Vision & Leadership, Decision Making, Adapting Proactively, Engagement

Tom provides vision and leadership, guiding Connected Nation’s industry-leading efforts to bridge the digital divide and bringing economic vitality to communities through technology. During his tenure, CN’s portfolio has expanded and received acclaim as the leader in broadband mapping, planning, and program implementation. Tom also serves on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) re-chartered Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee (BDAC). The committee’s mission will be to make recommendations on how to accelerate the deployment of high-speed internet access.

Grant provides support to the Communications division of Connected Nation. Grant also assists with writing, company blogs and social media posting, website editing, and bringing creativity to new and existing communications materials.

Melissa Anderson is the new Facilitator and Development Coordinator for the Digital Works (a Connected Nation Initiative) Fort Campbell location, bringing more than 17 years employment and volunteer experience with remote work environments, training, and development.

In addition to being an active-duty Army spouse, she has a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Behavior and a master's degree in Training & Development. She enjoys everything associated with books, reading, and learning and she is passionate about supporting the military family community.

Alek provides virtual and in-person digital skills training for vulnerable populations in English and Spanish. The training services are designed to ensure that individuals have the basic skills and confidence needed to navigate the internet and access resources and opportunities that lead to economic advancement and self-sufficiency. In addition, Alek supports Connected Nation’s Digital Inclusion programming, including planning activities, community outreach, and support services.

Signature Strengths:

Mapping Technology, GIS, Data Processing

Nii fuses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping technology to create, process, edit, and analyze location-based data, especially related to availability of broadband services.

Signature Strengths:

Detail Oriented, Focus, Numbers, Finance

Samantha, a certified CPA, provides hands-on support of payroll, maintains financial records, prepares financial reports, and ensures compliance with financials policies and internet controls.

Signature Strengths:

Mapping Technology, GIS, Data Analysis, Cartography

Amanda uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping technology to create static and dynamic, interactive maps, through the analysis of demographic, economic, and broadband data.

Hannah conducts telecommunications provider outreach and project coordination for Connected Nation’s broadband mapping projects. She researches telecommunications providers, maintains relationships with provider contacts, explains and provides updates on projects impacting the provider, and works to collect and obtain service area data for processing and inclusion in state and local broadband mapping projects. Additionally, she assists with administrative tasks related to the daily duties and project workflows of the GIS and ETS teams (Geographic Information System and Engineering & Technical Services, respectively).

Signature Strengths

Master’s in Business Administration

Project Management, Planning, Organization

Grant provides administrative project oversight for Connected Nation projects. He is responsible for administering project plans, managing workflow and timelines, working directly with clients, and providing support for project leads.

Signature Strengths:

Accounting, Financial Expert, Public and Private Project Oversight

Bernie, a Certified Public Accountant and a Chartered Global Management Accountant, oversees finances of Connected Nation, ensures compliance on all grants and resource allocations, and is experienced in private, government, and nonprofit settings.

Clayborn assists the IT division by providing technical and administrative support for company systems and infrastructure.

Jenny works to plan, write, review, and submit project requests and proposals. She also performs copy editing and proof reading for Request for Proposals (RFP) and other written documents.

Signature Strengths

Mapping Technology, GIS, Data Processing

Justin uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping technology to create, process, edit, and analyze location-based data, especially related to availability of broadband services.

Chantel Cooke is a Proctor at the Digital Works Fort Campbell facility. Her signature strengths are outreach, mentoring, and assessment review. She is responsible for guiding, mentoring, and teaching individuals to become skilled and confident in remote job positions that improve the lives and family dynamics within the military community.

Tom has primary responsibility for leading Connected Nation’s advocacy and business development activities at the state level, focusing on the formation and execution of strategies that result in increased government and private sector support for better broadband connectivity and technology adoption. Tom is also responsible for cultivating and strengthening strategic relationships with public sector stakeholders across the organization’s footprint—both for the advancement of CN’s mission as well as the execution of specific programmatic deliverables.

Michelle coordinates and manages the activities of planning teams in support of Connected Nation’s Connected Community Engagement Program and the development of community-specific community team creation, data gathering, and technology action planning.

John E. Davies is the retired vice president of World Ahead for Intel Corporation. Davies focused on creating demand for Intel platforms via Solutions, new usage models, and ecosystem scaling. His mandate was to bring the benefits of technology to the next billion people by working with the industry, governments and development agencies.

