Computron Technologies, Inc.

Al Freeman is the owner of Computron Technologies, a Bronx, N. Y.-based integrator and system builder who organizes street fairs in local neighborhoods to turn people and small businesses on to the latest technology.

Freeman maintains close ties with vendors and leverages channel programs to promote their businesses. Mainstream advertising isn't overlooked either. But staying close to their communities through participation in local organizations, word-of-mouth referrals, and sometimes even zany promotional stunts deals an added bonus that is almost always felt where it's needed most: the bottom line.

Freeman, who gets partner support from major suppliers such as IBM (NYSE:IBM), Intel (NSDQ:INTC), Microsoft (NSDQ:MSFT) and Motorola (NYSE:MOT), says creative marketing schemes like Computron's "Taking It To The Street" effort complement the traditional co-marketing events he does with vendors by adding an extra layer of customer contact.