Technology
Technology consulting in Lafayette
I help people in Lafayette, West Lafayette, and Tippecanoe County think through technology problems in plain language. That can mean project management, servers and networking, infrastructure decisions, or whether AI belongs in a real workflow at all.
This is consulting, not a pitch deck. You bring the problem. We get clear on what is going on, what matters, and what to do next.
Background
Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from Purdue Global (2014). CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+. Same habit as on homes and rentals: find the real problem, say it clearly, then decide.
Example pattern: getting clear before the next purchase
Example pattern (anonymized).
A Tippecanoe owner or manager had a vendor pitch that sounded urgent — new tooling, “AI,” or a network refresh — and no shared picture of what was actually broken.
Process: Walk the current setup in plain language (what works, what fails, who depends on it). Separate “must fix” from “nice to have.” Check whether the proposed tool changes a real daily workflow or only adds another login. When AI was in the mix, the bar was the same: useful fit, or an honest “not yet.”
Outcome: A short prioritized list: fix or stabilize the basics first, defer or decline the purchase that did not earn its place, and a clear next conversation (implement with existing vendor, DIY steps, or a follow-up consult). No fog, no invented ROI slide.
Common questions
What does a technology consulting conversation usually cover?
Whatever is blocking a clear next step: a project that is stuck, a server or network decision, a vendor claim that does not add up, or whether a tool (including AI) belongs in a real workflow. You bring the problem. We get clear on what is going on, what matters, and what to do next.
Is this support tickets / “managed IT,” or consulting?
Consulting. The goal is clarity and a practical plan — not an ongoing helpdesk contract pitched from this page. If ongoing support is what you need later, that is a separate conversation after the problem is named.
Do you work with people outside Lafayette?
The focus is Lafayette, West Lafayette, and Tippecanoe County. Remote conversation is fine when the work is local enough that context still holds. Say where you are when you write.
How do we start?
Email frank@frankfoust.com, or use the contact form and choose Technology / IT. A short note about the problem is enough — no need for a polished brief.
What credentials sit behind the tech advice?
Bachelor’s in Information Technology (Purdue Global, 2014). CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+. Same habit as on homes and rentals: find the real problem, say it clearly, then decide.
Will you tell me not to buy something?
Yes, when that is the honest answer. Practical consulting includes “do not buy that,” “wait,” or “fix the basics first.” That is the point of a second set of eyes — not a product pitch.
How is AI consulting different from general IT consulting?
AI is one lane inside broader technology work. The conversation is still about fit: where a tool changes day-to-day work in a useful way, where it does not, and how to read a vendor claim without the sales fog. It is not a research-lab or “AI for everything” pitch.
Can you help prioritize upgrades when budget and risk both matter?
Yes. Small-business IT work often needs a clear order: what is broken, what is risky, what can wait. The output is a plain checklist and next steps — not a 40-page proposal.
Do you implement everything yourself?
Depends on the work. Some conversations end with a plan you (or a vendor you already trust) can execute. Others include hands-on help. We decide that after the problem is clear — not before.
Is this affiliated with a large product studio or agency?
No. This is Frank Foust’s personal consulting. Local, plain language, problem-first.