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* NAME: Phil Weaver * AGE: 55 * OCCUPATION: Owner and technician of Geeks, a computer service and maintenance business. * YEARS ON JOB: 2
TOM DORSEY / Salina Journal
Phil Weaver is proud to be a geek.
So much so, the Salina resident decided to name his computer service and maintenance business Geeks.
"I wanted a catchy name that people would remember," said Weaver, who operates the business from his home basement at 817 W. Ash. "I love it when people call me a computer geek. That's what I am. Besides, geeks know what they're doing. They're kind of weird sometimes, but they have a specific brand of intelligence."
Weaver's geekiness originated more than 30 years ago when he began working for Southwestern Bell in Salina as a cable-splicing technician. He moved into computer repair and maintenance six years ago when he transferred to Advanced Solutions, a SBC subsidiary, and became a DSL cable technician.
"When I began installing DSL high-speed Internet, I began to realize computers weren't that scary," Weaver said. "I started working on them in my spare time for friends and family, and then I started doing it full time after I retired."
College lights fire
A few years before retirement, Advanced Solutions paid Weaver's tuition for computer classes at Salina's Brown Mackie College, where he became certified in Microsoft Windows and learned more about computer networks. His college success inspired him to establish a part-time computer business.
"My first job was for one of my DSL customers, and I warned her that what I was doing was between her and me and wasn't part of my company," he said. "I took her computer and tinkered with it for months, upgrading and experimenting with it. It was then I realized I could really do this.
"But I never dreamed I'd make a living at it. The thought of being self-employed for the first time at age 50 was scary, but I really wanted to give it a try."
Weaver retired from SBC in 2004 to start a full-time business. It wasn't long before he found he was spending far more hours at his own business than he ever did working for someone else.
"Even though I keep my own schedule, I probably spend 55 or 60 hours a week working on computers, day and night," he said. "Only a geek would do that."
Weaver can service up to eight or nine computers at a time, cleaning them, fixing mechanical problems, installing virus protection and spyware systems, dealing with viruses, upgrading systems and networks and answering computer questions -- geeky or otherwise.
Since he doesn't have a walk-in shop, Weaver offers free pick-up and delivery for computers within a 60-mile radius of Salina, including Manhattan, Hutchinson, Herington and Beloit.
He doesn't have to do much advertising -- most of his business has been by word-of-mouth, which makes him believe he's doing something right.
"Word-of-mouth alone keeps me plenty busy, but I can always use more," he said. "I hate to turn down work, geek that I am."
* Reporter Gary Demuth can be reached at 822-1405, or by e-mail at sjgdemuth@sal journal.com .
How to reach Phil
* Phil Weaver of Geeks can be reached at 493-8391, 819-4361, or by e-mail at thegeekguy @swbell.net .
WORK
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* From the boardroom to the boiler room, any worker is eligible to be featured in Work Force. If you know of a worker who would be an interesting subject for this feature, call deputy editor Ben Wearing at 822-1421 or 1-800-827-6363, Ext. 113, or e-mail sjbwearing @saljournal.com.
TOM DORSEY / Salina Journal
* NAME: Phil Weaver * AGE: 55 * OCCUPATION: Owner and technician of Geeks, a computer service and maintenance business. * YEARS ON JOB: 2
CREDIT: Salina Journal
Copyright The Salina Journal Apr 9, 2006