Ambassadors are seasoned members who help grow and promote NCTA. Ambassadors share their persepective on the value membership to prospective members and help make new members feel welcome. We encourage you to please reach out to the Ambassadors below. They would be happy to answer your questions, provide helpful information or just meet for a cup of coffee.
NCTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
VICE-CHAIR, MEMBERSHIP
Ron Unger, President & CEO, WorkSmart
NCTA Board of Directors
AMBASSADOR CHAIRS
Paul Lechner, EnablePath
"NCTA is an organization that adds value to North Carolina businesses by offering events and venues where business leaders benefit directly from each other's input."
Favorite NC Restaurant: 131 Main, The Wedge with Fish of the Day
Rich Lounsbury, Windstream Hosted Solutions
Alma Mater: BS State University of NY Institute of Technology, MBA Pace University
"NCTA provides a great forum for technology leaders in North Carolina to connect on important issues affecting business today. Windstream Hosted Solutions is proud to partner with and support NCTA."
Favorite thing to do in NC: Play Golf
Favorite NC sports team: Carolina Hurricanes!
Mary Storms, STORMS Associates
Alma Mater: MS from University of Texas at Dallas; BA from William & Mary
"NCTA helped me/my company by connecting us with smart, reputable people who are actively involved with the care and feeding of NC's tech community."
Favorite Food: Eastern NC vinegar-based chopped or pulled pork barbeque - hands down the best BBQ!
AMBASSADORS
Evan Bickerstaff, Southern Energy Management
Alma Mater: Rowan University
"NCTA has made a positive impact on the state’s technology industry by conveying the message that NC has the workforce and environment which makes NC an attractive place for tech companies to grow and invest."
Favorite NC Restuarant: Poole's Diner
Jennifer Bosser, Wake County Economic Development
Alma Mater: Towson University
"If you want to connect with the who's who in North Carolina that are leading the technology decisions, purchases and innovation, then you need to become a member of NCTA. NCTA provides a forum for technology executives in North Carolina to engage and partner with one another."
Favorite Place to Vacation: Boone in August, Outer Banks in the Spring and Fall
Ken Bryson, DC74 Data Centers
Alma Mater: Western Carolina University
"I firmly believe that NCTA has no equal for connecting people and ideas, developing business opportunities, and providing thought leadership for all companies that leverage information technology in North Carolina."
Favorite Place to Vacation: From the mountains to the beach; it’s all my favorite!
Melanie Freeman Chernoff, Red Hat
Alma Mater: UNC Chapel Hill
"NCTA has made a positive impact on the state’s technology industry by representing a unified voice for the technology industry to the NC legislature. I don't think we can emphasize enough the important role that NCTA plays in this regard, especially for small businesses who don't have representation or connections to government leaders."
Favorite NC Event or Attraction: The State Fair (event) The NC Zoo (attraction)
Tina Cochrane, HireNetworks
Alma Mater: ECU
"NCTA is one of the best local avenues to meet interesting technology professionals. NCTA strives to ensure that every event brings value to the participants."
Favorite NC Food: Bar-B-Q
Ann Davis (Crews), Consultant
Alma Mater: NCSU
"NCTA is the vehicle to promote the growth of an industry which will ensure the children of North Carolina may enjoy the fulfillment of their dreams of a technology career at home."
Favorite NC Vacation Destination: The Beach
Garrett Droege, JJ Wade & Associates
Alma Mater: UNC at Wilmington
"NCTA is an association that not only helps grow your technology business; it helps grow tech business across the region. We are lucky to have such an active and involved group of technology professionals whose sole purpose is to show the world what we already know – NC is THE state for technology!"
Favorite NC Vacation Destination: Mountains in the Fall
Michael Flanagan, CenturyLink
Alma Mater: Johns Hopkins University/ NC State
"NCTA has made a positive impact on the state's technology industry by providing a forum for technology professional to not only network but to make a positive difference in the technology community through their leadership councils."
Favorite NC Event: 24 Hours of Booty Cycling event to raise money for cancer research
Karen Geringer, tw telecom
Alma Mater: UNC Greensboro
"NCTA events are high profile and help my company connect with complementary companies and their employees. Important connections are made at NCTA events and are a great investment of my time."
Favorite NC Event: Krispy Kreme Challenge
Marlon Headen, Altruent Systems
Alma Mater: THE University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
"NCTA helped me by being a conduit for building key business relationships, identifying current trends/ business practices, increasing awareness of emerging technologies, and a great place to fish for compliments on new suits and ties."
Favorite NC Sports Team: Everything Carolina: HEELS, Hurricanes, Panthers
Craig Landwehr, Six Disciplines North Carolina
Alma Mater: OSU & University of Toledo
"NCTA is a wonderful opportunity for technology leaders in our state, as well as a wonderful asset to our state's economic development."
Favorite NC Sports Team: Carolina Hurricanes of course!
Will Leger, Advance2000
Alma Mater: UC Santa Barbara, BA and University of New Orleans, MS
"NCTA is a very worthwhile investment! NCTA helped our company by connecting us with several new clients in NC. Connections were made while attending many of the NCTA events throughout the year."
Favorite NC Vacation Destination: Definitely the mountains for downhill skiing, mountain bike riding, and hiking. Spectacular views!
Tessa M. Machen, CCCi
Alma Mater: Georgia State University/Savannah State University
"NCTA is a great organization to get involved in and a great way to meet people who challenge and motivate you in the IT industry."
Favorite NC Vacation Destination: Blowing Rock, NC
Chris Mangeno, Network Services Inc.
Alma Mater: Ferrum College
"NCTA has made a positive impact on the state's technology industry by bridging businesses with the latest and greatest of technology offerings within this great state."
Favorite NC Vacation Destination: The Outer Banks
Chris Manley, Skookum Digital Works
Alma Mater: Miami University (Miami of Ohio)
"NCTA has made a positive impact on the state’s technology industry by putting a spotlight on the outstanding tech community in North Carolina and the accomplishments and innovations happening here NOW."
Favorite NC Sports Team: The Carolina Panthers and superstar rookie Cam Newton making Sundays fun again.
Ryan Mitcheltree, Neu Concepts
Alma Mater: Oregon State University
"My favorite NCTA event is the 21 Awards, it allows for great collaboration and a chance to meet other NCTA members statewide."
Favorite NC Vacation Destination: Wrightsville Beach
Sid Mitchener, Vaco LLC
Alma Mater: Virginia Military Institute
"We started Vaco, LLC in Raleigh in 2004, and NCTA was an excellent resource for us to get engaged back into the NC technology community through small committees, speaking events and volunteer opportunities."
Favorite NC Food: Bar-B-Que!!!!!!!
Curt Quigly, DataChambers
Alma Mater: UCONN
"NCTA is a great organization helping to bring together everyone in our tech industry."
Favorite NC Event: MS Breakaway to the Beach cycling ride
Tracy Sanders, Greene Resources, Inc.
Alma Mater: Randolph Macon College
"NCTA is a world-class membership organization with an abundance of exemplary technology leaders from the private industry, public sector and education community who come together to drive technology innovation and economic growth for the State of NC."
Matt Williams, CSC Leasing
Alma Mater: University of Virginia
"My favorite NCTA event is the NCTA Golf Tournament in June."
Favorite NC Event or Attraction: NC White Water Center
For more information please call 919.890.0775 or email Alison Gordon.
