[RTC List] Tech Leadership Award Nominees

[Bob Morse]

Greetings RTC Community,

A couple months ago we announced a new North Coast Technology Leadership
Award and solicited nominations for that award. From those submissions we
have selected four nominees and would now like to solicit your vote. Below
are the four nominated people/companies along with some information
regarding why they were nominated. Please send you vote directly to me
(bob at morsemedia.net) and I will compile them. You may vote for 2 out of the
four. Please submit your votes by Monday, November 10, 2008.

1. Pat Bitton of Euresto Parnters:

The Internet has gotten to be a scary place over the past few years, with
phishing, ID theft, driveby downloads, and other scammy or downright
criminal individuals luring innocent surfers into their webs. About eighteen
months ago, Pat came up with a concept for a destination on the web where
individuals, schools, and small businesses could go for advice and
assistance on how to stay safe online, and over the past year, our small
project team has been hard at work turning that concept into reality. The
site is http://www.theinternetprotectors.com. It offers one-to-one advice
from experts like Roger Thompson of AVG, Linda Criddle of Look Both Ways and
CyberPatrol, and Igor Pankov of Agnitum, plus blogs, forums, and a host of
static resources in the form of videos, white papers, podcasts, and more.
Seed funding was obtained from a security vendor who wishes to remain
anonymous, but the site itself is strictly vendor-neutral. Over time, the
site will hopefully self-fund through participation in the Google AdSense
program and affiliate program sales commissions.

2) Seth Johannesen of 101 Netlink

101Netlink, a Whitethorn company, has built a microwave system south to
Ukiah which has given many companies an alternative to the AT&T fiber. They
have also been steadily deploying wireless broadband to residential and
business customers in Humboldt County and into western Trinity/northern
Mendocino counties. In 2006, broadband coverage was limited to the Humboldt
Bay area and a tiny footprint in Southern Humboldt. When one looks at
101Netlink's coverage map now at http://www.101netlink.com/servicearea.html,
they've been a major contributor on the path to ubiquitous broadband in
Humboldt County. And this has only been in the last couple years. They are
to be commended as a company who sees their market as the more rural
communities that are generally ignored by larger telecom companies.

3) Nylex.net:

Nylex has quickly grown to be a large local provider of networking services.
As a client of theirs, we find them to be responsive, knowledgeable and
professional. They just seem to be good and helpful business people who are
doing a great job and worthy of recognition.

4) Access Humboldt: 

Access Humboldt has created a new coalition bringing
together public, educational, and governmental media production and
distribution. The organization has been nationally recognized as the leading
edge of community broadband access. This resource provides open access for
free speech, and a broadcast point for locally produced digital media.
Access Humboldt is also integrated into the local education system,
providing connectivity for distance education, free lectures and seminars,
and athletic events.

The soon to be completed Community Media Center will provide studio space,
production facilities, and substantial resources for locally created media
of all types. Access Humboldt also provides classes in numerous current
digital tools. This will increase capabilities, and interest from non-local
companies in utilizing this community and environment for full scale movies,
advertisements, and even allow basing of production crews in the area.

Many of the the studio and broadcast systems are unique hybrid combinations
of equipment, providing outstanding capabilities and lower cost. The entire
operation is intended to be self sustaining, and is very cost effective at
providing digital media capabilities.

Thanks!