Who is "The Samaritan Inn?"

The Samaritan Inn is a non-profit organization located in McKinney, Texas, dedicated to helping homeless individuals and families regain stability and independence. Founded in 1984, the organization has grown into a full-service homeless program that provides more than just a temporary shelter. In addition to safe housing, residents receive essential services such as job readiness training, financial literacy courses, mental health counseling, and life skills development. The goal is to empower individuals to break the cycle of homelessness and achieve long-term self-sufficiency.

At The Samaritan Inn, residents follow a structured program with personalized action plans to help them overcome obstacles like unemployment, mental health challenges, or lack of education. The organization also offers support services to help with transitions into permanent housing, such as the North Texas Gateway Apartments, a development offering affordable housing and continued support. Through its comprehensive approach, The Samaritan Inn provides a solid foundation for individuals and families to rebuild their lives and re-enter society as independent and contributing members.

The Lynne Sipiora Pavilion. Photo courtesy of The Samaritan Inn.

Introduction to Dennis Seeman- COO and Controller of The Samaritan Inn

Can you introduce yourself, such as your name, role, the company you work for, and a bit about what your company does?

Hello! My name is Dennis Seeman, I am the Chief Operating Officer/Controller at The Samaritan Inn. The Samaritan Inn has been serving the Collin County community since 1984. For over 40 years, our services have made a positive impact in the North Texas area and in the lives of thousands of people experiencing homelessness.

The Samaritan Inn is more than just a place to spend the night. Our program takes a holistic approach that supports those experiencing homelessness with everything they need and teaches them life skills to expedite their journey back to self-sufficiency. On a given night, approximately 160 people sleep at the Inn, of which 1 out of 3 are children.

We have a Four Pillar Program-

1. Case Management Services– understanding their individual needs, setting goals, and working with them to achieve their goals
2. Counseling– support emotional support and mental well-being of the residents
3. Financial Literacy– money management, budgeting, and financial planning
4. Career Development– job readiness, skill development, and employment opportunities

We are a comprehensive homeless program that helps willing people gain dignity and independence. To alleviate homelessness by equipping vulnerable populations with the tools they need to succeed. The Samaritan Inn promises dignity in every relationship, reciprocity in spirit, treasure and resources, and a pathway to self-actualization, so that all North Texans feel empowered to contribute to our shared society.

The Biggest Challenges Before The Network Elites Partnership

What were the main/biggest challenges that you were facing before partnering with Network Elites?

We were growing as an organization, but still had very basic technology, systems and infrastructure in place, making growth difficult. We knew we needed to outsource our technology support in order to grow, relying on best-in-class support.

The computer lab at The Samaritan Inn. Photo Credits: Brandon Sung

How These Challenges Affected Business Operations

How did these issues affect your productivity and overall operations for your business?

For example, our systems and infrastructure were very customized and “cobbled” together over time, with individual fixes. This meant our technology was not easy to troubleshoot if issues came up. We were operating in a echo chamber and needed outside input into the most current technological best practices.

The Motiviation For An MSP Partner

What motivated you to start searching for a managed service provider, and what were you looking for in an MSP partner?

Our search for an MSP began when our lone technology support staff resigned, forcing us to evaluate if our current technology support was adequately meeting our needs. With input from our board, we partnered with Sendero Consulting and launched an RFP process. After a period of inquiry and negotiations, we landed with Network Elites to help take us to the next level of technological innovation and support.

We evaluated all vendors on:

1. Support offerings
2. Technical offerings
3. Cybersecurity
4. Relevant software experience
5. Ability to deliver
6. Supplier quality
7. Pricing and terms

The Network Elites staff hard at work helping various clients. Photo Credits: Brandon Sung

The Most Helpful Services

What services did you find were the most helpful to your business?

For our needs, it is helpful to have an MSP that provides such unique and hands-on support to our users. The solutions-focused support allows us to focus on what we do best, serving our community, versus worrying about technology.

Standing Out Against Competitors

Is there a specific service or experience that Network Elites provided that stood out to you the most?

Network Elites was chosen for their history of strong performance, large client base, exemplary phone support, and Office 365. More importantly, we look to collaborate with businesses that share our values and can contribute to our cause, whether through donations, services, or other forms of support. Network Elites has that shared commitment in making a positive impact in the lives of people in our community.

Lauren Perkins- Development Manager at The Samaritan Inn- working at their desk. Photo Credits: Brandon Sung

Results of Partnering with Network Elites

What were the results and/or improvements that your business saw?

We struggled with transitioning from Leslie who was a friend and coworker to someone who we never met. Overall, we saw a quicker response, more structure, and the fact that their employees are very knowledgeable on all aspects of the job.

Why Recommend Network Elites?

Why would you recommend Network Elites to someone who might be on the fence about partnering with an MSP?

1. Support Offerings– 24/7 and ad hoc on site
2. Cybersecurity
3. Ability to Deliver– customer references positive feedback
4. Quality– work quality and employee to client ratio
5. Pricing– competitive and strong service level agreement

The front of the Network Elites office. Photo Credits: Brandon Sung

Last Comments

Is there anything else you would like to comment on our business or services?

Network Elites has a great reputation in the industry and we have a great partnership with them. They also have a very talented team.

‍