BRICK – Dan Carroll is a born entrepreneur.
“I started mowing our neighbors’ gardens and also ran a lemonade stand on the top corner of the street where I grew up, ”Carroll said. “At school, we had fundraisers and I sold cookies with the goal of being the number one seller, first of all. For me, it was all about putting something out there that was available to everyone and had interest. “They bought it and it worked for them. If I got something in return for all my hard work, I feel like I made something happen for myself.”
That’s what he developed at Monmouth Computer Associates, his business that provides technology support for business and individual consumers.
“People need help,” Carroll said. “There are a lot of people out there who are unfamiliar with technology and we provide that help and peace of mind for individuals who need guidance to keep their devices and the technology that goes with them working.”
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Carroll’s interest in computers is far from what he can remember.
“Ever since I was little, I started to be attracted to computers and technology,” Carroll said. “I was amazed at the way the wires worked and I started separating things and putting them back on. I remember when I got my first computer. I disassembled it and reassembled it. I just knew how to do it. connecting everything and making it work.I love the mechanic part and the electronics part.Just watching everything work in the end really makes me happy and I continue to progress with it as I get older.
‘Something inside my mind just clicked’
Carroll became the go-to guy in his high school for electronics. He developed a reputation for counting computers and he used this experience.
“I fix computers and show people how they work,” Carroll said. “I can look inside the computer and understand how everything works. Something clicked in my mind. Once I see the computer running or the software running successfully, I love it and it makes me happy to see how I can make it all work correctly.
“I always have something going on in the back of my brain that I’m interested in seeing how it all comes together,” Carroll said. “I think that happens to everyone, how they figure out a puzzle like that. It’s my puzzle and I like to always solve the equation. It was a relentless challenge and I always accepted it. ”
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Carroll helps people with computers as a side rush while pursuing an associate’s degree in business from Brookdale Community College in Middletown.
“I worked on computers for residents and businesses while in school, even before I started at Monmouth Computer Associates,” Carroll said. “I really enjoyed my time in Brookdale because I love the business major. It fits in with my computer gig. It taught me how to market myself and keep track of my financial records in my business.
“There’s always something to do in the technical world,” Carroll said. “There are different things you have to deal with when perfecting the art of technology. People come to me as an expert for their businesses and homes. They want to take advantage of what’s out there and what they can use. There are a lot of things you need to keep up and understand. That’s how fast and efficient technology is. “
Upon graduation, Carroll knew he had the skills to develop his own full-time business.
“I know I really like this business,” Carroll said. “I know the ins and outs of computers and I have a lot of experience at this point in my life, so it makes sense to do something big on what I really want. It’s a brainless one. . ”
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‘Noticed by word of mouth’
So in 2004, he started Monmouth Computer Associates in Belmar. (He has since moved to Brick in Ocean County, but retains the established name.)
“I love working on computers and I also enjoy helping people,” Carroll said. “It’s interesting and fun for me and the people who need the service. I feel like it’s something like I’ve never done in my life. I’m getting busier and doing this full-time business.
“After actually racking up my customers and getting my name out there, I noticed more word of mouth,” Carroll said. “One day, you help someone or a business, and a co -worker or business hears about you and asks to ask for the same service to be done. That, over the years, is how the business has grown. ”
Carroll and his staff of seven provide information technology (IT) support for anything involving computers, as well as other forms of technology to businesses and residential customers.
“With residential customers, we provide support for any home device and the technology that comes with it,” Carroll said. “That includes anything in-house that is technology-related. For businesses, we provide 24-hour support for local businesses. We focus on businesses with anywhere from 10 to 50 employees.We make sure everyone is safe for them and they are protected from hackers or anything potentially dangerous in the world of technology.
COVID-19 has affected many businesses in different ways and Monmouth Computer Associates is no stranger to making changes.
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“We allow our employees to work remotely,” Carroll said. “With the effects of COVID-19, nothing needs more remote work like they do now. We can access people’s computers and devices from one location and still perform the services they it is necessary to feel like we are physically working on their devices.It is a lifesaver and really gives us the flexibility we need to accomplish the same tasks and still be successful in helping people and businesses.
Carroll wants his team to be big players in the industry.
“We want to be a go -to for businesses and residents,” Carroll said. “We’ve been established so far, but we want to be bigger and more famous as we continue to serve our customers. That’s the plan and we’ll continue with it.”
Monmouth Computer Associates
Owner: Dan Carroll
Location: 308 Drum Point Road, Brick
Phone: 732-681-2360
Website: www.monmouthcomputer.com
Hours: Days of the week 7 am to 9 pm
