Richard Prall, The IT and Technology Manager

Our IT and Technology Manager has been doing IT support since 1998. He started his journey when he bought an IBM Aptiva with Windows 95 on it and decided he needed to learn how to use the machine properly, he bought the MCSE training manual and worked the book from cover to cover and learnt about Windows 95 inside and out. His first IT job was as a data entry clerk where he also helped trouble shoot the local peer-to-peer network. Eventually ending up in the IT department where he helped to modernise the IT infrastructure form Novell simple server to a fully fledged Windows network running NT4 servers up to and including Windows 2000 Server machines. Other server included Citrix Metaframe, Norton Anti Virus update servers, and the file and app sharing servers.

During this time he also picked up experience in cross border networking where the company he worked for had offices in the UK and Ireland. When he decided to return to South Africa and opened his own support company aiming to assist the home and small business users, specialising on onsite support, and he was one of the first support engineers to offer this service in Johannesburg.

Richard is currently supporting a couple of NPOs, and some small to medium businesses, but his loyal home users that have been using his service for the last 20 years.

His experience in IT support brings the knowledge of home internet and networking including wired and wireless networks, onsite and remote support. Troubleshooting of many software and hardware issues, including virus removal, cloud solutions and user recovery for many online apps like Facebook. His knowledge and willingness to learn and evolve has now got him looking at smart home automation to add to the construction side of the business. 

An interesting piece of information about our IT manager is that he also plays the Bagpipes. He has played at countless funerals and memorials, birthday parties, weddings and solo competitions. He is also a proud member of the African Skye Pipe Band.