Washington, D.C., radio station WTOP selected second-year MBA student Tom Hessen's Web site SlyReply.com as Web Site of the Week in September 2007. Hessen's site is a group messaging site that he created during his first year of the Smith MBA program. He was able to create most of it during winter and spring breaks and is continuing to develop the site now during his second year, creating additional functionality.
The Web site currently features three main functions. One is a time slot sign-up, which allows users to sign-up for events during specific time periods. The example on the site is organizing volunteer shifts for an event. Users can also create a custom slot sign-up and open sign-up. The open sign-up feature is an open invitation that people can post their replies to.
Hessen got the idea for the site from his wife Katie. She told me one day that she was tired of getting a lot of reply e-mails when communicating with a professional group she is involved with. She wanted the ability for group members to sign-up for time slots instead of replying by e-mail. Hessen knew he could create something to solve this problem and developed SlyReply.
When asked what is plans are for the Web site in the near future Hessen said, Continue to grow the user community organically and continue to develop functionality that the community requests. Right now I am trying to keep up with all the good ideas the community would like to see built. I feel that the best way to grow is to keep your existing users happy.
The Web site is easy to use and free for everyone so check it out for your next event: www.slyreply.com.
▓ Loretta Goodridge, MBA Candidate 2008, Smith Media Group
Media Contact
Greg Muraski
Media Relations Manager
301-405-5283
301-892-0973 Mobile
gmuraski@umd.edu
About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, business master’s, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.