Web site makers complete crime prevention project

By J. Craig Anderson Staff Writer

Charlene Leland and Sara Knab complement each other like the right and left halves of the same brain.

Leland and Knab are the co-owners of Web-Strata, a 3-year-old Ahwatukee Foothills Web site development and design company that recently completed a project for the Ahwatukee Foothills Crime Prevention Task Force ­ www.afinfo.com.

Leland is the programming half of the team. The Ahwatukee Foothills resident is a computer information systems graduate from Arizona State University who has worked for software companies and a major university, and has provided services as an independent consultant.

Knab is the graphics and visual arts expert. The Chandler resident has a degree in studio art from Arizona State University and has worked as a freelance artist for the New Times, The Arizona Republic and other publications, with a specialty in digital photography and computer-generated graphics.

"It really is a wonderful combination," Leland said. "Since I can't design my way out of a paper bag, I rely on Sara."

Similarly, Knab said she counts on Leland to take her visuals and turn them into functioning Web sites that meet the business needs of the company's clients.

In 1999, the two entrepreneurs, who have been friends for 12 years, decided to start a home-based business together. Now they have plans to launch a marketing campaign and expand the company to accommodate larger and more numerous projects.

The Crime Prevention Task Force site, for which Web-Strata donated about $3,500 worth of development time, is the latest in a diverse portfolio of sites that Leland and Knab say demonstrates their commitment to emphasizing function over bells and whistles.

"I'm a busy person," Leland said. "When I look at a Web site, I want to be able to get the information I need as quickly as possible."

Another element of the Web-Strata approach is taking time to listen and learn about each client's specific needs. Leland and Knab say they know that approach isn't common to all Web developers because they spend a great deal of time fixing Internet sites for companies whose existing ones failed to do the job.

"We spend a lot of time cleaning up after people who didn't do it right," Leland said.

Ahwatukee Foothills Crime Prevention Task Force is a group of local homeowners, block watch leaders and business owners who are working to decrease crime and increase public safety in the community through coordinating block watch activities, informational newsletters, community mailings and working with Phoenix city government and police.

The www.afinfo.com site contains facts about the task force, its newsletters, crime prevention tips, frequently asked questions and contact information for the group. Leland and Knab said they would like to do more sites for nonprofit groups ­ they are planning to begin development on a site for the National Charity League's East Valley chapter in January.

In its three years of operation, Web-Strata has served clients in a broad range of industries. Customers include Focus Mortgage of Peoria, Tempe's Sunbelt Scenic Studios, and Phoenix-based retailer Sherry's Socks.

The Web site team also has seen many changes in their industry since first opening for business. For instance, the amount Web developers can charge for a site has decreased significantly. Currently, Web-Strata can produce a custom-designed site for about $5,000, which Knab said is relatively low.

Web-Strata does offer prepackaged sites, but Leland and Knab prefer to do custom work because they say it makes for a much more attractive and useful Web site.

"The do-it-yourself sites look like they were done themselves," Leland said.

The two also pride themselves on having fun with clients and not suffering from an acute case of "techiness."

"A lot of computer people you can't talk to," Leland said. "People often feel intimidated before talking to us, but then we show up and we're just normal."

But despite all of the companies strengths, it is the marriage of form and function that defines Web-Strata.

"That's why we do so well together," Knab said.

The reporter can be reached at (480) 898-7916 or canderson@aztrib.com.