Davies has worked for Intel since 1978, when he joined the company as the Reliability/QA Manager. During his 37 years with Intel, Davies has worked in engineering and manufacturing, as marketing manager for automotive products in Europe, and marketing manager for strategic accounts. He has been director of Marketing for the Mobile Computing Group, and vice president and marketing director for the Consumer Desktop Products group. In the late 90’s John was vice president and general manager of Intel Asia Pacific Region where he was based in Hong Kong.

Prior to joining Intel, Davies worked as a World Trade Postdoctoral Fellow at IBM and as a development engineer at Philips in the United Kingdom.

Davies received his B.S. in Chemistry and his Ph.D. in Solid State Physics from Imperial College, London University.

Intel has awarded Davies two prestigious Individual Achievement Awards for establishing Intel in the European automotive market in 1986, and for driving Intel’s mobile computing architecture into the Japanese market in 1992.

Media Outreach, Public Relations, Social Media, Marketing

Jessica is responsible for overall brand strategy, which includes building program recognition through digital communications, media relations, and marketing opportunities.

Signature Strengths:

Engineering, Wireless Technology, ISP Data

John provides consultation regarding provider data for Connected Nation’s mapping efforts, including acting as a local liaison and aids the boots-on-the-ground effort for data validation as the maps are being prepared.

Signature Strengths:

GIS, Cartography, Broadband Data Collection and Analysis

Brian is the Manager of the GeoAnalytics department, responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations under the direction of the Vice President. He is at the forefront of the development and use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to provide geospatial solutions and intelligence on broadband projects across states, counties, and local communities. Through supervision, delegation, research and development, and serving as the technical lead, he helps to bring about solutions and products to reduce the Digital Divide.

President of the American Farm Bureau Federation since January 2016, Zippy Duvall is a third-generation farmer from Georgia. In addition to a 400-head beef cow herd for which he grows his own hay, Duvall and his wife, Bonnie, also grow more than 750,000 broilers per year.

In December 2017, Duvall was appointed to the White House Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. Also in 2017, he was honored by the National 4-H Council as a founding luminary.

Prior to being elected AFBF president, Duvall served for nine years as president of the Georgia Farm Bureau. As GFB president, Duvall’s service on the AFBF board of directors included roles on the AFBF Trade Advisory Committee, including several international trade missions, and on the AFBF Finance Committee. He also was recognized with several state appointments, including then-Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue’s Agricultural Advisory Committee and the Georgia Development Authority. His many state honors include Georgia Dairy Family of the Year.

Duvall’s long leadership history includes service on the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmers Committee and Georgia Farm Bureau board of directors. He also served on the AFBF board of directors as chair of the national Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee in 1987.

Zippy and Bonnie have been married for more than 38 years and raised four children: Vince, Corrie, Zeb and Zellie. They now enjoy spending time with their five grandchildren. They attend New Hope Baptist Church in Greshamville, Georgia, where Zippy serves as a deacon.

Mr. Elliot is currently the Founder and CEO of TigoHealth, Inc. Previously, he was the CEO and Founder of iMedgo and Nuvel,Inc. an internet acceleration software company. He also is the author of the worldwide best selling book, The Steve Jobs Way. Prior to Nuvel, he was the Founder and Chairman of Migo Software, Inc. a mobility software company. Mr. Elliot has more than 30 years' operations experience with such corporate giants as IBM, Intel and Apple Computer.

He served as the Senior Vice President of Apple Computer, responsible for all corporate operations plus overall corporate business planning, reporting directly to Steve Jobs, Chairman of the Board, CEO, and co-founder of Apple. Mr. Elliot met Steve Jobs in a restaurant in Los Gatos, a small town in California. Steve was impressed with his entrepreneurial insight into computers and was hired 4 weeks later. His first day at Apple was a Saturday, and he accompanied Steve to Xerox Park to view the Star System.

Steve and Mr. Elliot hit it off immediately and as a member of the Macintosh Development team he oversaw the software development of Macintosh. During his tenure at Apple sales grew from $150 million to more than $3 billion.

After graduating from college, Mr. Elliot joined IBM as a programmer working on the airline reservation system and moved into management in several key projects in the disk drive development business, development of the ATM system, and the Fair Transaction System and eventually managed the company’s 16,000-employee software division as the Director of the IBM Santa Teresa software Laboratory. In 1980 he called Andy Grove and joined Intel as site Director of the California operations. He also worked with Gordon Moore, chairman of Intel, in the creation of the Intel Foundation.

In addition to his vast technology background, Mr. Elliot has extensive experience in both the entertainment and healthcare industries. While at Apple he created Apple TV and internal employee TV communication system. He served as the chief executive officer of San Francisco Studios, where he produced the Academy Award nominated documentary, “Berkeley in the Sixties,” and the NBC television series, “Midnight Caller.”

