About MICE…
Welcome to the MICE Training & Technology Web site and Blog!
Since you clicked on this page, you must be curious about us, our company, or the site in general. Well, since you clicked…..
OUR FOUNDER
Debbie Mahler is our Founder and CEO.
She is also very shy about herself and her credentials. Aside from being uncomfortable about “blowing her own horn” she’s an online instructor for a major, global education provider where she teaches an introductory and advanced PC Security course for all English-speaking colleges and universities.
Long before viruses and security were front-page topics, Debbie Mahler was educating the public and reporting on them. It was this early groundwork that earned her the title of Symantec Software Partner and Security Specialist. Since those early years, she’s added Trend Micro as our partners.
A graduate of National-Louis University in Wheaton, IL, and with over 20 years in the PC repair business, Debbie has educated end-users and educators in local community colleges for more than 15 years.
While she no longer actively repairs PCs, she continues to host her self-help company website, teach and has initiated a new research project on the “Predictability of PC Problems.” She also devotes time to writing for a variety of newsletters and publications.
She has been instrumental in pushing MICE forward in its new direction despite many obstacles both personally and professionally.
“I refuse to let a stupid machine get the best of me!” Is a phrase she uses repeatedly which shows her persevering and curious nature.
And her students are constantly seeing her, “Happy to be of service!” signature line in the online discussion forums, which shows her willingness to help and endless patience.
OUR HISTORY
The original concept for our company started in 1996 where our founder started Mahler’s Independent Consulting Enterprises as a part-time business. The foundation of the company was training and education. Utilizing local educational sources like park districts, adult education at the local community college, and libraries, Debbie Mahler taught a variety of courses helping individuals and small businesses develop a variety of technology skills.
In August of 1997, after being escorted out the door of Corporate America, Debbie emerged with M.I.C.E. Small Services based on the original company concept. (Thank you Bill L, if not for you, we would not be here today!) Still part-time, the focus was on educating and helping end-users and small businesses take advantage of emerging technology.
On July 16, 1998, Debbie Mahler stepped through the doors of Corporate America (and temping) forever. The part-time business had become a full time business and M.I.C.E. Training & Technology (M.I.C.E. is an acronym for Mahler’s Independent Consulting Enterprises in case you were wondering?) was officially started. In December, our domain name was registered with Network Solutions and our first site began!
In July of 2002 the company relocated to Indiana and the name MICE Training & Technology was officially registered – as required after post 9/11 – with the Lake County Clerk in Indiana.
March of 2003 brought MICE back to Northern Illinois because this was home to the majority of our customer base. Although we’ve moved locations several times in the years since, we’ve stayed in Northern Illinois. On September 4, 2003, we received our Trademark and Servicemark registration from the State of Illinois and MICE was now officially, MICE Training & TechnologyTM.
As of December 2007, we became an official part of McHenry County in Algonquin, Illinois!
WHAT WE DO
Despite belief to the contrary, we do not train mice! (GRIN)
We used to train users how to use computer mice though!
But MICE has evolved over the years. From the very beginning we were educating end-users and small business owners in everything from DOS through automation and security.
As technology changed, we changed to adapt to the ever changing, fast moving technological advances.
We programmed in BASIC, DOS, COBOL, VB and now RealBasic. (We refuse to migrate to VB.net or .net of anything!) We went from early HTML and PERL to CSS2, XML, JAVA, and now AJAX.
We’ve seen the first bitmap preview on a BBS and grow up to a gif, jpeg, and now flash animation. We’ve tackled the first viruses, lost our entire first company PC – database and all – in the wake of its destruction and learned security as we watched Anti-virus companies surge and fail. We predicted the first cell phone virus a year before it appeared and are still predicting (for two years running) a major virus and/or hack of OnStar or similar onboard navigational systems.
We’ve fixed PCs and initiated the first Protection Plan Membership years before they became the trend. We left the PC repairs behind when the BIG BOYS entered the market and priced us, only to re-enter when customers found out that they didn’t offer any support after the bill was paid. (Thanks Geek Squad!) And once again, we left PC repairs to focus on our core business – education.
And now, we’re entering the era of Web 2.0 with our new site and new online training course interface! We couldn’t be more excited and we hope you are too!
OUR NEW SITE
For the longest time, we were like the shoemaker’s children who had no shoes! All of our clients had their sites and whenever we tried to get our own updated, more business came up and we had no time.
But finally, we’ve set aside time, energy, and resources to get this done!
Have you wondered what the heck Web 2.0 is? We did!
Well, here’s what we discovered….
There’s really no such thing as Web 2.0. The phrase was coined to explain the evolution of the Internet (Web) in terms of software versions. Just as you have software versions like Microsoft Office 9 (Office 2000), 10 (Office XP), and so on; you now have the Internet and Web 2.0!
It’s a way of explaining the new Internet with its interactive, dynamic media in terms of an upgrade. It’s not that the Internet has been upgraded, it’s that the software and methods we use on the Internet have advanced to such a level that the old Internet isn’t the old Internet anymore. And sites that don’t keep up with the changing face of the Web, will be left in the HTML graveyard.
So, we don’t want to be left there with the aging bitmaps and CSS1 stylesheets! So, here we are!
Now someone is asking just what is the new interactive, dynamic media for Web 2.0, or the new Internet? I’m so glad you asked!
The new media is the content you are seeing on the Internet today and take for granted! The ability to stay up-to-date with live streaming video, browser-based interfaces that connects you to your finances or office documents instantly, IP-based phone calls with or without video, live chats, shopping online (e-commerce) and the list goes on.
And as our new site evolves with the new Internet, we’re going to be teaching you what you need to know so you can evolve too! That’s what our new site is all about!
So, again Welcome! We’re so glad you dropped by to visit. Come back often and by all means take advantage of all we are offering. You’ll be glad you did!
And remember,
“The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse always gets the cheese. But the wise mouse knows where the refrigerator is!”
Happy Computing,
The folks at MICE Training & TechnologyTM
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