Members:
James D. Brown - L-3 Communications, Chair
Tim Buck - EM-Assist
Sarah Dewitt - Ogden Regional Medical Center
Joe Duquette - Deseret Mutual
Paul Erickson - In Focus Solutions
Scott Foster - Merrick Bank
Ed Harris - Weber State University - IST Faculty Member
Tim Martin - Defense Information Systems Agency
Greg Nelson - Weber State University - Student
Dave Norwood - Trusted Network Solutions
Julie Park - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Russ Reed - Market Star
Rick Widner - Management & Training Corporation
Advisory Board Member Biographies
James D. Brown - Chairman
Jim Brown is the Chief Network Engineer and Technologist for the Information Technology organization of the L-3 Communications - Communications Systems West Division located in Salt Lake City, Utah. He has a strong background in the application of computer equipment, network architectures, and integrated information systems.
He has a Bachelor's of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from Utah State University. Mr. Brown's career involves working as a digital design engineer and manager for many years, with a heavy involvement in advanced military peripheral computer equipment and network communications design. He has also held several positions at both divisional and corporate levels which includes Engineering Department Manager, Staff Engineer, and Director. As a corporate director, Mr. Brown had the responsibility of traveling to many different divisions in coordinating the generation of Technical Automation plans. These plans defined business goals and laid out how automation and Information Technology were to be used to meet objectives.
He has designed and implemented several large scale Wide Area Networks (WAN) for organizations such as Unisys.com, Unisysdsd.com, Paramax.com, and L-3com.com.
He has participated in various community and academic activities as a member of the Brigham Young University, Alliance with Industry (Engineering) program, and as a member of the Utah State University, Business Information Systems Advisory Council. He has also given many Engineering and Information Technology presentations at various local and national seminars/symposiums. He also has been a guest lecture at several local high schools, colleges, and civic clubs.
Mr. Brown has given many years of voluntary service as the Business Technology Consultant to the Preston School District in Preston, Idaho by helping them to design, implement, and maintain their current network and technology infrastructure.
Paul Erickson - In Focus Solutions
Paul Erickson has over 15 years of professional IT experience including technology management, systems engineering, and consulting. He was the Director of Information Technology and Chair of the IT Steering Committee at CR England, the largest refrigeration carrier in the U.S. with revenues totaling nearly $1B. Additionally, he has played the role of Call Center Manager, leveraging technology and relationships to increase customer satisfaction and productivity for the company.
His areas of expertise are infrastructure, security, data and voice communications, LAN/WAN, disaster recovery, ITIL, project and crisis management, and relationship management. Mr. Erickson is a member of the Utah chapter of the Society of Information Mangers (SIM) and a former member of the University of Utah Business and Technology Roundtable. In 2009, he joined the Weber State University IS&T Advisory Board.
Before his successful career at CR England, Mr. Erickson worked as a consultant and sales associate for a Utah based Value Added Reseller. As a consultant, he worked with varying customers ranging from law firms to manufacturing companies, which he found very rewarding. The aspect he found particularly enjoyable was being able to deliver solutions that helped people more effectively do their jobs while solving business problems.
In 1994, Mr. Erickson completed Bachelor degrees in Business and Spanish from Southern Utah University. His MBA degree was earned from Westminster College.
Ed Harris - WSU - IST Faculty Member
Dr. Ed Harris is an Associate Professor and the Department Chair in Information Systems & Technologies at Weber State University. He earned a BS in Physics & Math, an MBA with an emphasis in finance, and a Ph.D. in Business Information Systems. Before becoming a professor he worked for several years as the owner of an Auto/RV dealership, a medical supply company, and as vice president of a computer software company. After completing his MBA in 1987, he went to work at the College of Eastern Utah as the Director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and 20% time teaching finance, accounting, and several computer courses.
In 1989, Dr. Harris was offered a job at Southern Utah University as the director of the SBDC, and tenure-track professor. Thirteen wonderful years were spent at SUU where he was awarded rank promotion, tenure, and a sabbatical leave to complete his Ph.D. at Utah State University. In 2001, he accepted a college position in Kentucky (still his favorite place to live) where he spent four years until accepting his present position at WSU in 2005.
His scholarship interests are centered around computer networking, and he has presented many papers at regional, national, and international academic conferences. He has also published several articles in academic journals, with others in progress. In the past three years Dr. Harris has written grants to purchase IS&T computers totaling $152,016. Given the changing nature of the computer industry, he constantly attends conferences, training workshops, and holds several computer certifications.
