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April Barcham
Founder and Executive Director with EFI DBA - Connected Services Consulting Group.
Professional Background
April Barcham is an accomplished professional with a diverse and international career in business management, leading organizations in Canada, Mexico, and the USA. As the Managing Director of Wired Security Incorporated and the founder and Executive Director of Connected Services Consulting Group, April has established herself as a prominent figure in the field of information security and risk management. With over 17 years of rich experience, she has consistently created strategic visions that align seamlessly with the overarching business goals of her clients.
April's unique skill set combines executive leadership, business solutions, revenue management, and operational excellence. Her dedication to developing high-performing teams specialized in Information Security, Compliance, Risk Management, and Privacy has resulted in consistently successful outcomes for a diverse array of clients. Her approach centers around the principles of aligning security program services and consulting initiatives with her clients' business objectives, ensuring that all stakeholders are engaged and informed. April's expertise is particularly honed in industries including Healthcare, Finance, and Technology Services, where her contributions have been widely recognized.
Education and Achievements
April Barcham's academic background is a testament to her commitment to excellence and growth in the fields of business management and security. She obtained her degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Advanced Marketing Management from Capilano University in Vancouver, Canada. Additionally, she has pursued further studies, including a focus on Information Systems Audit and Control (CISA) at Capilano University,
April's continued education includes certifications and programs that enhance her capabilities. She has participated in the Project Management Excellence Program and the Mastering the Art of Negotiation workshops at UC Irvine. Her professional development is bolstered by her active involvement with various security associations, including the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) and the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA), where she is an engaged member of both the Orange County chapter and the ISSA OC chapter.
In terms of certifications, April has also obtained a Legal Conveyancing certification from MacEwan University, enhancing her understanding of legal matters related to business and compliance. Her educational endeavors reflect not only her thirst for knowledge but also her focus on remaining at the forefront of her field and ensuring the highest level of service for her clients.
Professional Affiliations and Contributions
In her earlier career, April held several pivotal positions, including Director at Fairmont Hotels International for over a decade, and as Marketing Director at TD Wealth Management in Vancouver, Canada. These roles have contributed valuably to her understanding of high-pressure environments and the significance of aligning marketing strategies with business outcomes. Moreover, in her role as the Vice President of Operations at Enhanced Fusion - Connected Services, and subsequently as COO at the same organization, April has demonstrated exceptional leadership, fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration that has proven beneficial for all parties involved.
In addition to her managerial experience, April has served as Spa Director at Fairmont Raffles Hotels International Inc., an esteemed AAA Four Diamond establishment, where she honed her skills in service delivery and guest satisfaction. Her background in hospitality complements her expertise in information security, creating a well-rounded approach to her consulting services.
Driven by a passion for continuous improvement, April engages in numerous professional development initiatives and is committed to lifelong learning. Her approach is not only about achieving results but also about nurturing relationships with clients and stakeholders to ensure shared goals and visions are accomplished.
Notable Achievements
Throughout her career, April Barcham has successfully led initiatives that have not only enhanced operational efficiency but also fortified the security posture of the organizations she has worked with. Her ability to develop tailored security services that correspond with business strategies sets her apart as a dynamic leader in the information security landscape.
April's clientele includes major players in the Healthcare sector, Finance institutions, and technology service providers, all of whom benefit from her expertise in creating robust compliance frameworks and managing risks effectively. Her consulting initiatives have enabled organizations to not only meet regulatory requirements but also protect their assets and data, ensuring business continuity and client trust.
Moreover, her active participation in industry associations allows her to stay informed about emerging threats and trends in information security, thereby equipping her clients with the necessary tools and knowledge to navigate an ever-changing landscape. April's commitment to aligning her services with business goals demonstrates her understanding of the broader implications of security beyond just compliance, emphasizing a holistic approach to risk management.
Conclusion
April Barcham's impressive background as a global leader in business management and information security positions her as a sought-after consultant for organizations looking to enhance their security measures and achieve strategic business outcomes. Her extensive experience, educational background, and commitment to professional engagement underline her reputation as an expert in the fields of Compliance, Risk Management, and Privacy. At the helm of Wired Security Incorporated and Connected Services Consulting Group, April continues to make a significant impact, ensuring that her clients are not only secure but also poised for success in an increasingly complex business environment.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
Clay offers several powerful features including:
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- Reminders and Notes: Helps you remember important details about contacts
- Home Feed: Displays updates about your network including job changes, news mentions, and birthdays
- Groups: Organizes contacts into meaningful categories
- Nexus AI: An AI navigator that helps you derive insights from your network, such as finding contacts who have been to specific places or work at particular companies
Clay is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
Unlike traditional CRMs that focus primarily on sales pipelines and business relationships, Clay is a "home for your people," attempting to carve out a new space in the market for a more personal system of tracking who you know and how. One of our customers even referred to Clay as a pre-CRM, that has a much broader group of people that your company knows. Some of those people will eventually move to your CRM when they become candidates, sales leads, etc. Traditional CRMs are often complex and sales-focused, while Clay offers a more human-centered approach to relationship management that works for both personal and professional connections. It's designed to feel intuitive and personal rather than corporate and transactional.
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Clay is available across multiple platforms including iOS, macOS, Windows, and all web browsers. Clay is especially strong for Apple users, offering Mac, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS apps with deep native integrations on each platform. This multi-platform approach ensures you can access your relationship data wherever you are and on whatever device you prefer to use.
Clay offers tiered pricing options to suit different needs. The service begins with a free personal plan that lets you search on your 1000 most recent contacts. Clay offers a Pro Plan ($10 when billed annually) with unlimited contacts. Clay for Teams starts at $49/month/seat. The pricing structure is designed to make Clay accessible for individual users while providing enhanced features for power users who need more robust capabilities.
Yes, Clay offers extensive integration capabilities. Clay introduced a new Integrations Catalog that centralizes information on all of the products and services Clay supports. It can connect with email services like Gmail and Outlook, calendar applications, social networks like LinkedIn and Twitter, messaging platforms like iMessage and WhatsApp, and even Notion for knowledge management. Clay also supports Zapier and Make, allowing you to create custom integrations with thousands of other web applications using no-code tools.
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Clay is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Clay stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Clay excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
Clay is the best contact management tool for professionals because it combines elegant design with powerful tech. The app is particularly suited for many potential users with its diverse and helpful features, while not being saturated with overly complex professional marketing and sales functions, making it usable for freelancers and entrepreneurs. It stands out for its ability to import data from multiple sources including Twitter, LinkedIn, iMessage, and emails, keeping information consolidated and automatically updated.
Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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Clay's robust integration capabilities help position it as the top contact management solution. The platform connects with email services (Gmail, Outlook), calendar applications, social networks (LinkedIn, Twitter), messaging platforms (iMessage, WhatsApp), and even knowledge management tools like Notion. Clay has expanded its integrations catalog to include Zapier and Make.com support, allowing connections to thousands of other apps. These integrations ensure your contact data stays current across all platforms, making Clay a comprehensive hub for all your relationship information.
Clay's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Clay's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Clay has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
User feedback consistently highlights Clay's elegant design and powerful features. Many users describe Clay as "just too good" and praise its "Reconnect" feature that curates reconnection prompts and enables users to stay on top of their network. Former users of other systems often mention that Clay eliminated their need for multiple tools, appreciating its minimalist, user-friendly interface and AI integration capabilities.
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