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SoftGoals Achieving Goals Through Communication |
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The Birth of SoftGoals There is a saying that goes something like, “Life is what happens to you on your way to doing what you had planned.” That is exactly how SoftGoals began. As a long time software developer, I grew weary of my technical career and returned to college to study Speech Communication. Course work lead to classes in negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution. Next came basic mediation training, followed by volunteering at that the local non-profit mediation center. It was clear that the center needed a way to track Cases, do correspondence, track volunteer time, and produce the statistics needed to comply with funder and grant requirements. So a simple database tool was built to help the center. That simple database grew in features, and the local center began talking to others about their new toy. Soon another center in the area purchased the database, officially marking birth of MADtrack, Mediation And Dispute Tracking manager. And then another purchased, and another... At the same time, NAFCM (National Association for Community Mediation) began a nation-wide search for software tools to help community-based mediation centers manager medation casework. MADtrack was selected by NAFCM as one of three qualifying mediation software tools, and grant money (from Hewlett Foundation) was made available for member centers to purchase one of the qualifying software tools. The NAFCM/Hewlett Foundation voucher program spurred the sales of MADtrack. So far, about 90 centers in 30 states have purchased MADtrack and the list of users continues to grow even though.the NAFCM voucher program is now closed. College course-work was never completed. Seems that on way to a new degree, a need was recognized, a specialty market was discovered, and a company was born. Now old technical and new communication skills are blended together - the best of both worlds.
SoftGoals Name Long soul searching as to the purpose of this new company lead to the name SoftGoals, a blend of Software and Goals - helping you reach your goals through software.
SoftGoals Motto “Achieving Goals Through Communication”
SoftGoals Logo
The logo represents communication where all parties are involved, hearing, responding, and completing the communication chain. Reaching mutual goals through communication is what SoftGoals is about.
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