Speakers' Bios

Avi Fichman, avi.fichman <at> networkforgood.org, Network for Good

Avi is the Director of Nonprofit Services for Network for Good, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization that connects individuals with their favorite charities. Avi is responsible for developing and continuously improving Network for Good's nonprofit services including providing free and low-cost tools for online engagement, fundraising and volunteer recruitment. Avi brings a special understanding of nonprofit community needs and operations as a former CFO/COO and Nonprofit Corporate Officer working with organizations of all sizes and levels of sophistication for 18 years. Avi has developed housing for the mentally ill, acted as a Development Director for various groups and provided strategic consultation on the development and deployment of technologies initiatives across social service agencies.
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Bill Griep, bill <at> ctvo.net, Cohesive Teamware, Inc.

Bill is founder and CEO of Cohesive Teamware Inc. in Apex, near Raleigh. Bill founded the company in January 2004. He holds Associate, Bachelor and Master degrees in Computer Science. After earning his degrees, Bill moved to Raleigh in 1995 to pursue a more challenging computer career. He worked initially as a consultant for several projects before taking on the role of Product Services Manager for an upstart company – Newtonian Software, Inc. While at Newtonian, Bill worked as Sales Engineering, Software Development, Product Implementation, Project Management, Product Quality, Support and Training. When Newtonian was sold to Clarify, Inc. (and subsequently to Nortel Networks), his knowledge and adaptability led him to Product Management and Software Design roles. His experiences from these positions are the pillars Cohesive Teamware is built upon; a corporation dedicated to communication, collaboration, quality and fun.
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Brian Russell, brussell <at> ibiblio.org, Durham Literacy Center

Brian is an IT professional with a multimedia design background and a Bachelor’s of Fine Art. Presently, he's an AmeriCorps VISTA member helping the Durham Literacy Center use technology to advance reading literacy. His blog and podcast demonstrates new tools for grassroots journalism and new ways for individuals to share their own stories.
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Courtney Hodgson, courtney <at> gcflearnfree.org, GCF Global Learning®

Since 2003, Courtney has been responsible for attracting new learners to GCF Global Learning® in Durham, Goodwill Industries of Eastern North Carolina, Inc.’s free computer training program. She designs promotional material, presents information and develops web, print and media copy that expresses GCF Global Learning®’s commitment to provide free computer training to individuals around the world. Courtney is passionate about her work and aims to share GCF Global Learning®’s free computer training program with individuals so that they can have the opportunity to embrace the challenges of the 21st century.
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John Gilbert, jgilbert <at> unitedwaytriangle.org, Teaming for Technology

John began his technology tenure in the nonprofit realm at Triangle United Way in 2004 as Junior Systems Administrator intern. While honing his networking engineering skills, John became actively involved as a volunteer for Teaming for Technology (T4T), Triangle United Way's technology outreach program. It wasn't long before that John realized he had a true passion and knack for tackling the Digital Divide. In January 2005, John was hired as a T4T staff member, becoming one of two Technology Outreach Specialists. A candidate for a B.S. in Mathematics at UNC-Chapel Hill, John has decided to spend the spring and summer semesters of his junior year furthering the reach of T4T, and in doing so, making the difference in the lives of hundreds through technology.
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Kamira Jones, kamira <at> netcorps-nc.org, NetCorps

Kamira is Lead Technology Consultant at NetCorps in Durham. She has five years of nonprofit sector experience, most recently serving as Triangle United Way's Senior Network Administrator. Kamira has held a deep interest in community impact and technology since earning a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s of Science in Communication from Ohio University. In 2000, Kamira relocated to North Carolina to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer In Service To America) on the Teaming for Technology Project to help Bridge the Digital Divide. An active community volunteer, she is Director of Technology for the Raleigh-Durham National Black MBA Association and Chair Emeritus of the Research Triangle Park National Society of Black Engineers-Alumni Extension Chapter. Kamira is also a candidate for UNC's Kenan-Flagler Executive MBA Class of 2007.
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Lizzie Ellis-Furlong, lizzie <at> durhamliteracy.org, Durham Literacy Center

Lizzie is Managing Director for the Durham Literacy Center’s educational programs. A graduate of Earlham College, Lizzie started as ABE/GED Coordinator at the Durham Literacy Center in September 2001 and brings 10 years experience in adult education and instructional technology. She began her career as an ESL teacher abroad and at community colleges. Before joining the Durham Literacy Center, Lizzie was the first statewide Computer Recycling manager for ExplorNet and was the statewide trainer for Futurekids, Inc.
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Lucy Haagen, Lucyhaagen <at> aol.com, RTPnet

Lucy is an RTPnet Advisor and recently served as Executive Director of the Durham Literacy Center. Presently, Lucy is a consultant who provides assistance to Triangle nonprofits in the areas of integrating technology and educational programs, program design, evaluation and resource development. She is on the board of CTCNet and is a visiting lecturer at Duke University.
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Lynda Goff, goff <at> wfu.edu, WinstonNet, Inc.

