Celebrating 15 Years of Web Site Design!

Who is Carolyn Von Ahnen, owner of Innovative Design Concepts?  I am a work from home mother of 2, and currently have a client base of 45+ customers.  I am currently working with 3 computer / technology firms to help their clients also develop web sites.  Many of my clients have been with me since 1998! 

My goal is to help small businesses reach the masses via the internet, by constructing web sites that are clean and easy to navigate and that rank well with the search engines.

Who am I personally? 2012 response: I am a breast cancer survivor! On 10/8/2009, I was diagnosed with an aggressive, stage 2.5, tumor in my breast.  I am 2 years Cancer Free!! I am looking forward to finding my "new normal" and enjoying this new year...and many more... with my darling children and husband! I've started teaching Religious Education again, I now have 11 kindergarteners in my care each Wednesday - they are a joy!

I have recently become very involved with my daughter's non-profit dance troupe, I am designing the program book for the recital, and organizing the design and construction of props for the dance recital in May! In August I was elected to the board as the recording secretary.

I served our church, as the Kindergarten Catechist for the 2011-2012 school year. This August I was able to serve as the Science Teacher for our local Vacation Bible School's week long program!

I've been able to Give Back & Support the American Cancer Society.  In the June 2011 Relay for Life I was the # 6 highest fund riaser earning $1,165.00!  In the 2012 RELAY FOR LIFE this past June,  I was ranked the #5 Highest Fund Raiser of the event, bringing in $1,080.00 and my darling 14 year old daughter Alyssa raised $255!  THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
 

Before this life changing diagnosis, I had been a very "hands-on" parent who was very involved with my children in all types of activities that will help them grow into well rounded, good mannered adults.

• In 2007, I was elected as the new PTA President of the Elementary School - but resigned due to health reasons in the Spring of 2008.  Then served as PTA Advisor to the new board.
   
• I served for 6 years as a Girl Scout Assistant Leader.  We are in our last year of Juniors. Most of the girls in our troop have been with us since Kindergarten!
   
• Spent 7 years as a Teacher for our Parish's Religious Education Class (PREP CCD.  Also volunteered for 2 summers, teaching Science in our week long Vacation Bible School classes. 
   
• I serve on the Executive Committee of my daughter's Dance Troupe and have undertaken the graphic arts job as our Program Book Designer.  My daughter is in here 4th year on the Junior Competition Dance Team, which means more nights of practice and traveling on weekends to compete! 
   
• My son's is on the school's Science Olympiad Team.  We will be traveling with a group of his classmates to Colleges in South Jersey to compete in science challenges. 
   
• My son is also an avid soccer player, his team won the South Jersey Championship in 2007.  I guess, this makes me a soccer mom too!
   

I enjoy being busy and involved with my children, but I also really enjoy my husband's hobby of Drag Racing! Yes, he drag races in the NMCA.  We travel to along the East Coast to watch him compete in the races. We attend as many races as we can, so we can support "Daddy"!  

I welcome you to learn more about our Drag Racing Program at www.VonAhnenRacing.com - if you are looking for East Coast advertising ideas, why not consider auto sponsorship? Please visit our web site for more information.

And when I am not busy a being wife and mother . . . I enjoy creating, designing & working with my clients on their web site projects!  Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me! I hope we'll get the opportunity to work together on your web site project!

> View Portfolio of Customers

> View Graphic Design Samples

> Read Comments from my Clients

Published article from June 2000 - and original "About Carolyn Von Ahnen" info.

About Carolyn Von Ahnen, owner IDC
I am a graphic designer by trade and a stay a home Mother by choice.  I founded Innovative Design Concepts in late 1998.  My web design company is run from my home in southern New Jersey.  I have the expertise necessary to build effective, quality search engine optimized web sites.  I continually study at home by enrolling in a variety of  Web Design, Graphics, and E-Marketing Courses.  Every effort is made to stay in touch with the ever changing SEO trends by faithfully reading dozens of Internet Marketing Newsletters & Reports that I subscribe to.  My education is constantly being continued as the Internet is ever changing!

