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Show TheSalt Lake Tribune NATION Als Sunday,October 12,2008 Whentheexecs can’t workthe computer, they callher Clandestine PC lessons: Jennifer Shaheen helps technologically unsawvy bosses too uncomfortable to ask for help at work gets two hours of training, two one-hour phone calls and e-mail support. It’s unclear if there is enough business to expand the practice understand the perpetual stream of software updates and patches, viruses and worms, hackers:and greatly beyond the clients she already has —- about a dozen ex- ecutives who range from small By Micuakt P. ReGan TheAssociated Press NEW YORK — She often plies her trade at nights and on weekends, when no one is around to witness the 32-year-old bionde’s secret visits to powerful executives. Some of her clients insist the mysterious Jennifer Shaheen call them only on their cell phones, fearing messages left with secretaries could spark brush fires of gossip. Yet there is nothing unsavory about Shaheen's line of work. She is a computer tutor to corporate big shots, giving pointers in the fine arts of opening e-mail attachments, navigating Excel spreadsheets and performing other PC chores the executives’ minions probably can do in their sleep. “You'd be surprised by what they don’t know,” Shaheen says. “And they’re not comfortable asking the IT person in their company because then they show weakness to their staff.” Now that the computer revolution is over — and it’s clear the entrepreneurs to heads of large public companies. Pat Galagan of the American Society for Training and Development says she hasn’t heard of a great demand for this type of coaching, though there does appear to be a growing demand for personal coaching in other business areas. Butothers see a potential. “T don’t think they fexecutives] want to broadcast their lack of techno-savvy across their business,” said Lane Kramer, president of the CEO Institute, a they’re going to be discreet and low-key aboutbringing someone in.” identity thieves: You are not alone. “When theyfind out they’re not the only ones,it’s like this I’m not the only one whodoesn't weight has been lifted off their know what the two mouse butshoulders and they say, ‘Really? tons are for?’ ” SERVING THE BEST FISH & CHIPS SINCE 1969! 8-Piece Family Value Meal 2-Piece Fish & Chips Basket *Mix and Match Original Fish or Chicken *Family Fries | I eChoice of either two bowlsof clam chowderor colesiaw $2". Neo cash value Not valid with other coupons or discounts: One coupon valid for ali in your party. Redeem at any No cash value. Not valid with other coupons oe discounts. Gre coupon valid for oll in your party. Redeemabie at any Skippers location. &9@ Expires 11-30-03 Skippers focation. #10 Expires 11-24-03 Mutray (801)263-3643 880 West Valley City Shaheen has a message for all the busy bosses struggling to —< f 5600 §. * Orem (801) 802-0412 115-N. State St Hunter (801) 963-5808 3455 $ BYs1 010 mea computers won — some senior executives are in the embarrassing position of being perched atop the corporate ladder without knowing their apps from their elbows. “It used to be a badge of honor to say, ‘Everyone knows how to use the computer, but I don’t know how to turn it on.’ Now they say, ‘I need help,’” says Gerald Cullen, a Gainesville, Fla., consultant who offers confidential, $50-an-hour technology training to executives. .¢CONNECT UP TO 3 TVs FREE Exee teck: Much of the ineptitude is blamed on doting secretaries who handle email and ing with 15 fingers and the poor executives were looking for the IBM Corp. has even poked fun at this type of technophobia with a TV commercial featuring the “executivus obsoletus” — a dark-suited manager who worries he is became extinct by not keeping up with technology. He's shown on exhibit in a museum with dinosaurs and woolly mammoths, lan Colley, a spokesman for IBM’s consulting arm, says top executives often make ease-ofuse a priority in products they seek for themselves. When a company has many units involved in different types of business, all functioning on a variety of computer platforms, top executives can be overwhelmed. They want what Colley calls a simple “corporate dashboard” — showing at a glance how their business is operating Get a 3-ROOM DIRECTV® System including standard installation for FREE when you subscribe to one year of any TOTAL CHOICE® programming package. DIRECTV only Handling and delivery fee ($14.95) applies Taxes not included in system price. New customers only. Add programming fee of $4.99/mo for second and each additional receiver. Offer ends 2/28/04 in real time. But some need more remedial help. DIRECTY. ta the beginning: Shaheen says one client literally didn’t know how to tur on his laptop. So when training her clients, she starts with the basics, physically FEEL THE JOY* Free at participating retailers after mail-in rebate. $179.99 - $180 Mail-in Rebate = FREE from Best Buy®; $99.99 with a $99.99 Mail-in Rebate’ = FREE from Blockbuster®; $149.99 - $150 Mail-in Rebate = FREE from Circuit City™ sveiscie in-store onty a On wht City opening and closing a filing cab- CUTee TR ey Though not all clients require that sort of training, it’s exactly this type of non-techie approach that attracts executives to per- VALUE pany John Gallin & Son, Inc., is one of Shaheen’s few clients willing to publicly admit to IKK See mie including local channets needing her services. He says he >) See retailer, order online at DIRECTV.com/orderorcall toll free was taking advantage of only 4 ano = DIRECTY. Above retailers are authorized DIRECTV dealers you know what they did.” Shaheen calis her soft-touch atts: > turesa caricature of a computer resting on a therapist's couch. For $750 a month, an executive 1-800-669-9073 1-866-275-9295 it. 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