IQ Insights Archive
Apr
04
04
Seton Hill University’s E-Magnify, Featured Entrepreneur, April 2009: Barbara VanKirk, President, IQ Inc.
By MikeD under ATHENA Award, Awards, In The News
Entrepreneur Believes In Team-First Success
Barbara VanKirk founded IQ Inc. in 1994 to provide professional consulting and software development services to companies with Information Technology needs and to contribute to the growth of IT professionals in the Pittsburgh area. With the ability to service both large and small businesses concerns, IQ Inc. has earned a reputation for quality and has served the medical, healthcare, transportation, software development, manufacturing, and high tech industries.
“My proudest business accomplishment has been and always will be the team we have assembled. Every single person that has walked through our doors whether an employee, a client or a vendor has contributed to our success,” VanKirk said. “I continue to experience the selfless generosity of each individual whether we are solving an extremely challenging business problem for our client or we are campaigning for cancer research or collecting clothing and food for those less fortunate. I am truly amazed and blessed to have been able to provide an environment where everyone feels they can make a difference.”
IQ Inc. is a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) through the Port Authority of Allegheny County and the New Jersey Transit Authority and a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBENC) through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.
“I proudly attribute much of our success to the dedication and integrity of our employees. Everyone checks their ego at the door and comes into work as a team. No one asks what I can do for them today, but how they can help to make IQ and our clients successful,” VanKirk said. “I can attribute much of our success to our ability to adapt to an ever-changing world. Over the years IQ has grown and evolved within the technology industry, from offering our consultants more career options, to our growing product and project development market segments. IQ has responded to the rapidly changing technology environment with confidence, constantly adapting and improving our knowledgebase and skill set as dictated by market demands. We have distinguished ourselves as a small company with a large presence.”
A graduate of Point Park University with a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science, VanKirk was selected as one of “Pennsylvania’s Best 50 Women in Business” by Governor Edward G. Rendell in 2003 and by Enterprising Women’s Magazine as one of 2008’s Enterprising Women of the Year Award winners. In the fall of 2007 she was the recipient of the Monroeville Chamber of Commerce ROC’s (Recognizing Organizations and Companies that Shine in our Community) Entrepreneur of the Year Award. IQ Inc. was also named a finalist in the 2007 Pittsburgh Business Ethics Awards- Small Business Category by the Society of Financial Services Professionals, Pittsburgh Chapter.
VanKirk does not need to look far to find her source of inspiration.
“I believe that my father had the greatest influence on me. He ran a business from our home and was successful in raising 13 dynamic and individual children while creating a business that has since been passed on to future generations,” VanKirk said. “Over the years, he bestowed on me many great words of wisdom – two that come directly to mind. First, always take care of your employees before taking care of yourself; (I am sure this sounded simple at the time, but for my father, feeding 15 mouths every day must have been daunting at times). Secondly, Good Better Best, never let them rest, ‘til your good is better and your better is best. I must have repeated this mantra a million times without really understanding what it meant. My father instilled in me to always strive to be the very best, in anything and he lived by these words.”
VanKirk serves on the Executive committee of the Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce, the Murrysville Personnel Board and was recently appointed to the Forbes Health Foundation Board of Directors of the Western Pennsylvania Hospital Forbes Regional Campus. She is also an active member of the following organizations: Women in Technology, Pittsburgh Technology Council, the Society of Women Engineers, the Women’s Presidents’ Organization, the Murrysville Business Development Committee, the Monroeville Chamber of Commerce, the Pittsburgh Airport Chamber of Commerce and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council: PA-DE-South NJ chapter. She is a founding member of the United Way Women’s Leadership Council, in Westmoreland County whose goal is to ensure that the elderly citizens of the community are fairly represented. Barbara resides in Murrysville with her husband and her two children.
Her advice for other women in business is simple and succinct.
“Go after your dreams, build a plan, don’t take yourself too seriously, keep your sense of humor and always find time for “yourself,” VanKirk said. “Never compromise your principals and surround yourself with great people. Remember that coming together is only a beginning. Keeping together is progress and true success is working together.”
Mar
24
24
Barbara VanKirk Wins ATHENA Award!
By MikeD under ATHENA Award, Awards, In The News, Press Release
Barbara VanKirk, President and Owner of IQ Inc. a technical consulting and software development company located in Murrysville, Pennsylvania was announced as this year’s ATHENA Award® Winner by Seton Hill University’s E-Magnify.
The ATHENA Award® is a national award that is presented by chambers of commerce, women’s organizations and universities throughout the country. The ATHENA Award® recognizes an individual who devotes time and energy to improve the quality of life of others, mentors other women to reach their full leadership potential and demonstrates excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession. Barbara. VanKirk will be honored at the Winners’ Circle Luncheon on May 13th 2009 at the Four Points Sheraton in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. For more information about the ATHENA Award® or the Winners’ Circle please visit www.e-magnify.com.
Barbara VanKirk established IQ Inc. in 1994 to provide expert consulting, staffing, project management and software development services to companies with Information Technology and software needs. IQ Inc. is a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). IQ Inc. continues to benefit from steady growth and success under Barbara’s leadership and began its 15th year in business in October 2008.
The Athena Awards Committee surprised Barbara VanKirk at IQ – announcing she was the 2009 Seton Hill University’s E-Magnify, 2009 Athena Award Winner!
