A local firm is bringing computer repair to the home and office.
Eric Ditman said he brought Fast-teks to the Chattanooga area in November of 2006 when he noticed that quality computer repair was a much-needed service in the local area.
He bought the local Fast-teks franchise after checking into the company and being impressed by its methods and its success.
Fast-teks started in Florida in 2003 and now has 70 franchises across the United States.
Mr. Ditmar said, "When I started hiring techs, I decided that I would only hire the best. All of our technicians are A+ certified and each is specialized in different computer programs.
"Many of our techs have 20+ years of experience and have worked with the best of the best, including the Secret Service."
Mr. Ditmar said, "Computer users need no longer leave the comfort of their own home or business to obtain top notch service from certified technicians and trainers. Instead, Fast-teks comes to you.
"We are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and we guarantee to be out to your home or business within four hours or less of your call."
He said Fast-teks "provides on-site service and call-in remote diagnostics to help computer users get back online the same day they call. In addition, Fast-teks offers a wide range of assistance including disaster recovery, virus, worm and Spyware removal, DSL & cable modem setup, wireless networking, data back-up, recovery, and transfer, web page development and hosting, virtual support, consulting and more. Whatever the goal, Fast-teks offers specialized training programs designed to meet the needs of individuals and business groups alike."
Eric Ditman grew up in Rossville in the Waverly Park subdivision, which is directly behind the Lake Winnipesauke amusement park.
His father was a children’s pastor who started his own non-profit ministry “Good News for Little People”.
Mr. Ditman said, "My father was very involved with several local churches as well as individuals at Child Evangelism Fellowship, AMG, and BIMI. Growing up I was very involved with church ministries helping my dad and mom put on programs involving multi-visuals, music, puppets, Bible stories, magic, clowns, skits, and other Christian education mediums to encourage children’s interest in Christianity. During the winter months we put on productions at various children’s church Sunday and Wednesday services. In the summer we toured throughout the United States providing the Christian education meetings at various church camps and Vacation Bible Schools.
"My father was diagnosed with congestive heart failure when I was a small child so growing up for me happened very early. My parents depended on me to take care of my three other siblings, many household responsibilities, as well as contribute to the family business which was the non-profit ministry. My father received a heart transplant when I was 12, which allowed him to live an additional seven years. He died one week after my high school graduation, two months before my 19th birthday.
"His heart condition and the things that happened because of his heart condition played a significant role in my experience growing up. Dependability, perseverance, courage, and moral responsibility where instilled in me as necessary not only to succeed in life but to simply survive."
Mr. Ditman graduated from Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School in 1995 and received the Georgia Hope Scholarship, which he used to attend Dalton State College and study business administration.
He married hisy high school sweetheart, Emily Bass, at the end of his freshman year of college 1996.
Mr. Ditman said, "We moved out on our own. Emily and I both worked full time jobs to support ourselves and to put myself through college. I ran several paper routes for the Chattanooga Publishing Company and Emily worked as an assistant manager at her father’s store, Colony 13, at Northgate mall.
"Meanwhile, Emily and I also took care of our new baby boy, Trevor, who was born in June of 1997. Emily and I were committed to giving Trevor the best life possible so we arranged our schedules to avoid sending Trevor to any type of day care. We chose to be parents first, to make do with less, and make life fit our situation.
"Trevor is now nine years old and we also have a two-year-old daughter, Vivian."
Mr. Ditman finished Dalton State in 1998 with an associate of business degree. He applied and was accepted at the UTC, where he studied finance.
He said, "Soon after beginning my education at UTC, the Chattanooga Publishing Company was bought out by another larger paper and, due to changes that were made, I was no longer able to support my family by distributing newspapers.
"To continue my education and support my family I started my own lawn business which I grew to over 35 customers in three years. I started this business by cutting family and friends' yards with borrowed equipment until I could save enough to purchase the equipment that I needed. I networked with other lawn services in the area to grow my customer base and to purchase used equipment, which I used to grow my business."
He graduated from UTC in 2000 with a Finance degree and a 3.5 GPA. After interviewing at UnumProvident and US Xpress and being offered a position at both companies, he accepted a financial analyst position at US Xpress. He worked there from September of 2000 until December of 2000 when he was offered and accepted an electricity trading position at TVA. He later worked as a trading strategist, helping TVA manage their gas services business.
In the summer of 2004, he went back to school to get his masters of business administration degree at UTC.
The Fast-teks website is at www.fastteks.com
The phone number is 423-517-TEKS.