Joey Courtney has one thing going for her that a lot of IT professionals don’t. She makes house calls. Or business calls, as the case may be. She wouldn’t have it any other way. As the owner (and sole employee) of Tech Force IT Solutions LLC, she takes her considerable experience and skills wherever they are needed. It could be in someone’s living room or home office, on the sales floor of a large retailer, in the branch office of a major corporation, or anywhere in between.

Tech Force IT Solutions LLC has been offering this distinct level of service and face-to-face expertise since 2013. Services currently include repair of computers, laptops, tablets, printers, POS (point-of-sale) systems, and gaming systems. Courtney can diagnose and repair out-of-warranty TVs, set up home theater systems, design and install basic networking, change passwords, set up wireless security cameras, upgrade software, and remove viruses. She will even conduct one-on-one, in-person training on specific hardware and software.

“Just about the only thing I don’t do is repair cell phones,” she said.

Before starting a technology services company, Courtney learned by doing at another, smaller tech operation. But until that point, she had only worked in clerical positions since graduating from college.

“I wasn’t going anywhere fast,” Courtney said. “I didn’t feel like there was any purpose in it.”

So she made a change. After more than 10 years, she now has regular client work throughout Tazewell, Woodford, and Peoria counties, and beyond.

“I enjoy the work I am doing now. I like the variety and I like meeting new people,” Courtney said. “It’s more challenging and educational.”

Courtney describes herself as “persistent and persevering.” Single-handedly starting and growing a small business for a decade is evidence that she is not exaggerating. Her success encountered a big hurdle in October 2021 when she was diagnosed with cancer. She battled through chemotherapy and multiple surgeries, and has emerged with a changed perspective on work and life.

“I’m running on both feet now,” she said. “Trying to do as much as I can with the time I have.” Much of Courtney’s work comes from online platforms for freelance IT professionals such as Field Nation (fieldnation.com) and WorkMarket (workmarket.com). She intentionally chooses projects in the region, working out of her home in Pekin.

“I don’t have a storefront,” said Courtney. “Most of my work is done at peoples’ residences or a business location. I come to them.”

Courtney wants to continue growing her business, even to the point where she could get back to having employees. She is currently enrolled in the Pekin Chamber of Commerce’s SmartStart program, a 12-week hands-on course offering tools, strategies, and expert support to take her business to the next level.

“I’ve been in business for a while and I just want to see how I can grow even more and make sure I’m doing things the right way,” she said.

A new service she hopes to begin offering early next year is in-person training for groups of seniors 50 and older. This will be beyond the basics of how to turn a computer on or program a smart TV remote. She hopes to empower seniors to use technology to improve their quality of life without being a burden on others.

“Everything is going digital — Social Security, health care, the DMV,” Courtney said. “I want to be able to teach them how to get around in these platforms, schedule appointments, and feel safe and secure doing it.”

Technology can sometimes be cold and uncompromising, but the professionals helping others use it don’t have to be. “I like to help people,” Courtney concluded. “I like to be empathetic with people and caring and honest and dependable.”

Learn more about Tech Force IT Solutions LLC at www.techforceitsolutions.com, call (309) 349-5344, or stay up-to-date on service specials and new offerings on Facebook and LinkedIn.