Family connection powers business

Company does computer repairs nationally

Dale Dombrowski/ViewFriendly Computers employee Janet Manning works on a PC at the business. Dale Dombrowski/ViewFrom left, Timothy Ward, his brothers Steve and Bryan, and father, Verlain, stand inside Friendly Computers, 6441 N. Durango Drive. Steve Ward started the family business out of his college dorm room in 1992. Advertisement

Family has always been a major component of Steve Ward's life. So has being industrious.

The Summerlin-area resident began a computer business out of his dorm room in 1992 at Brigham Young University.

The business got so busy that after he graduated in 1994 and returned to Las Vegas, he brought one of his brothers on board.

Then another.

And another.

Running out of brothers, he got his father involved, hired his teenage nephew, then turned to his sister to help out with customer service.

The company is Friendly Computers, aimed at providing quick, affordable and no-hassle computer repair services.

In 1998, it opened its first full-service retail store at 3145 N. Rainbow Blvd.

Since its beginning, it has reached the franchise level, and now has more than 140 affiliates across the country. But it seems that the family-centered business never forgot its roots.

Each of the four brothers brings his own personality to Friendly Computers, family members said.

Timothy, 38, they all agreed, is over-analytical and tends to take things personally. He also is the most creative one, so he deals with marketing.

Michael, 41, is super organized and expects others to be, as well. Michael's strength is customer service.

Bryan, 43, his brothers said, takes things too personally and trusts people too much. He deals with public relations and paperwork.

Steve, 45, admits to a short fuse -- like when he learned a couple of technicians were secretly doing freelance work on the weekend, despite their exclusivity contracts.

Put the brothers together and they work as a family, the common goal always in mind. It makes for a cohesive team, members of the family said.

"Everybody finds their own fit, and we pitch in and do whatever needs to be done," said Steve.

But when it comes to the final decisions, it's Steve's vote that counts most.

Two years ago, Bryan, who had his own company fixing printers and fax machines, incorporated it into the computer repair venture that Steve had grown from his dorm room.

All the brothers admit to being techies, acquiring new gadgets as things come on the market.

"At my house, it's one person and four computers," Michael said. "They're like toys. I love those toys."

Friendly Computers is now the largest on-site and retail computer repair chain in the country, Steve said.

He said its recent acquisition of Computer Renaissance better equipped Friendly Computers to offer new, refurbished and custom-built computers.

The business also entered into a partnership with Soldiers' Angels and Warrentech to provide voice activation software-enhanced laptop giveaways for soldiers who have lost limbs in the Iraq war.

"As soon as our kids grow up and come aboard, we're going to retire," Steve said.

For more information on the company, those who are interested can visit www.friendlycomputers.com or call (800) 656-3115.