Technology reinvented

by Donna M. Webb
Grand Island Dispatch, April 18, 2008

Angelo Grande has taken his previous technology-based camp for kids and transformed it into two new, but related, businesses.

Remember the Technology Camp of America? It was in the building that sits in front of Grinders Skate Park. Students learned about technological principles in fun ways—like building robots and using software programs to design sturdy bridges or product packaging. Unfortunately, though, there wasn’t enough interest to sustain the new venture. Grande reluctantly closed his technology camp in 2005, but kept the TCA name.

While the camp was in business, people saw various applications running on the computers. Then, Grande began to receive a number of requests for computer assistance from parents and business owners alike.

When he taught a unit involving the creation of buttons and T-shirts with logos, some of the adults took notice. They wanted something similar for their company or organization.

“At that point, the business model was focused on the kids,” Grande said.

So, understandably, he couldn’t meet all of the needs people were expressing at that point.

But the seeds were sown then for what has blossomed now into two new divisions of the Technology Camp of America: TCA-Consultants, a company that develops Web sites and marketing/sales strategies, and Rhino-Tees, a custom apparel company.

“Our mission is to create a presence on the Worldwide Web for businesses, organizations, and clubs and to create an image through custom apparel,” Grande explained.

TCA-Consultants has created Web sites for various companies. These include Colvin Cleaners, Marinaccio’s Steak & Seafood Restaurant, Blue Water Marina, the M.O.G. (Medically Oriented Gym); and Soma Cura, a massage therapy business. TCA-Consultants can put photos, videos, animations, electronic catalogs, order forms and more on these Web sites.

This company does more than just design Web sites, however. They can do custom graphics for letterhead, business cards, and stationery. They can create electronic newsletters and CD-ROM “business cards.”

While he concentrated on developing TCA-Consultants, the requests for custom T-shirts and sweatshirts kept coming in.

“I thought it would be a natural extension to go from one (business) to the other,” Grande said.

Hence, Rhino-Tees came into existence.

The first project Rhino-Tees did came after a mom from the Kaegebein PTA approached Grande. She ordered T-shirts and sweatshirts with the school district’s Viking Values: “Be Respectful! Be Responsible! Be Safe!” The shirts even have a junior version of the high school’s Viking design.

Other projects soon followed, like sweatshirts for the DECA club and T-shirts for the Twist & Turn Imagineers, a Kaegebein student group that took part in a creativity-based competition called Destination Imagination. These particular shirts had a cyclone logo in the middle.

Karen Figler of Karen’s Aerobics wanted to change the image she had been using on T-shirts. Grande worked with her, and the result was a new heart-shaped logo, which emphasizes the benefits of aerobic exercise on cardiac health.

Fulfilling the needs of various groups has given Grande a good feeling.

“This was a great way to get my business involved and help individuals, businesses, and so forth, and give back to the community in that respect,” he said.

Rhino-Tees can provide its customers with many other products – tank tops, backpacks, tote bags, varsity jackets, work shirts and more. These can have custom graphics, embroidery, or even designs that use laser thermography, a process which creates raised pictures or text. “We have access to thousands of items,” Grande pointed out.

Sports teams, community groups, and all types of businesses can find products to suit their needs. The Grand Island Soccer Club recently ordered hats and hoodies, for instance.

“We are an all-inclusive solution center for image creation and revenue generation,” Grande said as a way to succinctly summarize the two new divisions of TCA. “We do this for businesses, individuals, clubs, schools and organizations,” he said.

Grande takes pride in offering quality products and service and especially enjoys working with – as he put it --“someone who is interested in making a change.”

Speaking of change, there is an upcoming one that Grande said he is particularly excited about.

“We’re in the process of investing in some equipment that will be state-of-the-art technology for creating custom graphics and applying them to garments,” Grande explained. With the new machinery, “we literally can do from one to 5,000 (items),” for customers, he said.

His office is located on the Island at the IsleChem Business Center, 2801 Long Road, and the phone number is 773-5282. One of the reasons he chose this location is that it offers lots of room for the two divisions of TCA to grow.

“We’re not your typical work-out-of-the house operation,” he emphasized.

At the IsleChem Business Center, Grande has access to a conference room and a larger room for training purposes. He envisions offering classes at some point in the future.

“I have two Web sites up – one for each division,” Grande noted. One can be accessed at www.TCA-Consultants.com. The second one is currently under construction but should be ready in another week or two. That Web site is www.Rhino-Tees.com. Those who are interested in finding out more should call Grande.

“Everything is by appointment so that we can give individual attention” to our clients, he said.

“We reinvented ourselves to be a full technology company to help in every aspect of business,” Grande stated. ... “This is not something I am dabbling in. ... This is a full-time venture with full-time effort.”