Smart Dolphins IT Solutions’ vital signs are in tip-top shape and they definitely won’t have a problem surpassing the average lifespan of a Bottlenose Dolphin.

Smart Dolphins just turned 15 years old. They are a provider of award-winning computer support and networking for businesses in the Greater Victoria area and elsewhere on Vancouver Island. In addition to their excellent services, they have earned two VIATEC Technology Awards: VIATEC Member of the Year (2008) and Employer of the Year (2012).

“15 years ago I was sitting in the backroom of our townhouse preparing to take my new found skills to market,” reflected Dave Monahan, founder. “I was brainstorming business names. I was considering my hourly rate. I was carving Smart Dolphins into a shingle. I wondered who I could approach first. Smart Dolphins was preparing for launch. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was young and figured now would be a great time to give my own business a go.”

Some of their clients include Access Records, Kidsport Victoria and Megson FitzPatrick. Smart Dolphins can sell and install a new computer network from the ground up, tweak an existing network or they can simply serve to keep computers behaving nicely. They install, configure and troubleshoot both hardware and software. They take on big IT projects or answer the smallest of help desk type questions.

A few of our favourite features of their website are the “Dolphin Ditties” and “Pod Pointers”. The Ditties are helpful video tutorials that help make your days a little easier. The videos cover anything from a cool, new software, using software to its fullest potential or precautions you should take online. The Pointers are a similar concept, but in a blog format instead of video.

The team at Smart Dolphins works hard, plays hard and treats their clients like they’re a part of the pod.

They have a “Dol-Fan” wall where guests sign in by writing their name on a dolphin and adding it to the wall. A staff member is blindfolded monthly and picks a name off the wall so they can give them a $100 cash prize.

Paul Holmes just joined their team and they gave him a Nerf Gun initiation (See the torture happen here), and he was actually seen at Smart Dolphins’ Charity Poker Tournament shortly before he was hired. Maybe he impressed everyone with his card skills…

“I don’t have a crystal ball, but I am confident and passionate about our future,” commented Monahan. “Smart Dolphins is improving lives through business excellence and the leveraged use of technology. We’re denting the universe. I can’t wait to see what we can do with another 3900 weekdays.”