“Because Minolta eliminated the position, it left about a dozen customers throughout Puget Sound in the lurch,” said Clemmons. “I started up my own business to support them.”

PC Networks opened for business in September 2002, offering networking services for small to medium-sized businesses, including wired and wireless network installation and support.

“I like to say that I can take care of everything between your outside Internet connection and your desktop,” Clemmons said.

Starting a new business with an already-established customer base is something that most home-based entrepreneurs only dream about, and Clemmons acknowledges that this went a long way in getting PC Networks established in the area. Still, getting a customer and keeping a customer can be two very different things, and it’s worth noting that Clemmons counts 10 out of the original 12 customers in his current customer base.

But Clemmons wasn’t content with one business venture. In March 2003 PC Networks launched a new division, called Wicked Machines.

“I’ve always had a love of gaming,” said Clemmons. “So I decided to expand into high-end computer gaming systems.”

The Wicked Machines division builds custom computer gaming systems and sells gaming hardware, such as specialty gaming mice, gaming keyboards and joysticks, across the nation and throughout the world.

In October 2005 PC Networks was doing well and Wicked Machines was building an international customer base. Clemmons was approached by high-end speaker manufacturer, Klipsch Audio Technologies with an offer to distribute the company’s products. The idea interested Clemmons, who is a long-time musician.

“I’ve always done music,” he said.

Building custom, computer-based home theater systems had been difficult until a couple of years ago, he said, as there were not many areas where computers and home theater systems merged. But recent technology developments virtually eliminated that barrier. So Clemmons and his wife Veronica, who became president of PC Networks when the business incorporated in May 2006, expanded the business with yet another division, Wicked Home Theater.

Clemmons defines Wicked Home Theater as “Magnolia Hi-Fi on steroids. It’s very high-end type of stuff.”

Wicked Home Theater is currently one of three authorized dealers of Klipsch products in Western Washington, and Clemmons has worked hard to develop strong relationships with distributors for each of the business divisions. “I’m able to get stuff that no one else can,” said Clemmons.

Clemmons has a model home theater system set up in his house, with features such as 7.1 surround sound and a 62-inch flat screen television connected to a custom home entertainment PC and Play Station 2 system, which is available to see by appointment. Seeing the system in person really gets people excited about the possibilities for their own homes, Clemmons said, and the company offers custom installations for local customers. “A lot of companies will not do things like that,” said Clemmons.

Most of PC Networks’ customers are located in the Puget Sound area, but the Wicked divisions sell much of their offerings out-of-state, over their respective Web sites.

“A lot of people are finding me online,” said Clemmons, noting that many of his domestic customers are from the east coast.

“I’d like to get a little more business locally,” he continued. Wicked Machines and Wicked Home Theater offer financing for local customers, as well as to active duty or retired military personnel and civilian department of defense employees.

Clemmons and his wife are currently managing the load of all three businesses themselves out of their home office. If extra hands are required for larger projects, Clemmons will bring on subcontractors, but he said the business volume has yet to be at the level where he needs to hire employees to meet the needs of his customers.

Aside from starting PC Networks with an established customer base, Clemmons attributes the success of these burgeoning business ventures to his 21 years of experience in the industry, the support of his family and to the excellent customer service all three business divisions offer.

“I don’t treat customers like numbers,” Clemmons said. “I’m not in it for the quick buck. I’m here to build long-term relationships with my customers.”.