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 About point2point
The history of point2point is my history.
I was born Michael William Fredrick. But my name isn't really that important. I grew up in Memphis and first started designing and developing Web sites at the age of 17. As many people did, I moved to Los Angeles during the dot com bubble to participate in the beginning of this brave new Internet world. After becoming disillusioned with L.A. for all of the usual reasons people become disillusioned, I moved to New Orleans.
I had frequently visited New Orleans frequently in my youth. In high school, when people asked me what I wanted to do after graduation, I remember saying, “I want to run a freelance Web company in New Orleans.” After L.A., I decided it was time for me to begin living that dream. (Most people think this is just something I’ve added to the story to make it more romantic, but it’s actually true.)
After living in New Orleans for a year, I moved back to Memphis in 2001. I didn’t want to, but my father started a small Web development business about the same time I moved to New Orleans. Working closely with his customers, I was jumping back and forth between the 2 cities when I decided to move back to Memphis. I am very glad in retrospect. I remember the depressing feeling leaving New Orleans to move back to Memphis. Now I think daily if i hadn't left I would have been scrambling to help after the storm instead of being completely ready to assist from a good, dry Memphis.
Katrina makes landfall on August 25, 2005.
Late that September, I got a phone call from Bruce, a friend in New Orleans, who informed me that an associate of his had lost his Web servers on the West Bank of New Orleans and that he needed to get a few high-priority customers back online. I told him I would love to help. We had the servers waiting, just let us know. Bruce ventured out to the West Bank and recovered the server hard drives, then Fed-Exed them to us.
This was our situation after the storm
 There were over 300 Web sites down. Businesses, organizations, individuals, all paralyzed until someone could step up. We got started. E-mailing the customers for information was not an option, since the mail server was still standing in 4 feet of water. Failure is not a option since no one else can help but point2point. We are left with the keys to the castle and a big mess to clear up.
So, we picked up the phone and started calling. By doing this, we were able to re-launch an average of 4 Web sites per day.
We set up the environment to get back as many sites as possible and handled all of the transfers free of cost. It was one of the biggest challenges point2point and I have ever been faced with and we didn't do half bad.
A short list of those assisted:
 Accent On Arrangements
Al Bourgeois Plumbing
Asap Print
Billes Architecture
Biz New Orleans
Bowers Electric
Classic Cupboards
Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies
Corkys BBQ
Cummins Advertising Specialties
Dial One
Equity Partners Insurance
Events Specialists
Eye Surgery Center of Louisiana
Ferrari Part Exchange
Global Special Risks
Hartwig Moss
Harvey Canal
Holy Name of Jesus Church
IntrepidStone
KFK Group
Leidenheimer Baking Company
Liljeberg Enterprises International
Louisiana Technology Council
Lucky Dogs
Mother's Restaurant
New Orleans Metropolitan Association of Realtors
New Orleans BioInnovation Center
NuPower
Strategic Management Group
TouchPoints Marketing
Vivien Engineers
WYES Art Collection 12
When the smoke and water cleared.
We stood with 150 customers restored on our servers of the 325 domains now registered with point2point. What customers were not restored on our server, were assisted in migrating their services to the company of their choice.
I then left Peter in charge of the Memphis office and moved to New Orleans that July. I spent a year and a half setting up the point2point office and doing design for the Department Of Defense and US Navy. Goverment contracts always dry up and I now again the head of operations and still the senior Web designer.
Our hosting customers have stayed with us because of our superhuman support mentality, and our domain name registration customers have stayed with us for the same reason.
Where do we go from there?
It’s been almost 4 years since the 2005 disaster. Because of that arduous trial, our customers now know that no matter what hand Mother Nature deals New Orleans, their Web sites and email systems are safe.
Since the storm, we have settled into a one-stop shop for Web sites. We help you choose the right domain name(s), set up the hosting & e-mail, and then design a Web site that is both worthy of your idea and within your budget.
Our services include the following:
Web site Design
We design Web sites that are customized to your requirements. Drafting, feedback and review are included in the design process.
Web site Content Management System (CMS)
Keep your Web site up to date without programming knowledge. Updating Web site content is easy with a Web-based CMS and is recommended for Web sites that require frequent updating.
Web Hosting Services
Choose from a range of hosting and e-commerce options that fit the needs of any size Web site or budget.
Web site Maintenance
Add new pages, features or functionality to your Web site - the average turn-around time is between 24 to 48 hours. We can also provide training to help you perform basic updates to any HTML Web site written by point2point. Because we make use of CSS style sheets and hand code your Web site, most editing changes can be done using a basic HTML editor.
Web site Redesign
A redesigned Web site improves design, layout, content, functionality and search engine placement.
Web Copywriting
We can write Web content developed to market your product and services and incorporate keyword phrases to increase search engine traffic.
Domain Name Registration & Renewal
We have partnered with an established internationally accredited domain name registrar to provide comprehensive domain name services at competitive rates.
Web site Analysis
We offer reports on improvements, current usage and issues relating to Web site design and hosting.
Search Engine Optimization
This improves search engine ranking for chosen keyword phrases by improving Web site code.
Intranet
Intranet/Extranet development is available.
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