Careers

About nQativ

For over 40 years, nQativ has been developing accounting software. During this time our customer base has grown to include organizations across a diverse spectrum of industries. Our ActivityHD product consists of multiple modules including general ledger, payables, receivables, fixed assets, purchasing, bank reconciliation, and payroll. Our goal is to help make business processes better and easier for our customers. And now this includes Dynamics Great Plains users too. Our spirit of friendly and extreme service is the catalyst for our growing business.

About the Position

nQativ is seeking persons with excellent accounting skills and Dynamics GP experience to assist with the implementation and support of ActivReporter. You must be proficient with Dynamics GP, able to recognize standard business practices, and create financial reporting solutions (balance sheets, P&L, cash flow, etc. ).

You must be authorized for permanent work in the U.S.

Tasks & Responsibilities

On any given day, this role might involve any of the following activities:

• Corresponding with customers via email and telephone.
• Working within our support team to help customers with our products including ActivityHD, ActivReporter and Aspire.
• Seeking to understand customers' business processes and tailoring the software to their needs.
• Quality assurance testing for our software products.
• Writing scripts to automate processes for customers.
• Creating blog information on new software features for marketing and sales.

Interested?

If so, we are looking for people who will enjoy and enrich our company culture. These individuals exhibit character traits such as:

• You are a person of integrity. Our customers think of nQativ as their business partner, so anyone who joins our team must be conscientious, honest, and trustworthy.
• You are tenacious. You don't give up. You will be dedicated and creative when it comes to problem solving and helping our clients discover their best solution.
• Learning new stuff makes you smile. New people, new terminology, new business, etc. all energize you.
• You are good at listening, speaking, and writing. A large chunk of most days will involve interacting with others.
• You like people and want to help them. Specifically, your goal will be to help our customers get the answers they need.
• You are a self-starter. If you happen to have some down time, you naturally use it to explore, learn, discover, and share fresh ideas.
• You must understand basic accounting principles and demonstrate an aptitude for working with customers to streamline their business processes.
• You enjoy writing scripts to automate routine processes.
• You may not be an experienced software developer, but you are interested in the possibility of pursuing that career path.

Does this sound like you? If so, send your resume via email (jobs@conetrix.com). We’ll look forward to hearing from you!

About nQativ

For over 40 years, nQativ has been developing accounting software. During this time our customer base has grown to include organizations across a diverse spectrum of industries. Our ActivityHD product consists of multiple modules including general ledger, payables, receivables, fixed assets, purchasing, bank reconciliation, and payroll. To learn more about ActivityHD, visit our website at www.nqativ.com

About the Position

nQativ is seeking persons with excellent accounting skills and ERP Software experience to assist with the implementation and support of ActivityHD and ActivReporter. You must be proficient with ERP Software systems, able to recognize standard business practices, and create financial reporting solutions (balance sheets, P&L, cash flow, etc.) using reporting product. ActivReporter provides an all-inclusive reporting experience with more visibility into Dynamics GP financial data than ever before. Experience with Dynamics GP is a huge plus. 

You must be authorized for permanent work in the U.S. and live in Lubbock, Texas or the surrounding area. This position is at our main office in Lubbock.

Essential Skills

• You must be proficient with Microsoft Dynamics GP. Intacct, QuickBooks, or other accounting systems.
• You must be a Micrsoft Excel maven.
• Icing on the cake. Two or more years of experience with accounting software implementation and the ability to write VB Scripts (VBS) will give you head start on other candidates.

Tasks & Responsibilities

On any given day, this role might involve any of the following skills and activities:

• Corresponding with customers via email and telephone.
• Working within our support team to collaboratively help customers.
• Presenting the ActivityHD and ActivReporter products in marketing demonstrations.
• Helping customers with our products.
• Working with Quality Assurance to test software functionality.
• Participating in the continuous improvement of our products and processes.
• Assisting with the implementation of our products, either remotely or on-site.

