscoll's, with full responsibility for all aspects of their EDI program. Driscoll's uses BizTalk 2002 and the Covast EDI Accelerator for 2002. Although Driscoll's is located in CA and SSPS in NC, the entire operation is done remotely.
Feb 2006 -- Eastridge Technology, with whom SSPS partnered on two RJR projects, called on SSPS to provide the Covast EDI Accelerator for BizTalk 2004 integration and mapping services in support of the implementation of a BizTalk 2004 project.
Feb 2006 -- Our five year anniversary of the founding of SSPS was February 6, 2006. If you would like to send us a belated birthday congratulation, write a note on the back of a hundred dollar bill and mail it to us.
Nov 2005 -- RJR awarded Second Star a follow-on project. Eastridge Technology and Second Star teamed to provide Covast EDI Accelerator for BizTalk 2004 integration and BizTalk mapping in support of the second phase of the RJR project which will modify the RJR systems to use SAP.
Oct 2005 -- Work began on a project for RJ Reynolds converting their EDI operation from Sterling Gentran to Microsoft BizTalk and the Covast EDI Accelerator. SSPS is operating under Covast direction as the Covast preferred provider for services on the project. Services to be provided include installation, integration, training, and BizTalk mapping. The initial phase of the project is to be delivered Dec. 1, 2005
May 2005 -- SSPS provided BizTalk 2004 and Covast Accelerator for BizTalk 2004 training and integration services to Clear Channel, who owns and operates more than 1,200 radio stations in the United States, stages live shows at thousands of venues in dozens of countries, and is one of the largest outdoor advertising companies in the world.
April 2005 -- SSPS provided BizTalk 2004 and Covast Accelerator for BizTalk 2004 training and integration services to Textainer, whose business is leasing standard and special dry freight marine containers to global transportation companies
March 2005 -- SSPS provided BizTalk 2004 and Covast Accelerator for BizTalk 2004 training and integration services to Tate & Lyle, a world-leading manufacturer of renewable food and industrial ingredients.
March 2005 -- SSPS provided BizTalk 2004 and Covast Accelerator for BizTalk 2004 training and integration services to Movado, world-renowned watch makers.
March 2005 -- SSPS provided BizTalk 2004 and Covast Accelerator for BizTalk 2004 training and integration services to HMS Host, world-renowned for creating innovative concession plans in travel venues.
March 2005 -- SSPS provided BizTalk 2004 and Covast Accelerator for BizTalk 2004 training and integration services to DCL Corp., which provides supply chain solutions for companies in the technology and healthcare industries.
February 2005 -- SSPS provided BizTalk 2004 and Covast Accelerator for BizTalk 2004 training and integration services to GNC., a leading provider of products, services and information in the self-care and personal health enhancement market.
January 2005 -- SSPS provided BizTalk 2004 and Covast Accelerator for BizTalk 2004 training and integration services to GHN, a certified HIPAA-compliant software and web-services company providing the most efficient and productive revenue chain management results anywhere and providing the industry's simplest and fastest claims processing solution, CLAIMS-Online.
January 2005 -- SSPS provided BizTalk 2004 and Covast Accelerator for BizTalk 2004 training and integration services to the Dwyer Group, Inc., which provides a diverse array of specialty services internationally through its service-based, brand-name franchise businesses. These businesses provide high-quality residential and light commercial services.
May 2004 -- SSPS joined Covast and Microsoft on a long-term BizTalk 2004 and Covast Accelerator for BizTalk 2004 project for Nortel. SSPS provides mapping, scripting, and training services for the project.
Mar/Apr 2004 -- SSPS provided pre-sales and proof-of-concept support for Covast in the effort to convince Solutia to adopt BizTalk 2002 and the Covast Accelerator for BizTalk 2002 as their new EDI system. After the sale was made, SSPS provided product training to Solutia.
Feb 2004 -- Landaal Packaging Systems received BizTalk 2002 and Covast Accelerator for BizTalk 2002 services from SSPS on behalf of Covast.
Jan 2004 -- On behalf of Covast, SSPS provided BizTalk 2002 and Covast Accelerator for BizTalk 2002 services to RUAN Transportation Management Systems.
Jan 2004 -- SSPS was chosen by Covast as the Covast preferred provider for Covast services in the United States. SSPS has been a Covast integrator since Covast opened their US office over two years ago. SSPS will provide BizTalk and Covast Accelerator for BizTalk installation, configuration, mapping, scripting, training, and EDI support services to Covast customers.
