"Local Business is

a Real JEM"

The concept of a small, home office has worked so far for one successful business in Tiffin.

Out of an office in his home on Jamestown Avenue, Jason McClaflin operates JEM Network Consulting LLC, providing network support for companies as far away as Tennessee.

He's been in business for himself full-time since 2003. McClaflin said he had been employed for another network company, but when they decided to move the company's headquarters, he made the decision to strike out on his own.

"We continue to grow 30-40 percent a year, every year since we have opened," he said. "Apart from running an ad in the newspaper, word of mouth has been a powerful reference tool."

JEM Network Consulting does work all over northwest Ohio, as well as venturing in to New York, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.

"We go as far south as Upper Sandusky, Mansfield, to Toledo, Port Clinton, Findlay, Fremont and Fostoria," he said.

The work is usually done remotely, there really is no need to go on the physical site to fix the customers network problems, McClaflin said.

"I can spend a lot of time traveling, or I can be here, looking at the same thing the customer is looking at," he said. "I can be more productive, doing remote work, I can get to the customer faster."

Not having a storefront, with rent, utilities and other related costs, allows McClaflin to directly transfer those savings to the customer. Similarly, if there is repair work involved, that also is done on the work site. McClaflin does employ two individuals, one dedicated to one client's business, the other doing remote networking services.