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Turning Boomers into Zoomers
Senior Living
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Turning Boomers into Zoomers Entrepreneur helps mature homebodies become tech tigers.
SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Ayear ago, few would people to use their technology,” have imagined so she explains. many of our personal With some patient one-onand business interactions would one instruction, she was able to be conducted online, using our “reduce their anger and irritacomputers, iPads and smart- tion.” Through word of mouth, phones to “meet” and socialize requests increased for technolosafely during the pandemic. gy help from two demographics Various online platforms — — adult children and their parZoom, Skype, FaceTime and ents. Wallace, who was laid off Microsoft Teams, to name a in May, officially launched her few of the most popular — are business, Boom Chicka Zoom, now a common way to celebrate LLC, in November. She credits family birthdays, have medical the clever name to Gilda Jacobs, appointments and attend classes her parents’ neighbor. and concerts. Wallace’s clients are mostly But not everyone was familiar Baby Boomers (ages 59 to 74) with this technology before and older adults who want to COVID-19, and the use of these communicate with family memplatforms can be challenging. bers who often live out of town. That’s where Katie Wallace Some have IT services available comes in — she is a tech-savvy through their workplace but are coach for using this technology grateful for her help. at home. Gregg Orley of Bloomfield Wallace, 31, was living in Hills is one of Wallace’s satisfied Royal Oak and working at a nonprofit in Eastern Market when the pandemic lockdown began. She temporarily moved back home with her parents in Huntington Woods. Soon they and their friends were asking for help with Zoom meetings. Often they didn’t know to mute their computers or adjust the cameras. “Zoom wasn’t really for consumers. I want to empower clients. Orley thought it would be much more professional and easy to work with her than asking family members for help. “She is amazing. I write out questions and she makes it all clear for me. We meet over Zoom,” explains Orley. He wanted to download a fitness app and by holding up his phone, Wallace was able to help him while communicating through Zoom. “I am so appreciative of her warmth and patience,” Orley says. Wallace, who graduated from U-M, expects to receive an MBA with a co-major in management and entrepreneurship and innovation from Wayne State University this year. She has worked as an intern at Federation, at the American Diabetes Association and Yad Ezra.
— KATIE WALLACE
STEVEN KATZ
A NATURAL TECHIE
While her academic background hasn’t focused on information technology, she was the “go-to tech person” at some of her workplaces. Boom Chicka Zoom combines what she is good at with what she likes, Wallace explains.
“I’m providing support for people, not trying to replace IT,” she explains. That support can mean helping people set up wireless printers, Alexa and smart TVs. If clients want, she will store their computer serial numbers and passwords, and often helps with iPhone, WordPress and electronic calendars.
Wallace works online with clients, sometimes using software that enables her to “take over” their computers and show them how to do things. Sometimes she works through Apple chat on their behalf.
Coaching/consulting can be for a few sessions or on an ongoing basis. Wallace’s hourly fee is $40; a package of three hours can be spread out over time and costs $100. Typically, the first half-hour of needs assessment is free. Visit boomchickazoom.com for more information.
