Nelson Technology Partners started as After Hours Networking Solutions in the late 1990’s.

Michael was working for a large bio-technology company as a Senior Systems Administrator. Technology has always been in his blood and he’s always enjoyed working within the industry. His passion and drive within the world of technology led to attention from others outside of his day job. He was often asked to work on smaller projects for friends and family; and realizing that he could enjoy his hobby outside of work hours while earning some extra cash for his family, it didn’t take him long to set up an official production. The After Hours Networking Solutions business was born.

Michael already had experience providing custom solutions for clients as a professional within a corporate environment, but he also had experience on a smaller scale. Prior to setting up After Hours, he worked with a friend to build custom computers for friends of friends and family members. On the weekends, they’d drive to Raleigh and pick up parts, design custom-based machines and then deliver them to households with a generous warranty offer attached to the hardware and the service. This characteristic of providing custom solutions with care and generosity would follow Michael through the evolution of his business platform.

As Michael continued to build relationships with his clients, he saw a need for custom software solutions. This created an opportunity to allow for business growth as he started working with a talented local software writer in 2007. After Hours developed into Blue Technology Services as they worked together to provide a more holistic technology based solution. It was around this time that Michael left his day job to embrace whole-heartedly the path of small business ownership. He focused on the business strategy and day-to-day operations for Blue; and allowed his partner full reign of the administrative side of the company.  Soon the business grew in a new and unexpected area. Clients were contacting the company for personal computer issues. TechVets was created in 2009 order to provide a business-to-consumer solution.

Towards the end of 2010, Michael and his partner acknowledged that they had a difference of opinions regarding business growth and continued development. They chose to part ways, Michael taking the Blue client list and focusing on continued development; and his partner taking over the TechVets branch of the business.

With a new year ahead of him and a business in need of revitalization, he invested time considering the option of partnering with a local web development company. He saw the value in being able to offer his clients a full list full of technology goals that included hardware fixes and networking solutions, as well as online custom software and website development. They investigated the idea of a joint venture by creating Rock Your Technology, a campaign-based company bridging the gap between hardware based networking and Internet based development.

But after a few months, Michael realized that his vision and philosophy for creating custom technology-based solutions for his clients was a path he would have to trek on his own. Throughout 2011, Michael focused on getting back to the basics, embracing the fact that his knowledge and his passion had been what fueled him to scale each plateau of the business. His bottom line philosophy of providing the best possible solution for each client with a generous spirit – which never changed – gave him the confidence to move forward, once again, to create this final company platform: Nelson Technology Partners.

Michael recognized that hiring the right people to help him succeed in obtaining his business goals was the right step in making sure that his philosophy would have the chance to positively impact the local community.

He says that 2011 was the hardest year yet. He had to take his head out of the sand and realize what it really takes to run this business. But he loves it completely and doesn’t want to do anything else. He enjoys being able to earn a living by engaging in his hobby. He loves providing small businesses with the suggestions and recommendations they need to improve their use of technology in order to expand their business impact.

He looks forward to continued business growth and engaging within the local community to provide a positive influence.