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Economic Development eNews | July 4, 2017
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TechTutors make technology a breeze
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BROCKVILLE - TechTutors is computer service simplified.
"We're your one-stop, tech shop making computer service as simple and stress free as possible," says business founder William Thomson. "And we won't sell you anything unless we'd sell it to our own moms."
The young entrepreneur had a vision in 2014 to bring computer service, specifically in-home support and service, to your door. The business started in the spare room of his house. He had help his second year from the local Starter Company Program to develop his business plan and establish clientele. Business grew. By 2016, William received the Ben Tekamp Memorial Award, which recognizes new or reinvented businesses meeting the changing needs of Leeds and Grenville.
Fast forward to 2017, William now has a storefront operation employing three people. Services include in-store computer clean-up and repair, back-up and maintenance, computer sales, group training and the still popular "to your door" help. TechTutors also offers Protech, a customizable monthly service to help inform and protect families from harmful and inappropriate content on the Internet.
"I quickly saw the need to add services," William says of how his business has grown in just three short years. The coverage area has expanded as well. They travel west to Gananoque, east to Prescott and north to Athens, Toledo and Merrickville.
TechTutors has a five-star rating on their Google Plus Page and and a whopping 65% of their new business is through referrals. "People are happy to refer us to their family and friends," says William. "That is a total vote of confidence for us."
TechTutors' mission is to help people of all ages use their technology safely and stress free, from children to seniors. Recently they partnered with the Brockville Police to host an Inventors Wanted event for children and young people to come up with ideas of how to improve the community using their tech device or app.
There is also a focus on training - both online and at their location at 16 Central Avenue East. William offers a Tech Savvy Business course. You'll also find his online self-help and instructional TechTalks videos.
The largest part of their business is computer maintenance and clean-up. Along with that comes education and their Tech Tips. William and his team strive to work with people to have a better understanding and more enjoyable relationship with their computers and technology.
Learn more about this company by visiting their website, Facebook page, Instagram, email or call them at 613-498-8989. They're ready to help. |
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Top feature photo: TechTutors team members from left, in-house tech expert Tim Conrad, office manager Taylor Roddick, tech expert Jonathan Van Allen and owner William Thomson.
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Cheryl Brown, Managing Director of le Boat, outlines the company's plans to operate on the Rideau Canal.
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Rural revitalization enthusiast Peter Kenyon was the keynote speaker at the Teeny Tiny Summit in Merrickville.
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Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Development Advisor Karen Fischer outlined programs available for communities.
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Back-to-back presentations from le Boat
and Teeny Tiny Summit guest speakers
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MERRICKVILLE - le Boat Managing Director Cheryl Brown brought enthusiasm and information to a breakfast presentation at the Merrickville Community Centre on June 28th.
"To say we're excited to be coming to Canada would be an understatement. You (the Rideau Canal) have the best of everything," said Cheryl.
le Boat, Europe's largest operator of self-driving boating vacations, announced in May it is moving its North American base from Clearwater, Florida, to Smiths Falls and will begin operations on the Rideau Canal next spring. In just four weeks, tickets sales have reached 20%. There will be 16 boats the first year of operations.
The Teeny Tiny Summit focusing on the economic importance of small communities followed the breakfast. About 100 people from throughout Eastern Ontario attended to see the keynote address by Peter Kenyon, an energetic believer in small community reinvention. Peter talked about three small communities in his country Autralia and how community leaders turned their towns around by looking at their assets and historic potential with fresh eyes.
"People who care are the community's greatest asset," said Peter. "Leadership is the thing that wins battles." Those who have had a "charisma bypass" and the cynics aren't the ones to count on. Instead, the people of dying towns need to have a vision, be creative and then get the job done.
The Summit also featured ignite-style presentations on rural issues, including Rideau Lakes CAO Mike Dwyer speaking on water and wastewater services in small places, and Leeds and Thousand Islands Councillor Liz Huff, speaking on strategic planning and volunteers.
