COVID-19 and quarantining has shown us more than ever we must ensure all our communities have equal access to quality, high-speed broadband. Each community has unique challenges but a shared purpose and ideas that can be duplicated across the board, as we seek to provide this critical utility to our residents.
- Deb Socia (Chattanooga): Deb is President and CEO of The Enterprise Center, a nonprofit that nurtures innovation in Chattanooga with the goal of connecting people to resources and building an inclusive community. Growing the entrepreneurial ecosystem and the Innovation District, building digital equity, and supporting research and implementation of smart city applications are all a part of the organization’s focus. Prior to her current role, Deb was the founding Executive Director of Next Century Cities, a nonprofit that supports community leaders as they seek to ensure that all have access to fast, affordable, and reliable Internet. Previously, Deb was the founding Executive Director of the Boston based nonprofit Tech Goes Home whose mission is to ensure digital equity. Deb’s early career included 32 years as an educator and administrator. She was the founding principal of the award winning Lilla G. Frederick Middle School, a Boston Public School where she led the one-to-one laptop initiative.
- Hunter Goosmann (Asheville): Hunter Goosmann is the Executive Director of the Education & Research Consortium of the Western Carolinas, Inc (ERC). With twenty six plus years in IT/Telecom leadership roles and sixteen years leading the ERC, he is responsible for building, operating, and supporting broadband Internet access across western North Carolina via the award winning ERC middle mile network and data center. Goosmann has worked nationally and internationally in the Telecommunications and Information Technology fields gaining specific expertise in strategic planning, customer support/service delivery, and program management.
- Aldona Valicenti (Lexington): Aldona Vlaicenti is Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Lexington-Fayette (Kentucky) Urban County Government. She is collaborating with Lexington Mayor’s Office on several initiatives, including Rethink Lex, a reengineering of city operations and services. She was also the first appointed CIO for the Commonwealth of Kentucky and served as president of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) during her tenure. Since leaving state government, Valicenti has been vice president of consulting services at CGI, an international information technology firm and vice president of business development for Oracle Corp., one of the world’s largest enterprise software companies. She has implemented a number of new systems, made investments in network operations, cyber security, public safety and cloud-based systems. She was a co-sponsor of the Gig for Lex project, a high-speed broadband initiative for the entire city. She now has oversight for the build-out, making Lexington one of the largest gig cities. She has testified in Congress, advocating for state technology issues, and has advised a number of states and governors on the CIO role and organization of the CIO office.
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