With love and technology, iSupportU thrives

BOULDER – “What recession?”

Those are the words of Shaun Oshman, chief executive and founder of iSupportU, his five-year-old information technology company.

“A recession is a good time to start something when everyone else is stopping doing things,” he said. “And, I have never taken a business class. Ever.”

After a four-year teaching stint in New Zealand – “I went there for love. Why do we do anything?” – the New Jersey native landed in Boulder and bootstrapped his company from the back bedroom of his home.

iSU was financed with cash at hand. The practice continues today, which has served iSU well. Since 2011, the company has grown 123.42 percent. Revenues have jumped from $412,500 to $921,607, placing iSupportU fifth on BizWest’s Mercury 100 list of fastest-growing companies in Boulder and Broomfield counties for companies reporting more than $2 million in annual revenue.

All the numbers on iSupportU’s balance sheet are printed in black; there is no red ink.

Rewind to the New Zealand days: Oshman taught 8-year-olds and was amazed at their ability to absorb information, especially when technology was part of the learning mix. He also wore the IT administrator hat and helped his fellow teachers integrate technology into their classrooms. There, a love (“Why do we do anything?”) for teaching bloomed. That’s a love that continues at iSU.

Fast forward to today: Oshman and his staff are working with businesses to help them make the most out of technology. They have seen the nature of IT consulting change in terms of support. There is a lot of teaching and learning involved.

“It’s not just sitting in some back room and pressing buttons,” said Oshman. “We’re in the people business; we just happen to focus on technology.”

Oshman makes a point of hiring personable, excited and engaged people to join the iSU crew. It’s all about the attitude. Skills can be learned. Attitude is inherent within the individual. That’s not something that can be taught – it’s either there or it isn’t. Oshman would rather hire someone with no IT experience if he or she were a perfect fit for the iSU culture.

One recent hire, Shelia, came with a resume with no prior IT experience. It did, however, list a position with Chuck-E-Cheese’s, with the following job description: “Performed for parents and their children and choreographed routines.” And yes, she wore the mouse costume and danced at birthday parties. Shelia explained that somebody had to wear the costume and she was the one who usually did that – because somebody had to do it.

Bingo.

Shelia now is a key part of the iSU staff because she is willing to accept challenges and do whatever it takes to get the job done. Her can-do attitude reflects how everyone at iSU approaches their jobs.

It’s all about love. Love for technology, teaching and learning.

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