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Category: In The Spotlight

Award-Winning Family-Owned Business-Computerease Business IT Solutions

Award-Winning Family-Owned Business-Computerease Business IT Solutions

From left to right, Kate Haislar (daughter of Ryan and Jennifer); Jennifer Haislar (wife of Ryan); Trisha Haislar (seated, mother of Ryan); the late Dennis (Ike) Haislar (photo, father of Ryan and founder of the company; Ryan Haislar; and Sarah Haislar (daughter of Ryan and Jennifer). Computerease Business IT Solutions has been helping businesses with their technology needs since the days when the Commodore 64 was considered cutting-edge. A proud, second-generation family-owned business, Computerease has built its reputation on evolving with technology while never losing sight of what matters most: people and relationships. Founded in 1984 by Dennis (Ike) Haislar after a colorful career as a rock band promoter, Computerease started small — but with a big vision. Ike saw the future of computers long before most small businesses did. What began as a bold entrepreneurial leap became a family legacy. Today, Ike’s son, Ryan Haislar, leads Computerease as CEO — continuing the company’s commitment to helping businesses navigate technology with confidence. Ryan grew up in the business, spending afternoons at his dad’s office before officially joining the company at 16. Now, as a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Ryan has expanded Computerease’s expertise into cybersecurity — helping small and midsize businesses stay protected in a world of rising cyber threats. Under Ryan’s leadership, Computerease offers much more than IT support. The company provides proactive cybersecurity solutions, security awareness training, managed IT services, and consulting designed to give business owners peace of mind — knowing their data, employees, and future are secure. “Our family story is what built this business,” says Ryan. “But our drive to stay ahead of threats and technology is what keeps it strong today. We’re not just supporting computers anymore — we’re protecting companies.” In 2023, Computerease was honored to receive a Family-Owned Business Award from St. Louis Small Business Monthly — recognizing not just their longevity, but their commitment to service, integrity, and evolving expertise. Ike would be proud to see how far Computerease has come from those early days of floppy disks and CRT monitors. And Ryan, along with his team, remains committed to building on that legacy — helping businesses in Illinois, Missouri, and beyond thrive in a digital world.

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George Foreman Gets Grilled On Business & Sales

George Foreman Gets Grilled On Business & Sales

I’m glad I met George Foreman at an industry conference instead of inside a boxing ring. His formidable size and strength are obvious despite being 72 years old. He’s not only a world class boxer, but also a preacher, and an internationally successful business owner and salesman. He might even be more famous for his grill than for his boxing career. He shared his life story and was “grilled” for business and sales tips by eager entrepreneurs hoping to learn from his massive success. Principles Are The Foundation Foreman started off by sharing that his childhood was rough. He grew up as one of seven children outside of Houston, TX and in his teens, he fell into a life of crime. After dropping out of school at 15, he became a thief and mugger. He recounted the moment when he changed his life path. He was hiding underneath an abandoned house trying to evade police and their dogs when he decided, “I’m not going to be a thief anymore.” This change of heart lead him to join the JobCorp where he found people that introduced him to boxing. Foreman shared with the audience, “Without your principles, you’re nothing.” Adapt To Stay In The Game Foreman had two separate boxing careers, separated by 28 years. Between 1969-1977, he won an Olympic gold medal in the heavyweight division, turned professional and won the world heavyweight title twice. He lost the title to Muhammad Ali in 1974 and retired shortly thereafter. In 1994 at the age of 45 he came out of retirement to win multiple heavyweight championship titles. He is the oldest boxer ever to win the world heavyweight boxing championship. Foreman’s final record includes 5 losses and 76 wins. In between his two successful stints in boxing, Foreman was called to become a Christian minister after experiencing a religious epiphany. He founded a youth center and served his community and people with great passion. Through this experience, Foreman learned how to connect and engage with people. These skills served as the foundation for building a thriving business. Transitioning To International Business Success After retiring from his 2nd boxing career at 46, Foreman found himself needing to make money. He received some endorsement deals, but he was on the search for his next adventure in his journey. Instead of simply endorsing a product, Foreman knew that selling his own product would be much more lucrative. Foreman knew he found the right product when his wife tested out an indoor kitchen grill that produced amazing food. The George Foreman grill was an instant success. It was a high-quality product, backed by Foreman’s sales ability and celebrity. Foreman shared with the audience, “People were buying the grill, but they were really buying me. I remember preaching on the street corner, desperately trying to get people’s attention to listen to my message. At first, they ignored me, but then I learned how to grab their attention and keeping it. That was the best sales training ever!” I personally found George Foreman’s story inspiring and motivating. He overcame so many challenges and continually reinvented himself, finding success in every venture. As a business owner of a 2nd generation family-owned business, I understand the struggle to adapt and remain relevant. It seems just as you figure one thing out, technology, business, and the world changes. It’s a constant challenge facing every entrepreneur. George Foreman is on the search for his next product and business idea, proving that the most successful business owners never stop adapting and growing.

