Micronet Systems Micronet Systems Inc Micronet-Systems The WORST Small Business IT Employer In Boise Boise, Idaho

I worked at Micronet as well.  Sure there were some things that weren't the best working environment, but I really never felt I was working for Megan or Alan, they were a funnel and gateway to the clients I served.

Here are my thoughts:  

This dude that wrote the bad news, I think he is the one who prematurely went  and bought an Audi and a house as a single guy.  Had a huge case of little man syndrom, washed out and is now bitter.  If it is someone else, sorry bout that, but those were my observations.

Alan: 
Competent, but over extend and he's a business man.  He also a father of three very ungrateful kids.  Alan grew up earning and building what he has, I'm not begrudging him that.  Although he did make some really bad choices in business, that may have led to the number of unsatisfied employee's.  There were absolutely no benefits outside of salary, this is why I left.  Thats one thing I never understood, him being a family man.  There was no vacation, no health benefits.  I had to go where I was taken care of.  

I basically viewed Micronet as a stepping stone, which it was and should have never been considered a career, maybe this is where this dude is coming from?  I made Alan and Megan a TON of money.  When I was making 20 bucks an hour, wearing out my own vehicle and raking in 30+ billable hours a week, some at the higher end at that time of 90+, seriously that was a ton of money.  All this time, I wasn't focused on Micronet or Alan, again it was a funnel - one I think the clients enjoyed as well.

The clients, they cannot be left off the hook either.  Unfortunately Micronet would take on any client.  Even those that couldn't spell PC.  It was a nightmare dealing with those customers and they are the second reason I left.  I just didn't want to be holding hands of incompetents any loner and wanted to get into IT, not configuring some idiot lawyers email client.

Megan:
Alan had to go home and deal with the mother of three very spoiled kids.  Not sure who/what made them that way, but seriously they were turds.   I am not sure what they mounted too, I hope more than what they were when I was around.

The Ex-Marine:
I worked with him as well.  He got the gravy jobs.  He had been there the longest, he was the pet.  That all started to dissipate in the end though.  He was constantly coming in late.  Burning clients, typically I would be dispatch mostly on a call of good will and relationship building.  All that said, I think he got his life straighten out and is doing well.  He was a very capable tech and thats why he rose to the top.  Unfortunately he got bored, since he wasn't able to exercise his IT skills on smaller clients.  There was some bad mouthing when he left, he went to work for an occasional client - good or him, he got the experience and pay he was warranted.

The DUI dude:
Seriously, I shuttled his butt around once Megan or what we affectionally called his son, "Baby Queenie".  That was a load of crap, I never seen reimbursement for.  Oh well.  Alan was trying to run a business.  The guy was a competent tech and clients liked him.

Working Conditions:
Small business, better than one of those dude from best buy I guess....   He built a pretty good thing for new techs to come and get exposed to clients and a lot of them.   His area of service lent to most of the frustrations, Alan could have offered more to his employees in benefits to create some condition of loyalty.  If he intended on passing this as a legacy to his kids, they would destroy it in about an hour.

We all had something to give and get.  I got some of what I needed, a chance and exposure.  I gained most from it, by learning the different relationships I needed to maintain to be successful.  I learned Small business owners, struggle and the smaller they are the more issues employees deal with.  I would consider this a service industry job in IT, basically the hamburger flipping of IT, not in a negative way, but in a way that you get out of it what you put into it.

In summation:

Alan is generally a good guy with a ton of junk on his plate, trying to do the best he can.  Does some crap surface, you bet.  He is human, I wouldn't fault him for that, nor discredit his business.  If he still is in business I hope him the best and that he succeeds, he is after all helping the economy and giving a platform for new or struggling techs to advance.

Although John is correct, you are working for someone with a Marine Corps attitude, he was firm but fair.  He did pay bonuses when things went well, but he all about getting the work done for clients. Showing up late a couple times would be bad for your psyche. He almost never sent anyone to training, but he would buy books or training material for you. But he expected you to do that on your own time, And of course he followed up to see if you completed the training/certification. (I think training is part of work)  soo..

Anyway, where I disagree is that he had a tech who got a DUI. Maybe his 2nd because he had to stay nights at the jail and couldn't drive.  Queen sent his kid, or Megan or whoever to pick this guy up every morning and to shuttle him to onsite jobs, and deliver him back at night.  I would have let that guy go.

Even though I think Queen can be overbearing,  I think that episode really speaks to how he tried to work with his employees.

There are some points "John" reported that are valid.  

I worked there more than a year but less than 3 years.

There would be times where the Alan would yell exceedingly loud, no, shout as loud and as harsh as he could to and at his son.  Certainly, that was a father/son thing; they should've took that out of the office and back at home or elsewhere. They yelled out at each other just too often at the office.

I didn't know that Alan was in the Marines.  That explains a little about his nature/disposition of expecting a certain standard from folk. So, yes, knowing that now does change my perspective/conclusion of him for the better.

To say that Micronet Systems is the worst small biz IT employer in the Boise area is subjective. One would need to work with *every* small biz IT employer to truly make it as an objective statement.

"John," to call Meagan a (female dog) is simply WRONG, regardless of what she did or didn't do.
There were times she became difficult to work with.
Though, while I don't know about the grilling you got for being late from Alan, he did likewise to others; mostly to his son, though. 

Alan gave an awesome bonus one year to *everyone*, plus he took everyone out to dinner.  He would also pay for a "farewell" luncheon from a restaurant of the departing employee's choice and ask everyone to share something they'll miss about that person.