In the healthcare industry, Mr. Elliot was the chief executive officer of New Health Systems, a network technology group connecting physicians and payers to patients and affiliated hospitals. As part of the New Health plan, Mr. Elliot spent one year with the UCLA Medical Center and UCLA Computer Science Department helping to develop a software system for the operation of tele-medical centers.

Mr. Elliot holds a B.S. in Mathematics from San Jose State University and a B.A. degree in Business from the University of California at Berkeley, California. He also was the author of "The Steve Jobs Way."

Signature Strengths:

Computer Science, Public Administration, Project Management

Heather is responsible for strategy development and implementation of programs that impact Digital Inclusion for all people in all places. She provides project management services including identification of program challenges and goals as well as day-to-day oversight and funding research.

Heather served on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment (ACDDE) from 2017 to 2021 and, in November 2021, was appointed as Chair to the rechartered committee which was redesignated as the Communications Equity and Diversity Council (CEDC).

Jessica assists with the growth and development of new programs, develops and maintains community relationships, and helps to foster and recognize new growth opportunities for Connected Nation.

Signature Strengths

Master’s in Business Administration

PHR and SHRM-CP Certifications

Melanie guides and manages the overall provision of human resources services, policies and programs for Connected Nation and its subsidiaries. She also provides professional level support and manages the operation of all functional areas of human resources including compliance, recruitment, employee relations, compensation and benefits, performance management, and development and training.

Heather is responsible for ensuring that Connected Nation’s (CN) programs are effectively executed. This includes planning, monitoring, implementing, and launching programs to meet customer objectives and expectations, as well as cultivating and maintaining stakeholder relationships in support of Connected Nation’s mission and growth.

Ninad performs data processing, conversion, formatting, and editing related to broadband access, adoption, and use in a Geographic Information System (GIS). As part of Connected Nation’s vision that everyone belongs in a Connected Nation, he works extensively with broadband-related and demographic information to assist senior GeoAnalytics staff in producing data visualization solutions and tabular results that lead to data-driven decisions to help connect unserved and underserved areas.

Signature Strengths:

IT, Computer Information Systems, Software and Hardware Technology

Ryan manages, secures, and oversees the network operations center and systems at Connected Nation and manages the development and implementation of long-term technology strategies for Connected Nation and its programs and projects.

Strengths: Educational leadership, organization and project management, federal government relations, public relations, classroom teaching

Emily oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization’s Connect K-12 initiative. She manages external relationships with key stakeholders at the state and federal levels of government, including governors’ offices, education agency heads, and like-minded advocacy and membership organizations. Emily helps state education leaders and K-12 public school districts improve school connectivity and make progress toward the FCC’s 1 Mbps per student bandwidth goal. She also equips national, state, and local organizations with data to be effective advocates for the federal E-rate Program, the primary funding mechanism for school connectivity nationally.

Huma provides administrative project oversight for all Connected Nation projects. She is responsible for administering project plans, managing workflow and timelines, working directly with clients, and providing support for project leads.

Signature Strengths:

Provider Relations, Broadband Solutions, Telecommunications Systems

Wes helps ensure the implementation of Technology Action Plans developed for communities through Connected Nation’s Connected Community Engagement Program (Connectedsm) and works closely with clients and stakeholders to provide solutions that will help them meet their technology goals.

Jerry supervises and oversees the field work and desktop research of our Broadband Field Validation Specialists and Drivers for Connected Nation and its subsidiaries.

Nathan provides business process analysis, intranet/application development, and application support across all organizational departments.

Ms. Lazarus is a leading advocate and policy expert on a wide range of children’s issues, having spent more than thirty-five years working on the front lines for children throughout the nation. She is the Founder of Kids Impact Initiative, a start-up venture to support and strengthen existing advocacy for children by increasing accountability on issues that affect children’s well-being and helping develop the next generation of advocates.

Her distinguished career includes founding and leading The Children’s Partnership for 22 years, serving as the Children’s Defense Fund’s first Director of Health in Washington DC, serving as founding Vice President for Policy for Children Now, and as a consultant to the Conrad Hilton and Piton Foundations. Throughout the years, she has helped secure improved health care, child support, access to information technologies, and other vital resources for hundreds of thousands of children and families.

