SAN BENITO — Whether it’s replacing outdated computer equipment, performing upgrades or troubleshooting electronic systems, technician James Baker, 38, has the skills for fixing information technology problems many businesses encounter.
Once everything is back up and running again, these businesses are then able to continue as normal thanks to his services.
In April, Baker received the Rookie of the Year award from the annual Service Providers of the Year (SPOTY) awards.
The SPOTY awards recognize the top technicians of Field Nation, which is an online marketplace that connects businesses with skilled technicians.
Baker was selected from more than 280 nominations for the company’s SPOTY awards.
“ The Service Providers of the Year awards provide a chance for us to highlight the professionalism, quality and client-focus of our providers,” Field Nation founder and CEO Mynul Khan stated in a press release. “With more than one million work orders completed last year and 693 new companies who joined Field Nation in 2019, we believe it’s important to thank the high achievers who keep pushing the platform forward.”
The Rookie of the Year award is given to a provider who joined Field Nation within the last year and has already completed a high volume of work orders with quality ratings.
Baker said winning the award was unexpected.
“ I received a package with a certificate, a bunch of goodies, gift cards and stuff like that so it was pretty cool,” Baker said. “They were telling me that it was a nationwide deal so I was pretty excited.”
Baker provides services for businesses throughout the Valley from South Padre Island to the McAllen, Mission area.
In 2019, he completed more than 500 work orders.
“ I do a lot of work with retail and banks,” he said. “That’s a good thing about here in the Valley because it doesn’t take too long to get from place to place so it opens up a lot more work for us down here.”
Prior to working with Field Nation, Baker was an electrician for close to 20 years.
“ I had knowledge in fixing things and troubleshooting so it just went over into the network aspect of it,” he explained. “It just picked up really quick and I guess the customer’s had confidence in assigning me these jobs so I try to be there on time, give them the deliverables and everything that they wanted and work in a prompt and professional manner.”
