In summer about five years ago, a gaggle of geeks -- a group of local technology company owners -- gathered on the grounds of Keith Brophy's lakefront home in Byron Center to play some music, enjoy a barbecue, and light a bonfire.
"We're all geeky in nature, by trade," says Nate Lewis, one of those who attended the cookout. "But we have other hobbies that are not geek-oriented." For example, Lewis once played in a funk band. Other party-goers played the fiddle, guitar, and other instruments. "We sang and jammed all day," says Lewis, 35, owner and founder of gNetworks.
At some point that night, the topic of conversation turned to the tongue-in-cheek "plight of geeks" says Mark Schmidt, 30, founder and developer of Allendale-based BizStream.
Schmidt says the group brainstormed how to get the word out that being a geek is fun and cool, and "soon we started bouncing around ideas on how to get young people interested in technology and art, and to help those who can't afford to follow their dreams."
The result of brainstorming was GeekAid, a one-day extravanganza celebrating technology and art to "encourage the future leaders of our community to pursue an education in a technology or art related field." This year, GeekAid v5.0 will rock at Riverside Park, 2401 Monroe Ave. NW, on Aug. 28, from noon to 7 p.m.
"When we reflected on it, we thought, 'Wow, what a cool thing,'" says Lewis. "We wanted to make it a permanent situation, to create awareness that geeks have other talents besides being tekkies."
A nonprofit organization, GeekAid of Michigan helps graduating high school seniors in West Michigan through its GeekAid Scholarship Fund, Scholarships are competitive and need-based. The founders agree that West Michigan geeks comprise a rich resource of talent that needs to stay in the community. "We have to get people excited about getting into technology," says Schmidt, whose company bills itself as a creator of "elegant software."
It's hip to be square
There was a time when being called a geek was an insult. Now the term is a compliment or even a badge of honor within certain fields. But despite the accolades associated with being a geek, Brophy says that young people are not flocking to sign up for classes in engineering and physics at area colleges. "We have to encourage motivation and enthusiasm for being a geek," he says.
Each year, the family-friendly fundraiser features local bands, local artist booths, a beer tent, and fun for all ages. In 2008, approximately 3,500 people attended the event. GeekAid also receives funding from corporate sponsors and private donors.
The first three years, GeekAid partnered with West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology (WMCAT). Due to funding issues, the concert wasn't held last year, but five people received scholarships of $1,000 or $2,500. "This year, GeekAid hopes that the concert proceeds will yield five $5,000 scholarships," says Schmidt. This year live music will be performed by local bands, including Badenya Drum Ensemble and Los Cobras. Admission is free.
Schmidt says that in one way or another, GeekAid has so far supported hundreds of kids, different causes, and organizations that help kids. "GeekAid concerts help promote the idea that geeks are fun," he says. "We are making a difference."
From brain drain to brain gain
"The dotcom bust actually forced us to create our own companies," Brophy says. "Now, we're heavily invested in the community.
"All of us have to be futurists, in a sense," he says. "There are just too many changes that are coming at us—the way we live, the way we do business, the way we interact—to be complacent. We have to take a proactive view towards the future and embrace change."
Brophy says that the pace of change has never been faster and that the changes are coming at a much more rapid pace then they have over the last decade. and "the future depends on our young people."
Schmidt says he has "a crazy love for web tech, data, coffee, and music -- the more obscure the better."
He attended Allendale high school, attended Grand Valley State University for a couple of years, then started BizStream when he was 20. "The company is doing well, and it's nice to work with students from Grand Valley," he says.
Schmidt shares his time with wife Bonny and their 2-year-old daughter. Another child is on the way. Bonny is the accountant for GeekAid.
"We really are sharing the pride with everyone who's been involved," says Schmidt. "It's a good collaboration with people from the business community and competitors in the West Michigan area. It's very exciting."
You're grounded. Now go play outside.
Lewis, 35, grew up on the lakeshore in the White Lake area. He has been a bona fide, die-hard computer geek since the age of 12. In fact, he was so obsessed with his computer that his parents set time limits on how long he could use it each day. The idea was to get him out of the house to soak up some sun and play with the other kids.
"My parents thought I was playing computer games," says Lewis. "But in reality, I was writing computer programs." In 1995, he started gNetworks, a web solutions company that specializes in web design and development, search engine optimization, social media strategy, and content management.
Lewis is married to Amanda, 30, who also works at the company, and the couple have two children, a daughter who is 1, and a son, 3.
Brophy, 47, grew up in West Michigan and attended Sparta High School. After receiving a computer science degree from the University of Michigan, he moved to the East Coast and worked for IBM for about a decade. He obtained a master's degree in information systems from Strayer University in Washington, D.C. He moved back to West Michigan in 1993 and started his own technology company, Sagestone, three years later.
Sagestone developed custom web software for 21 of the top 25 West Michigan companies, in addition to other clients, worldwide. In 2005, Brophy sold Sagestone to NuSoft, which has since been absorbed into RCM Technologies, the company he works for today as vice-president of Enterprise Integrated Solutions.
After a decade as a divorced, single dad, Brophy is getting married this September in the setting where the founders first brainstormed GeekAid. His fiancée, Sheila Premo, 41, is a photographer and hair stylist. The two met 14 years ago and were friends for years before they both became "available." Brophy and Premo are collaborating on an ArtPrize entry, which will be exhibited at Riverview Center, 678 Front St. NW. Brophy has three older children, 21, 18, and 16. Premo also has three children, 11, 9, and 5.
"It's so easy to get involved and be a vital part of the community, says Brophy. "When I moved back here from Washington D.C. in 1993, I remember driving through the S-curve and wondering if I would feel the same connectedness to West Michigan as I did in D.C.
"I found that I just needed to reach out to other people interested in same things," he says. It's a gift to all of us that we have such a collaborative community. Social networking has helped it even more. There's been such an evolution."
Victoria A. Mullen is (in alphabetical order) an actress, artist, attorney, photographer, and writer based in Grand Rapids. She is originally from Milwaukee.
Photos:
Keith Brophy, Mark Schmidt, and Nate Lewis (2)
GeekAid 2009 (6)
Photographs by Brian Kelly -All Rights Reserved