From Laundromats to AI: Demystifying Tech for Business - Eric Garrison | Ep 83

Meet Eric Garrison, founder, CEO, and CTO of WTE Solutions, a tech leader with over 25 years of experience. His journey didn't start in a server room, but in his father's laundromat, troubleshooting washers and dryers. From there, he built his skills, even leaving a dream job running the online division for Marvel Comics to start his own company.

In this episode, Eric shares how his early hands-on experience shaped his approach to today's complex cloud and software problems. He demystifies advanced tech concepts like Kubernetes and AI for businesses of all sizes, from local churches to Fortune 500 companies. Discover his insights on what truly constitutes good technology leadership, the biggest mistakes companies make when modernizing their tech stack, and the practical, high-impact uses of AI that don't require a massive data science team.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

· How early experiences fixing laundromat machines shaped Eric's approach to complex tech problems.

· The pivotal moment that led him to leave his "almost dream job" at Marvel Comics to start WTE Solutions.

· An overview of WTE Solutions' evolution, from e-commerce to specialized healthcare technology.

· The unique challenges and benefits of wearing both CEO and CTO hats simultaneously.

· A common technological challenge that unites vastly different organizations, from small businesses to Fortune 500s.

· How technology's evolution has impacted his work over two decades, particularly in data center capacity and customer experience.

· Eric's strategy for making complex tech accessible, using analogies and proprietary "Lego blocks."

· Practical, high-impact AI uses for clients today, including local LLMs for data cleanup and market research.

· The single biggest mistake companies make when modernizing their tech stack or moving to the cloud.

· The most constant, unchanging principle of good technology leadership: reliable, clean data.

· What excites Eric most about the next wave of technology, including agentic AI and quantum computing.

· Eric's personal definition of innovation as creating something truly new that fills a genuine need.

This is an essential conversation for business leaders, aspiring tech entrepreneurs, and anyone seeking to cut through the tech noise and gain clear, actionable insights into effective technology strategy.

Connect With Eric Garrison:

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericgarrisonceo/

· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wtesolutions

· Website: https://www.wte.net/

· Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/caffeinated-cto-7278110668724027392/

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome Eric Garrison: WTE Solutions & Tech Accessibility

01:09 From Laundromats to Cloud: Early Troubleshooting Shapes Tech Approach

02:52 Leaving Marvel Comics: The Spark for WTE Solutions

05:16 WTE Solutions: Evolution from E-commerce to Healthcare Tech

07:18 CEO & CTO Hats: Balancing Strategy and Technical Architecture

09:09 Common Tech Challenges Across Fortune 500s & Churches

11:40 Tech Evolution: Data Centers, Capacity & Customer Experience

14:27 Demystifying Tech: Kubernetes & "Lego Blocks" for Clients

17:26 Practical AI for Clients: Data Cleanup & Local LLMs

19:50 Biggest Tech Modernization Mistake: Starting Too Big with AI

21:17 Constant Principle: Unchanging Role of Good Data in Tech Leadership

25:01 Next Tech Wave: Agentic AI & Quantum Computing

26:42 Innovation Defined: Truly Blue Ocean & Filling a Need

29:08 Connect with Eric Garrison & WTE Solutions

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