Silicon Rush: A Fairbanks Success Story.

• Author: MAYER, AMY
• Position: Brief Article

This small business started in a closet. Now it grosses nearly $1 million a year.

The typical Silicon Valley success story begins with someone tinkering with a computer in the garage. It should be no big surprise, then, that the Fairbanks version of this tale begins in a cabin with no running water.

Silicon Rush founder Cliff Smyth, 31, says his company was born in a 4-foot by 8-foot closet in his cabin. Eventually he and his wife, Laura, 29, upgraded to the more traditional high-tech birthing ground.

"That was a step up for us, to move into a garage," Smyth said. Supplying computer parts or installing extra memory to client systems led to a full-service technical support company, complete with a storefront in downtown Fairbanks. Silicon Rush offers telephone support and walk-in or on-site repairs and troubleshooting. Customers are also welcome to come in and do work on their own machines.

Parrin Voran, 27, and his wife Sharon, 27, began managing the business in February. They handle parts sales and in-house repairs. Parrin worked as a technician before moving into management and knows many of the regular customers.

"We're working hard to keep those relationships up and keep things on a friendly level," he said. They make it a family business, bringing sons Dakota, 2, and Keanu, 5, to play in the spacious office.

"It's the first time I've actually been able to be around my children all the time," Parrin said.

The Smyths remain owners of the company and Cliff still does some in-house work, but he'd like to help his clients more with their office systems.

"We've been really focusing our efforts on expanding into the network services," he said. He hopes new wireless and cable modem technology will lead Silicon Rush in...