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Township ServicesSuccess StoriesAvailable Commercial and Industrial Properties ListingLooking for the perfect location to start, expand, or relocate your business?Get started by checking the Township of Oro-Medonte’s new AvailableCommercial and Industrial Properties Listing at www.oro-medonte.ca/business.The listing will provide regular updates about properties that are availablefor general commercial, industrial, and economic development throughoutthe municipality. Detailed information such as property price, location,size, zoning, and realtor contact information will all be available in thelistings, helping realtors and business owners find the ideal place for abusiness to set up shop.With convenient and easy access to major transit routes, no municipalcommercial or industrial development charges, and one of the lowest tax rates in the region, operating in Oro-Medonte offersbusiness owners an array of attractive strategic advantages. The Available Commercial and Industrial Properties Listing isa great tool for realtors and business owners to use as they search for the perfect location to make the most of all that theTownship has to offer.For more information about the Available Commercial and Industrial Properties Listing, visit www.oro-medonte.ca/businessor contact the Township’s Economic Development staff at (705) 487-2171.Shop Local! Check Our Updated Online Business DirectoryBuilding on the work of the County of Simcoe’s EconomicDevelopment Office, the Township of Oro-Medonte hasupdated its Online Business Directory tool at www.oro-medonte.ca/business to help better connect localbusinesses and consumers.The Online Business Directory can help businesses reachout directly to the local marketplace, while also providingconsumers with a way to find information about theproducts and services that they can access right here inOro-Medonte.Local business owners are encouraged to take advantageof this free opportunity to be accessible online andconsumers are invited to explore the directory and supportthe local business community with their next purchase.All Oro-Medonte based businesses can receive acomplimentary listing on the site, where they can enterinformation such as a description of their business, logosand images, hours of operation, accepted methods ofpayment, and links to company websites and social mediaaccounts. All listings will also automatically be added tothe County of Simcoe (www.edo.simcoe.ca) and YourLocal Marketplace (www.ylm.ca) directories, completelyfree of charge.Information in the directory not only helps consumers and businesses quickly and easily find the products and services thatthey want and need, but also helps the Township’s Economic Development staff compile valuable information to managelocal economic affairs and support local economic growth and competitiveness.Visit www.oro-medonte.ca/business or contact the Township’s Economic Development staff at (705) 487-2171 for moreinformation about the Online Business Directory.Computer Elite’s Expansion Plans Get UnderwayBy: Dave DawsonFor more than a decade, Joe Green has carefully builtComputer Elite on a rock-solid foundation, developinghis talented team, creating a customer-focused, serviceorientedbusiness that he believes is about to become anindustry game changer.In early September, the company took its first step in anaggressive expansion program when it opened a newstore at 422 Dunlop St. West in Barrie. Over the next 12months, Green plans to open similar stores in both Orilliaand Midland.Soon after, he plans toexpand to Gravenhurstand Alliston. Oncethose stores are online,Computer Eliteplans to open a secondtechnical service facility inKitchener that will spawnnew stores in Kitchener,Guelph, Waterloo, andCambridge.Green has worked hardsince opening in 2002 todevelop an infrastructurethat will support hisvision. The ambitiousgrowth is something hehas been planning sinceday one.A key part of the company’s success, he said, is itsemployees. Green’s wife, Dee, is director of operationsand two of their sons are technicians.“Having the right people is critical,” says Green,who notes that all of his employees are like family.“The people we have, they’re brilliant. They are soknowledgeable, so well trained…but they’re alsocustomer-friendly.”Green says Computer Elite attracts about a dozennew customers each week and notes the company isresponsible for about 10,000 computers that boot upevery day. 48% of its clientele is business, while 52%is residential.Whoever the customer, a big part of the service revolvesaround education, says Green, who notes that histechnicians will go to a customer’s home or businessto troubleshoot.“Education is important because, for example, a lot ofpeople aren’t running the best browser or proper antivirusprogram,” he laments. And while that’s a problemthat can spell doom for people reliant on computers,many still don’t think to turn to the experts.“If the kid next door comes over with a hammer andoffers to fix your car, you’re probably not going to lethim near your car,” Green says. “But if he tells you torun Google Chrome, you likely listen to him…it’s all abouteducation.”What won’t change duringthe company’s expansionis the philosophy behindComputer Elite, saysGreen, highlighting that thecompany’s trademark is quick,superior service – somethinghe says differentiates it fromother small shops and big-boxstores.“We are meticulously fussy onorganization, which is criticalin this business,” Greensays. “We understand theproduct and we understandthe technical side. We try outthe products, the programs,the new gadgets…before wedecide to sell them.”Computer Elite is also environmentally friendly; it is afull e-waste facility. In addition, Green has erected solarpanels on the facility’s rooftop to reduce the company’scarbon footprint. “We’ve saved 114 trees and 4.43 tonsof carbon so far,” he said. “We want to do our part.”Computer Elite is located at 3105 Highway 11, near Line7, in Oro Station. For more information, call 705-487-6595 or visit www.computerelite.net.Share Your StoriesDo you know of an Oro-Medonte based business thatshould have its own successes showcased? If so, wewant to know about it! Let the Township know aboutyour local business success story by emailing DarcyBrooke-Bisschop, Coordinator, Economic Development/Communications at dbrooke-bisschop@oro-medonte.ca.24 25