Tier 3 IT’s Journey from Cottage Computers to a Trusted IT Solutions Provider

Thirty-five years ago, a small company named Cottage Computers began with one clear mission: to help businesses thrive through reliable IT services. Today, Tier 3 IT stands as a trusted managed service provider, known for securing businesses and supporting long-term success in Edmonton and beyond. On October 23, 2025 we marked this milestone with clients, partners, and community leaders, celebrating not just our history, but the partnerships that drive stronger businesses every day. Read on to see how this event reflected our core values and commitment to your success.

The Birth of Cottage Computers

Founding Vision and Early Days

In 1990, Gary and Mary Lou Hill saw something many missed: small businesses needed tech support from people who cared about their success. They started Cottage Computers in a modest space with an extraordinary vision—to make technology work for local businesses, not the other way around.

Their approach was refreshingly different. While most tech companies pushed the latest gadgets, Gary and Mary Lou first asked, “What does your business need to grow?” This question became the cornerstone of their service model.

The early days brought challenges that tested their resolve. Working late nights, meeting clients at their convenience, and often solving problems that bigger companies wouldn’t touch—this hands-on commitment built trust in the community.

What made Cottage Computers stand out wasn’t fancy offices or flashy marketing. It was the phone calls returned promptly, the extra time spent training nervous staff, and the honest advice that sometimes meant recommending less technology, not more.

Growth into Tier 3 IT Solutions

The transformation from Cottage Computers to Tier 3 IT didn’t happen overnight. It grew from consistent client care and an eye toward what businesses would need next.

As client needs evolved, so did our company. We expanded our team with experts who shared our values. Each new hire was selected not just for technical skills but for their ability to explain complex concepts in plain language that business owners could understand.

The name change to Tier 3 IT Solutions marked a new chapter but kept the same story at heart. The “Tier 3” in our name reflects our commitment to the highest level of IT support—going beyond basic fixes to create strategic solutions for your business goals.

Growth brought new capabilities without losing personal touch. We added cybersecurity services when threats increased, cloud solutions when they became practical for small businesses, and strategic planning when clients asked for more than just technical support.

What started as a small operation grew into a full-service IT partner, but one thing never changed: we still ask first about your business goals, then design technology to match.

Celebrating 35 Years of Success

Time flies when you’re helping businesses grow. Our 35th anniversary celebration at Rig Hand Distillery brought together the many people who made our journey possible.

Highlights from the Anniversary Event

The celebration on October 23rd felt less like a corporate event and more like a family reunion. The historic Rig Hand Distillery provided the perfect backdrop for mixing stories of the past with visions for the future.

Walking through the doors, guests were greeted with timeline displays showing key moments in our 35-year history. Old computers from the 90s sat next to modern servers—a visual reminder of how far technology has come during our time in business.

The video booth became an unexpected hit of the evening. Clients, staff, and partners lined up to share their Tier 3 IT stories. These raw, unscripted testimonials captured what numbers and awards never could—the real impact of trusted IT support on local businesses.

Perhaps the most meaningful moment came during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Three generations of the Hill family stood together, symbolizing both our roots and our future. The room fell silent as Gary Hill shared his original vision, and many nodded in recognition that those same principles still guide our work today.

Recognizing Key Contributors

Success is always a team effort, and our anniversary gave us the chance to thank those who shaped our 35-year journey.

The awards ceremony highlighted both the visible and behind-the-scenes heroes of our story. Gary and Mary Lou Hill received the Founders Award, honoring their courage to start something new when technology was still mysterious to most small businesses.

The Cornerstone Award went to long-time team members Keri Buttar, JP MacEachern, and Roland Dyck, who have each spent over 15 years building client relationships that last. Their technical knowledge is matched only by their ability to make clients feel heard and valued.

We presented the Teambuilders Award to Umair Hafeez, Nick Edwards, Aaron Poburan, and Aaron Dalla-Longa—staff members who strengthen our culture daily through mentorship and positive attitudes. Their work reminds us that great IT service comes from great people.

The Builders Award recognized client partnerships that helped us grow. These businesses trusted us with their technology needs year after year, allowing us to learn and improve.

Each award told part of a larger story—that business success comes through relationships built on trust, maintained through consistency, and strengthened through challenges.

Partnering with the Community

Our business growth and community involvement have always been connected. The celebration highlighted this essential part of our identity.

Supporting Non-Profit Organizations

The anniversary event spotlighted our commitment to organizations making Alberta stronger. Four non-profit partners set up booths to share their work with our guests.

Edmonton Meals on Wheels showed how they deliver more than food—they bring human connection to isolated seniors. Their representatives shared stories of how improved IT systems help them coordinate hundreds of volunteer drivers and track special dietary needs.

RiseUp Society displayed their work supporting survivors of domestic abuse. Their booth explained how secure technology plays a crucial role in protecting client privacy and safety—something our team helps maintain.

Leduc Regional Housing representatives discussed their mission to provide safe, affordable housing. They explained how streamlined systems help match families with appropriate homes faster.