Lynda is Executive Director of WinstonNet, Inc. in Winston-Salem. She has over 30 years experience in the computer field with a primary focus on Technology Support and Training. She spent 15 years in mainframe computing at Pacific Telephone (PT&T), where she retired in 1983. She has worked in academia for 14 years with Wake Forest University. In 1997, she became a project leader for the Wake Forest Initiative “Class of 2000,” a program where all students received laptop computers upon entering the university. She helped build the support infrastructure to serve over 7,000 plus faculty, staff and students. She has published several articles and wrote a chapter on “Technology Support” for the case study in “Electronically Enhanced Education.” She has participated as a speaker and panelist for many educational conferences throughout the United States and worked as a consultant and project manager for other universities, both in the US and abroad, who wanted to implement a similar technology program.
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Lynne Beaman, beamanly <at> us.ibm.com, IBM

Lynne has worked in IBM's Corporate Community Relations group in the Research Triangle Park on program management and media relations since 1999. She has done media relations during Hurricane Floyd, Y2K, and the Blizzard of 2000. She currently manages IBM’s Adult Literacy grant, Web Adaptation grants, EXITE and IGNITE summer camps, and works on the On Demand Community. Before IBM, Lynne worked at a dot com start up (when that was a good thing), which made computer games. She traveled quite a bit doing media relations and even convinced the Pentagon to allow her team to stay on an aircraft carrier at sea to do research on F-18s for their flight simulation game. Before that, Lynne worked as at TV journalist for seven years covering crime, politics, education, technology and medical stories at two different ABC-TV affiliates.
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Mark Bryant, GCF Global Learning®

Mark is Director of Learning & Technology for Goodwill Industries of Eastern North Carolina, Inc. (GIENC) in Durham and has been working with the company since 2001. Mark oversees GIENC’s free computer training program, GCF Global Learning®, and is responsible for its continued development at the GCF Global Learning® Center and on the Internet at GCFLearnFree.org. Mark has a background in rehabilitation and information systems and enjoys being a part of this global community of knowledge.
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Paul Hansen, paul.hansen <at> umb.edu, CTC VISTA Project

Paul is Assistant Director of the CTC VISTA (Volunteers in Service To America) Project at UMass/Boston College of Public and Community Service, which helps support the recruitment, placement, and support of AmeriCorps*VISTA members in community technology centers in metro Boston and across the country. Paul is also an artist, designer, and web developer who provides technical support and web development services to artists, community arts organizations, and nonprofits in Boston.
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Ray Reitz, rreitz <at> chccs.k12.nc.us, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools

Ray is Chief Technology Officer for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools in Chapel Hill. Over the past 20 years, Ray has worked on technology integration projects in business, government, and educational settings. Before joining the Chapel Hill district in 2000, he directed the America Schools 2000 Project for the Westfield Washington Schools in Indiana. During the early 1990’s, this corporate-school partnership created one of the country’s first fully-networked school districts where every classroom had voice, data, and video connections. He has also served as a research editor for Phi Delta Kappa, a member of Compaq Computer Corporation’s Educational Advisory Council and the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) Technology Task Force. Current projects include developing technology support services and a break-the-mold solution to the digital divide based on thin client technology. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from SUNY Buffalo, a Master’s in Instructional Technology from Rochester Institute of Technology, and a Doctorate in Education from Indiana University.
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Ruby Sinreich, ruby <at> lotusmedia.org, Lotus Media

Ruby is founder and editor of OrangePolitics.org, a multi-author community weblog discussing local issues around Chapel Hill. She is also Online Organizing Manager in the Public Policy Division of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, where she aids grassroots public affairs staff around the country in developing and implementing online tactics to fight against the war on women. Ruby has worked professionally in the nonprofit sector since 1993 and holds a Bachelor’s in Public Health from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. She volunteers on several nonprofit and local government boards and commissions. Before establishing full-time consultancy in April 2000, she was webmaster for the North Carolina Justice and Community Development Center. To learn more about Ruby, check out her web page.
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Shelly Bowers-Roghelia, shelly <at> netcorps-nc.org, NetCorps

Shelly is Managing Director of NetCorps in Durham, where she’s worked since January 2005. Before joining Netcorps, she spent three years managing Teaming for Technology (T4T), a technology outreach program at Triangle United Way (TUW). She was an AmeriCorps*VISTA during her first two years at United Way. At this year’s TUW Annual Meeting and Appreciation Celebration, Shelly was honored with a Community Impact Award to recognize her exceptional volunteer efforts with T4T. Her prior work experience has included technical recruiting, database administration, project management and fundraising. Shelly has a BA in anthropology from Appalachian State. She is equally comfortable on the floor, screwdriver in hand, working on a computer as she is in high-heels on a dais speaking to audiences about the Digital Divide.
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Stuart Powell, SPowell <at> ctvo.net, Cohesive Teamware

Stuart is a Sales and Marketing Consultant for Cohesive Teamware in Apex, near Raleigh. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, Stuart brings15 years of software sales and operations management experience. In 1996, he helped Raleigh Group International launch its first software product, Visual Intercept. Raleigh Group was later acquired and renamed Identify Software. After two years, Stuart left to take over sales for OpenSite Technologies, an emerging Internet auction software company later acquired by Siebel Systems. Stuart has also held positions with Ariba, SAS and Hosted Solutions, LLC.
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Victoria Deaton, vdeaton <at> hotmail.com, Digital Storytelling

Victoria is President of Digital Storytelling, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Raleigh with clients stretching across the country. Victoria was recognized by the Triangle Business Journal as one of the "Top 25 Women in Business for 2003." Ms. Deaton has successfully negotiated and managed major grants and commitments from national level foundations. She has written curriculum for NSF-funded projects that integrate Science, Math, Engineering, and Technology—specifically film/media curriculum. Victoria sits on the board of directors of the NC Technology Students Association and the North Carolina Motorcyclists Education Foundation. In her spare time she is an MSF instructor and private pilot.