Hi, I'm John.
Here's my story.
I'm the guy who was setting everyone's VCR clock before I was old enough to drive. Technology has been my calling for as long as I can remember - and after 16 years in hospital IT, I built JW Consulting Services to bring that same patient, caring approach directly to my friends and neighbors here in Sonoma County.
A Sebastopol Kid Who Loved Taking Things Apart
Long before this was a career, it was just who I was.
The VCR clock kid
Growing up in Sebastopol, I was always the one people asked to set the time on their VCRs. It was a running joke, but it was also the first sign of something bigger - I just understood machines in a way that made sense to me.
Tinkering before it was cool
Whether I was tuning the colors and channel dials on our living room TV or building Radio Shack radio and science kits, it was clear early on that this was my calling. I couldn’t leave a gadget alone without figuring out how it worked.
The IBM PCjr that changed everything
My mother had the foresight to spend a good chunk of the little money we had on an IBM PCjr. That single decision let me learn PC computing from the ground up, in bite-sized pieces - and it gave me the depth of understanding to figure out what’s really going on under the hood, not just what shows up on the screen.
From the Family Fixer to Founding JW Consulting
The teenage IT admin
By the time I was a teenager, I was already the IT administrator for my mom’s local nonprofit. It seemed like every family gathering had someone showing up with a laptop in their trunk, hoping I’d take a look. I always did.
16 years in hospital IT
That early passion turned into a career - I spent 16 years in IT at the local Sutter Hospital, where I was promoted into numerous roles over the years. It gave me the chance to bring my technical skill and love of problem-solving to a fast-paced, high-stakes environment every single day.
Going out on my own
I’d always done computer work as a side job for friends and family, so after 16 years I made it official and left Sutter to pursue what I truly love - helping people with real-world technology problems, one on one, without the layers of a big organization in between.
“If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life.”
That old adage is exactly why I chose to provide my services to my friends and neighbors, bringing a patient, caring, and comfortable style of IT support that's rare in this world. I truly pride myself on taking the scariness out of technology, helping people understand what's going on, and finding solutions that work for them - not trying to force them into a standard, one-size-fits-all fix.
Technology Shouldn't Feel Foisted on You
I've spent a large part of my life helping friends and family for whom technology was confusing and overwhelming, not exciting. A few moments stand out.
Helping my mother find her voice again
As my mother got older, typing on her laptop became harder. We worked together to get speech recognition set up so she could keep writing and staying connected - watching technology give something back to her instead of frustrating her meant everything.
American TV for my aunt in Mexico
My aunt wanted American cable TV in her condo in Mexico. It wasn’t a simple plug-and-play job, but figuring it out for her - and seeing how much she appreciated it - is exactly the kind of problem I love solving.
Moments like these are where I developed a high level of empathy and patience for people who aren't tech-savvy. It's the same patience and care I bring to every client I work with today.
The Same Approach, Every Visit
Whether it's a hacked email account or a new smart TV, this is the mindset I bring to every single call.
No jargon, no judgment
There’s no such thing as a silly question. I explain what’s happening in plain English so you actually understand your own technology.
Patient, every time
I never rush you through a fix. Whether it’s your first computer or your fifth, we move at a pace that feels comfortable for you.
Solutions that fit you
I don’t force you into the standard, one-size-fits-all answer. I find what actually works for your life, your habits, and your comfort level.
I'd love to help you with
whatever's giving you trouble.
Call or email - you'll be talking to me directly, not a call center.