How it all Started
Hello,
My name is Brady Brisson.
Growing up, I faced my fair share of adversity. My parents divorced when I was seven years old. My dad worked tirelessly to support me as much as he could, while my mom faced challenges of her own after a serious car accident that led to an opioid addiction. From the ages of seven to thirteen, I split my time between both of their homes.
At my father’s house, life was what you might call an average middle-class childhood. We lived in a comfortable ranch-style home in a small Michigan town. Around age thirteen, I became fascinated with iPhone games (this was the era of Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja). Late at night, I’d lie awake imagining ways to make those games better and add my own twist. At this time, Apple required developers to own a Mac computer to publish apps. I remember wanting one desperately. For my fourteenth birthday, my dad gave me a brand-new Mac Mini, and that moment changed everything. I stayed up every night, often skipping homework, teaching myself how to create my own iOS game. Eventually, I released my first title, "Obama Pong" during the Obama election era.
The moment I walked into the Marshall high school cafeteria and saw a student I’d never met playing my game is one I’ll never forget. That sense of pride and accomplishment sparked a lifelong passion for technology and creativity.
At my mom’s house, life was very different, but she loved me deeply and did the best she could with what she had. We lived on my grandmother’s horse farm out in the country, without internet access. My mom’s journey wasn’t easy, she faced some tough circumstances and at times was surrounded by people who didn’t always have good intentions. With that being said, I was exposed to a meth lab at an early age and was almost admitted to child protective services.
This is why I created Tech To Smiles; To help underprivileged young adults gain access to technology and inspiration. I want others to experience the same excitement I felt creating my first iPhone game — whether that means building an app, designing a video game, creating a website, or starting an online blog.
Today, I’m proud to own and operate a small I.T. company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, alongside one of my best friends. I hold no resentment toward my mom — in fact, I’m grateful for her, and we continue to strengthen our relationship. Life can be hard, and millions of people struggle every day with challenges we may never see.
Giving back is my way of honoring both my parents; my dad’s steady support and my mom’s perseverance. I enjoy helping others find purpose through technology.
Thank you for reading my story.
Brady Brisson,
Founder, Tech To Smiles
CEO, Team I.T. Computer Services
