The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Q&A: Joe Nowak
Chamber president logs on
PUBLISHED: January 17, 2008
Tell us about your business and how it serves the Dexter community.
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Absolute Computer Services is a business that revolves around customer service. We are a small company with big plans. We opened our first store in Jackson almost 10 years ago and opened a small store in Dexter about 6 years ago. When we first started out, our business was mostly focused on dial-up Internet service. Oh how times have changed!! Now we specialize in computer repair, custom computer building, retail sales and business services. If there's a part you need, just let us know and we'll get it for you and save you the trip to Ann Arbor!
How long have you been in business in Dexter and what drew you to the area?
I was born and raised in Dexter, as was my wife. My wife likes to joke that, before we were engaged I told her that I wanted to live in Florida. She promptly told me that I'd better find someone else to marry because she wasn't leaving Dexter. Dexter has wonderful schools, amazing people and beautiful landscape. I feel lucky to live here.
Tell us about your involvement with the Dexter Area Chamber of Commerce up to your appointment as chamber president.
I had joined the Chamber of Commerce when we opened out Dexter store, so I then joined the board to see what it was all about. I served on the board for a year before becoming President.
Now that you're in the top spot, tell us about your agenda for the remainder of your term.
I want to work to bring the board together as a cohesive group so that we can continue our efforts to build the community of businesses in Dexter. We want to offer services to local businesses that help them grow. I'd like to see us offer some educational seminars and I'd like to encourage our local government and business leaders to continue working together to make Dexter even greater than it already is.
What are some of the challenges that you have seen firsthand as a Dexter business owner that you would like to help other business owners in the area surmount?
I think the challenges faced by business owners in Dexter are the same challenges faced by business owners across the state. These are tough times and a lot of businesses are failing. I think the one thing that will make businesses strong and that will get us through these tough times is to focus on customer service. It's a dying art and one that I personally believe is essential. Our lives have gotten so fast paced and hectic. We've gotten accustomed to standing in long line and waiting "on hold" for what seems like an eternity. It's not supposed to be that way and it doesn't have to be.
How difficult is it to promote chamber businesses to the community? Is it getting more difficult as time goes on?
Promoting local businesses to the community is actually getting easier. People are getting really interested in keeping their business local. They're finding out that small town retailers compete well with the Big Box stores and that spending their money locally benefits the whole community. Dexter businesses are famous for donating to the schools and other local programs whenever they're asked. People are beginning to see and appreciate that.
You've just had a successful run of holiday events earlier this month. Do you have any figures on how much business was drawn to the downtown? Do you have any projections for the year?†
I don't have any actual figures to throw out, but suffice it to say that the businesses have reported great success. As always, we have a few things to change and make better but I really feel that we're on the right track.
We were sad to see that vandals smashed ice sculptures commissioned by Dexter businesses for the Victorian Christmas celebration. What are your reactions to that and what would you like to say to the community? To the perpetrator?†
Wasn't that sad? Those sculptures were beautiful, weren't they? Such a shame that someone would think to destroy something so nice. I hope that the people responsible are feeling really bad about it. It may have just been a lapse in judgment, but based on the outcry from the community, I hope these people will learn a lesson from this and make a better choice next time.
What do you plan to bring to the chamber that is new and your own, in terms of events or process?†
I'd like to work on streamlining the Chamber as a whole and making sure that our processes and decisions are up to date with what we're trying to do. I'm not sure that I need to own anything about the Chamber. It's such a group effort all the way around. It's an amazing group of people that volunteer and work really hard to make things better for our local businesses and our community.†
With your background in computers and technology, do you plan on bringing this focus to the chamber? If so, explain.
I think that everyone acknowledges that technology has been knocking at our door for some time now. Keeping up with it is a constant question for most businesses. I think the Chamber is on board with that as are most local businesses. I'm happy to have the experience to help guide business owners who aren't sure how to use technology to their best advantage. Every business in the chamber has a way to help another business. Everyone has a skill or specialty to offer. Mine just happens to be computers and technology.
†
We've heard some public figures criticize the Dexter chamber for its focus on the downtown area - referring to you in a tongue-in-cheek manner as the Dexter "Downtown" Chamber of Commerce. How many of your members are "area" verses "downtown?"†
That has been a problem. Back in the day, most of the businesses were located in the downtown area but, once again, times are changing. It's become clear that businesses don't always look the way they used to. We have people who run home businesses, people without storefronts and people with active storefront businesses. We're working hard to include all of these types of businesses into our plans. With the Victorian Christmas, we did a lot of activities up by Busch's and Country Market so we would be sure that people would be drawn to that area. We had a lunch with Mrs. Claus event at the Alpha Coney Island to draw people up the hill and perhaps encourage them to do some of their shopping there as well. We plan to continue branching out as time goes on.
†
Why should a business owner be excited about doing business in Dexter? Why should a prospective business owner open up shop in Dexter?
Dexter is a great place to be. The people who have been here a long time have always known this but I think the surrounding towns and communities are starting to realize it too. This is what small town living is all about and why it continues to draw people here. We can only grow from here. The people of Dexter are getting the idea that buying services and goods locally makes their standard of living that much better.
†
As a business owner how do you feel about the schools and other services in the Dexter area?
I continue to be amazed by the Dexter school system and am proud to be involved with it. The staff at the schools are so dedicated!!! They work so hard to make sure that our kids are getting a top-notch education. The school system is current and advancing every day. I just can't say enough about Dexter as a whole. It's a wonderful place to be and a wonderful place to raise a family.
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