Sound Interesting?
If so, we are looking for people who will enjoy and enrich our company culture. These individuals exhibit character traits such as:

• You are conscientious, honest, and trustworthy. In a word, you are a person of integrity.
• You like people and want to help them. You have the emotional intelligence needed to get along with people. Beyond being likable and pleasant, your goal will be to help our customers get the answers they need.
• You are good at listening, speaking, and writing. Yes, accurate and effective communication, presentation and training skills are essential for this position.
• You love to organize. “A place for everything and everything in its place,” may be your mantra. You know where or how to find whatever you need.
• You are tenacious. You don’t give up. You will be dedicated and creative when it comes to problem solving and helping our clients discover their best solution.
• Learning new stuff makes you smile. New people, new terminology, new business, etc. all energize you.
• You are a self-starter. If you happen to have some down time you naturally explore, learn, discover, and share fresh ideas to make our products even better. We encourage this!
• You live in Lubbock, the Lubbock area, or have ties to the Texas South Plains. This position is in our main office in Lubbock, Texas.

Does this sound like you? If so, send your resume via email (jobs@conetrix.com). We’ll look forward to hearing from you!

About Tandem

Tandem is an online-based web application, designed to help financial institutions simplify and stay in compliance with complex information security regulations. The first Tandem product was released in 2008. Since that time, Tandem has grown into an 11-product suite and is used by more than 1,300 financial institutions in all 50 states.

About the Position

Since 2007, some remarkably skilled professionals have been writing the online compliance software, Tandem. Our goal is to make information security compliance better and easier for financial institutions.

We are seeking individuals with excellent programming skills to assist with the development of the Tandem software suite.

We offer a great working environment, scoring 11 out of 12 on The Joel Test.

Tasks & Responsibilities

The following details should give you a glimpse into our development team:

• Design and code new features or enhancements of existing features in our Tandem product. Tandem is a multitenant SaaS web application built on the Microsoft stack.
• Code using ASP.NET, C#, HTML, JavaScript, MCV, SQL, unit testing, and React Native.
• Troubleshoot with members of our support team to understand problems encountered by our customers.
• Follow an agile/scrum methodology: daily development stand-up meetings, sprint-review meetings, and sprint-planning meetings.
• Collaborating with other members of the development team to help each other overcome roadblocks.

Sound Interesting?

If so, we are looking for people who will enjoy and enrich our company culture. These individuals exhibit character and professional traits such as:

• You like people and want to help them. Your goal will be to help our customers get the solutions they need.
• You are good at listening, speaking, and writing. Yes, accurate and effective communication, presentation and training skills are essential for this position.
• You are tenacious. You don’t give up. You will be dedicated and creative when it comes to problem solving and developing solutions for our clients.
• You love learning new stuff, and have the initiative to discover and share fresh ideas to make Tandem even better.
• You live in Lubbock or the Lubbock area, or have ties to the Texas South Plains. This position is in our main office in Lubbock, Texas.
• You must be authorized for permanent work in the U.S.
• Icing on the cake. Two or more years of experience with relevant technologies will give you a head start on other candidates.

Does this sound like you? Send your resume in an email to jobs@conetrix.com.

About Tandem

Tandem is an online-based web application, designed to help financial institutions simplify and stay in compliance with complex information security regulations. The first Tandem product was released in 2008. Since that time, Tandem has grown into an 11-product suite and is used by more than 1,300 financial institutions in all 50 states.

About the Position

At its heart, this position is about creative problem solving. As part of the Tandem team, a Tandem Support Specialist will work to support the software in a variety of ways. This includes traditional forms of support, like helping customers over the phone or via email, but it also includes things like supporting the sales team by assisting with demonstrations or brainstorming new solutions and features with the development team.

Tasks & Responsibilities

Here are some examples of what you could expect to do as part of this position:

• Assist customers with their questions and provide answers via phone or email.
• Present the Tandem products in marketing demonstrations.
• Manage customer account setups and perform other data research projects.
• Work with Quality Assurance to test software functionality.
• Write software update blog posts and knowledge base articles.
• Provide input on new features.
• Participate in the continuous improvement of our products and processes.
• Research and learn about information security and technology.

Sound Interesting?

If so, here are some qualities and traits we would be interested in seeing from you:

• You are conscientious, honest and trustworthy. In a word, anyone who joins our team is a person of integrity.
• You feel a sense of accomplishment when you help other people solve their problems and achieve their goals.
• You are familiar with the features of commonly used web-browsers and applications (e.g., Google Chrome, Microsoft Office, Trello, Slack, SnagIt, etc.).
• You are good at listening, speaking, and writing. Accurate and effective communication is a top priority for you.
• You are a self-starter, taking responsibility for your own work and education.
• You live in Lubbock, Texas or the surrounding area. This position is at our main office in Lubbock.

