Josh Hanson, the new president and CEO of Imagineering and Hoops, plans to help local businesses find their flow when it comes to digital technology. 

When Dave Hanson founded smart accounting company HOOPS in 1996, technology looked pretty different. Cellphones were primarily clunky flip phones, the internet was in its infancy, and portable CD players were all the rage. We won’t even mention floppy disks. Or disposable cameras.

But if there’s one thing Hanson does well, it’s adapting to the times. When he bought Imagineering in 2007, Hanson integrated his experience with accounting work with customer-based IT support to help locals streamline their businesses, while ensuring information and data security.

And his flexibility for the times is a skill he has passed down to his son, Josh, who now serves as the CEO and president of Imagineering during a time when virtual work dominates local business, and IT support is needed more than ever.

“Technology is constantly changing,” Josh Hanson said, “so we get to dabble with new things all the time.”

As local businesses turn to Zoom, Microsoft Teams, tablets, cellphones, laptops, and telework to manage day-to-day tasks, Imagineering helps ensure they are equipped with the right hardware, software, and security to make their operations successful. But Imagineering isn’t all about technology: It’s about relationships.

“A lot of times with IT support, you get a help desk,” Hanson said, “and we’ve never had one. When you work with us, you get a personal consultant assigned to you. That personal touch is how we’ve always done it.”

“A lot of times with IT support, you get a help desk, and we’ve never had one. When you work with us, you get a personal consultant assigned to you. That personal touch is how we’ve always done it.”

An Eau Claire native, Hanson and his team put emphasis on the community. Imagineering sponsors students at Chippewa Valley Technical College through scholarships in their technology program, sponsors kids at the YMCA for Camp Manitou, and recently began working with the Pablo Center at the Confluence to sponsor STEM education for local students. Keeping up with technology and keeping up with friends and neighbors allows Imagineering to support a prospering business community in Eau Claire and the Chippewa Valley.

“A lot of it is because Eau Claire is changing,” Hanson said. “We can offer the same things that you can get in a big city right here in Eau Claire. There’s no reason your business can’t run like a national company, even if you’re just two people in an office.”

As a fellow downtown business, Imagineering supports the prospering entrepreneurial scene in downtown Eau Claire by offering a wealth of resources for local businesses to ensure they are equipped with the best technology for their business.

When Hanson isn’t helping the community, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three sons outside, hiking, golfing, getting out on the lake, or going to Big Falls or Beaver Creek Reserve.

He looks forward to working with locals from any kind of business to ensure the success of local entrepreneurs and to keep them secure.

Learn more about Imagineering at imagineeringit.com.

TIPS FOR BUSINESS START-UPS

1. Get equipped.

Imagineering offers free on-site evaluations to see what technology businesses are equipped with and where to focus their efforts (and pocketbooks).

2. Ask questions.

Many businesses may not realize there are more streamlined ways of doing business or different resources to take advantage of. Imagineering can help businesses identify weak points and improve their business.

3.Stay secure.

Cyber attacks may seem like a big-city issue, but Hanson says phishing scams and hacking may be aimed at small businesses, too. Be prepared by getting educated on how to stay secure.

4. Train.

Make sure your colleagues, coworkers, and employees are aware of common technology issues and scams. Ensure everyone is on the same page when it comes to data security.

5. Keep it simple.

If you don’t understand complicated technological issues, don’t feel defeated! Imagineering is here to help you understand complex tech issues and make sure you aren’t leaving weak points in your business.

Imagineering

(715) 834-7712

611 S. Farwell St., Eau Claire

imagineeringit.com

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