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ABOUT US

Our Team

InterConnection Staff

Charles Brennick, Founder & Director

Charles has had a life-long personal and professional interest in technology, environmental education and community planning. This unique combination of interests and experience led Charles to create InterConnection in 1999. Prior to founding InterConnection, Charles worked as both a web developer and ecotourism planner in Costa Rica. Before that, he spent over two years as an environmental education teacher with the Peace Corps in Paraguay. Charles received a Masters degree in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon.

Art Becker, Center Coordinator

Michael Yust, Donations Coordinator

Dennis Meehan, Pick-up Coordinator

Tisha Quinones, Quality Control Coordinator

Paul Wagner, Installs Coordinator

Marcus Vederoff, Monitor Testing Coordinator

Ally Pirret, Outreach Assistant

Christian Hansen, Retail Sales Administrator

Hannah Mandala, Volunteer Coordinator

Board of Directors

Michael Aldridge
Mr. Aldrige has over 20 years of experience in IT product development strategy and marketing, with 15 years specifically at Microsoft in senior marketing and product planning roles. As a Group Manager at Microsoft, he drove the strategy and programs for Base of the Pyramid technology incubation, including piloting and researching the impact of eLearning on the sustainability of rural internet cafes (kiosks) in 300 Indian villages, examining the potential for SMS-based services on basic mobile phones, and developed pioneering research on understanding the needs of China’s 800M rural citizens. While at Microsoft he also founded the Design for Development Award as part of Microsoft’s Imagine Cup – challenging computer science students around the world to use user-centric design to create relevant technology for people who make less than $8 a day. Michael was invited to join the board of InterConnection in August of 2009. He is currently an independent consultant and has a BA in Chinese and African History and Politics from Colorado College.

Maryann Budlong
A Seattle native and global citizen, Maryann believes entrepreneurship and technology are keys to alleviating poverty and increasing social mobility. She established Budlong Consulting in 1996 - a practice providing expertise in high-growth strategy execution, marketing and operations - and has worked with for-profit telecommunication and technology ventures and non-profit development and government organizations in the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Tim Gillman, Chair
Mr Gillman has more than 20 years in technology, over seventeen of which are in embedded systems. He is the co-owner of San Juan Software, a company focused on wireless sensor and control networks and active in the ZigBee Alliance. Tim has been involved with InterConnection since 2003.

Mark Howard, Vice Chair
Mr Howard is the Senior International Program Manager for EarthCorps. He developed an interest in helping communities bridge the digital divide while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines. Mark holds a B.S. from Kansas State University; an M.A. in Nonprofit Leadership from Seattle University; and is a participant in the 2010 class of Leadership Tomorrow. Mark has served on the InterConnection board since 2004.

Doug Irvine
Mr Irvine has more than 20 years of experience in international business development and marketing, particularly in the Japanese and Vietnamese markets. He has also recently worked in the field of environmental consulting in the areas of process safety management and risk management programs, but is currently devoting most of his efforts to the non-profit sector as President of Snoqualmie Sister Cities Association and Treasurer of the Snoqualmie Valley Kiwanis Club, a service organization concentrating on the support of youth educational programs, scholarships to graduating high school seniors, etc. in the greater Snoqualmie Valley.

Matt Iseri
Mr. Iseri has over 15 years of operational experience specializing in project management and operational excellence. Matt is the owner of TokuSaku Consulting, a Business management consulting firm that specializes in process improvement and process design. Matt holds a BBA in Business Administration; a BA in Economics from Pacific Lutheran University and an MBA from Seattle University

Karen Manuel, M.A.Ed.
Director of Digital Inclusion Initiatives at the Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology. Her professional experience includes over eight years of experience managing workforce development programs and leading initiatives to increase technology access and training in high-need communities. She has managed partnerships, programs, and professional development initiatives that improve the teaching of STEM and was Co-Principal Investigator on a National Science Foundation Information Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) grant for TechREACH. Karen has expertise in researching and evaluating the impact of equity initiatives and is an active leader and board member of the Communities Connect Network, the City of Seattle Citizens’ Telecommunications & Technology Advisory Board, Interconnection, and Reel Grrls.

Regional Representatives

Shay Kohan, South America (Paraguay and Bolivia)
John Zoltner, InterConnection Chile


Advisory Board

Craig Lorch - Founder, Total Reclaim

Jed Truett - Director, MetroPlanning