Each week the Free Press profiles a local business that has used The Business Incubator Center services. The Incubator is a nonprofit organization that provides entrepreneurial assistance to new and expanding businesses in Mesa County.

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Tony Cabral works with computers but he doesn't like what the word “geek” implies.

That's because he wants computers to be understandable to everyone, not just technology wizards like himself.

Six months ago, Cabral took his 20 years of experience keeping corporations' computer systems going and launched his own information technology support and “public help desk” business geared toward the home user or small businesses.

“I want to be personal. I want to put technical terms in language you can understand,” Cabral said.

Based out of the Business Incubator Center on Orchard Mesa, Western Slope Technology offers a range of computer support services. Cabral said he can help with hardware, Internet, or system issues, install a complete network, and give advice and instruction on how to work Microsoft Word, or Publisher. He can fix a key on a keyboard, or answer simple questions like “how do you drag and drop” an item on your desktop?

Cabral helps clients in person or by remote connection — which requires a bootable computer and Internet access.

For phone consultations, clients log onto the WST website: www.colwst.com. Cabral gives clients a six-digit code which connects their computer screen to Cabral's computer. He shows the client how to do things on their own computer screen while talking them through it step-by-step over the phone.

Also, remotely from his office, Cabral can diagnose and fix certain problems like viruses.

Cabral graduated from a college in San Jose, with a degree in computer science in 1985. He went back to school for a technical degree in 1997, from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He worked for Sprint and Coastal Computers providing technical support for their computer systems before going to work for an energy corporation 11 years ago where he worked as a networking analyst and provided system support.

After he was laid off his energy job last April, Cabral decided it was time to leave the corporate world and “start something on my own.”

“It's the small businesses that makes the world go round,” Cabral said. “It's small businesses that keeps people going.”

He turned to The Business Incubator Center, the Grand Valley Center for Entrepreneurship, to learn how to open his own business.

Cabral first met with Incubator Marketing Manager Annalisa Pearson to learn what the Incubator had to offer — such as affordable rental space for shops or offices, business classes, monthly networking luncheons, and free business advice.

He enrolled in the Incubator's Leading Edge — an intensive 12-week course that teaches marketing, business planning, personnel management, inventory control and how to look at financial statements and develop cash-flow projections.

“There are guest speakers here all the time,” Cabral said.

That's how he met Sixnine Media, a web design company that created his web site and logo.

Another speaker, employment lawyer Michael Santos was “quite helpful,” Cabral said.

He also enjoyed last week's presentation on marketing by Shaunalee Wall of Cranium 360.

“The Incubator is well-connected,” Cabral said. “They've got great guest speakers.

“It's been quite a plus being here.”

Western Slope Technology computer system support can be reached at 256-8933, or t.cabral@colwst.co.

For more information visit www.colwst.com.

Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.