Mountain Geek Computers started as so many other ideas, when so many friends, family, and neighbors would call John over to fix their personal computers. The idea just grew from there after a wonderful relocation to an idealic mountain community.
John learned basic electronics in high school, then Advanced Electronics while in the U.S. Navy. John started working on computers in 1984, while still serving in the U.S. Navy. One day, the ship John served on received an IBM desktop computer and several floppy diskettes to replace the Supply Department’s old Microfiche reader. As the primary radio and teletype repairman, John was selected to be the new computer repairman.
Once John returned to the states, in 1985, he quickly found work as a computer and modem repairman as many small businesses used faster modems to link their offices together. Business grew as we helped upgrade computers by removing the second floppy drive (IBM PC) and installing a 20MB hard drive to make it an IBM XT. You might remember that many of the first small-office intranets consisted of passing around the old floppy diskette by hand, and telling jokes in the break-room. The main Accounting computer would have a modem, and the ability to connect to the “home office” and upload branch information to the home office server. This was how offices originally communicated with each other.
Computer business continued to grow as John serviced many military bases, building material centers, medical centers, Universities, and radio stations all over southeastern Virginia and northeastern
North Carolina . John repaired personal computers, computer terminals, printers, and servers.
As a career move, John took an overseas position headquartered in
Okinawa, Japan serving the Department of Defense Dependent Schools (the American schools on overseas military bases). John worked his way up to become the manager of a 4 person shop, that was responsible for 5000 computers located in 43 schools and offices on various military bases in Japan, Korea, Okinawa, and The Philippines for 5 years.
As “networking” became more sophisticated, the schools and businesses upgraded their networks and connected their computers together via coax cable attached to “T” connectors on the back of each computer. John returned to the
United States to learn more about Novell Networking. John’s employer transferred him to
Atlanta , where he worked at the CENTERS FOR DESEASE CONTROL (CDC). As he grew more knowledgeable, and contracts changed, John worked at MCI Headquarters, the CROWN PLAZA Hotel Headquarters,
TEXACO, Georgia Power, and the Southern Company. Networking changed as well, and migrated to the unshielded twisted pair (UTP) 8-wire network cables and even fiber optic links, using Microsoft networking.
As the world scrambled to get ready for “Y2k”, John was team leader for his company’s SOUTHERN COMPANY service team. They had 30 employees replace over 3000 computers at GEORGIA POWER, ALABAMA POWER, MISSISSIPPI POWER, GULF POWER, GEORGIA NUCLEAR, and Southern Company headquarters in 90 days, without disrupting power, service, or billing. Just as they were completing that project, the “flawed Pentium chip” was discovered. All new computers had to be revisited and tested. Once identified, the defective computers had to have their Pentium chip replaced, and all defective chips were returned to the manufacturer.
Once the Southern Company project was completed, John migrated over to the BELLSOUTH Technologies service contract. For one project, we installed and serviced Compaq computers and dial-up modems at Independent Check Cashing facilities, for Bellsouth customers that paid their bills in cash. John led, supervised, and provided technical support for the service team of 54 technicians responsible for the 24-hour response and repair of all facilities in the 9 states covered by Bellsouth. The team response, professionalism, and expertise contributed to our company winning the sales and maintenance service contracts for all the Bellsouth subsidiaries.
As DSL became more prevalent, and modem needs decreased, John transferred to "special projects" that included replacing all the computers at Texaco Headquarters, refineries, and pumping stations throughout the southeast. This was followed by a project to replace all computers at NEW YORK LIFE Insurance offices, nationwide. John was personally responsible for twenty six offices, in five southern states. He would travel to each site, and train, supervise, and lead a team of technicians to replace the older computers, transfer data, add new computers, and minimize business disruptions. John would also fill in for technicians on the BB&T service contract when help was needed. His last project was with the LEND-LEASE banking headquarters in
Atlanta . John was lead technician and responsible for two separate locations in the
Atlanta metro area.
Unfortunately, a near-fatal motorcycle accident severely disabled John and his wife for a year. But then, John's wife’s transfer to the Dahlonega area opened new opportunities for both of them.
While John was in the corporate business environment, John was required to annually test and re-certify for warranty service qualifications on IBM, DELL, COMPAQ, and HEWLETT-PACKARD computers. John has been learning, installing, repairing, networking, and helping computer customers for the past 23 years. John is also extremely familiar with GATEWAY Computers, E-MACHINES, SONY VAIO laptops, and LEADING EDGE computers. Most computer problems can be repaired, replaced, or solved within an hour. He will come to your business or home, service your computer there, collect payment, and be on his way. John looks forward to meeting you, and working to help solve you computer needs.
Throughout his career, and as the Atlanta area continues to grow, and more and more business workers become “tele-commuters” and “remote-users”, John has adapted to the residential repairs, home networks, and the frequent customer’s requests of, “while you are here, can you look at this?” to verify home computer problems, modem connectivity issues, home DSL connectivity, virus infections, annoying “pop-ups”, and unplugged or worn connector cables.
John Hutchison
770-355-1291
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