Chad Stone doesn't want to save the world.
But he does want to save computers and do his part for clean air by using emergency vehicles powered by vegetable oil.
His company, PC911, got its name from the emergency number for police, fire and ambulance service. It provides emergency service, sometimes in the same day, for ailing personal computers.
By JOHN G. EDWARDS
Las Vegas Review-Journal
PDF
Chad Stone doesn't want to save the world.
But he does want to save computers and do his part for clean air by using emergency vehicles powered by vegetable oil.
His company, PC911, got its name from the emergency number for police, fire and ambulance service. It provides emergency service, sometimes in the same day, for ailing personal computers.
Stone doesn't mind if he stirs gossip in the neighborhood when his ambulance arrives and he rolls out computer parts on a stretcher. He relies on word-of-mouth for advertising.
He started his education as a computer nerd at age 5 when his parents bought their first personal computer. He took it apart. Then he put it back together.
He got advanced training at age 10 when his parents bought a mainframe computer for the family's wholesale produce company in Los Angeles.
Stone, 32, has been in business for 18 months, but he's already planning to expand to Phoenix and Dallas.
Question: How did you develop your expertise in computers?
Answer: When I was 5 years old, my parents bought their first computer. I turned the computer on and the screen was like a whole new world. I took my screwdriver, and I took the whole thing apart because I wanted to know how it worked. I had to put it back together.
In 1985, my family deployed their first mainframe in the wholesale produce business. We had green screens on desks, and you had one big tower in the back that everything connected to. I was 10 years old, and I wanted a computer name and a password because I wanted to play with it.
Question: Did you tear that one apart, too?
Answer: Absolutely. I did software work. At 10 years old, I was learning accounting concepts that I probably forgot already today.
Question: How often did you work on the computer?
Answer: Once a week, once a month, however many times they let me ditch school so that I could go down and play with stuff.
On the weekends, my brother and I would sit in front of a computer and play computer games. It let me get my hands on stuff that no one would let a 10-year-old touch in a million years. I later had formal training as a Microsoft certified systems engineer.
Question: What did you do after graduating from high school?
Answer: I worked for The Good Guys in Las Vegas from 1996 to 1997 as a salesman and computer technician. (The electronics retail chain was bought by CompUSA in 2003 and now no longer exists). The store manager went to work for (the company now known as Mpower Communications) and brought me with him.
We were the first company to deploy voice over digital subscriber line service. I was on that deployment team.
We have special contacts with (cable TV provider) Cox (Communications). We have special contacts at the phone company. We can get down to the problem much quicker (than consumers).
Question: What next?
Answer: Then, I worked for Jerry Airola (an unsuccessful candidate for Clark County sheriff) when he owned a water purification company. I designed and built a 220-seat voice over Internet (Protocol) call center in 30 days.
Jerry called me back up and I did the (information technology) infrastructure for 24 training locations out of state (for Airola's Silver State Helicopters). They track all their training, all their (students' flight) hours, all their instructors, all their fuel, inventory tracking. There is a distance-learning program. We didn't build that until much later.
Question: You said you then went on your own. How did that happen?
Answer: I said (to Airola): "I've been doing this for you for a long time. Now, I think I can do this for myself." I left on very good terms. I got in my pickup truck and started doing jobs and finding customers in February 2006. I was spending two or three hours a day going out and picking up parts for people. I started carrying stuff in my pickup, and it got to be overwhelming.
Buying a used, beat-up truck cost $14,000, which is outrageous. I came up with the idea for the ambulance. I've got one that cost me $2,100 up to $7,100. I bought the first two on eBay.
Question: Do you use the lights?
Answer: I had a run-in right at the beginning with the Nevada State Highway Patrol. The officer is, like, you know I can take a hammer by law and break all your (red light) lenses. So we replaced them with clear lenses. We can run the lights, but we can't run the siren.
(The ambulances) have flood lights. If you get night jobs, you can make the place look like a baseball stadium. It's also got its own built-in generator.
Question: Do the ambulances help you advertise?
Answer: The ambulances are moving billboards. When I signal with the ambulance, people let me in (other lanes of traffic). It's the nicest thing.
When we go to Sun City, it's this swarm (when we stop at a customers' house) of 15 people to see what's going on. The residents wonder, "Is my neighbor sick?"
Question: How many ambulances do you have?
Answer: Three. Two run on vegetable oil. The third one will be converted year's end.
Question: Why do you use vegetable oil for fuel?
Answer: When we started (the first ambulance), there were (diesel) smog clouds. I wasn't happy.
My wife is from Canada. I'm from Los Angeles. I guess we're kind of greenies. We both believe it is the smaller businesses that will make the difference (in the environment). If we depend on the larger businesses (to go green), we're going to be waiting forever.
The conversion cost us about $1,200 for each vehicle. They can still run on diesel fuel.
Question: What are the environmental benefits?
Answer: Sixty percent less carbon monoxide emissions. Zero sulfur emissions.
It's waste product we're burning. I'm not supporting the Middle East. I'm supporting my restaurant. He's got to get rid of this waste oil, and he's going to dump it anyway or pay to have it picked up by a processing company. I tell the restaurants, if you give me your oil, I'll give you a deal on your computer services.
Question: How many gallons do you use?
Answer: We're probably bringing in 70 gallons or 80 gallons a week right now. That ambulance was getting 12 miles per gallon on diesel. On vegetable oil, I get 16 miles to the gallon.
Question: And the cost to you?
Answer: There's time. Picking up vegetable oil from customers and restaurants and such. I'm probably about even on cost now.
Question: Could anyone with diesel vehicle burn vegetable oil?
Answer: Absolutely.