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Metro Atlanta-based firm LAN Systems has worked closely with us on many occasions to provide managed IT services to nonprofits such as Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation and Good Samaritan Health Center so they can do more good serving more people. They’re also one of our Digital Event Series sponsors for . We sat down with Mary Hester and Lauren VanBuskirk at LAN Systems to get the scoop on the great work they do and to learn about what inspires them to do it.
The driving force behind LAN Systems, CEO Mary Hester is well-known in the community for her leadership and vision. This vision extends through her hiring practices, through the customers she serves, and to the community at large
When it comes to hiring staff, Mary has a team-focused approach. She says she aims to look for people who believe that the rising tide lifts all boats.
And Mary’s approach to managing her team works! LAN Systems landed the #1 spot on the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Atlanta’s Best Places to Work list.
An electrical engineer by trade, Mary is also sensitive to the challenges of getting women into tech fields. She believes that it’s our obligation to the next generation to encourage young women to go into tech. Women bring a dynamic to the tech field that wasn’t there before, she says.
— Mary Hester, CEO LAN Systems
Not only is [working with nonprofits] good for humanity; it’s good for your soul.
As a self-described servant at heart,
Mary feels driven to work with nonprofits. Not only is it good for humanity; it’s good for your soul,
she asserts. Mary volunteers for several nonprofits promoting engineering education and careers to young people.
Mary is a Rotarian as well as a newly elected member of the board of directors for The Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, a group of community leaders supporting nonprofits with funding and expertise.
Additionally, Mary is proud of LAN Systems’ e-waste recycling program. Each year the company hosts a fun Green IT Earth Day event and encourages community members to drop off old electronics for recycling. At this year’s event, they collected a ton of e-waste. All proceeds from the event support a local nonprofit.
While we were at LAN Systems, we also got to meet with Lauren VanBuskirk, LAN’s VP of sales and marketing. Lauren’s a servant at heart
too. Originally from Pittsburgh, Lauren grew up volunteering and has volunteered more recently with nonprofits like the American Cancer Society and Girls Scouts of America. She always knew she wanted to work at a woman-owned firm. Lauren has been with LAN for almost nine years and is praised by clients as being very knowledgeable and a diligent team player.
We appreciate great partners like Mary and her amazing team at LAN Systems, and we’re so inspired by the remarkable work they’re doing with nonprofits and in the community. Their story proves once again that we’re truly #BetterTogether.
About Our #BetterTogether Campaign
We are proud to have assisted so many organizations on the front lines of social change in our communities — alleviating homelessness, fighting poverty, helping kids do better in school, making sure seniors get proper meals, and so much more.
We created the #BetterTogether campaign so that we can showcase some of the important efforts of the nonprofits and people we’ve worked with. And because social change is a community effort, we also wanted to showcase the generous sponsors, amazing technology partners, tireless volunteers, and staff. Without them, we couldn’t do our work.
We feel that these stories exemplify the transformational work that can happen when organizations and individuals work hard — together — towards a common goal. We hope that hearing these stories is as inspirational to you as it is to us.
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