Business Person of the Month: Dean Harrison

Dean Harrison's company, hSoft Consulting, LLC, has been providing computer services to Baton Rouge businesses and individuals for fifteen years and the Perkins Computer Center is its new home. The new location offers convenient computer services in the thriving Garden District/CityPark neighborhood. "It's a very exciting time for us," says owner Dean Harrison. "We're thrilled about the new location."

Services offered at the Perkins Computer Center include onsite and offsite home computer service, as well as business services like network and server administration, software development and web-based programming, website and email hosting, and website construction.

Harrison defines his business as service to the customer. As a business network systems designer, he builds computer networks to fit the customer's needs and wants. As a home computer technician, he's the family computer doctor. Business at the Perkins Computer Center is 50% walk-in and 50% off site and Harrison credits his growth to "word of mouth" advertising.

A native Baton Rougian; Harrison attended Baton Rouge Magnet High School and received a degree in Electrical Engineering from Louisiana State University. As a boy he "liked tinkering around with gadgets" -- taking things apart and putting them back together with his soldering iron. While at LSU, he was introduced to computers and was fascinated; he wanted to study "how computers did what they did."

Dean Harrison

After graduation, Harrison worked for several computer companies in Baton Rouge including 5th Generation Systems, eventually moving to the Washington, DC area to work in consulting. One of his employers, American Management Systems, sent him back to Baton Rouge to handle a major state government contract and upon returning to BR, he and his brother developed a software program called WordScribe and began marketing it via the internet. In 1998, he branched into consulting, opening hSoft Consulting, LLC.

Harrison believes small businesses connect consumers to the business world. Small businesses are able to deal with customers on a personal level providing real service face-to-face -- not through a "Customer Service 1-800 number." His advice to other SBOs: surround yourself with talented people who specialize in the various fields and, when starting a business, try it on the side first to determine if it has the potential to generate a living income.

Harrison is a member of the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce and is involved in the Perkins Road Art District and the Mid-City Merchants Association. He reads Baton Rouge Business Report, 225 Magazine and The Advocate regularly and is interested in anything about the Baton Rouge business scene. His favorite book, "Soul of a New Machine" by Tracy Kidder, traces the behind the scenes development of a fast new computer in the early 80s.

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Dean Harrison

Owner/Consultant:

Perkins Computer Center

2024 Perkins Road

Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Phone: 225-293-1264