Leduc LINX Connect Centre shared their work supporting adults with developmental disabilities. Their display showed how accessible technology helps their clients gain independence and job skills.

The highlight came during the check presentation ceremony, where we recognized the $120,000 in total donations made throughout 2025. This number represents more than money—it shows how IT services can create ripple effects of positive change throughout a community.

Engaging with Local Leaders

Civic leadership plays a key role in creating business-friendly communities. Our celebration brought together both incoming and outgoing community leaders.

Newly elected Councilors Jill Spinks and Shawn Raymond joined the festivities, bringing fresh perspectives on how technology can address municipal challenges. Their presence signaled the importance of IT infrastructure in future community planning.

Outgoing Councilor Beverly Beckett received special recognition for her years of support for local businesses. Her understanding of how technology and business success connect helped create policies that benefit the entire community.

Jennifer Garries from Leduc Chamber of Commerce delivered opening remarks that placed our anniversary in the context of broader economic development. Her award presentation recognized not just our longevity but our role in strengthening the business ecosystem.

These connections with local government and business organizations remind us that IT services don’t exist in isolation. When we help one business improve its technology, we contribute to job creation, tax revenue, and community stability.

The Heart of Our Success

Behind every server we maintain and every network we secure stands a philosophy that puts your business goals first.

Client-Centric Solutions and Core Values

From day one, we built our business around one simple idea: your success defines our success. This principle shapes every service we offer and every recommendation we make.

Our core values aren’t just wall decorations—they’re daily decision-making tools. When faced with choices, we ask which option best serves your long-term business interests. This client-first approach often means suggesting the right solution rather than the most expensive one.

We believe IT should work for you, not create more work. This means designing systems that match your actual business processes instead of forcing you to change how you operate. Your team shouldn’t need computer science degrees to do their jobs effectively.

The proof of this approach shows in our client retention rates. Many businesses have trusted us with their technology for over 20 years—spanning multiple generations of both computer systems and company leadership. These relationships last because we focus on business outcomes rather than technical specifications.

What sets us apart isn’t just technical knowledge—it’s business understanding. We take time to learn how your company makes money, where your growth opportunities lie, and what keeps you up at night. This context helps us recommend technology that solves real problems.

Building Stronger Businesses Through IT Services

Great IT services do more than fix computers—they remove obstacles between your team and their best work. For 35 years, we’ve seen how the right technology approach creates stronger businesses.

The businesses we serve report concrete benefits: fewer emergency disruptions, more predictable IT costs, and improved team productivity. One manufacturing client cut order processing time by 68% through workflow improvements we designed together.

Security remains a top concern for every business we serve. Our managed service provider approach means we spot and fix potential problems before they affect your operations. This proactive stance has helped clients avoid data breaches that impact both finances and reputation.

Remote work capabilities we’ve built for clients proved especially valuable during recent years. Companies that had our systems in place adapted quickly to changing work environments without losing momentum.

The strongest businesses combine human expertise with appropriate technology. We help you find that balance—keeping technology in its proper role as a tool that serves your business goals, not an end in itself.

Looking to the Future

As we celebrate our past, we’re even more excited about what lies ahead for the businesses we serve.

Proactive Approach to IT Solutions

The next chapter of business technology requires getting ahead of problems before they affect your operations. Our proactive approach means watching for issues you might not even know exist.

We’ve moved beyond the old “break-fix” model that dominated IT when we started. Today, our systems continuously monitor your network health, security status, and performance metrics. This gives us early warning signs of potential issues—often fixing them before you notice any disruption.

This forward-looking stance applies to cybersecurity threats that grow more sophisticated daily. We track emerging attack methods and update your protections accordingly. This vigilance has prevented countless security incidents for our clients.

Proactive planning also means helping you budget effectively for technology needs. We work with you to create IT roadmaps that prevent surprise expenses and align technology investments with your business growth plans.

The businesses that thrive tomorrow will be those that treat technology as a strategic asset today. Our role is helping you see around corners—identifying both risks and opportunities before they become obvious to everyone.

Enhancing Productivity and Security

The future belongs to businesses that balance two critical needs: making work easier for their teams while keeping data secure from threats.

Productivity improvements come from understanding your actual workflows. We observe how your team really works—not how software companies think they should work. This practical approach leads to customized solutions that save time on daily tasks.

Security doesn’t have to mean complexity. We design protection systems that work quietly in the background, allowing your team to focus on serving customers rather than navigating cumbersome security protocols.

The most successful businesses we serve take a balanced approach to both needs. They recognize that overly restrictive security measures can hurt productivity, while inadequate protection creates business risks. Finding your ideal balance requires understanding both your industry requirements and your specific business culture.

Training remains central to both productivity and security goals. We help your team learn the skills they need in formats that respect their time and learning styles. This investment pays dividends through faster work completion and fewer security incidents.

As we look ahead to our next 35 years, we remain committed to the principle that started it all: technology should serve your business goals, not dictate them. With the right IT partner, your business can face future challenges with confidence and focus on what you do best.