Not long after my web designing career began, my Interland Account Manager asked me to write an article for their newsletter.  I was asked to focus on Working from Home with my two little children at my feet.  I hesitated, but did eventually write the requested article...and too my surprise...they published it back in June 2000 in the Interland Reseller Newsflash in the Reseller Corner section.

June 2000 - The Reseller Corner 

This is My Day
By: Carolyn Von Ahnen, Innovative Design Concepts

I sneak out of bed before the little ones awake (hoping to get some work done without interruptions), fire up the system, quickly glance over and answer e-mail, and then the work begins: Typesetting - Layout - Design.  Uh oh, here comes the pitter-patter of little feet - it's the baby still half asleep! She climbs into my lap at the computer, and I keep tapping away at the keyboard while she slowly awakens in my arms. Now it's time for a brief break because she needs chocolate milk, and just in time, here comes big brother. He'd like some milk too! They sit together and watch their educational TV shows on PBS and eat some cereal while Mom is busy making some phone calls. Okay, it is time to hit the showers! Everyone gets cleaned up and dressed. The phone is ringing again, and it's one of my clients, I hush the kids and take the call, I immediately accesses their web site and process some updates!  My name is Carolyn Von Ahnen and this is my DAY.  I own and operate Innovative Design Concepts, a Web Site Design firm based in Southern New Jersey. (Yes, they insisted on my picture, that's me in photo above)

I started out in the office supply industry 13 years ago, where I quickly learned the art of typesetting, layout and design. I went on to initiate a printing division for the office product company that I worked for. I met a wonderful man and moved on to bigger adventures...getting married. Marriage took me far away from my wonderful creative job. I took a customer relations job near my new home. Although it paid well, I had to sacrifice my creativity. A few years later, I decided to go back to school to brush up on my printing skills and learn the newest technology. So I enrolled in a year-long graphic occupations course at Salem County Vo-Tech, where I earned the honor of becoming the first student to design the monthly school newsletter and received various honors and awards.

Excited about working again and utilizing all of my newfound skills, just a few months before graduation I became pregnant! I graduated with honors, had a beautiful baby boy and became a fulltime Mom and Wife. The career will have to go on hold again.  Luckily for me, a few years later my father approached me and asked me if I could "make him a Web site" for his catering business. He figured it couldn't be too hard for someone with my background to do just that. Thanks to Microsoft FrontPage I have developed a budding career! Today my father has a primary Web site, 4 mirror sites, and we are currently building an e-commerce bridal shop!

I researched Web hosts and found Interland, who has proven to be one of my most valuable Web management tools! I am proud to declare to my clients that I offer hosting through Interland, and when they ask why, I tell them because Interland offers the most reliable uptime guarantee around and has the best tech support team!  Interland's customer service is available 24/7, allowing me to provide my clients with superior support! Now with the additions of domain registration, shopping cart programs and credit card processing agents, I don't have to shop around for the best deals. I simply call my Account Manager to access the valuable resources Interland has to offer!

I am currently a member of the HTML Writers Guild & International Webmasters Association, both of which have wonderful resources and educational courses available for new and experienced Web designers. I am continuing my education constantly.

I want to thank Interland, the HWG and the IWA for all of their help, encouragement and support! I am at home with my two beautiful little children, sitting at my computer desk, (which is located in their playroom), and I have the opportunity to watch them learn and play. Meanwhile, I am getting to be creative and interact with adults.  And the best part is while I am here with the kids, I am my own boss, I set my own hours, and I can make money - all at the same time!

I have completed 16 Web sites, over 75 individual Single Web Page Advertisements and I have three signed contracts to begin work.  The kids are not in daycare, and I am working at home - life is good!

Thanks to all of My Clients for Understanding and Appreciating my Work-at-Home Status, and for allowing me to be a Mom and a Web Site Designer too!!

My Personal Philosophy:

Because the CUSTOMER...
- Because the customer has a need, I have a job to do.
- Because the customer has a choice, I must be the better choice.
- Because the customer has sensibilities, I must be considerate.
- Because the customer has urgency, I must be quick.
- Because the customer is unique, I must be flexible.
- Because the customer has high expectations, I must excel.
- Because the customer has influence,
     I have the hope of more customers.
- Because of the customer, I.D.C exists!  Thank You!          
           AUTHOR UNKNOWN