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Business Lessons IT Mike Rowe

Business Lessons IT Mike Rowe

Finding Business Success with “Dirty Jobs” Star Mike Rowe I recently learned that Mike Rowe used to work for QVC, sang opera and was a TV news reporter before he found his success with the TV show Dirty Jobs.  Listening to him tell a story is just as interesting as watching him do the dirty jobs – and there is something to learn about business in his story too. Dirty Jobs was not a hit TV show overnight – it was while he was working as a news reporter for a TV show in San Francisco that his grandfather told him, “When will I ever see you do some real, honest work?”  The next day Mike set up an interview with a sewer repair worker because repairing a sewer is definitely, 100% honest work. Mike and his cameraman met the sewer worker on the street, then followed him into the underworld of San Francisco.  He began trying to do the traditional TV interview but there were constant interruptions from rats, cockroaches and the obvious contents of the sewer that were disgusting, smelly and that were literally flying everywhere! After a while Mike knew that the same old thing wasn’t working, so he simply began to work alongside his interviewee and have a conversation with a man who had dedicated his entire career to repairing one brick at a time in San Francisco’s sewers.    The day and the interview eventually ended and Mike and his cameraman got cleaned up, very thoroughly, and then Mike began to watch the footage of the day in the editing room.  The most powerful and compelling footage wasn’t the traditional interview – it was the hilarious footage of Mike’s reaction to a cockroach crawling into his mouth and the content of the conversation between Mike and the sewer repair worker that formed the story that made the final cut. When Mike pitched the story and showed the footage to his boss, he was promptly fired, but he knew he had something special, something interesting, something that his Grandfather would call “real and honest work.”   The following months and years involved Mike pitching his idea to feature everyday people, their jobs and their stories, to anyone and everyone who would talk to him. Over 30 meetings later, Mike met with the Discovery Channel team and the show Dirty Jobs was conceived.  The convoluted, crazy and meandering path that led Mike Rowe to his international success with Dirty Jobs drew on all of his varied work experiences, the advice of his grandfather and his own instincts for what would make a good story.  Mike found the recipe for success with creating a connection to people who do disgusting and/or difficult but necessary jobs by simply working alongside them and having a meaningful conversation. Since his hit TV show, Mike Rowe has started a podcast, he has founded a non-profit organization, MikeRoweWorks, and has gone on to do many other interesting things.  This is a far cry from selling things during the midnight shift at QVC, which is definitely an un-dirty job (see picture). Similarly, working as an IT professional can easily be classified as an un-dirty job.  I will never venture into a sewer or handle any of the other disgusting things featured on the Dirty Jobs TV show.  In fact, the audience would be completely bored watching a TV show about me working on my computer and meeting with clients. I will never be famous like Mike Rowe and I really don’t want to help someone repair a sewer. My passion is to work alongside my fellow business owners to help them make sense of how technology works for their business while also working to keep their data and hard-earned money safe.  At the end of the day I am successful when my clients are successful. What is your definition of success?

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Computerease Named To CRN’s 2021 MSP 500 List

Computerease Named To CRN’s 2021 MSP 500 List

Computerease Named To CRN’s 2021 MSP 500 List St. Louis, MO – March 17, 2021 Computerease, a 37-year-old family owned and operated IT company serving small and medium businesses in St. Louis, Chicago, and Central Illinois, was named to the 2021 Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list by CRN, a brand of the Channel Company, in the Pioneer 250 category. This prestigious list is announced annually of the North American IT solution providers that demonstrate innovative and client-centric IT managed services offerings. There are three divisions of the MSP 500 list including the MSP Pioneer 250 division. This category recognizes outstanding companies who are managed service providers, primarily focused on the SMB (small and medium business) markets. CRN recognized Computerease for the 2021 MSP 500 list due to their security focused dedication to their client’s success. Using cutting-edge security solutions combined with tried and true efficient IT systems, Computerease is able to offer small businesses all of the advantages of an in-house enterprise quality IT department on a small business budget. “Effective MSPs enable companies to focus on their core objectives while improving the quality and reliability of their cloud computing capabilities,” said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. “The solution providers on CRN’s 2021 MSP 500 list deserve recognition for their innovative and forward-thinking approaches to managed services, and the ability to optimize operational efficiencies and systems to maximize return on investments.” Computerease CEO Ryan Haislar, CISSP said, “Being a small business ourselves, we have faced the same challenges that our clients face every day. Because of our dedication to IT security, we also understand the enormous volume of threats facing our clients daily.  Our challenge is to bring our clients the security they need combined with the correct technology to drive efficiency and profitability for them. And, of course we want to bring all of those solutions to them along with responsive support when they need day to day technical help. Being named to the MSP 500 list validates all the hard work that our team puts in for our clients on a daily basis.” The MSP 500 list will be featured in the February 2021 issue of CRN and online at www.CRN.com/msp500

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