Dr. Harris’ favorite thing about being a professor is the tremendous delight, and energy he gains from working with the bright, dedicated students at WSU. He loves anything related to technology, and if it accomplishes a worthwhile task that is even better. But technology for technology's sake is still amazing.
Timothy Martin - Defense Information Systems Agency
Dr. Tim Martin has worked as a computer operator, tape librarian, system monitor, database administrator, customer support specialist, quality control technician, programmer, project manager, security specialist, information assurance manager, team lead, and supervisor. He brings a wealth of experience with DoD systems and the management, oversight, and security of technical systems and personnel.
He is a member of the Anti-Phishing Working Group, was a presenter at the 2009 MIT SPAM conference, and the Utah ISACA (Information Systems Audit and Control ASsociation) conference in Salt Lake City in October 2009.
Dr. Martin is currently mentoring several DISA employees and meets with them regularly to provide career guidance, make rotational suggestions, and provide organizational understanding.
He also conducts several brown-bag Leadership lunch-and-learn sessions at DISA. The audience consists of supervisors and team leads, with the focus being on leadership development and self-improvement.
Dr. Martin is an open-water SCUBA instructor through PADI, and an Emergency First Responder instructor. He enjoys teaching courses because it helps keeps his skills current and he is able to see people grow, learn, and overcome their fears.
Dave Norwood - Trusted Network Solutions
Dave Norwood is founder and President of Trusted Network Solutions. TNS provides high-end computer network equipment and services to small and medium businesses. He leads by example which has created a company culture based on integrity and communication. This allowed TNS to become a leading network infrastructure and security value added reseller.
Mr. Norwood's career includes extensive management experience working for the largest grocery store in Wisconsin as the Assistant Store Manager and Buyer. In 1996, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Wisconsin. He then left his successful retail career to move into the technology industry. He joined the Enterprise Networking Team of a Fortune 500 company, Northwestern Mutual.
Mr. Norwood earned multiple technical certifications while working as a systems engineer. He has earned his Microsoft® Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE®), Certified NetWare® Engineer (CNE®), Cisco® Certified Network Associate (CCNA®), Juniper Networks® Certified Internet Associate (JNCIA®), among other certifications.
After five years with Northwestern Mutual, he relocated to Salt Lake City. Mr. Norwood joined a local start-up venture as a Technical Account Executive. He was a key team member who helped this start-up become a successful Value Added Reseller.
Mr. Norwood graduated in May 2005 with an MBA from the David Eccles School of Business, University of Utah. He completed a dual focus of Entrepreneurship and Information Systems. His business and management skills, coupled with a strong technical background, have allowed him to successfully launch and grow TNS. In addition to leading the company, Mr. Norwood interfaces with the community through membership with the Utah Technology Council, University of Utah Business and Technology Roundtable, and holds a seat on the Weber State University IS&T Advisory Board.
Julie Park - Data Privacy Manager, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Julie Park is the Manager of the Data Privacy Office for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Prior to working in Data Privacy, she was the Executive Director of Internal Audit and Information Security for Weber State University.
A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, Mrs. Park graduated from Skyline High School, and attended Utah Valley University (Utah Valley State College) where she played volleyball on an athletic scholarship. She graduated from Weber State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance where she was named the "Outstanding Student" of the Finance department. She also received the Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award. She later obtained an MBA from Utah State University in 2007.
Mrs. Park is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT), and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).
She currently volunteers as the Utah Chapter President for Information Security Audit and Control Association (ISACA), is a member of Weber State University’s Information Technology Advisory Board, and is an adjunct instructor for the John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics at Weber State University.
Rick Widner - Management & Training Corporation
Rick Widner 
is the Director of Network Administration for Management & Training Corporation (MTC), and is responsible for managing a team of six network/helpdesk staff. He and his team maintain corporate office computer and telecommunications systems, as well as support the 26 Job Corps and 16 Correctional facilities MTC manages. His team supports 9,500 computers and 95 servers across a VPN network. During his time with MTC, Mr. Widner has assisted with the establishment of 17 new correctional facilities and Job Corps centers, 53 facility transitions, 13 facility office moves, and seven facility expansions. His responsibilities have included researching, ordering, and setting up, or cancelling, various telecommunications services.
He graduated from Weber State University in 1990 with a BS in Computer Science and a math minor. He was also active in the WSU band, and still performs with the Alumni Band. His introduction to MTC came from a Weber State sponsored internship.
Mr. Widner is an engaged member of the community. His volunteer services include active involvement the United Way's Young Leaders organization.