Exploring Life & Business with Burton Kelso of Integral

Today we’d like to introduce you to Burton Kelso

Burton, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Burton Kelso and I am the owner and Chief Technology Expert at Integral, an on-site and remote computer repair, IT Support Managed Services company. For 31 years, my company has helped consumers and businesses across the Kansas City Metro Area and beyond solve the mysteries of technology and helped them thrive in this complex digital world. I am a 2x TEDx Keynote Speaker and Expert on Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Social Media Marketing, and have presented at events in-person and virtually all across the planet. I also am a TV & Radio technology segment contributor who has been featured locally on FOX4, KSHB 41 Action New, KMBC Radio, KMBC 9, and KCTV 5 sharing tech tips and tricks to help the viewers and listeners of those stations as well as a tech expert on CBS News, Newsmax, NewsNation, TalkTV, WION, and other around the world.

​When I’m overseeing the team at Integral, I’ve created a YouTube channel with over 1,000 videos of computer and technology tips called “Tech Tips for Non-Tech People” I also created a weekly blog and Podcast of the same name.

Even though I can have a larger-than-life personality, at my core I have always been very introverted and quiet … even shy if you can believe it. I wasn’t the most popular kid at school or the most athletic. In fact, in my youth I was longing to be accepted, but a lot of the time I was verbally bullied because of my short stature and my “bucked teeth”. I also suffered from asthma and allergies, but for the most part I carried a spark of opptimizim.My love for technology began when I was 11 in the early stages of the personal computer age. Like most kids, I had a huge interest in video games, but my mother saw them as a waste of time and decided to enroll me in a computer class that was being hosted at a local youth program. The computer lab was filled with Apple IIe desktop computer and The focus of the program was to introduce kids to computers and prepare them for a world where computers dominate homes and businesses. Even though my first experience was playing “Oregon Trail” on that awesome machine, I was hooked!

Let’s fast forward a few years after I struggled to find out what I wanted to do when I grew up. I decided that my computer hobby of writing computer programs and building custom gaming computers needed to morph into something that could generate an income. Part of the experiences that I experienced as a young adult included me getting fired from just about every place I worked. So at the age of 23 I started Integral. At first the business was focused on computer training but eventually transformed into upgrading and repairing computers and technology. Over 31 years have passed and I have to say that I am happy to have helped thousands of people conquer their technology challenges. My company Integral has won several “Best of’ awards as well as contributed to many events to help individuals and businesses get more from the technology they use in their lives.

When I’m not fixing technology and appearing on TV or at conferences, I love spending time with my beautiful and intelligent wife Martha and my equally gifted sons Christian and Caleb. We love to travel the country visiting new destinations and indulging in the local lifestyle and good. I like to also devote a large percentage of my time to philanthropic causes in entrepreneurship and tech.

​Overall my main purpose in life is to share my insights and experiences with people who want to get more from technology in their lives. After all, we’re never too old or too experienced to learn, especially with us living in an era when technology changes constantly.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like many entrepreneurs, my journey hasn’t been a straight line to success. Some times felt incredibly rocky. Early on, I faced challenges connecting with the customers I wanted to connect with. Many of the people I wanted to reach were solo and small businesses as well as home users. In the days before the internet as we know it, it required a combination of sending out snail mail marketing (which was very costly) and attending a lot of in person networking events. There was and still is a challenge of navigating the complex world of technology and figuring out what the current trends were and establishing resources to turn to when I got stumped with technology failures. Before Google, I had to rely on my gut instinct with solutions to the problems people face. There were also periods of intense self-doubt, wondering if I had interacted with a customer in the proper manner of if I made the right recommendation as far as software and hardware. Of course when big box stores started to realize that IT support could be a lucrative business, I had to manage the identity and branding of Integral to help the company stay relevant in this digital age. Ultimately, I had to learn to embrace failure as a learning opportunity, adapt quickly to changing conditions, and manage the emotional rollercoaster that comes with building something from the ground up. Those early struggles, while tough, were instrumental in shaping my resilience and problem-solving skills, and ultimately contributed to the successes I’ve achieved.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Located in Kansas City, my company Integral has offered on-site and remote Computer repair and IT-managed support services since 1993. Our top priority has always been the customer. We love technology, but we love working with people even more. We offer IT support for home and business users, students, and seniors. We support Windows, Macintosh, smartphones, tablets, printers, servers, smart homes, and everything else that hums, beeps, clicks, and connects to the Internet. We understand how stressful broken technology can be and we’re here to help! Our tech experts are on standby ready to solve all your I.T. and computer issues.

What we do
I created Integral because as the computer and its related devices become increasingly part of our everyday lives,I wanted people to have a resource they could turn to help them get the most out of their gadgets with people-focused computer repair services and IT support. Our vision is to remove the frustrations and complexity of technology and open our customers up to a world of new ideas, experiences, and opportunities. We love all technology, we’ve read all the manuals and we’re serious about making technology fun, safe, and easy to use for everyone!

What sets us apart from others?
We accept our customers’ problems and goals as our own while we are working together; we care about our customers’ successes and struggles, even when we are not working together; we recognize and respect the accountabilities and responsibilities taken on each day by our customers, many of whom are owner-operators like we are.

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We care about our families and friends, and the families and friends of our customers and network of entrepreneurs. We value life goals at least as much as we value financial goals. We are driven when we work, but we are not driven solely by our work.

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We place the highest regard on the relationships we develop with our customers; we respect them and listen to their concerns and needs; we strive to earn their respect and mutual friendship.

As you can see, we have your best interest at heart and we have a real eagerness and desire to help you. We want you to be our customer for life.

​My vision is to remove the frustrations and complexity of technology and open our customers up to a world of new ideas, experiences, and opportunities. I love technology, we’ve read all the manuals and we’re serious about making technology fun, safe, and easy to use for everyone!

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is any memory that involves my mother and I. She was unfortunately killed in a car accident on Thanksgiving 1990, so she never got to experience me as an adult. I remember my mother with a bittersweet ache in my heart. She was my whole world, my best friend, and the only parent I ever knew. Growing up in a single-parent household meant it was just the two of us against the world. She filled our home with so much love and laughter. She was an excellent cook, a great mentor and was always willing to give to see the smile on other people’s faces. One moment she was there, and the next… she was gone. It felt like my world shattered. The holidays became a painful reminder of what I’d lost, but amidst the grief, I hold onto my precious childhood memories, the ones that painted a picture of a mother whose love was as boundless as her spirit.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.burtonkelso.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/burtonkelso
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/burtonkelso
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/burtonkelso
• Twitter: https://www.x.com/burtonkelso
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BurtonMKelso
• Other: https://www.callintegralnow.com