In 2004…
Adam Smith decided that the Kitchener-Waterloo area was missing something: A friendly, reliable IT provider that put the customer’s needs first. My IT Guy was born.
Adam’s love for using his knowledge of computers to help others led him to grow his fledgling business into a recognized community name.
Despite the company growing rapidly, Adam has held true to the core values that drove him to start the business in the first place.
Building on Shared Values
Adam has recruited and inspired a dynamic team of individuals who firmly believe that our shared values and behaviours are instrumental to what makes us so effective:
- Inclusive Collaboration: Helping our teammates wherever we can, and being able to draw from our broad pool of collective experience, builds confidence and trust in what makes our amazing, diverse team so capable and effective. Teaching, learning, sharing, and coaching are ongoing.
- Integrity & Accountability: We owe each other and our clients better than “close enough”, so we strive to do things “the right way”. Of course, we also know that everyone makes mistakes, so practicing blameless problem-solving is key, and requires that we’re all respectful in how we engage with each other, and that we are open to accepting that we may not have all the answers, and must be open to new ideas or new ways of doing things.
- Growth Oriented: We believe every member of our team should be working to better themselves, incrementally, always. This might mean acknowledging our areas of improvement, taking action to address them, and stepping out of our comfort zones to take on new challenges.
- Considerate: We believe that everyone is deserving of thoughtful consideration, without judgement or defensiveness. If an issue arises, we listen, reflect, and respond constructively.
- Clear & Concise Communication: Ideas and instructions should always provide context and clarity, free of jargon, that’s easy for anyone to understand.
What made you get into this line of work?
I always had an interest in computers and helping people. I love teaching and answering questions, giving advice. I love learning new things especially about technology and sharing that knowledge with others.
I started out in small computer shops, then moved on to on-site service. I loved being able to work with people one-on-one and actually help them resolve the problem at hand. Instead of just diagnosing a computer, I was helping a person, and that’s important to me.
How long have you been working with computers?
I was fortunate to start my career as part of a high school co-op position in 1998, and continued working there as a part time employee well after the co-op term ended. I went on to two more small computer shops, and then an on-site service business, learning along the way what does and doesn’t work, as well as the importance of maintaining a strong reputation of good customer service and integrity.
What did you take away from those experiences?
Moving from the computer shops to on-site service gave me a real appreciation for the quality of relationships that can be built when you have the time to work with people and learn about their businesses and their needs. I also had the opportunity to work with a wide range of business, small to large, urban to rural. Some especially memorable moments were working with our Mennonite clients in the country: Driving down a long gravel driveway in the country, up to what appears to be a barn like any other, only to walk in and instead of seeing farm animals, finding an impressive wood mill, plastic extruder or machine shop. All of the various mills and machines being run by networks of computers. Truly a fascinating experience, and a great bunch of people to work with.
Tell me about your company.
I started My IT Guy in 2004 and it’s been growing consistently ever since. I started it knowing there was a great need for timely, friendly computer assistance. While I initially worked equally with home and business users alike, I’ve found my skills are needed most by small business, and we’ve since shifted our focus primarily to those small business. We continue to grow by building solid relationships through high-quality service with everyone we work with.
What are your qualifications?
I received 2 certifications from CompTIA: A+ and Network+. While I’m proud to hold both certifications, and they each validate a number of skills that are essential for anyone working in computer service, in working with other technicians and going through the hiring process, I can say for certain that no certification counts more than raw experience.
What else are you involved in?
I’ve been actively involved with 100 Men Who Give a Damn since its inaugural meeting in June 2015, and in July 2019 I partnered with the founder, William Wallace, to co-host our quarterly events.
I was nominated for the Greater K-W Chamber of Commerce’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, in 2011, 2012 and 2017, and for the Business of the Year Award (1-10 Employees) in 2016, 2017, and 2023. My involvement with the Chamber of Commerce began back in 2009, and I began volunteering on the Chamber Young Professionals committee in 2010. I served on the Board of Directors for the Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce from 2016-2022, serving as Chair from March 2020 to September 2022, and I continue to serve the Board as Past Chair.
As a networking group that’s focused on new and small businesses, the SBCN: Small Business Community Network has been an important connection for My IT Guy. I attended their monthly events for over a decade, and continue to support this organization as an event sponsor.
I was a top fundraiser for Prostate Cancer Awareness and Research as part of the Movember organization from 2009 to 2019, and for a number of years I participated in running races (5km to 10km) around Waterloo Region, which supported community organizations like United Way, KidsAbility Centre, Rotary Children’s Charities, Heartwood Place, Special Olympics K-W, and Grand River & St. Mary’s Hospital Foundations.
I have also enjoyed writing I.T. columns for Exchange Magazine. Below is a selection of past articles for Exchange Magazine:
Talk to us today. You’ll be glad you did!