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Members of the Cenxi delegation joined Front of Yonge Mayor Roger Haley, second from left, Leeds and the Thousand Islands Mayor Joe Baptista, third from right, and Ann Weir, Leeds Grenville Economic Development Manager, second from right, at the site recognizing the 2009 Friendship Agreement. The delegation includes Yaohong Zhu, left, Teresa Huang and Hui Tao at centre, and Mei Gan, right.
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Relationships continue to grow with delegation from Cenxi, China
ROCKPORT - Front of Yonge Mayor Roger Haley continues to build upon the international relationships that were previously initiated in 2009 by the late Frank Kinsella, former Mayor of Leeds and the Thousand Islands. Teresa Huang, Vice-Chair of Guangxi, China Business Association, has become a good friend to this region and continues to introduce new business relationships. In coordination with Ann Weir, Economic Development Manager for Leeds Grenville, the group hosted the delegation from Cenxi County in Guangxi, China, on June 26-27. Hui Tao, Mei Gan and Yaohong Zhu focused their visit on the areas of tourism, agriculture and new business opportunities.
Carol Sudds, of Rockport Boat Line, hosted the delegation on their Canadian Signature Experience Cruise of the Palaces and Palisades. Prior to boarding, the group reconnected at the Friendship Agreement trees - red maple and ginkgo with Mayor Joe Baptista of Leeds and the Thousand Islands.
The day continued with stops at the Thousand Islands National Park, Skywood Eco Adventure Park and dinner at the Tall Ships South Coast Grille with all levels of government in attendance. The delegation continued their tour to one of the region's top companies - Burnbrae Farms and the Aquatarium. Their final stop in Leeds Grenville was to the region's UNESCO World Heritage Site the Rideau Canal. Mayor David Nash of Merrickville-Wolford shared some of the amazing history as guests watched the canal in operation.
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From left, Toledo's Matthew Garvin, Matthew Sparrow, Kate Ritchie and Evelina Salvador.
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Toledo entrepreneur in Summer Company
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TOLEDO - Matthew Garvin, of Garvin Carpentry and General Labour, is among four young people in the Summer Company Program in the North Leeds, Lanark and Smiths Falls area through the Small Business Advisory Centre.
Matthew will be providing onsite carpentry services, garden work and will also be selling handmade wooden products, including cutting boards, bird houses and lawn chairs. Also running businesses are Evelina Salvador of the online service Wing It Clothes, Matthew Sparrow, of MPS Web Services in the Smiths Falls area, and Kate Ritchie, of Ritchie's Lawncare in Carleton Place.
Learn more and get their contact information on our
Community Media Releases page. Learn more about the program on the Small Business Advisory Centre
website.
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King's Lock Craft Distillery awarded Bronze Medal
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JOHNSTOWN - Locally distilled 1000 Islands Moonshine has been awarded the Bronze Medal at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) 2017 in London England.
"We are thrilled that one of our spirits was honoured with such a prestigious award," said King's Lock co-owner Joe Kelly.
There were more than 1,700 entries from 70 countries at the premier event promoting quality spirits from around the globe. Learn more on our
Community Media Releases page.
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1000 Islands Moonshine recognized on the world stage.
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Know an Immigrant Entrepreneur to recognize?
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The St. Lawrence Rideau Immigration Partnership is seeking nominees for its third annual Immigrant Entrepreneur Award.
Deadline to nominate: September 15, 2017
Leeds Grenville is home to a large number of these individuals. Nominees must have been born outside of Canada, be an owner/operator of an active business and reside within Leeds Grenville and demonstrate characteristics of a successful entrepreneur. Learn more on our Workshops and Seminars page. Questions email Vivianne White, Project Co-ordinator, or call 613-498-2111, ext. 261.
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Accelerate to International Markets (AIM) two-day course in Kingston
If you are interested in exporting internationally, but aren't sure where to start, then Ontario Export Services will assist you. The AIM workshops will help set you up for successful exporting of your goods and services.
WHEN: August 22-23
WHERE: Delta Hotel Waterfront (Grandview Room), 1 Johnson Street, Kingston
COST: Free
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