Hi, I’m Ilene. Writing this page all about me is the hardest thing about building this website. All the tech things are fun for me. It was fun picking out a domain name and setting up WordPress. I enjoy testing software applications. I installed all kinds of plugins, then uninstalled a bunch, and tried a few new ones.
I’ve been a part of the tech business for 30+ years. Starting out I wrote database programs in DOS and later on Windows. Then I became the person who fixed whatever was wrong with everyone’s computer at work. In between other things, I worked in product testing. I tested database programs, Wi-Fi adapters, networking software, and something called an Android smartphone. The first time I saw 2 computers connected together by a network, I was transfixed. I took certifications in Novell and Microsoft networking and became an IT Administrator. That led to testing Wi-Fi adapters, and eventually to technical support for Wi-Fi products. I’ve worked on every version of Windows, used the Internet before it was public, and love finding a way to solve a tech problem with the least effort.
I live in Portland, Oregon. It’s a beautiful place with amazing summers. There are vegan restaurants and even a vegan mini-mall with a grocery store. Mostly I like to cook at home but it’s easy to find vegan options anywhere in the city. I occasionally post recipes on my blog Vegan with Allergies.
The beach is my favorite place. I’ve been to 40 countries, cruised on 50+ cruises and I’ve been taking road trips to visit all 50 states and Canada. Last year I drove from Portland to California, Tahoe, Reno, Missoula, Kelowna, Spokane, and Boise. My travel is temporarily on hold during the pandemic.
After my first job learning to program, I started a business creating database programs for non-profits and small businesses. It didn’t last long. But I decided that when I was ready I would start another business helping people who have small businesses and need tech help. Throughout my career in the tech industry, I always thought about what else could I learn that would make my dream even better. I took apart laptops and put them back together. I always volunteered to test new technology. I learned what the biggest obstacles were for our customers. I built blogs, websites, and internal sites to share content. Now I’m ready to help you create a business from scratch.
And by the way, you’ll see lots of cat pictures because I’m a cat whisperer. Over the years, my husband and I adopted 8 cats. And a few more have adopted me. The cat that you see at the top of the page is Jet. He liked to sleep on my desk while I worked. Hershey enjoyed being part of conference calls and would meow directly into my microphone!
So why now? In 2017, my husband died. All of my plans seemed like they died too. Slowly, with a lot of help, I found that I still wanted to create a business helping others. This business is all about helping you build your business. You bring the passion and I’ll be your personal tech support and cheerleader.
Creating an online business means choosing software and hardware to support your business and make it successful. Wouldn’t it be great to have someone find the right technology for your business the first time? You could focus on creating the most amazing things that light you up instead of spending too much time searching for answers to your tech questions.
I want to make it easier for you to do what you want in your business and life. Usually, when you think of tech support you think about waiting too long, geek stuff you don’t understand, and feeling frustrated. I provide helpful, friendly, easy to understand answers to your tech questions.
If you want to learn more about what I’m doing or want some help with your new business, sign up for my newsletter. You can also set up a time on my calendar to talk.