GULF WAR VETERAN NOW BATTLES HARTFORD’S DIGITAL INTRUDERS

Hartford entrepreneur Mark Sakurada is an expert at providing outstanding support in stressful situations; after all, this is exactly the skill he honed as an Army paratrooper during the 1990s’ Gulf War.  Although he is no longer in the military, Sakurada still maintains a mission-critical attitude—but instead of the desert, his current battlefield is cyberspace.  Determined to protect Hartford’s computers from attacks by viruses, worms, Trojan horses, spyware, and other digital intruders, Sakurada has just opened a new Franchise with Geeks On Call®—the nation’s premier provider of on-site computer services.  Zipping throughout Hartford in sleek, retro-styled Chrysler PT Cruisers (affectionately dubbed “PC” Cruisers), he and his Geek technicians deliver a complete range of essential computer services and emergency care to homes and small-to-medium-sized businesses alike.   

 During his days in the Army, Sakurada never could have imagined that one day he would become a full-fledged computer geek.  Initially he thought his civilian career path would lead him into the field of accounting, and to that end he accepted a position in 1993 as a staff accountant.  In addition to his primary duties, he also served as a computer consultant and quickly discovered that he had a knack for all things high-tech.  This prompted him to change companies a few years later and accept a job as a lead consultant for a computer firm.  Over the next two years he gained valuable experience as he instigated rollouts, conducted systems integration, and provided hands-on project management. 

 In the late 1990s, Sakurada made the bold decision to launch his own high-tech business, and it only took him three years to turn it into a million-dollar venture.  Despite this rapid success, the budding entrepreneur within him yearned to do more in the information-technology (IT) industry.  An article on the Wall Street Journal’s website mentioning Geeks On Call® alerted him to the Franchise Opportunities available with the company, and immediately he knew that this would be an ideal way for him to blend his business prowess with his love of computers.  

 Geeks On Call® is the high-tech equivalent of a doctor who makes house calls.  Too often small businesses and residential customers lose substantial time and money while waiting for their computer problems to be fixed by a retail store that often keeps the computer for too long and charges an arm and a leg!  Refusing to tolerate this type of slow, unsatisfactory service, Geeks On Call® goes against the grain and brings help directly to the customer’s doorstep.  Everything the Geeks’ technicians need to complete their tasks is nestled inside their “PC” Cruisers that are emblazoned with the Geeks On Call® logo and toll-free phone number.

 Founded in 1999, Geeks On Call initially served the cities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Va, where it experienced immediate success.  Overwhelmed by the public’s hunger for dependable computer support, Geeks On Call realized the only way to satisfy its ballooning customer base was to franchise the company.  In early 2001 Geeks On Call® launched its first franchise, and now it has 237 Franchises operating in 14 states throughout America plus the District of Columbia.

Not only have the expedient, reliable services provided by Geeks On Call® found success with residential clients, but also with small-to-medium-sized businesses that simply cannot afford the enormous expense of hiring an IT staff.  Instead of paying exorbitant salaries to keep a full-fledged IT staff on hand, these companies simply can turn to Geeks On Call® on those occasions in which computer services are required.  Now everyone can have access to superior computer repairs, upgrades, troubleshooting, wired and wireless networking, personalized training, and custom-built PCs without emptying their wallets.

 Currently, Geeks On Call® offers service in the following states: Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.