Our Story
We’re not just an IT service provider, we’re your tech lifeline.
There’s a particular kind of frustration small business owners know well: technology that’s supposed to make work easier ends up consuming the workday instead. Larger companies have IT departments to handle it; the rest of us either patch problems ourselves or get passed around call centers that don’t know our setup.
Black River Secure was built specifically for that gap. We are not a national MSP. We are not a freelancer who disappears the moment something goes sideways. We are a small, capable, locally-owned firm whose entire reason for existence is to give small businesses a serious IT partner without the impersonal experience that usually comes with it.
We launched intentionally with documented processes, clear pricing, a defined service model, and an experienced team. We believe the businesses we work with deserve an operation that takes their problems as seriously as they do.
Our Values
Our Core Beliefs & Purpose
We don’t just fix tech. We bring clarity, confidence, and continuity to your business operations.
Our Vision
To prove that small business IT can be honest, personal, locally-rooted, and seriously capable. And to set a standard the rest of the industry has to live up to.
Our Mission
To remove uncertainty from technology so people can focus on what matters most. We build IT environments that are secure, predictable, and thoughtfully managed, while staying close to the people who rely on them.
Our Values
Access to your business is something we earn, not assume.
We don't cut corners. If something goes wrong, we own it.
We do what we say we're going to do, every single time.
We care about doing the job right, not just getting it done.
We remember there's a person behind every tech problem.
Why Choose Us
Why Black River Secure
Most small businesses can’t afford a full-time IT person, but that doesn’t mean you should be left figuring it out yourself. Black River Secure was built specifically for businesses like yours.
01.
Real Experts, No Scripts
You get a certified professional who knows your systems inside and out, not a random tech reading from a manual every time you call.
02.
Security-First Approach
We take a proactive approach to keeping your data and your business safe, because a breach is a lot more expensive than prevention.
03.
One Point of Contact
No getting passed around. Our Lead IT Consultant knows your setup and handles everything from start to finish.
04.
Plain English, Always
We’ll never talk down to you or bury you in jargon. You’ll always know what’s going on and why.
05.
Local and Available
We’re based right here in Fuquay-Varina. We’re part of this community, and we’re available when you actually need us.
Our Team
Meet Our Tech Experts
Marilee Smith
Technical Director
As the Technical DIrector at Black River Secure, I combine high-level technical certifications with deep practical experience to build resilient, security-first environments. By avoiding corporate jargon and tech scripts, I focus on translating advanced technical architecture into plain English solutions that keep systems running smoothly around the clock.
Technical Expertise & Background
Microsoft MCSE Certified — Specialized in architecting and managing enterprise infrastructure, ensuring server reliability, and optimizing cloud and hybrid environments.
Juniper Networks Expert — Deeply experienced in configuring high-performance routing, switching, and robust network security protocols to protect critical business assets.
Proactive Security — Dedicated to deploying advanced data protection strategies to stop technical disruptions and security breaches before they occur.
When I'm not auditing infrastructure or securing client networks, I trade command lines for hands-on creativity. I love spending my free time working on detailed sewing projects, getting lost in a good book, diving into home improvement projects, and learning the ins and outs of vegetable gardening. These hobbies keep my focus sharp, allowing me to bring patience and meticulous detail back to solving complex technical challenges.
Brendan leads the technical side of Black River Secure, holding a CompTIA Security+ certification and a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Southern Virginia University, where his interest in technology took root during a web development internship.
Brendan's guiding idea is simple: small businesses deserve an IT partner who treats them like people, not a ticket number. He designs secure, scalable IT environments that solve real operational problems, backed by hands-on threat defense and vulnerability management that keeps a business's data, and its livelihood, protected.
What sets his approach apart is where he came from. Before cybersecurity, Brendan spent nearly six years managing teams as a General Manager at Applebee's and later worked in car dealership sales. Those years taught him how to listen, earn trust quickly, and stay calm under pressure, skills no certification can teach. He brings that same instinct to IT: leading with empathy, not tech-speak, and remembering that behind every support ticket is a person trying to keep their business running.
Today, Brendan pairs that people-first grounding with serious technical expertise, bridging business goals and technical execution for Black River Secure's clients. His standard is consistent: no cut corners, no hidden mistakes, no settling for "good enough." For small business owners, that means an IT partner who's not just skilled, but genuinely reliable.
Ginger Cox
Office Manager
Ginger grew up, married, and raised her family in Florida. She is a graduate of USF in Tampa with degrees in Business Finance and Criminology. Married to Jonathan almost thirty years, she homeschooled their two daughters for thirteen years and is thrilled they have added a son-in-law and two grandchildren to the mix. Most of her free time is spent with the grandchildren, in her garden, worshiping, and serving a church.
Her career has focused on working with small entrepreneurial businesses. Early in life she was an operations manager and stock trader for an investment firm. This led to a desire to help businesses get on track with quarterly and annual planning, which led to learning how to implement EOS, the entrepreneurial operating system. As she helps small businesses implement EOS, she realized that having all team members in the company working in the right seat became critical to the company’s success. So, she got certified as a Working Genius Coach. In this capacity she helps small businesses discover what types of work give their team members energy to ensure they have everyone on the team working in the ideal role to reach the company’s quarterly and annual goals.
Let's Talk
Frustrated with your tech?
Fill out the form and we’ll schedule a free on-site audit. We’ll take an honest look at your setup and tell you exactly what we find, no strings attached.
info@blackriversecure.com
(919) 926-9116
Personal Connection
Guided Support
Enterprise-Level Protection
Reliable managed IT services for small businesses in North Carolina.
Contact
- (919) 926-9116
- info@blackriversecure.com
Address
1000 N Main St, Ste 102, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