• You must be authorized for permanent work in the U.S.

Does this sound like you? If so, send your resume via email (jobs@conetrix.com). We’ll look forward to hearing from you!

About CoNetrix Security

CoNetrix Security specializes in providing assurance testing and security consulting services to help financial institutions with cybersecurity concerns, stay safe from evolving threats, and maintain compliance with complex information security regulations. Dating back to 2001, CoNetrix Security has provided IT audits, vulnerability assessments, penetration tests and consulting services to community banks, credit unions, and other security conscious companies.

About the Position

The CoNetrix Security team provides compliance and security consulting under the name Boost Consulting. A Boost Consultant is expected to assist financial institutions in developing and maintaining their Information Security Program per the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), the Interagency Guidelines Establishing Information Security Standards, and other regulatory requirements and guidelines.

Boost Consultants are experts in the development of information security programs for financial institutions, and they excel at creating methods and tools to help financial institutions improve their security and compliance posture.

Tasks & Responsibilities

Here are some examples of what you may expect to do as a Boost Consultant:

• Assist clients in the development and maintenance of their Information Security Program using multiple tools and platforms, including the Tandem web portal developed by CoNetrix. Foundational elements include:
• Information Security Policies
• Risk Assessments
• Business Continuity Plan
• Vendor Management Program
• Participate in client information security committee meetings.
• Provide client training and assist with elements of security program testing.
• Assist clients in preparing for and responding to IT audits and exams.
• Travel to customer sites as needed. Travel is expected to be between 10-30%.

Sound Interesting?

We are looking for people in Lubbock, Texas or the surrounding area who will enjoy and enrich our company culture. You may be the person we’re looking for if you exhibit the following personal and professional traits:

• You are excited about creating new products and new ways to solve problems. You embrace obstacles as opportunities.
• Learning makes you smile. New people, new terminology, new systems, and new tools energize you.
• You like people and want to help them. You have the emotional intelligence needed to enlist trust and foster a spirit of collaboration.
• You are good at listening, speaking, and writing. Accurate and effective communication is a top priority for you.
• You are a self-starter, taking responsibility for your own work and education.
• You have practical experience in technology, security, or auditing.
• You have or would like to pursue information security certifications such as CISA, CISSP, or CISM.

• You must be authorized for permanent work in the U.S.

Does this sound like you? If so, send your resume via email (jobs@conetrix.com). We look forward to hearing from you!

About the Position

The CoNetrix marketing team supports all marketing efforts for the four CoNetrix subsidiaries; CoNetrix Technology, CoNetrix Security, Tandem, and nQativ.

We are seeking an individual with a passion for marketing, who wants to learn and grow their skillset, and can work within a fast pace, team environment.

This paid internship is a temporary or part-time position and will focus on technical marketing skills including learning marketing software, marketing database management, and other technical marketing support tasks.

Tasks & Responsibilities

Here are some examples of what you could expect to do in this position:

• Assist in managing marketing automation software for digital marketing campaigns
• Design and create marketing emails
• Assist with marketing database management and CRM data entry
• Create product or campaign landing pages
• Assist with basic reporting and analytics
• Write content for press releases, blogs, or marketing case studies
• Assist with event coordination including online events such as webinars and virtual conferences

Sound Interesting?

If so, here are some qualities and traits we would be interested in seeing from you:

• You are ambitious and goal oriented. You actively look for ways to provide value to a team or organization.
• You are curious about how things work, and you are constantly looking to learn new skillsets.
• You think analytically and strategically. While you could do graphic design, you are more comfortable working on analytical projects.
• You work with integrity and excellence and take responsibility for your work.
• You live in Lubbock, Texas or the surrounding area. This position is at our main office in Lubbock.

Does this sound like you? If so, apply now. We’ll look forward to hearing from you.

About CoNetrix Security

CoNetrix Security specializes in providing assurance testing and security consulting services to help financial institutions address Cybersecurity concerns, stay safe from evolving threats, and compliant with complex information security regulations. Dating back to 2001, CoNetrix Security has provided IT audits, vulnerability assessments, penetration tests and consulting services to community banks, credit unions, and other security conscious companies.

