Watkins focuses on cyber security
Many people started working remotely from home in the pandemic but Joe Watkins, owner of Centric Technologies, decided to move his previously home-based information technology business into an office in uptown Lexington in January.
Centric Technologies, which Watkins founded in 2006, offers IT support, IT cybersecurity, video security, cloud services, connectivity services and VoIP services from his new office at 17 E. First Ave. He uses contract employees, including his brother, Anthony Watkins, to work with small and mid-sized businesses across the state and Southeast on their IT projects.
An at-large member of the Lexington City Council since November 2019, Watkins said he has been a proponent of more minority-owned companies moving to the uptown business district so he decided to lead by example.
“In order for me to talk to talk, I needed to walk the walk,” he said. “I love the location. It’s accessible and visible and a good opportunity for me to be around other businesses that are growing. I want to be part of the diversity of businesses uptown.”
Watkins came to Lexington from Gaffney, S.C., in 1993 after graduating from North Greenville College, which was then a two-year school, with an associate’s degree in information technology. He had an uncle and aunt who lived there and Watkins worked as a production employee at a local furniture company for several years.
“But it just wasn’t for me. I wanted something with more variety every day for personal and professional growth.”
Watkins secured a job in his field when he joined Futron Inc. in Thomasville, which is an IT and security company that has since relocated.
When the company moved, Watkins decided to try to make it on his own, even though it was a tough time to start up a business. But he wanted to pursue his entrepreneurial dream to have his own business and pursue a career in information technology, which dates back to an interest in computers as a young teenager.
“My dad bought me my first computer when I was just 12 or 13 — it was a TRS-80 from RadioShack,” Watkins recalled. “He encouraged me. And I would like to be a mentor to entrepreneurs in the community, young or old, because a lot of people have been mentors to me.”
In addition to serving on the city council, Watkins is active in the community by serving on the boards of directors of the J. Smith Young YMCA and Pastor’s Pantry..