Jan 2004 -- SSPS formed an alliance with Carolina Advanced Digital, an HP platinum partner. CAD provides VAR (value added reseller) and Integration services and products to customers nationwide but focuses on small to medium businesses, government, and education markets in North Carolina. These offerings include certified network design, installation and maintenance for LANs (local area networks), WANs (wide area networks), IEEE 802.11b compliant wireless networks and computer telephony (CTI) servers.
Jul 2003 -- SSPS presented EDI training and assisted in Covast Accelerator training at the second Covast boot camp, held at Microsoft in Redmond, Washington. The training was directed at Microsoft partners who were implementing BizTalk Server at client sites where there existed a need for the EDI capability of the Covast accelerator.
Jun 2003 --
SSPS moved further into the BizTalk/Covast EDI Accelerator for BizTalk integration arena in June, adding two clients who are converting from another EDI system to BizTalk/Covast EDI Accelerator for BizTalk and one client who has chosen BizTalk/Covast EDI Accelerator for BizTalk as the basis for their internal integration and EDI framework.
SSPS became one of the first Covast integration partners to earn certification in the Covast EDI Accelerator for BizTalk.
Oct 2002 -- Second Star presented a two day course at the October X12 meeting in Miami, FL. The course, entitled EC/EDI Business Analysis, was presented through DISA Education in conjunction with Research Triangle Education. The class offered a pragmatic view of electronic commerce, focusing on EDI business analysis, design, and integration and discussing the myths and realities encountered during these activities. The class helps managers and persons just becoming familiar with EDI to understand the hows and whys of EDI and to avoid some of the pitfalls when implementing or upgrading their company's EDI infrastructure.
The class elicited only positive responses from students and observers, including:
It was nice to have a technical class
taught by 'techies' who seemed very knowledgeable and who taught
at an English level, not a technical level.
Finally a course where the instructors expose some of the myths
of EDI and XML rather than just giving a vanilla view of the subject.
Be sure that the class surpassed my expectations. It was clear
and objective, outlining what I consider to be crucial aspects
related to e-commerce and the role of EDI.
Jul 2002 -- Second Star announced the opening of an office in Cary, NC, at 2500 Regency Parkway. The office was to be the location of the core sales and marketing activities.
May 2002 -- Second Star partnered with Edifecs as a Value-Added Reseller. Edifecs delivers proven Business-to-Business (B2B) Solutions to help you rapidly ramp-up and manage your trading partners network.
Apr 2002 -- Second Star became a Value-Added Reseller for Emanio, a corporation that provides affordable, leading-edge eBusiness software and services to mid-sized firms. Emanio's solutions deploy quickly, provide rapid ROI and empower firms to seize new business opportunities.
Mar 2002 -- Second Star partnered with RTS Education, a leading provider of education and training in electronic commerce technology.
Feb 2002 -- Second Star signed a contract to provide EDI support services to The Golden Companies, founded in 1984 by Ruby and Joel Bowden with the launch of Golden Electronics, a distributor of passive electronic components. As Golden Electronics grew, opportunities arose for the establishment of Golden Purchasing, a provider of contract purchasing personnel and services in 1989, and of Golden Enterprises, a supplier of contract assembly of mechanical and electro-mechanical products in 1991. The affiliates all operate now as Golden Purchasing & Staffing, Inc.
Feb 2002 -- Second Star partner Covast Corporation, for whose eCommunity Builder product Second Star provides software integration, mapping , and basic EDI training support, announced a relationship with Microsoft Corp. The Covast EDI Accelerator for BizTalk Server will enable businesses with large investments in EDI and other legacy and proprietary systems to more easily connect to Microsoft BizTalk Server.
Jan 2002 -- Second Star contracts with Maersk Data were extended and expanded.
Jul 2001 -- Second Star began a one year contract with Maersk Data, a member company of the A.P. Moller Group, more commonly known as Maersk. In the new millennium, this company employs more than 60,000 people in over 100 countries. The fleet counts more than 250 vessels with a total deadweight of approximately 12,000,000 tons.
Jul 2001 -- Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Second Star completed its first contract, creating AI maps for Ultramar Diamond Shamrock. UDS was a San Antonio, TX. based independent petroleum refining and petroleum product & convenience merchandise marketing company; it is now part of Valero Energy Corporation.
Jul 2001 -- Second Star was selected by Covast Corporation as a Covast partner. Second Star will provide software integration, mapping support, and basic EDI training support for Covast's eCommunity Builder product.
Feb 2, 2001 -- Second Star Professional Services was incorporated.