Contact AllCoNet
Beth Thomas
ATTN: AllCoNet Info
701 Kelly Road
Cumberland, MD 21502
Gov_infotech@allconet.org
Dennis Shankle is the Director of Information Technology for the Allegany County Commissioners and Board of Education. He has thirty-five years of experience in administrative software development and computer operations for higher education, secondary education and county government organizations. Currently, he serves as chair for several groups: Allegany County Network (AllCoNet), wireless high speed wide area network for public entities; Technology Management Council (TMC), a community committe to enhance technology education in public education; Data Processing Executive Committee (DPEC), to oversee a centralized data processing facility, for County Government and Board of Education.
John Taube, Director Allegany County Library System
John Taube has been director of the Allegany County Library System since January 2000. He is also currently serving as the Chair of the Western Maryland Information Technology Coalition and on the Advisory Board of the Western Maryland Regional Library. In Allegany County, he has been working to leverage technology as a tool to free up resources to provide directo support and assistance to the communities they serve. Prior to coming to Allegany County, John was Director of Library and Instructional Technologies at Hagerstown Community College where he was instrumental in the planning, design, and telecommunications infrastructure of their new Learning Resource Center.
David VanMeter, Director of MIS, City of Cumberland
David VanMeter, Director of MIS at the City of Cumberland, has over 30 years of experience in management of data systems; both software and hardware. Mr. Van Meter has worked in the fields of Manufacturing, Construction, Health and Municipal Government. He has held positions of programmer, programmer analyst, systems analyst, supervisor, and director. He has designed and implemented applications for both large Mainframe and Mini computer systems.
Johnna Byers, Computer Technician, City of Cumberland
Johnna Byers, Computer Technician at the City of Cumberland, has over 13 years of experienc in information systems support. Mrs. Byers has an extensive background working with modern information systems in various business environments, as well as, network management, user support, and customer service. She has managed numerous projects including organization-wide software and hardware upgrades. Mrs. Byers has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science.
Robert Hall, Allegany County Library System
Robert Hall is the System Librarian for the Allegany County Library System. He has implemented several automated systems through out the State of Maryland. With twenty years in the library field, Mr. Hall has used emerging electronic technology to further the efficient use of library collections. He has served as a system administrator to the countywide network in AllCoNet for six years. This unique network involves a number of nontraditional services that Libraries would provide. Mr. Hall has served in several different voluntary roles in the current Maryland State Sailor Network. He has for the last six years served on the Sailor Network Manager Group, which is responsible fo rmanaging the statewide library network.
Beth Thomas, Information Technology Coordinator, Allegany County
Beth Thomas is the Information Technology Coordinator for Allegany County Government. She oversees the information technology needs for Allegany County Government's 12 operationg departments and affiliated allied agencies as well as strategic telecommunications infrastructure planning. She serves as a system administrator for AllCoNet and is responsible for the network's nicro-tower acquisitions. She has an extensive background in project management, process ingineering, and technical writing, in addition, to network management, web-based application, and user support. Miss Thomas managed the centralization of technology/mobile product procurement for Allegany County Government and is responsible for the County's Technology Plan, as well as the development of information technology standards, policies, and procedures.
Mr. Blank is a recognized authority in wireless systems. He specializes in wWAN applications for schools, airports, and municipal governments. Mr. Blank has extensive experience in designing, installing and operating high-speed wide area wireless networks using the licensed and unlicensed spectrums. Mr. Blank is also on the FCC-FAA-Cisco white papaer committee on "Highly Secure Wireless Applications". He has designed and implemented solutions both in and out of the United States. He has designed and installed network solutions costing as little as several thousand dollars to solutions totaling over two hundred million dollars.