Under her leadership at The Children’s Partnership, between 1993 and 2015 Ms. Lazarus helped define children’s interests in the burgeoning digital economy, creating and raising the profile of the first-ever children’s digital opportunity agenda in the United States. Ms. Lazarus helped secure first-in-the-nation technology policy gains in California and has directed the development of an online technology policy resource used across the country and internationally. She has accomplished pioneering work on the content dimension of the Digital Divide, having co-authored the first comprehensive report on internet content from the standpoint of the needs of underserved Americans and produced a widely used Parents’ Guide to the Internet. 

Ms. Lazarus has authored more than 25 reports and articles on a wide range of topics affecting children and is frequently turned to as an expert and strategist by policymakers, advocates, grant-makers, and the media.  She has been interviewed by dozens of media outlets including: ABC World News Tonight, Tavis Smiley Show, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, San Jose Mercury News, Sacramento Bee, San Francisco Chronicle, Chronicle of Philanthropy, and CNET.

Ms. Lazarus serves as a board member or advisor to a number of national, state, and community-based organizations and companies. She served on California State Superintendent Delaine Eastin’s Educational Technology Task Force, Governor Schwarzenegger’s Broadband Task Force, and National Institute of Health’s Child Health & Human Development Council, among others. She also developed and taught a graduate-level course in child advocacy at UCLA.

Ms. Lazarus graduated from Yale University in Yale's first class of women graduates, and received her Master's degree in Science in Public Health from the University of North Carolina. She lives in California with her husband and has two adult children.

Signature Strengths:

Achievement and Results Oriented, Technical and Business Focused, Proactive Leadership

Tim is primarily responsible for leading Connected Nation's state program operations, government affairs, and business development activities, focusing primarily on the execution of program deliverables to support the state Office of Broadband Development, and lead Connected Nation's efforts to close the Digital Divide. He is also responsible for cultivating and strengthening strategic relationships with public sector stakeholders, including the Governor's Office, the Executive Director of the Office of Broadband Development, the General Assembly, Executive Branch agencies, county officials, and economic development organizations throughout the state.

Tim coordinates with internal team members and the Project Management Office to ensure Connected Nation executes with precision and professionalism, while ensuring all deliverables are on time and within budget. He also contributes to the strategic vision for Connected Nation's government affairs activities and cultivates relationships that yield opportunities for expansion, influence, and impact.

Signature Strengths:

State and federal government relations, partnership development, public relations, policy expertise on broadband and education issues

Brent has primary responsibility for leading Connected Nation’s government affairs and public policy team, working with federal, state, and local officials to advance legislation and/or executive actions that will improve access to, and the quality of, broadband service and related technologies.  Brent has more than ten years of experience working at the intersection of technology, politics, and public policy, and has provided expert testimony on broadband issues before the U.S. Congress and the legislatures of 12 states.  Mr. Legg also has extensive experience working on education technology and school connectivity issues, and is a recognized expert on the federal E-rate program. Contact Brent at blegg@connectednation.org.

Signature Strengths:

Organization, Detail Oriented, Corporate Team Support

Gina provides executive and administrative support to the Chairman & CEO and other leadership team members as necessary. She also serves as the liaison to the board of directors and assists with facility management for Connected Nation’s corporate office.

Dr. Pamela Lloyd provides strategic counsel in support of CN’s education, healthcare, and government sector programming. In addition, Dr. Lloyd advises on development strategy and general operations of the organization.

Sharon is responsible for general accounting functions at Connected Nation.

Signature Strengths:

Planning, Community Engagement and Solutions, Organization

Dan coordinates and manages the activities of planning teams in support of Connected Nation’s Connected Community Engagement Program and the development of community-specific community team creation, data gathering, and technology action planning.

Frank has primary responsibility for cultivating strategic opportunities for Connected Nation (CN) in underserved and emerging markets, with a primary focus on sales, marketing, and business development activities that result in opportunities to further the organization’s mission and overall impact, particularly among indigenous populations. Frank is also responsible for cultivating and strengthening strategic relationships with key stakeholders across the organization’s footprint.

Signature Strengths:

Social Media, External Communications, Creative Solutions

Lily provides support to the Communications Department through social media outreach and writing. She also adds a source of creativity to the team with a background in personal relations and marketing. Lily has a bachelors in corporate and organizational communications from Western Kentucky University. 

Signature Strengths:

Strategic Leadership, Technology and Public Policy, Management Planning  

Mark brings with him more than 20 years of experience in strategic leadership for both nonprofit and for-profit organizations and provides a unique perspective on the relationship of technology to public policy, business practices, and culture.

