We were lucky to catch up with Chris Allen recently and have shared our conversation below.
Chris, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
I spent nearly 14 years in corporate before launching Advanced Computing & Technology, and honestly, that experience shaped everything I do today. During those years, I learned operations, customer service, pressure management, leadership, systems, and what businesses actually need to run efficiently. I was constantly observing what worked, what failed, and where companies struggled when it came to technology and execution.
Over time, I realized I had a bigger vision than just working inside someone else’s system. I saw a huge gap in the hospitality and technology industry where businesses needed a true all in one technology partner. Someone who understood networking, POS systems, surveillance, audio, structured cabling, automation, and customer experience all together instead of separately. That idea stayed in my mind for years before I finally acted on it.
When I officially started Advanced Computing & Technology, I didn’t start big. I started with discipline. I took small projects, worked long hours, reinvested everything back into the business, and treated every client like they were my most important one. I was doing installs, learning new technologies late at night, building relationships, creating processes, and figuring things out in real time. The next day was always about improving something whether it was my skillset, communication, systems, branding, or customer experience.
One of the hardest parts was transitioning from having a corporate structure around me to building my own structure from scratch. I had to learn contracts, scheduling, project management, accounting, scaling operations, and how to lead a growing company while maintaining quality. There were no shortcuts. Every lesson came through experience, pressure, and consistency.
What really moved the company forward was execution. I stayed focused on mastering my craft and delivering results. Word spread organically because clients trusted the work. That trust eventually turned into larger opportunities, multi location projects, enterprise level installs, and expansion across multiple states.
Today, Advanced Computing & Technology has helped open thousands of restaurant locations and completed projects ranging from small businesses to major hospitality deployments. But the biggest takeaway from my journey is that success didn’t happen overnight. It came from years of preparation, sacrifice, faith, discipline, and being willing to execute long after the excitement of the original idea wore off.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Chris Allen, and I am the Owner and CEO of Advanced Computing & Technology, a company specializing in hospitality technology, enterprise networking, audio and visual systems, surveillance, structured cabling, electrical integration, POS solutions, and full business technology infrastructure. We also have our own in house General Contractor division, which allows us to provide complete turnkey solutions for our clients from construction and build out to technology deployment and final execution. I am also a married father of seven, and that alone has been one of the biggest driving forces behind everything I have built. Family, leadership, discipline, and legacy are at the center of who I am both personally and professionally.
Before launching my company, I spent nearly 14 years in corporate America where I developed experience in operations, leadership, customer service, systems management, and business development. That foundation gave me the discipline and understanding I needed to eventually build my own company from the ground up.
I got into this industry because I have always been passionate about technology, problem solving, and creating systems that make businesses operate more efficiently. Over time, I realized many restaurants, hotels, lounges, and businesses struggled because they were hiring multiple companies to handle different parts of their projects. One company handled networking, another handled audio, another handled surveillance, another handled electrical, and another handled construction management. I saw an opportunity to create a true all in one company that could professionally design, build, install, manage, and support everything under one roof.
What started as small local projects eventually grew into a company that has now helped open over 6,300 restaurant and hospitality locations across multiple states. Today, Advanced Computing & Technology provides custom enterprise networks, hospitality technology solutions, electrical services, surveillance systems, AI camera systems, audio and visual design, access control, structured cabling, POS installation and programming, automation, WiFi optimization, digital signage, and complete technology infrastructure for businesses of all sizes.
What truly sets us apart is that we do not just install equipment. We engineer complete solutions based on the client’s operations, workflow, goals, and long term vision. Because we have in house technology, infrastructure, and general contracting capabilities, we can streamline projects more efficiently while maintaining quality and accountability from start to finish. I personally believe technology and construction should work together seamlessly to create efficiency, stability, security, and an elevated customer experience.
I am most proud of the fact that this company was built organically through consistency, sacrifice, word of mouth, and trust. I did not come from unlimited resources or investors. I built this company project by project while continuously mastering my craft, reinvesting into growth, and learning every aspect of the business. Every challenge became an opportunity to improve.
Outside of business, I take pride in helping people, mentoring others, and showing that success is possible through discipline, faith, hard work, and perseverance. Being a husband and father while building a growing company has taught me balance, patience, accountability, and purpose. One of the biggest things I want people to know about me and my brand is that I genuinely care about the work, the people, and the impact we leave behind. My goal has never been just to make money. My goal has always been to build something respected, dependable, innovative, and meaningful that creates opportunities for others while setting a new standard in the hospitality, construction, and technology industries.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
One story that really illustrates my resilience is the journey of building Advanced Computing & Technology from the ground up. Before starting my company, I spent nearly 14 years in corporate America watching, learning, and absorbing everything around me. I paid attention to how businesses operated, how leadership worked, where companies failed, and what customers truly needed. At the same time, I was constantly improving my own skills in technology, networking, hospitality systems, audio, surveillance, and infrastructure.
The biggest thing I learned during that time was that a lot of people will tell you “no.” People will tell you something cannot be done, that you are aiming too high, or that you should stay comfortable where you are. I heard “no” many times throughout my journey, but I never accepted it as the final answer. I have always believed that “no” simply means you have to work harder, learn more, become more disciplined, and find another way.
When I first started my company, I was taking small projects and doing whatever it took to build trust and reputation. There were long nights, setbacks, financial pressure, mistakes, and moments where things could have easily discouraged me. But I stayed consistent. I kept learning. I kept showing up. I refused to let obstacles define my future.
Over time, that resilience turned into growth. Small projects turned into large scale hospitality deployments, enterprise networks, technology infrastructure builds, and eventually over 6,300 restaurant and hospitality locations opened across multiple states. We expanded beyond technology into full turnkey solutions including electrical and in house general contracting services because I never wanted limitations to stop the vision.
The biggest lesson resilience taught me is that success is not built overnight. It is built through discipline, sacrifice, consistency, faith, and the ability to keep moving forward when people doubt you or circumstances become difficult. I never settled for “no,” and I believe that mindset is one of the biggest reasons my company has grown into what it is today.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
One thing I am extremely proud of is that Advanced Computing & Technology was built without loans, outside investors, or company debt. Everything was built off pure skill, knowledge, discipline, and execution. I did not start with massive capital. I started with confidence in my craft, the willingness to outwork people around me, and the mindset that I would build something real no matter what obstacles came my way.
When I launched the company, I focused on leveraging my knowledge and skillset to create opportunities instead of relying on borrowed money. I started with smaller projects and reinvested into the business every chance I got. I stayed disciplined financially and made sure projects funded growth instead of creating losses.
One of the biggest advantages I had was mastering multiple areas of the industry. I was not just offering one service. I could engineer networks, program POS systems, build surveillance systems, design audio and visual experiences, handle structured cabling, infrastructure, electrical work, and eventually expand into full turnkey solutions with our own in house General Contractor division. That versatility allowed me to create value at a much higher level while keeping operations efficient and scalable.
As the company grew, so did the opportunities. Small projects turned into enterprise deployments, multi location builds, and large hospitality projects across multiple states. Today, Advanced Computing & Technology has helped open over 6,300 restaurant and hospitality locations while maintaining the same principles the company was built on.
One of the biggest lessons I have learned is this. If you have the skill, you do not need money. Utilize your skill. Master your craft so well that your knowledge creates opportunities for you. Skill is a form of capital that nobody can take away. When you combine discipline, execution, relationships, and consistency with real skill, you can build something powerful without placing yourself under overwhelming debt or depending on others to believe in your vision before you do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.advcomptechs.com
- Instagram: Advcomptechs
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/actechnology
Image Credits
Carlos Vincent (Rest In Peace)