Named after Maria, his mother, and Madeline, his grandmother, the company based in Lathrup Village has resulted in a nationally popular Web site, www.ExperienceSeniorPower.com.

The company also sells a book, titled "Experience Senior Power," with software, which helps grandchildren teach their grandparents how to use computers. The book, which is

published by Pearson Education, a publisher in New Jersey, has been featured on NBC's "Today Show."

It's also resulted in a side business teaching seniors how to use computers and several grants from Congress to assist in that endeavor.

Fama said his for-profit company has been in the black since 2002.

"We've been making money since then," he said. "Each year, we've grown."

Fama employs six independent contractors, who use the book to teach seniors. Wayne County Community College District is one of the company's clients, and it pays the company to provide free courses to seniors.

"We send in our instructors, who teach the boomers and seniors computer and job skills by using our ESP book and software," he said.

Fama's Web site, which gets about 5,000 hits a day and 1.7 million unique visitors a year, aims to be a resource for seniors. It's also free for seniors.

Most of the content on the site, however, is from companies aiming to sell products and services to the older set.

Columns are written on the site by registered nurses, elder-law attorneys, financial advisers and the like. Some also answer questions on subjects such as dementia and wills.

Politicians, such as U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, also provide write letters to the site.

While it aims to be national, most of the members on www.ExperienceSeniorPower.com seem to be centered in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.

One of the most popular parts of the site, though, is the social networking opportunity.

There's a so-called autobiography page, where consumers can post their life story with photos. There's also links where they can send digital cards to their friends, share poetry, engage in online forums about a variety of issues, such as the recent presidential primaries, and otherwise connect with their peers.

"We are an online community for baby boomers," Fama said.

Contact SARAH A. WEBSTER at 313-222-5394 or swebster@freepress.com.