Hidden Gems: Meet Burton Kelso of Integral

Today we’d like to introduce you to Burton Kelso.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in the Kansas City Area and was the product of a single-parent household and had a fairly uneventful childhood. I was exposed to and fell in love with all things electronic at a young age courtesy of my mother who saw computers and technology as a great career to get involved in. My world was turned upside down when my mother was killed in a car accident on Thanksgiving 1990. Upon her death, After getting fired from every job I worked at, I dropped out of college and focused more on computers. I started out self-taught and gained on-the-job experience learning from other generous technicians I knew while working for several big-box computer stores in the Kansas City Area which helped me become proficient in all things Windows, Macintosh, home and small business networking.

I began my entrepreneurial journey at the age of 23 with the founding of Integral, a technical support and PC repair company. I’ve grown from a one-man operation into a thriving business with thousands of unique customers across the metro area.. Now, 28 years later, I am focused on building the company into a nationwide provider of on-site tech support, remote computer repair, and other value-added technology services.

I don’t consider myself a geek. I’m a people person who likes to help people succeed in whatever dreams they want to achieve. My main goal is to provide efficient solutions to our customers so they can have ample time to focus on the things they love to do rather than worrying about why their technology doesn’t work properly.

My role as ‘Tech Expert means I get to speak and educate people all over the country. I also regularly appear as a guest tech expert on ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS on lifestyle shows across the country as well as Newsmax and News Nation Now offering viewers easy tips on technology, Internet lifestyle, and gadgets.

When I’m not working like to spend my time being quiet. Many people would be surprised to know that I’m a quiet individual who would rather spend time reading than being out and about. I’ve been married 16 years to my wonderful wife Martha and we have 12 and 13-year-old boys (yes Irish Twins). Free time also means family time.

We love to take road trips and fly across the country.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Entrepreneurship is never a smooth road and there have been many struggles along the way. You struggle with office staff, customers and just trying to juggle and have a good work/home balance. Technology moves very quickly, but even now it still surprises me how quickly it changes. This means I have to be dynamic in our business model. When I started, most people took their computers to brick-and-mortar shops. Now, providing onsite service as well as remote tech support is a major benefit to our customers who don’t want to haul their computers into a shop. Now, people are using smartphones and tablets for more of their day-to-day tech needs, so we’ve had to add mobile computing support to accommodate.

The best things I can recommend to current and budding business folks out there. Wherever you are in your journey, just do it, but manage your expectations. Most overnight success stories take at least 20 years. Always remember, you are the only thing that is holding back the growth of your business. Whatever business you are in, remember to provide value to your customers outside of delivering a product/service. Always share things with them that will help them along the road of the journey they are taking. It’s easier to maintain 1 customer rather than to continue to search for new ones.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Integral was founded in May of 1993. We are a Kansas City Metro Area-based company that provides comprehensive on-site and remote tech support for home users and businesses using Windows, Macintosh, laptops, and desktops as well as Apple/Android smartphones and tablets. They also work on printers, routers, smart home devices, and everything else that hums beeps, or clicks.

We are a completely mobile and onsite computer repair company, which means that we do not have a brick-and-mortar location. We will meet our customers at their homes or office or remotely over the Internet.

As the computer and its related gadgets become more and more part of our everyday lives, Integral is here to help you get the most out of the devices you play and work with every day. 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 technology, we, ve read all of the manuals and we’re serious about making tech devices fun, safe and simple for you!

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
As an only child, I’m aware of the reputation that precedes me. Spoiled and selfish, and antisocial are just a few adjectives usually associated with being an only child. As they say, you can’t miss what you never had, so I never missed having siblings. I was a shy and awkward child who preferred to be alone reading or making up new adventures with the Star Wars or Batman action figures I had. I had a wide variety of interests that ranged from playing sports with the neighborhood kids to being glued to a book. I guess I was raised to be well-rounded.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.callintegralnow.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/callintegralnow
• Facebook: facebook.com/callintegralnow.com
• Twitter: twitter.com/callintegralnow.com
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgwKhLkC-X5BTMFBil98OSg
• Yelp: https://biz.yelp.com/home/mQT1ewKDpqAuQO6nlWVmww/