So, yeah, Alan was hard at times; especially when his son ticked him off.  He'd take it out on others a bit too much.

Alan never deceived me of compensation, though I am aware of one specific incident where he said one thing about pay and later noted he didn't state that (to another employee).  I noted to Alan that I do recall him stating in part what he said; I didn't recall the specifics, though.  Alan accepted my testimony, per se, and asked the employee for an "in-between" amount (a 60/40 compromise) in favor of the employee.

Alan did agree to some training for me and paid $125.00 for the online "Learning courses".  Of course, we billed the client because it was client-specific training.  Don't know if the client was ever informed of this.

I think that the company has closed its doors, though.

Would I work for Alan again?  No.  Why, well I did see several "writings on the wall" and didn't care to be around when the proverbial Texas-sized fecal matter hit the Hurrinado (Hurricane & tornado combined!)-sized fan.  Wouldn't want to work for a place where fecal matter flies around like it did there.

On a separate topic: Alan, truly, thank you for your service to and for our Country.  For that I have respect for you.

John,

And, oh by the way, I have never employed anyone named John, if you are a "TOP GUN" in networking in Boise, you have either improved dramatically, or you are delusional.  Again, at least state your name! I have terminated a handful of people over the years and always for one of two reasons: You failed a DRUG test or you were INCOMPETENT! PERIOD!

Your baseless accusations gain nothing for either one of us. I will "PUT MY HAND ON A BIBLE"  for anything I have said here. That is a challenge to you! I am not hiding behind a phony name, but you are. Man or women up! or Shut up. By the info you stated you obviously worked for me many years ago. Why are you bitter now?

Again, for anyone else reading this... Why would any employer terminate a responsible / capable employee? They are the engines of your success; you want / need them!  I have had at least three employees who quit and later returned to our employment.  If you can actually do good work for our clients, you can make it here; Slackers and wannabe's cannot.

Alan Queen
208.384.9137

You are very good at lying, but fortunately I am going to expose you and your company for what you are. You are correct that I am a disgruntled former employee. I have very good reasons for being disgruntled. You have many former disgruntled employees in Boise.

Working for Micronet Systems was one of the worst moves I have ever made in my 15+ year career in IT. It was like a revolving door in there. You never knew who was going to be let go next, or who the new guy would be. It was a toxic, offensive environment. The only one benefitting from Micronet
Systems is Alan and Megans personal checking account.

The disrespect that you show employees is mind boggling. You yourself have an accounting degree from BSU and an old expired CNE certification. You tell network techs and engineers that have massive relevant experience and certifications that they are incompetent! You are incompetent,
and have no business being a people manager over employees. It is interesting that after I was thrown under the bus at Micronet, I went on to be very successful in IT at another company. I currently have a reputation as one of the "Top Guns" in network engineering in Boise.

I will give you one of many examples of the typical treatment you can expect at Micronet Systems. I was sent out on a network support service call to a local client. I was having difficulty finding the client's address, and did not have a GPS with me. I called the Micronet Systems office to get better directions. Megan answered the phone, and when I told her I was having trouble finding the client's location she proceeded to chew me out for being late! I can still hear her whiny voice: "You were s'possed to be there!". Well, I am having difficulty finding the client's site, that is why I am calling for directions. "But you were s'posed to be there 15 minutes ago!". Stupid b***h.  You better believe that after I returned back to the shop I was reprimanded by Alan (Megan "talked" to him).

After I was thrown under the bus by Alan, I went to the department of labor to try to collect un-employment. The lady that I dealt with was all to familiar with Micronet Systems and the volumes of terminations at the hands of Alan Queen. She approved my un-employment, and mentioned that
"Until Micronet improves their human resources and dismissal practices, they don't have a case".

Here is a challenge for you Alan. I DARE YOU to put your hand on the bible and reply to this post with a truthful number of people you have terminated in your 22 years of business. I would conservatively estimate that you terminate a MINIMUM of 2-3 techs a year, based on my working at Micronet Systems and dealing with you and Megan. I would not be surprised if you have terminated well over 50 different employees during your time in business. I don't know how you live with yourself at night when you go to bed. My sense is, you are just a greedy, egotistical person. The only thing that matters is Alan's personal income. Screw your other fellow human beings.

As far as clients go, YOU MOST CERTAINLY did have a contract with the State of Idaho and Idaho Power. You may not now, but you did when I was there. It is very much in your character to "warp" the truth and turn the facts around.


Anyone that goes to work for Micronet Systems and Alan Queen; YOU HAVE BEEN
WARNED. If you are a current or potential client of Micronet Systems, you need
to ask yourself if you really want to do business with such of a dishonest and
cold hearted man.

I am Alan Queen. Whoever posted this is a liar, and if actually terminated, was incompetent or failed a drug test. Our
current shortest term employee has been here 3 years (not months!) Payroll is not done from my personal account, but from a Micronet Systems account. Stop by, I'll prove it with years (22) of documentation. We do NOT have any state contracts and have never sought any preferences.

Name the 6 people! Better yet, your name. I have never employed anyone named John! If you were terminated, you
had at least 3 previous warnings. It is however true that we employ professionals who can do the work. We provide customer results and slacker/wannabe techs cannot make it in this environment. And, yes your pay will goes up with your performance, it will not go up if you cannot do the work.

The only long term ex-Marine employee left about 8 years ago. I hired him right after his service. He worked for me for more than 6 years, he was very capable, and his clients asked about him long after he left.

Lastly, think about it.. Why I ever terminate someone who did good work? It is simply not logical.

Alan