About the Position

As part of the CoNetrix Security team, an IT Auditor is expected to analyze complex IT environments from a security and compliance perspective. This includes reviewing policy and procedural controls, assessing the effectiveness of technical controls, writing audit reports, and communicating with the client about the results of their audit.

Tasks & Responsibilities

Here are some examples of what you could expect to do as part of this position:

• Travel to customer engagements. Most audit related engagements are on a two or three week cycle. Travel is expected to be between 20-30%.
• Conduct vulnerability scanning and evaluation of technology controls.
• Review policies, procedures, risk assessments, and plans.
• Evaluate the adequacy of Information Security Programs against regulations, guidance, standards, and industry best practices.
• Draft audit reports based on evaluations.
• Communicate observations with a broad range of audiences, from technical experts to non-technical executives.

Sound Interesting?

If so, we are looking for people who will enjoy and enrich our company culture. These individuals exhibit character and professional traits such as:

• You like people and want to help them.
• You have the emotional intelligence needed to enlist trust and foster a spirit of collaboration.
• You have practical experience in technology, security, or auditing.
• You are good at listening, speaking, and writing. Accurate and effective communication is a top priority for you.
• You are a self-starter, taking responsibility for your own work and education.
• Learning new stuff makes you smile. New people, new terminology, new systems, new tools, etc. all energize you.
• You live in the state of Texas. Our business is in Lubbock, Texas.
• You must be authorized for permanent work in the U.S.
• Better yet, you have certification(s) such as CISA, CISSP, or CISM.

Does this sound like you? Send your resume via email to jobs@conetrix.com.

About Tandem

Tandem is an online-based web application, designed to help financial institutions simplify and stay in compliance with complex information security regulations. The first Tandem product was released in 2008. Since then, Tandem has grown into an 11-product suite and is used by more than 1,300 financial institutions in all 50 states.

About the Position

As part of the Tandem team, a Security Software and Content Specialist will work to develop, review, and revise content within the Tandem application. In addition, this individual will assist with supporting the software in a variety of ways. This includes traditional forms of support, like helping customers over the phone or via email, but it also includes things like supporting the sales team by assisting with demonstrations or brainstorming new solutions and features with the development team.

Tasks & Responsibilities

Here are some examples of what you could expect to do as part of this position:

• Research and learn about information security and technology.
• Develop new software content, including, but not limited to:
• Email Templates for Simulated Phishing Attacks
• Policies
• Risk Assessments
• Security Awareness Training Material
• Third Party Document Reviews
• Review and make recommendations to improve existing content within the software.
• Write software update blog posts and knowledge base articles.
• Provide input on new features.
• Participate in the continuous improvement of our products and processes.
• Assist customers with their questions and provide answers via phone or email.
• Present the Tandem products in marketing demonstrations.
• Manage customer account setups and perform other data research projects.
• Work with Quality Assurance to test software functionality.

Sound Interesting?

If so, here are some qualities and traits we would be interested in seeing from you:

• You enjoy reading about and analyzing security standards, best practices, and compliance criteria.
• You feel a sense of accomplishment when you help other people solve their problems and achieve their goals.
• You are familiar with the features of commonly used web-browsers and applications (e.g., Google Chrome, Microsoft Office, Trello, Slack, SnagIt, etc.).
• You are good at listening, speaking, and writing. Accurate and effective communication is a top priority for you.
• You are a self-starter, taking responsibility for your own work and education.
• You live in Lubbock, Texas or the surrounding area. This position is at our main office in Lubbock.
• You must be authorized for permanent work in the U.S.

Does this sound like you? If so, send your resume via email (jobs@conetrix.com). We’ll look forward to hearing from you!

About nQativ

For over 40 years, nQativ has been developing accounting software. During this time our customer base has grown to include organizations across a diverse spectrum of industries. Our ActivityHD product consists of multiple modules including general ledger, payables, receivables, fixed assets, purchasing, bank reconciliation, and payroll. To learn more about ActivityHD, visit our website at www.nqativ.com

About the Position

This position is reserved for an exceptional programmer whose skills and experience will establish her or him as a leader in out development team. A Windows Application Developer is expected to develop features for the ActivityHD software. Some specific skills that would be ideal include:

• Experience with object-oriented development (C++, C#, Delphi, Java, etc.)
• Experience with Microsoft SQL Server and Transact-SQL
• Experience with .NET
• Experience with HTML, JavaScript, and/or other web-focused tools
• Working knowledge of accounting principles

Tasks & Responsibilities

What would your work be like? A typical day could include:

• Designing and coding new features or enhancements of existing features in our ActivityHD product.
• Collaborating with other members of the development team to help each other overcome roadblocks.
• Participating in Agile processes: daily development stand-up meetings, sprint-review meetings, and sprint-planning meetings.
• Troubleshooting with members of our support team to understand problems encountered by our customers.

