Robert Cedar: Computer Repair Business Owner, Educator, and Right to Repair Advocate

I’ve spent over 20 years in technology, and I’ve seen two very different worlds. One was corporate (fast-paced, high-level, packed with innovation). The other was personal (families locked out of their computers, small businesses hit with data loss, seniors targeted by scammers pretending to help). I left Microsoft and Amazon not to walk away from the tech industry, but to reconnect with the people it’s supposed to serve.

I started Geeks On Command in 2009 with one goal, to make tech support honest, responsive, and human again. We show up. We explain what we’re doing. We fix what’s broken. Our focus is always the person, not the upsell. Over time, we expanded across New Jersey and Colorado, offering remote support nationwide. But as we grew, so did something more troubling (an entire industry built around deception).

Why I Started RSAG

The rise of remote support should have been a turning point. But instead, scammers took over the space. I’ve spoken with too many people who were conned by fake “Microsoft” reps or pressured into expensive services they didn’t need. The problem isn’t just the bad actors (it’s the lack of accountability). That’s what led me to create RSAG, the Remote Support Accreditation Group.

RSAG is my answer to a broken system. It’s a nonprofit built to raise the bar in remote support. We verify companies that meet strict standards in technical skill, data security, customer service, and honest pricing. Our goal isn’t to punish the bad guys (it’s to give people a way to find the good ones).

The RSAG Team

Join Our Effort

• Consumers: Use the RSAG directory to find trusted remote tech support
• Companies: Apply for accreditation and prove your commitment to integrity
• Partners: Contact helpdesk@rsag.net to support our mission

My Approach to Technology and Service

I believe technology should empower, not overwhelm. Support should feel like a conversation, not a transaction. A good technician solves problems, a great one prevents them. That’s the mindset I bring to every client (and what I expect from every technician we accredit through RSAG).

I share what I’ve learned through blogs at Sound Computer Solutions and PC Repair In Home. I also volunteer technical services for Hackensack schools, and I sponsor youth leagues including Parsippany Little League and Red Rock Baseball.

Life Beyond Computers

Family is central to who I am. Between building businesses and helping clients, I treasure the time spent with my loved ones. They ground me, remind me of what matters most, and have supported every step of my journey from corporate tech specialist to small business owner. Their perspective helps me see technology as most people do: a tool that should simplify life, not complicate it.

Music has been a constant in my life. I’m classically trained on piano, and I’ve expanded to guitar and drums over the years. There’s something about the precision and creativity of music that parallels my approach to technology, both require attention to detail within larger systems.

Colorado’s natural landscape offers the perfect counterbalance to my digital work. You’ll often find me hiking trails with my two dogs, finding perspective in open spaces that no computer screen can provide. I’ve found that some of my best problem-solving happens away from the keyboard.

I’m an avid reader with particular interest in nonfiction that explores human behavior, systems thinking, and specialized fields. Pat Conroy’s “The Prince of Tides” remains a favorite novel for its complex characters and emotional depth. Recently, I was captivated by “Sully: Miracle on the Hudson” by Chesley Sullenberger’s account of the famous emergency landing demonstrates how expertise, calm decision-making, and years of preparation can make all the difference in a crisis.

These diverse interests might seem disconnected from computer repair, but they contribute directly to how I approach technical challenges. They remind me that technology exists to serve people, not the other way around. I like clean code, clear writing, and helping people feel like their tech is finally working for them instead of against them.

This isn’t just what I do. It’s who I am.

Robert Cedar Online: