NANAIMO, B.C – It began with a youthful fascination, evolved into a teenage obsession, that ultimately matured into an adult career—a path that led to NCI Technical’s current success and longevity. Now after more than 20 years in business, NCI and its owner and founder, Nigel Fee are ready for that corporate continuity to expand even further.
“My interest in technology and computers began at a very young age and quickly developed into a genuine fascination,” Fee explained.
“Growing up, technology was largely absent from our household. In many ways, it was an intentionally low-tech environment, with no cable television or similar conveniences. Interestingly, that lack of exposure only deepened my curiosity. Rather than discouraging my interest, it drew me toward technology, particularly computers, as I became fascinated by their potential and the impact they could have on the way people work and solve problems.”
Thanks to the arrival of a second-hand computer as a preteen, Fee eagerly dived in, teaching himself about the systems, rules, capabilities, and operations of the technology, sparking a need to learn how the machines function and what can be done to make them even more effective. This was a pivotal moment for the youthful enthusiast, setting him on a path he’s never strayed from, as he taught himself the inner workings of what was at first a mystery.
“In high school, I was given the chance to spend time with the school district’s IT professional whenever he came on site. It was an invaluable experience, as it allowed me to learn directly from someone working in the field. I’ve also always been entrepreneurial by nature. From an early age, I was finding ways to earn money, whether through newspaper routes, lawn care, window cleaning, or other small ventures,” he recalled.
“As a kid I was never one of those who would ask for money, but rather how could I acquire it for myself? As I was learning a new skill, I would always be considering ways to market that skill as revenue,” he said.
“From a young age, I was motivated by the idea of earning my own money rather than relying on others. Whenever I learned a new skill, I would immediately start thinking about how I could turn it into a service or business opportunity.”
His original hand-me-down computer, and the experience he gained learning how that system functioned, ultimately led to his becoming active in repairing and upgrading discarded systems for his own interest, providing an invaluable background in practical physical operation. Combined with a voracious appetite for computer knowledge, via books or by asking questions of those with greater knowledge, he became a self-taught authority on this increasingly important subject.
The road to NCI Technical began in his teenage years as he would market his services to anyone needing computer support. “I started doing personal computer repairs in my teens. As my skills and reputation grew so did the kinds of clients I would interact with. I would basically do whatever someone asked me to do, and if I didn’t know how I’d learn,” he explained.
“Whether it was replacing hard drives, upgrading systems, setting up printers, or troubleshooting technical issues, I was always eager to take it on. If I didn’t already know how to do something, I would figure it out. That hands-on approach became one of the most valuable parts of my learning process.”
NCI Technical (originally operating under the name Nakeo Computers Incorporated) opened its doors in 2005, functioning under that banner for about 15 years before rebranding to NCI Technical following the economic turmoil caused by the ending of the Global Pandemic. “It just sounded nicer and more marketable, after we’d all emerged from the Covid chaos.”
Today’s NCI Technical and it’s growing team works as the Information Technology solution for clients located across Vancouver Island.
Today NCI Technical and its team of five work with companies of varying sizes functioning as what is basically these firms’ personal IT department. Many clients have found it more cost effective to outsource IT services to NCI, who respond quickly and professionally whenever the need arises, over maintaining full-time IT staff on-site. NCI works alongside the client, functioning as a member of their corporate team.
Looking toward the future NCI plans to expand, both in staffing and in its product range – but not at a pace that diminishes the sort of personal service that has been central to its corporate philosophy since day one.
“Expansion has always been part of our long-term strategy. When I put together our five-year business plan, I established a clear roadmap for growth, and today we’re ahead of the benchmarks we set for ourselves. As a result, we’re investing in new hires and infrastructure to support the next stage of the company’s development. I’ve always believed in preparing for growth before it arrives rather than reacting to it afterward,” he said.
