About Clever Ducks

Here in San Luis Obispo since 1992

We've seen the internet arrive, the cloud take over, cybersecurity become non-negotiable, and now AI. Through all of it: the same family, the same town, and the same reason for doing this. People.

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Life at the pond

Peter and Amy Kardel talking on a wooden footbridge, with their small dog on a leash

Our Foundation

Our Story

Peter and Amy Kardel founded Clever Ducks in 1992 in their hometown of San Luis Obispo. What started as a passion for helping businesses make sense of their technology has grown into a team of dedicated technicians, a loyal client base across the Central Coast, and a reputation built on doing right by the people we serve.

We've never been acquired. We've never taken outside investment. We've never made a decision because a shareholder told us to. Every call we've made for 30+ years has been about what's best for our clients and our team. That independence is a choice we make every day, and it shows up in how we work.

Life at the Pond

Serious about IT. Serious about fun, too.

A few things from around the office.

Peter and Amy Kardel standing together while being on a hike — Peter and Amy, out on the trail.

Falkor, a small tan dog with a bandana, sitting on a treadmill in the office — Falkor, the office pup.

We take Falkor to work every day — Falkor's daily commute.

Homemade bread, rolls and s'mores marshmallows on the kitchen counter — There are almost always homemade baked goods in the kitchen.

We take our coffee seriously — Out on a coffee walk.

Come by for a coffee, which we take seriously.

Team members in paintball masks around a picnic table under camouflage netting, a Clever Ducks Company sign in front — Company paintball day.

We've been known to settle things with company paintball.

The Clever Ducks team posing together under patio umbrellas, several in Santa hats, one holding a small dog — We celebrate Christmas in July.

A team member in glasses and a patterned short-sleeve shirt smiling at the camera at an outdoor party, two others laughing behind him — Christmas in July, in short sleeves.

Two team members in sunglasses smiling on a hillside patio, one in a Clever Ducks shirt holding a drink — Sunshine, shades, and a Clever Ducks shirt.

Three team members in flower crowns taking a selfie outdoors — We love to be colorful.

A group selfie on a concert stage with a musician in a tuxedo, orchestra instruments behind them — A night out at the SLO Symphony.

An orchestra on stage seen from the audience, a cellist in a tuxedo standing with his cello — We show up for each other, on stage too.

Three Clever Ducks team members standing together at an outdoor golf event — We show up for our clients' golf tournaments.

Seven Clever Ducks team members standing together at a community event in a hall — Out together at a community event.

A game of air hockey at the office — Air hockey at the Pond.

A table stocked with snacks: chips, candy bars, cookies, mac and cheese cups and a jar of wrapped candy — The snack table is always stocked.

A round cake decorated as a pond with tiny ducks, held in someone's hands — The Pond, in cake form.

Team members standing around a table of food in the office, a small tan dog among them — Lunch at the Pond, with the whole flock.

We love to celebrate a birthday — We love a good birthday.

The office decorated with a candy-themed arch and gingerbread cutouts, a technician in a Santa hat at a desk — We take our deco seriously.

Our Home

The Pond

Our office and lab are at 1313 Broad Street in downtown San Luis Obispo. We call it The Pond. Come by for a coffee, which we take seriously, or a snack from a fridge that's always stocked. Say hi to Falkor, the office pup.

Visit Us

Address
1313 Broad Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Hours
Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, on call 24/7

Parking
Behind the building, off Pacific Street

Main line
(805) 543-1930

Leadership

Our Founders

Peter Kardel

CEO, Head Quack

Founded Clever Ducks with Amy in 1992. Can't resist the high adventure of rock climbing, cycling, sailing, and backpacking trips with the kids. Current favorite book, after the Bible: Thinking, Fast and Slow. Walks Falkor downtown most mornings after standup.

Amy Kardel

Co-Founder

Former board chair of CompTIA, the global IT trade association. A leader in business through Rotary, the Downtown Association, and the SLO Chamber of Commerce. Proud, with Peter, to have grown an IT company in their hometown.

Our Evolution

Our Journey

1992
Founded

Peter and Amy Kardel start Clever Ducks in San Luis Obispo.
2000s
Cloud Era

We guide our clients through the shift to cloud computing.
2005
Security Focus

Cybersecurity becomes critical; we build expertise and dedicated teams.
2025
AI Acceleration

We start helping clients put AI to work: fluent people first, then the workflows and agents.

Today

Where We Are Now

Clever Ducks does three things: managed IT, cybersecurity, and AI acceleration. The first two are what we've done for thirty years. The third is the newest chapter, and we're building it the same way we built the others: with people who know your business, and security first.

See how we fly

Ready to take flight?

It's time for your business to come fly with the ducks. No high-pressure sales, just an honest conversation with a managed service provider who'll tell you straight if we're the right fit.

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