Signature Strengths:

Economics, Research Collection and Analysis, Political Science

Chris works with Connected Nation staff and external stakeholders to develop research deliverables and provide critical analysis. He uses qualitative and quantitative techniques to interpret data, formulate reports, and make substantiated recommendations based on research findings.

Signature Strengths:

Provider Relations, Data Collection

Mark provides consultation with broadband service providers to better understand their telecom networks and collect data relevant to service areas and available speeds.

David is responsible for using qualitative and quantitative techniques to interpret survey data, in addition to collecting data from secondary sources to help support those findings. David works with internal and external stakeholders to help develop research and provide critical information in support of the Connected Nation mission.

Tanisha assists with technical and administrative tasks related to operations and deliverables of the GIS and ETS teams.

Signature Strengths:

Community Solutions, Business Administration, Education Programs

Chris acts as the primary relationship manager for placement and development of new broadband programming both nationally and internationally. Chris identifies the broadband needs of various state agencies, libraries, educational systems, etc., and responds with comprehensive solutions. He also speaks Danish and Spanish.

Jessica is responsible for general accounting and accounts payable functions at Connected Nation.

Signature Strengths:

Marketing, External Communications

Ashley is responsible for communications and marketing functions that broadly publicize Connected Nation (CN)’s mission, educate stakeholders on Digital Divide issues, and lead to new programs and projects that expand CN’s social impact.

Signature Strengths 

Master’s in Project and Program Management

Project Management, Planning, Organization

SAFe® 5 Agilist

Claudia provides administrative project oversight for all Connected Nation projects. She is responsible for administering project plans, managing workflow and timelines, working directly with clients, and providing support for project leads.

Alanna conducts telecommunications provider outreach and project coordination for Connected Nation’s broadband mapping projects. She researches telecommunications providers, maintains relationships with provider contacts, explains and provides updates on projects impacting the provider, and works to collect and obtain service area data for processing and inclusion in state and local broadband mapping projects. Additionally, she assists with administrative tasks related to the daily duties and project workflows of the GIS and ETS teams (Geographic Information System and Engineering & Technical Services, respectively).

Grant E. Seiffert was recently appointed to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Broadband Development Advisory Committee's working group on "Competitive Access to Broadband Infrastructure."  He previously served as president of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). 

Seiffert oversaw the policy, standards, tradeshow and marketing efforts for the leading advocate in Washington, D.C. for the information and communications technology (ICT) industry. Seiffert joined TIA in 1996 as director of government relations. His main priority was the representation of the equipment industry’s interests, particularly regarding competitive issues during implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

He was promoted to vice president in 1998, directing domestic and global policy to help the association’s supplier members gain marketing opportunities around the world. In that role, he oversaw policy, including interaction with the U.S. Congress, the FCC and the Administration, as well as with international regulatory bodies and government leaders, and fulfilled the senior management role for association membership and TIA tradeshows. He succeeded Matt Flanigan as president of TIA in January 2007. Prior to joining TIA, Seiffert served five years with Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.).

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Radford University, where he served as vice president of his sophomore class and as a senator in student government for three years. He and his wife, daughter and son reside in Mt. Vernon, Virginia.

Taylor is responsible for the development and management of various proposal related activities to increase Connected Nation’s (CN) effectiveness at securing grants, winning new business and building client/funder relationships. Taylor develops proposals and grant applications, including planning, review, and production of content for proposals.

Dr. Smith monitors federal broadband policy, writes public comments for federal agencies that request advice on broadband policy implementation, and helps with business development and proposals.

Signature Strengths:

Training, Operations, Mentorship, Organization

Tammy is responsible for providing day-to-day oversight of Connected Nation’s Digital Works program, including a wide range of training, mentoring, and supervisory activities. These activities provide guidance for job placement and career growth.

Signature Strengths:

Planning, Community Engagement and Solutions, Organization

Tom coordinates and manages the activities of planning teams in support of Connected Nation’s Connected Community Engagement Program and the development of community-specific community team creation, data gathering, and technology action planning.

Layne supervises and oversees the field work and desktop research of Broadband Audit and Testing Technicians and Assistants for Connected Nation and its subsidiaries.

Molly is responsible for managing the development and implementation of Connected, Connected Nation’s broadband assessment and planning program, across the United States. Molly develops and maintains all Connected partner relationships in support of advancing the program and Connected Nation’s mission and strategic objectives.

Signature Strengths:

Master’s in Business Administration
Master’s in Managing Information Technology

Rachel provides administrative project oversight for Connected Nation projects. She is responsible for administering project plans, managing workflow and timelines, working directly with clients, and providing support for project leads.