Give us some background on yourself/your business.
I was born and raised in a small town in Northern California. After serving in the Navy, I was not exactly sure what I wanted to do for a career but I knew it would have to be something that stimulated my mind. I increased my education and got a job working desktop support for a large mortgage firm in the San Francisco Bay Area. That job lead to other opportunities with various companies and more responsibility. I was working for a “Dot Com” company where I was the Systems Administrator when the market began to shift, companies began to outsource, my entrepreneur spirit told me to begin using my skills to consult, and I started Nitro Consulting. Nitro grew quickly and my work hours grew as well. I soon learned the term “married to your business”.
How many years have you been in business?
Nitro Consulting started in 2000 in Northern California after the “Dot Com” bubble burst. Then I “rebooted” the business here in the UP in 2012 as an independent contractor.
What’s an interesting fact about your business most people don’t know?
Most people do not know that I was born and raised in California and started Nitro there first. I’ve gotten to know so many people from the Keweenaw area and while I started my business in a large populated area known for kicking off the technology boom, I believe our area has grown too with several technical businesses and jobs being developed as well as Michigan Technological University students graduating with degrees to take technology further.
Do you have any advice for new business owners?
Starting small and allowing your business to grow at a pace that allows you to give your customers the dedicated time they deserve is key. Do not try to do too much too fast.
What brought you to the area?
I met my wife in 2002 and moved to the UP. She was living here and I was ready for a change of pace from the hustle and bustle of the San Francisco Bay Area.
What keeps you here?
My family and the relationships that I have built throughout the community over the years are just some of the things that keep me here.
What are your business's goals?
Our goals are to provide the best customer service to our clients and become a “One Stop Shop” for their IT needs. We believe that what separates us from other consulting companies in the area is that we do not sell a product. We provide a service. We treat each of our clients as if their business is our business. We make recommendations based on each individual business. What works for one client, may not work for another. We spend time getting to know our customers. We find out what their business consists of and what their goals are and advise them on how to address technology in their business.
Aside from our business clients, we also provide computer repair and advice to home users. When we have people come into our office with a repair, we assess their equipment first. Sometimes we recommend instead of paying us to repair their aging equipment we will help them find newer equipment and help guide them through the process of getting what they need. Again, since we do not sell hardware we have nothing to gain but the relationship with the customer. We simply advise them as if it were for us.
How does being in this community affect your business?
Our community is small and this allows good experiences to be shared amongst friends and family. We have some of the best clients in the area and we love hearing from new clients they were suggested from one of our current clients. We enjoy a lot of the community events that happen in our area and while it’s great meeting new people, we especially love letting them know what Nitro Consulting is all about.
