Professional Journey
A Blinking White Cursor
As a 12 year old, I was excited when my parents brought home a Packard Bell PC with a 25 MHz processor and a CD-ROM. But one day, disaster struck. My dad booted up the computer, and nothing happened. The screen was completely black except for a blinking white cursor.
It turned out that it was my fault. A kid at my high school gave me an America Online disk, telling me it would unlock unlimited internet access. Instead, the disk infected my dad’s PC with the “Michelangelo” computer virus.
Luckily, my uncle was able to painstakingly resurrect our computer. But after hours of work, my dad learned that his sales leads had been deleted from the computer. They were gone forever.
The Investment
As a sophomore in high school, I convinced my grandmother to buy me a state-of-the-art Hewlett-Packard 166 MHz Windows 95 computer. I spent all summer inside learning, tinkering, and building. Sometimes I also broke things, which led to countless hours on the phone talking to tech support teams. I remember feeling relief when technicians helped fix what I had broken.
The new computer wasn’t a gift, but a loan. I paid my grandma back over the next 2 years by working at her home. But the return on that modest investment has been the greatest of my life to this day.
Turning Point
I’ve always been an entrepreneur. As a child, I started my own business; I shoveled snow, mowed lawns, and removed leaves before I was old enough to get a job. While attending university, I worked two jobs to support myself. But it wasn’t until 2004 that I reached the turning point that led me to found CPU RX.
For the previous five years, I had been building and fixing computers for family and friends in the Western suburbs of Chicago. I removed viruses, installed printers, extended wifi services in large homes, and performed various other IT related tasks.
As a result of these experiences, I knew I had a talent for helping people with computers. So, when Anderson consulting offered me a job as a corporate consultant, I had a crucial choice to make: should I pursue a life of secure employment, or risk forging my own path as an entrepreneur?
Creating Partnerships, Cultivating People
Early on, I had no access to outside capital. I only had my vision, passion and technology skills to rely on. At that time, I adopted the slogan “Computer Problems Understood.” By working to understand the needs of each client, I earned a reputation as a reliable technical problem solver, and my business grew. As a result, I began to get referrals to small businesses that needed IT support, including medical, legal, financial, and professional services firms.
As my experience working with organizations grew, I learned that cutting edge technologies are not enough to guarantee success. I didn’t just solve computer problems – I cultivated people and created partnerships. My commitment to building relationships was the key to my success.
As CPU RX’s CEO, I work hard to cultivate people within my organization. This involves not only hiring top tier technologists, but also recognizing and nurturing individuals who have passion and raw talent, but whose potential is underdeveloped. I’m especially proud that during my tenure, I’ve helped five technicians work their way up from entry level positions. These technicians, who all started as enthusiastic hobbyists with no professional experience, are now seasoned experts who earn six-figure salaries.
With my clients, I create long-lasting partnerships by building relationships rooted in trust and transparency. My years of experience as both business owner and technologist give me unique insights into the ways that technologies and business processes interact. These insights guide me as I work with CPU RX teams to empower and protect our clients. Ultimately, whether we are securing assets, building out technical solutions, or managing infrastructure, we are dedicated to exceeding expectations and enabling our partners’ success.