Ed Allen chose Cybertary because he was looking for a franchise opportunity that would accommodate his existing skills and client relationships, while extending the range of services he could offer and the market he could reach. The potential for helping out small businesses and start-ups in both the local and online communities was what he first noticed about Cybertary. Ed says that the strength of the business model was just one of the attractions. "I was encouraged to contact franchisees with varying levels of experience in the business, and spoke to some very impressive individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. The stories of success, life balance, and teamwork I heard made me sure that this was the opportunity I'd been looking for, and something that I could get other people excited about. The help and advice I'm getting as I start up my own operation has more than validated that perception. Even though I'm starting my own business, I don't feel like I'm going it alone."

Meet Ed Allen: Ed has over twenty years of experience facilitating business and technical communication in the software industry. From 1997 through 2009, Ed managed the Technical Publications department for Qualcomm's Portland Design Center, supporting multiple internal clients and product lines, most developed remotely, and also provided business document support for the PDC's general manager. Ed's experience managing a team in collaboration with many remote clients made Cybertary seem like a natural fit, and he is excited to put those skills to work providing growing businesses with virtual support that meets their unique requirements.

Ed's background has made him well versed in modern communication techniques. He has experience developing content for web sites, wikis, and blogs, and as a copywriter, has a great sense for finding the right voice for the right audience.

Ed was born and raised in North Carolina, where he graduated from Warren Wilson College. He has called Portland home since 1996. When he's not in front of one of his many computers, he enjoys Portland's local music scene and exploring the Oregon coast with his wife, Julie.