HISTORY OF MICHAEL BERRY (OWNER MAGICOMP) AND COMPANY PROGRESSION SINCE 1979
(Updated 04/09/25)

Went to George C. Marshall High School in Fairfax VA for 9th-10th-11th grade ('76-'78)
and my dad was transferred by Military Service to Florida so I had to finish high school by
enrolling in 12th Grade at Northeast High School, St. Petersburg, FL (Class of 79)

I had taken classes like Algrebra 2 Trig, Geometry, Typing, Drivers Ed, Bookkeeping, Business Mgmt
and more up north and they didn't have any more advanced classes to take since the school
system wasn't as advanced down here, so after the required classes of Grammar, Humanities
and Consumer Economics, I had nothing else I could take so they offered me
a computer class with a mainframe that ran off of ticker tape. I learned some of that,
but mainly learned from Radio Shack that same year.
06/79 Graduated NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL (St. Pete, FL) with Honors - 45th of 600 3.5GPA

Started hanging around RADIO SHACK with the TRS-80 learning programming

Free-Lance Programming while attending College

'81 Graduated ST. PETE COLLEGE with Associate Degree in Computer Science

Here is list of classes I took, and my favorite was LOGIC.
In all my years in the business I NEVER saw a computer using
Fortran, RPG, Assembler or Cobol like at this school. (I assume only large companies)
I learned my real programming skills hanging around Radio Shack and purchasing a TRS-80
04/23/81 Started "THE PROGRAMMING FORCE"

(First sale to manager at Radio Shack (Ken Fischer) of $1 for Snoopy Calendar 4/23/81)

Wrote lots of BUSINESS programs and some basic ARCADE games for the TRS-80.
Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Inventory, Payroll, General Ledger, Point of Sale, etc.
Some ARCADE GAMES like Rockin' Robber, Flying Swordsmen, Amoeba Attack Wars, and more.
Also wrote numerous EDUCATIONAL Programs sold to many school systems across the country
teaching things such as How to Handle Money, Getting a Job, Credit, Consumer Law, and many, many more.
Most of those same programs were converted to IBM DOS compatible machines as well.
Added a partner Tony Bergman 1982

05/01/81-03/31/84 Office at 8601 4th St. N. #303A (Bldg later SOLD and is now WAWA)

Got an article written about us in ST. PETE TIMES on 02/29/84
(Click Article to Enlarge)

Computer Shopper Magazine Ad in 1983?
TOOK THE JUMP - 03/84-03/86 Had STORE in GATEWAY MALL
two doors down from Radio Shack selling software.

03/86 Parted ways with Tony Bergman and went mobile till 09/88

Then opened new store at 9211 4th St. N.
09/20/88-04/30/92 Store at 9211 4th St. N. (Bldg later SOLD and is now TACO BELL)

05/92-09/93 Store at 9001 4th St. N. (Now BIG STEINS DELI)

09/93-12/95 changed name to "PRO FORCE COMPUTERS"
since started repairing computers but still stayed at same location.

Got recognized on CHANNEL 44 News for Computer Swap Meet in '94

01/96-05/97 Purchased "CENTURIAN TECHNOLOGIES OF TAMPA BAY" and opened Store at
3665 East Bay Dr #240 doing DIALUP Internet (with over 45 phone lines) & Computer Services

and 16 months later (05/97) MCI, realizing that the "Internet" would be big,
reneged on their contract and quadrupled the monthly rate, saying I signed it, but they didn't,
and tried to retro bill me over $130K and forced me to quit the service.
Started new company called "MAGICOMP" COMPUTERS
09/11/97-03/31/12 Doing mobile on-site service and programming.

Still as "MAGICOMP" 04/01/12-06/19/23 Mini-Store inside WAVE POOL AND GRILL STORE (10ft x 7ft)

Purchased 2019 Dodge Charger in Sept 2022

Expanded area in Pool Store in Feb 2023 (14ft x 14ft)

They SOLD the building 06/23 so I moved to 8120 4th St N. Ste 6
06/20/23-10/19/23 Office/Store (500sq ft.) at 8120 4th St. N. Suite 6

Needed more space so moved to Large Front Unit

10/20/23 to PRESENT (1500sq ft) 8120 4th St. N. FRNT