In July of 2017 Jason Bathon started the company now know as JAB IT LLC while working as a Regional Sales Manager for a local company. JAB IT initially was a part-time passion project where Jason would work nights and weekends on IT projects from his home, but quickly needed an office due to the increase in demand. JAB IT’s first office was a tiny 110 sqft place at the Marymount property, but after being there for just over a year, the floor was purchased and we sought another location. It was at this point, July 2019 where Jason started working for JAB IT full-time. After a 6-month stint at the now replaced Labor Building, we found our first real store at the corner of Crawford and Ohio, next to BikeTech. Even here, JAB IT quickly outgrew the space and in June of 2021, they moved to the current location at 2680 Planet Ave. where they have 2600 sqft of office and storefront space.
Physical space was not the only thing that grew over time. Now JAB IT has 4 core business segments; Computers, Protection, Managed IT, and Consulting. The original core of PC repair, upgrades, and custom builds is what they are most known for, but the Protection division has come on strong the last two years. With the Protection segment, JAB IT can install, service, and sell a wide variety of security systems including access control, surveillance, alarm systems, wellness devices, home theater, smart-AV, automation, and more. The Managed IT segment was just a natural progression of JAB IT’s specialty of helping clients solve residential and commercial needs. Many of their clients are small business owners as well which are in great need of IT support, and it doesn’t make economic sense to have an IT person on staff full-time and this is where JAB IT can be a problem solver. Lastly, the Consulting segment is their newest segment, but shows great potential. JAB IT is capable of designing and hosting websites, branding, logos, social media management, marketing, advertising, and more.
JAB IT has received numerous awards including Salina’s BEST of the BEST award for BEST PC Repair shop in 20, 21, and 22, BEST Home Security in 21 and 22, and finished in the top 5 in Customer Service for 20, 21, and 22. They have also received the “Spirit of Kansas” Award for donations to the Salina Emergency Food Bank. They also donate, sponsor, and volunteer their time with such terrific local charities including Big Brothers Big Sisters, United Way, Kansas Honor Flight, CAPS, AMBUCs, Old Lindsborg Mill, VFW, TREA, and many other groups and organizations.
A little about the founder: Jason Bathon, a Saint Louis area native, moved to Salina in 2015. He received his BS in 2006 from John Brown University and MBA in 2008 from Webster University. He is an Iraqi Freedom Veteran and served in the US Navy/Navy Reserves from 1995 to 2008. From 1995 to 1998 he served on board USS Deyo DD-989, a Spruance Class Strike Destroyer out of Norfolk VA. After that he joined the Navy Reserves and served with the MIUW-112 (Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Unit), MIUW-114, and NMCB-28 (Naval Construction Battalion). Jason is currently the Vice-President of the TREA (The Retired Enlisted Association), a veterans group based here in Salina, and he gives back as much as he can to other Veterans’ organizations in the area as well.
Jason also has some political experience and served as a water department board member, city councilperson, and city clerk.
Jason is married to Lauren Bathon, and they have three wonderful kids, 2 of which are currently attending Fort Hays University. Lauren works for Motion Industries as an Ops Manager. They also have two new puppies (Jack Russell and Min-Pin) after losing their 2 family dogs (Duke, a 18 year old Jack Russell and Tucker, a 17 year old terrier mix) this year in Jan and March.
Jason has always been a gamer, starting on an Atari 2600 and still playing through to today. It is this passion which drives Jason to provide the best IT and Protection solutions at reasonable prices and it shows in everything they do.