Sound Interesting?

If so, we are looking for people who will enjoy and enrich our company culture. These individuals exhibit character traits such as:

• You are a person of integrity. Our customers think of nQativ as their business partner, so anyone who joins our team must be conscientious, honest, and trustworthy.
• You love to develop software. On the best of days, programming feels like play more than it feels like work.
• You are tenacious. Even on the rare days when programming feels more like work, you are willing to dig deep to solve the problem.
• You are a self-starter. If you happen to have some down time while at work, you naturally use it to explore, learn, discover, and share fresh ideas.
• You enjoy being a member of a team. Sure, you like to go off on your own and work on a difficult problem, but you also like to be part of a group that accomplishes great things together, and you have interpersonal skills to communicate with team members respectfully and productively.
• You must be authorized for permanent work in the U.S. and live in Lubbock, Texas or the surrounding area. This position is at our main office in Lubbock.

Does this sound like you? If so, send your resume via email (jobs@conetrix.com). We’ll look forward to hearing from you!

About CoNetrix Technology

Based in Texas, CoNetrix Technology provides IT managed services, network support, and network design and implementation for businesses and financial institutions throughout Texas and New Mexico. We began these services in 1994 and have grown into several engineer teams supporting many security-focused IT environments.

In 2008 we started our Aspire division to provide secure and private cloud hosting for customers across the USA.

About the Position

This position is only open to individuals who possess the skills and demeanor that will distinguish them as leaders on our team.

A Network Engineer at CoNetrix should be an excellent problem solver, have good customer service skills, be willing to work as part of a team, maintain attention to detail, and have a passion for technology. As part of the CoNetrix Technology team, you will work with our customers to provide quality and timely installation and support of their IT environments.

Tasks & Responsibilities

Here are some examples of what you could expect to do as part of this position:

• Handle day-to-day IT issues for our customers
• Contribute to various network implementation and upgrade projects
• Perform routine maintenance for customer IT networks
• Work 8-9 hours per day for a 40-45 hour week with paid overtime
• Occasional after-hours work and regional travel is typical

Physical Requirements

To effectively perform this job, you should be able to:

• Walk frequently.
• Position yourself as needed to work around and beneath desks and equipment.
• Operate a motor vehicle to provide safe transport to customer business locations.
• Routinely move 15-25 lbs. to a height of 3-4 feet.
• Occasionally move 26-50 lbs. to a height of 3-4 feet.

Sound Interesting?

If so, we are looking for people who will enjoy and enrich our company culture. These individuals exhibit character and professional traits such as:

• You have 2+ years of hands-on experience in implementing and maintaining business networking systems using Microsoft and Cisco technologies.
• You have experience with VMware virtualization, Remote Desktop Services, or Citrix.
• You have experience with implementing and maintaining IT security solutions such as firewalls and IDS/IPS.
• You are conscientious, honest, and trustworthy. In a word you are a person of integrity.
• You feel a sense of accomplishment when you help other people solve their problems and achieve their goals.
• You are good at listening, speaking, and writing. Accurate and effective communication is a top priority for you especially when it comes to technical problems and solutions.
• You appreciate the benefits of working in a team environment.
• You are a self-starter, taking responsibility for your own work and education.
• You live in Lubbock, Texas or the surrounding area. Occasionally remote Network Engineer teleworker positions are available.
• You must be authorized for permanent work in the U.S.
• Better yet, you have current Microsoft, Cisco, or VMware certification(s).

Does this sound like you? If so send your resume via email (jobs@conetrix.com). We look forward to hearing from you.

About CoNetrix Technology

Based in Texas, CoNetrix Technology provides IT managed services, network support, and network design and implementation for businesses and financial institutions throughout Texas and New Mexico. We began these services in 1994 and have grown into several engineer teams supporting many security-focused IT environments.

