Ben Myers of Westcott Road stands ready to apply demonstrated technical expertise and a calm “desk-side manner” to address the frustrations of those who’ve found computer sellers’ do-it-yourself promises to be marketing fictions. Myers offers cradle-to-grave technical support to optimize individuals’ and small businesses’ use of information technology. Services range from setting up stand-alone personal computers, local area networks and wireless networks, to security and operational check-ups, to disposal.
Myers’s career path is characteristic of many who’ve grown up in the IT age. He discovered computers in college, and worked for Honeywell in programming, technical support, and marketing for 19 years, here and in Europe. Reassigned from Italy to Massachusetts in 1984, Myers, his wife, Eileen, and sons, Matt and Dave, found Harvard to be a hospitable home base. Myers also noted 1984 as a professional milestone: he purchased components that year to build his first home computer at the then-bargain-price of $4,000.
Myers said that massive layoffs have always been part of the IT industry’s management strategy. After surviving one too many end-of-year layoffs, Myers decided to take charge of his professional destiny in 1987 by starting a consulting business. Those pre-Internet days were the boom years for computer periodicals. As a freelance writer for PC Week and PC Magazine, Myers performance-tested computer hardware and software products.
He became recognized as a common-sense advisor on how to harness emerging technologies to pursue practical applications, and was sought out by local businesses to help them set up computing and communications systems. Gradually, Myers said, the focus of his work changed from product evaluation to the “care and feeding of computers here locally.” Word-of-mouth referrals have resulted in a steady stream of clients, ranging from branch offices of larger corporations, which lack on-site IT support, to individuals with home-based computer issues. Myers noted, “Large companies aren’t prepared or interested to provide personal service, although they’re more than happy to sell you a product and then walk away.”
Myers typically works on an hourly basis, although he offers a flat rate for some services, especially time-consuming operations, like software installation or virus checking, that he can pursue at home concurrent with other projects. He works on- or off-site, depending on the customer’s preference and nature of issues to be solved. Myers said that he also sells most of the hardware components needed to complete installations, usually at a little below market rate.
“House calls are a necessity to be in the computer support business,” Myers said, since he must often puzzle out related issues. Examples cited include incompatibility between computers and peripherals, or interference from microwaves, cordless telephones, or neighboring wireless networks. “Context is extremely important. It’s sometimes impossible to solve the problem without that,” Myers said.
Myers expressed a personal concern for the hazards associated with illegal disposal of obsolete computer hardware. “When the right equipment is available at the right price,” he refurbishes and sells computers with a warranty. Myers also maintains a computer junkyard of sorts, stocked with reconditioned circuit boards. Some of these components still offer good use when integrated with more capable processors. Conversely, some clients’ business operations rely on the availability of spare and replacement computer components that are no longer manufactured, but that continue to meet their needs. “Worst case,” Myers said, “obsolete circuit boards and chips go to someone who will reclaim them for precious metal content.”
Myers is active in the community, having coached boys’ soccer for 15 years. “I generally work with the high school kids out of season, through the Harvard Athletic Association and an informal summer league.” Myers said he feels confident that this extra experience has paid dividends in the Trojans’ demonstrated ability to compete successfully at the state level.
Contact Myers at 978-456-3889 or ben_myers@charter.net for more information.