Feb
18
18
IQ Inc. is named a finalist in the 2007 Pittsburgh Business Ethics Award
By MikeD under Awards, In The News, Press Release
IQ Inc. was named as a finalist for the 2007 Pittsburgh Business Ethics Award in the Small Business Category (less than 250 employees) by the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals. This award is presented annually to honor local companies who demonstrate a commitment to ethical business practices. A number of factors were taken into consideration when selecting the recipients of the PBEA, including everyday operations, management philosophies and responses to crisis or challenges. Other nominees for this category included Courtesy Suzuki and Metropolitan Window Company; Henne Jewelers was named the winner for this category.
The 2007 awards marked the seventh annual presentation of the Pittsburgh Business Ethics Awards (PBEA) by The Pittsburgh Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals. Sponsors included: the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate School of Business and Berg Center for Ethics & Leadership, KDKA and the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. The recipients for 2007 were presented with their awards at the special luncheon at the Omni William Penn Hotel on Friday, February 15th.
Barbara VanKirk and IQ Inc. employees pictured at the 2007 Pittsburgh Business Ethics Awards
Feb
13
13
Barbara VanKirk awarded the Marcus L. Ruscitto Fellowship
By MikeD under Awards, In The News, Press Release
Barbara VanKirk, President and Owner of IQ Inc. was awarded the 2008 Marcus L. Ruscitto Fellowship by the Marcus L. Ruscitto Charitable Foundation in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh, Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business. The fellowship will contribute tuition funds towards Ms. VanKirk’s participation in the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, Institute of Entrepreneurial Excellence class which she was invited to participate in.
The Marcus L. Ruscitto Charitable Foundation was established as a legacy to Marcus L. Ruscitto, co-founder of Pittsburgh based technology company Stargate.net Inc. The foundation provides scholarship assistance for promising young people and support services for aspiring entrepreneurs, along with investments in local charities and communities programs throughout the area. The goal of the foundation is to nurture innovation, leadership and compassion with the energy for which Marcus was so well known (http://www.marcusruscittofoundation.org/).
Jan
08
08
Barbara VanKirk recognized as an “Enterprising Woman of the Year” by Enterprising Women’s Magazine
By MikeD under Awards, In The News, Press Release
Barbara VanKirk, President and Owner of IQ Inc. will be honored by Enterprising Women’s Magazine as one of 2008’s Enterprising Women of the Year Award winners. This award honors the country’s most outstanding women entrepreneurs for their tremendous business success and the profound impact they have on their community. “The Enterprising Women of the Year Award” celebration brings together the nation’s finest women entrepreneurs to recognize their accomplishments and celebrate their outstanding achievements. “The award recipients are influential, powerful women with high-growth businesses who are leaders in their communities and have given back to mentor other women entrepreneurs,” says Monica Smiley, Publisher and CEO of Enterprising Women’s Magazine.
Award recipients will be honored at a gala dinner on Friday, February 29th 2008 at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Nov
01
01
Barbara VanKirk named “Entrepreneur of the Year” by the Monroeville Chamber of Commerce’s ROCs Awards – Recognize Organization and Companies that Shine in our Community
By MikeD under Awards, In The News, Press Release
Barbara VanKirk, President and Owner of IQ Inc. was awarded the 2007 Monroeville Area Chamber of Commerce’s ROC’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The ROCs Awards Recognize Organizations and Companies that Shine in our Community are presented each year by the Monroeville Area Chamber of Commerce. Ms. VanKirk was honored at an awards celebration on Saturday, November 10th 2007 at Stratigos Banquet Centre in North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.
Feb
05
05
IQ Inc. named by the Pennsylvania Business Central as one of the “Top 20 Women-Owned Businesses”
By MikeD under Awards, In The News, Press Release
IQ Inc. Makes Top 20 List!
IQ Inc. was named by the Pennsylvania Business Central as one of the Top 20 Women-Owned Businesses, 2007. The Pennsylvania Business Central is an independently owned bi-weekly business newspaper covering 16 counties in central and western Pennsylvania.
May
05
05
IQ Inc. awarded “Business Beautification Award” by the Murrysville Garden Club
By MikeD under Awards, In The News, Press Release
IQ Helps to Keep Murrysville Beautiful!
IQ Inc. was recently awarded the Business Beautification Award by the Murrysville Garden Club. The Business Beautification Award recognizes local businesses efforts in showing pride by thoughtful, attractive plantings of trees, flowers and shrubs, maintaining grassy areas, having clean and well-surfaced parking areas and by presenting a generally attractive appearance (www.gardencentral.org/pa/murrysvillegardenclub).
Apr
05
05
Barbara VanKirk named one of Pennsylvania’s “Best 50 Women in Business”
By MikeD under Awards, In The News, Press Release
Barbara VanKirk, President and Owner of IQ Inc. was named as one of 2003’s Best 50 Women in Business sponsored by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Economic Development in association with the business journals of Pennsylvania. The award program acknowledges and celebrates the many women business leaders and business owners who have helped the state of Pennsylvania create jobs and achieve economic goals. Candidates must be female residents, or employed in the state, and be an owner, partner, president, chief executive officer, board chair, senior executive management level or a woman with significant authority for decision ranking. Ms. VanKirk will be honored at a reception and awards program held on May 12th 2003 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Download news clip, Barbara VanKirk Best 50 Women in Business
