Intelligent Choice Computers
Nova Scotia discount pcs

Jamie Hirtle, co-owner

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In the late '80s in high school, Jamie got hooked on computers. His first - a Commodore 64, had 64 kb of memory, no hard drive. "I spent $350 on a floppy drive. There was no such thing as a mouse. I hooked it up to a black and white tv for quite awhile. There were times I could use it - between General Hospital and the news, something like that."

After graduating, Jamie attended community college in Bridgewater for two years earning a diploma in electronics. "A big part of the course was building computers," he says. "And I learned a lot on my own time. It was just as the Internet was taking shape. The government invested in the Information Highway as it was called."

"Today, they're pretty much like an appliance in the house. You can't go without a computer if you have kids."

Nathan Herritt, co-owner & manager

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In the summer of '05, Nathan Herritt joined Intelligent Choice Computers. He was glad to be home. By early fall of '07, he was ICC's co-owner.

"I'd gone away for five years," he says. "I was working in Halifax. As soon as I found out my wife Laura was pregnant, I looked for work down here. Lunenburg County is a good place to raise kids."

It was a good move for ICC as well. Although most in the field chose one specialty, Nathan has two computer diplomas - as an information systems administrator and a business application specialist.

In Halifax, he built up to 30 computers a day. "All day pumping out computers," he says with a ready smile. "I like ripping the guts out of them. I like being able to use them too. I'm not going to lie to ya, they do get on your nerves at times."

An easy guy to trust, Nathan is a proven salesman. "I won't argue with someone," he says. "But I won't lead them astray. We're truthful. We tell you the best way to do something instead of wasting your money. We do it right the first time.

In 2006, Microsoft Canada invited Nathan to be on their 20-or-so-member Advisory Panel - as the only Atlantic Canada representative. They get together for a lengthy conference call every three or so weeks. "We discuss critical microsoft-related issues," he says. "It's interesting - keeps me ahead of the game. "

Lately, the self-confessed sports junky doesn't have much time for athletics, but it's all for a good cause. "I'm huge into my family," says the father of two. There's that smile again.

David Beaman

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David Beaman works to serve ICC customers and give a hand at the busy computer shop wherever he can.

He grew up in Shubenacadie, then in 1999, moved to Halifax. Six years later, tired of the city, he headed down the shore to Bridgewater.

His first computer was a Commodore 64. "It was very exciting. By the time I had everything it cost $2,000. I learned quite a bit from it programming in the basic language."

In his spare time he enjoys movies, music, walking the local trails. He has a dog - a cross Valley Bull Dog and Cocker Spaniel, a trio of cats and an aquarium full of fish.

Shelley Veinot

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Shelley Veinot, an A+ Certified Computer Technician , is delighted to live in Lunenburg County. The 'army brat' is no stranger to settling in to a new home, but for 20 years she lived in Winnipeg, most of the time working for the Royal bank. For the first 10 years, she took on administrative duties. For the last seven, she provided technical problem-solving and hardware installation.

Self-taught for the most part, she took a couple of courses then went for her A+ certification. As a high school student, no one expected Shelley to take a technical path. "I took computer programming," she says. "It was the only course I dropped."

With a surname of Veinot, it'no surprise her parents are from the area. Four years ago Shelley came down for a vacation and fell in love with Lunenburg County.

"I don't miss the rush-rush life," she says. "The pace is different, people are different. It's changed me a lot . . . I'm happy here."

Evan Newton
Senior Service Technician

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Evan Newton gets a kick out of trouble-shooting his way to a diagnosis of, and solution to, a problem. "With a computer," he notes, "it can be anything wrong, the same thing can have 50 different causes." Thinking his way to the fix - that's the name of Evan's game.

When he graduated from high school at Park View Education Centre, he had already known for years he was heading for a career in computers. "My parents bought their first computer, a machine running Windows 3.5, I was six years old. I had to fix it for them often - re-installing software from floppies.

"When I got older, technology evolved - it became more interesting. I do it every day at home - I might as well get paid to do it."

Since his Park View years, Evan's been one busy guy. He spent a year at CompuCollege then graduated as an information systems administrator. In 2005, he was accredited as an A+ Certified Computer Technician. Next came certification by Microsoft for Windows 2000 Server and Novell for network security.

In his spare time, Evan enjoys computer games including Flat Out 2, SWAT 4 and Crimson Skies.

Derek Hatt

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Derek Hatt, an A+ technician, comes to ICC's service department with a full kit of expertise and experience. He's been working in the field 15 years. His background includes a two year diploma in electronics from Nova Scotia Community College. "My uncle had a shop in Mahone Bay," he notes.

After grad, Derek worked in computer repair part time before signing on for a one year diploma at CompuCollege. "Adding to what I already knew." The Micro Computer Electronic Technology course took in repairs, sales and service.

Derek has worked in the area for years and is pleased to be on the ICC team. Although he's in the service department, he says, "I'm quite used to sales. I'll do whatever I need to do."

In his off-times he enjoys the cottage and camping with his family, trail-riding on his ATV and playing golf with his mother-in-law Janet Mason. "We do the annual hospital fundraiser," he says, smiling.

Shayna Kenney

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Shayna Kenney is delighted to be working at ICC. "I love it," she says with typical enthusiasm. "I get such satisfaction to be able to help people." She gets a real kick out of interpreting customers' non-technical words such as 'thingamajiggy.'

"I used to speak that language," she notes with a ready smile.

Shayna is also excited about her acceptance at Nova Scotia Community College for a two-year course - at the end of which she'll be an Electronic Engineering Technician.

"I have every intention," she says, "to stay on here while I'm attending NSCC."

Laura Herritt

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As the manager's assistant, Laura works part-time at ICC and from home. At the King Street store, she helps with retail.

As well, she looks after scheduling, time-off requests and call-backs regarding service and sales.

"I make sure all is well," Laura says. "I haven't had a complaint yet. Some are really surprised - they didn't expect a call. Jamie [Hirtle] really wants us to follow-up. To let people know we care."

Shauna Swallow

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In 1994, Shauna Swallow graduated from St. Mary's University with a Bachelor of Commerce. "I knew I wanted to be in the business world," she recalls.

Today, she enjoys working behind-the-scenes as the administrator-overseer for Intelligent Choice Computers.

Shauna admits to having a "love-hate" relationship with her own computer. "It's gone haywire a few times - thank God I know people who work in the business."

As for her trusty calculator, that's another story. "My calculator is like my Blackberry. I like problem solving."

Shauna works part time for ICC and she's a full time mom with two young children. Understandably, she's busy. "I really like to go to the gym," she says. On the other hand, finding the time these days is proving to be a special challenge for this stay-at-home problem-solver.

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