Manatee County, Florida
Community Involvement
Much of my work happens out in the community, visiting retirement communities, answering technology questions, and helping people solve everyday device problems.
Building Community Connections
A big part of my work happens through local community connections. In addition to visiting retirement communities and working with residents, I also manage a few online spaces where people in Manatee County can connect, share information, and find help when they need it.
One of these groups, Tech Tips For Seniors – Manatee County, focuses on connecting senior service providers with older adults and families who may be looking for assistance. Members share resources, answer questions, and help point people toward trusted services available in the local area.
The second group, Manatee County Local Business Network, gives local business owners a place to introduce their services, share updates, and connect with other businesses in the area. The goal is to create a simple space where local companies can promote their work and build relationships that support the community.
Both groups are intended to make it easier for people in Manatee County to find help, share knowledge, and support one another locally.
Local Technology Events
I also stay connected with the local technology community by attending technology events and meetups in the Sarasota area. These events provide opportunities to learn about emerging tools, hear how others are using technology, and connect with people working across different areas of the tech industry.
One event I attended was the Sarasota Tech Summit, which brought together developers, technology professionals, and business leaders from across the region to discuss topics like artificial intelligence, software development, and innovation happening in Southwest Florida.
I continue to follow and attend Sarasota technology events whenever possible. Staying involved in these gatherings helps me keep learning, meet other people working with technology, and stay connected with the broader tech community in our area.
Neighbor Helping Neighbors
Much of my work happens outside of traditional development projects. Through my business Tech Assist For Seniors, I regularly visit retirement communities and independent living facilities throughout Manatee County to help older adults feel more comfortable using everyday technology.
Many seniors simply need patient guidance and clear explanations. During house calls and community visits, I help residents with smartphones, tablets, computers, printers, streaming devices, and other everyday technology. I often take written notes for them so they can refer back to the steps later and build confidence using their devices.
Meet and Greets at Retirement Communities
Part of my work involves scheduling meet-and-greet events inside retirement communities where residents can stop by with questions about their phones, tablets, or computers.
Sometimes I run short presentations on the facility’s big screen that include trivia questions, technology tips, and education about scams that often target seniors.
If a resident has a small issue with their device, I usually fix it on the spot at no charge. If the problem is more complex, I schedule a one-on-one service visit so we can solve it properly.
House Calls and Digital Literacy
Many seniors prefer learning technology in their own home where they feel comfortable. During house calls, I help them understand their devices step by step so they can use technology with confidence.
I also create simple guides and resources that help seniors learn at their own pace. Some of these guides are available through my Etsy store and focus on practical technology tasks and digital literacy.
Helping Residents and Facilities
Sometimes the requests I receive go beyond typical technology support. When possible, I try to help both residents and facility staff with practical problems.
One evening a director from a retirement community called because a resident had ordered a wheelchair from Amazon that needed to be assembled. The staff did not have time to put it together, so I stopped by and assembled it for the resident.
Real World Problem Solving
I also help troubleshoot equipment around the facilities where I work. In one situation, a community had a commercial karaoke machine that residents wanted to use, but the wiring had become confusing. I helped trace the connections and restore the system so residents could enjoy it again.
In another case, a facility director wanted to upgrade the RAM in his laptop. I used AI tools to research the correct hardware for the laptop model and installed the new memory once it arrived.
Local Business Support
Through Gagne Marketing, I share educational content that helps local business owners better understand technology, artificial intelligence, websites, and local search. Much of this work happens through articles and practical guides where I explain modern tools in plain language so owners can make informed decisions about their websites, operations, and digital systems.
Gagne Marketing is based in Manatee County, Florida, and I regularly work throughout the surrounding communities including Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Parrish, Palmetto, and parts of Sarasota County. My goal is not to act like a large marketing agency. Instead, I focus on practical guidance and one-on-one support that helps business owners understand how technology actually fits into their day-to-day work.
My background combines AI business consulting, web design, and local SEO. I have built and managed several websites that currently rank in search results, and I study how small businesses appear online, how customers search locally, and how digital systems affect real customer experiences.
Much of what I learn comes from solving real-world technology problems every day through my work with seniors and residents across Manatee and Sarasota Counties. Troubleshooting devices, setting up networks, and explaining technology in simple terms has given me a practical understanding of how people actually interact with modern tools.
That daily problem solving shapes how I approach business technology as well. Instead of focusing on trends or complicated systems, I concentrate on helping people understand what tools are useful, what can wait, and how technology can support a business without creating unnecessary complexity.