As Liberteks approaches its 20th Anniversary, I grateful for a recent article published in SBCA Community/Infusion, a national small business publication. Attached is a reprint of the article.
Liberteks.com celebrating 20 years in information technology
Liberteks.com President Larry Zimbler likes to ask people if they remember when the IBM PC was launched, and he relates stories about working with computer punch cards prior to the historic event.
In the time since that event – 1981 was the year of the PC launch -- Zimbler has witnessed firsthand virtually all of the major changes in the IT industry, innovations that have had a profound effect on businesses, consumers and our world today.
At the Liberteks store at 1648 Western Ave. in the Albany, NY suburb of Guilderland, Zimbler tosses about brand names and terminology that has he sold and repaired and worked on since the inception of the PC, including the Commodore 64, Atari, Apple II. AOL. Yahoo. Google. Windows 95, 98, Office, Win 7. MySpace, Facebook, Twitter. Dell & HP. iPod, iPhone, iPad. Blackberry, Droid … you get the idea.
To mark these years, Liberteks will celebrate its 20th anniversary in the technology business on Jan. 26, at the Guilderland store.
Working with technology since the mid-70s, Zimbler possesses an impressive 30+ year work history on the information technology industry, which includes a unique perspective on hardware, software and networks. He also provides a wide range of consulting, particularly in the areas of accounting, marketing and management , with the emphasis incorporating technology into business operations.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Zimbler attended New York City’s prestigious Stuyvesant High School, which specializes in science, mathematics and technology. Following high school he headed upstate University at Albany (SUNY), where he received dual bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics and Economics. Then, in what is unique for a technology professional, he then went on to receive a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, NY.
“I believe my business degrees have served me well in working to provide technology for small business,” Zimbler says. “I have frequently been called on to explain why technology is necessary in terms of profitability for businesses, so my academic background in business has been helpful in being something of technology evangelist for the business community.”
Zimbler has taken that role on seriously over the years, participating in a numerous business membership, development and support organizations. He has counseled various business owners and sponsored a wealth of internship opportunities.
In what has been his most ambitious effort to date, Zimbler created “smAlbany”, which is an annual small business expo and technology conference, now in its 6th years. According to Zimbler, the smAlbany name is a play on Albany’s relatively diminutive size and proximity in relation to New York City. The name is a further play on Albany’s nascent (but increasingly world renowned) nano technology research and development industry, as well as its burgeoning chip manufacturing industry at its ADM facility in nearby Malta, NY.
“We like to give the little guy (and girl) a fighting chance,“ Zimbler says. “We believe that if we equip our businesses with the technology – and it can be provided to them at an affordable price – they can take on the big competitors, the national chains, the big guys, and profitably navigate their businesses. smAlbany gives them the information they need.”
The sixth annual smAlbany event will be held Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, University of Albany.
In a similar vein, Zimbler passionately supports buying locally, and he is a backer of the Capital District Local First. Liberteks has been a member of the organization for a number of years and Zimbler continues to work with the organization’s members on cooperative efforts. He also provides support for the Regional Food Bank, local Humane Society groups and a variety of churches and synagogues in the area.
While Liberteks serves a large consumer audience, it continues to grow with business audiences whereby Liberteks provides a range of software, hardware and network services. Many business clients receive Managed Services from Liberteks which offers a wide range of comprehensive services, to provide customized service and support that is proactively monitored and managed on a 24/7 basis.
Updates are maintained on a regular service schedule, and consultation and instruction are provided to clients to achieve the highest level of productivity from the computer system. Managed services include desktop instant support (where repairs can be done remotely,) as well as security, back up and disaster recovery programs.
“We are confident we can get their systems working more productively, that we can make them more profitable. Businesses can operate more efficient and effective, which benefits both employees and owners,” Zimbler said.
Tags: Albany computer repair, Larry Zimbler, Liberteks, quality, small business, technology