In 2008 we started our Aspire division to provide secure and private cloud hosting for customers across the USA.

About the Position

This position is only open to individuals who possess the skills and demeanor that will distinguish them as leaders on our team.

A Network Engineer at CoNetrix should be an excellent problem solver, have good customer service skills, be willing to work as part of a team, maintain attention to detail, and have a passion for technology. As part of the CoNetrix Technology team, you will work with our customers to provide quality and timely installation and support of their IT environments.

Tasks & Responsibilities

Here are some examples of what you could expect to do as part of this position:

• Handle day-to-day IT issues for our customers
• Contribute to various network implementation and upgrade projects
• Perform routine maintenance for customer IT networks
• Work 8-9 hours per day for a 40-45 hour week with paid overtime
• Occasional after-hours work and regional travel is typical

Physical Requirements

To effectively perform this job, you should be able to:

• Walk frequently.
• Position yourself as needed to work around and beneath desks and equipment.
• Operate a motor vehicle to provide safe transport to customer business locations.
• Routinely move 15-25 lbs. to a height of 3-4 feet.
• Occasionally move 26-50 lbs. to a height of 3-4 feet.

Sound Interesting?

If so, we are looking for people who will enjoy and enrich our company culture. These individuals exhibit character and professional traits such as:

• You have 3+ years of hands-on experience in implementing and maintaining business networking systems using Microsoft and Cisco technologies.
• You have experience with VMware virtualization, Remote Desktop Services, or Citrix.
• You have experience with implementing and maintaining IT security solutions such as firewalls and IDS/IPS.
• You are conscientious, honest, and trustworthy. In a word you are a person of integrity.
• You feel a sense of accomplishment when you help other people solve their problems and achieve their goals.
• You are good at listening, speaking, and writing. Accurate and effective communication is a top priority for you especially when it comes to technical problems and solutions.
• You appreciate the benefits of working in a team environment.
• You are a self-starter, taking responsibility for your own work and education.
• You live in the Midland / Odessa area .
• You must be authorized for permanent work in the U.S.
• Better yet, you have current Microsoft, Cisco, or VMware certification(s).

Does this sound like you? If so send your resume via email (jobs@conetrix.com). We look forward to hearing from you.

About CoNetrix Security and Tandem Software

These companies provide Information Security services and compliance software. Dating back to 2001, CoNetrix Security has provided IT audits, vulnerability assessments, penetration tests and consulting services to community banks, credit unions, and other security conscious companies. Tandem, an online-based web application, helps financial institutions simplify and stay in compliance with complex information security regulations. Since 2008 Tandem has grown into an 11-product suite and is used by more than 1,300 financial institutions in all 50 states.

About the Position

This is not an immediate position, however if you would like to start a conversation and learn about the possibilties, we always want to meet good people.

Aa a Sales Account Manager you be someone who enjoys building new business and managing client relationships. A successful candidate will have strong communication and interpersonal skills to establish rapport with prospects and customers alike. You must have the ability to leverage your expertise in sales techniques and product knowledge in order to successfully close sales. Also, as an Account Manager, you will have the opportunity to help mentor and train junior members of the sales team.

Here are some ways you can make a positive impact as a member of our sales team:

• Visit clients and potential clients via phone or in-person to evaluate needs or promote products and services
• Confer with customers in order to assess needs
• Use your product knowledge and understanding to communicate value
• Participate in sales presentations
• Provide exceptional and fast customer service
• Establish, develop and maintain positive business and customer relationships
• Reach out to customer leads through cold calling
• Provide prompt sales opportunity follow up
• Travel some for sales trips, trade shows, and/or conferences.

Does this sound like you? If so, here are some of the qualities we are looking for:

• You are conscientious, honest, and trustworthy. In a word you are a person of integrity.
• You are driven to reach sales goals
• You move quickly to pursue sales opportunities or leads
• You are resilient when facing rejection and uncertainty
• You bounce back quickly and remain calm in high-stress situations
• You present yourself as confident and friendly
• You are able to listen and communicate well
• You have excellent negotiation skills
• You have the ability to prioritize and manage several different tasks at once

• You must be authorized for permanent work in the U.S.

Do you think you would like to join our team? If so, apply now. If not, check back with us to see future possibilities.