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Meet the Candidates
We have 4 Meet the Conferences scheduled, and we will post the transcript of each here:
Candidate Bios
Board of Directors
Ken Bundy has been a Director of APCUG for the past four years. He was elected to a three- year term in 2000, and subsequently was appointed to fill the remaining year of Patricia Hill's term for 2004. He's spent the past two years as Chair of On-Line Services and Webmaster for APCUG. He is responsible for all of the on-line activities of the organization, and recently finished a complete overhaul of the APCUG website.
Ken is also a past-president and a member of Ridge Computer Users in Lake Wales, Florida. The quintessential computer geek, his interest and involvement in electronics started early. By his Junior year of college he had left school to spend time working in the broadcasting industry. Ken has worked in both television and radio in markets all over the country. His electronics background segued naturally to PCs.
Employed as a Systems and Network Administrator by Crichlow Data Sciences in Lakeland, Florida, Ken manages the in-house network and the corporate website, and is responsible for installation and service of systems sold by the company.
He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Management with minors in English, Marketing and Physical Education, and is an A+ Certified Computer Technician. A martial arts enthusiast, Ken currently practices Tae Kwon Do, and also has extensive training in Ju-Jitsu, Aikido, and Judo.
Born in Wheeling, W. Va., Ken migrated to Florida in 1967. A full-time single dad he resides in Lakeland, Florida with his 16 yr old daughter.
Howard Hoyt
Computer Connection Club
San Jacinto, CA
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I really believe in the concept of “People Helping People.” As the President of the Computer Connection Club, San Jacinto, Senior Vice President of the Hemet Senior Computer Club, and a frequent speaker for the Sierra Dawn Computer Club, I am working hard to promote safe computer use and knowledge among the senior residents of the San Jacinto Valley.
Before retiring from my full time job in medical electronics at Rush University Medical Center, I was very active in the Chicago Computer Society, holding many volunteer positions over the years.
With 32 years of part time teaching at the college level, I’ve spent the last 20 years teaching computer science with current emphasis in A+ Certification. I have just finished a one year term on the Faculty Senate and Executive Senate representing the part time faculty at Mt. San Jacinto College, a California Community College.
As a member of the APCUG Board of Directors, I promise to continue to work just as hard to promote the concept of “Computer users helping computer users,” and to promote local computer clubs.
Steve Peyrot
East Tennessee Computer Society
Knoxville, TN
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Steve Peyrot is an enthusiastic individual with tremendous motivation. Steve was elected to the APCUG Board of Advisors in 2003, was unanimously appointed as APCUG Treasurer in 2004, and was subsequently elected to the APCUG Board of Directors last spring. Steve has also been a strong leader and working participant in the APCUG Annual Conference Committee, Election Committee, Publications Committee, Friends of APCUG Committee, and Vendor Liaison Committee. Steve Peyrot also implemented and facilitated APCUG social events such as the popular Annual Dip Awards Contest and the Friends of APCUG Social events.
Steve has an evangelistic attitude of helping members grow and training them to lead. His experience and professionalism compounded with his sincere concern for others and great communication skills make Steve Peyrot a great asset to any organization.
Steve Peyrot's involvement with user groups dates back to 1984. Over the years, Steve has continually exhibited his passion for working within the user group community in leadership positions within many user groups of varied computer platforms throughout the southeast.
Steve Peyrot resides in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. In his professional life, Steve is employed as Purchasing and Materials Manager for MTS Systems Corporation in Oak Ridge, Tennessee; with focus in Nano-technology. Steve is also currently serving as President of the National Association of Purchasing Managers (NAPM) of East Tennessee, a regional affiliate of the Institute of Supply Management.
Platform Statement
I believe that for my "platform statement" I would simply like to provide a vision statement of my motives for seeking elected office and what I intend to accomplish while in office.
I believe that we receive throughout life what we in turn give of ourselves to others. The whole concept of users helping users is what APCUG is actually all about.
I strongly follow the concept that all elements of leadership within an organization should foster the atmosphere of working together on unified goals. Having served both as an Advisor and as a Director in addition to my assigned duties as APCUG Treasurer, I have a strong conviction as well as passion for working collectively as a team.
If elected to this position, I pledge to continue my hard work and efforts as a Director, Treasurer, and in the utilization of my skills and talents throughout an active involvement in committees as well as spearheading any special projects that come along.
I want to contribute all that I have within me to make APCUG the best organization it can be and to ensure that each member of APCUG is supported in the best way possible.
I am up for reelection to the APCUG Board of Directors. Previously, I served three terms on the Board of Advisors, as the Advisor for Region 8. I was a 4-term President of the Golden Triangle PC Club, after serving several terms as VP, Editor, and APCUG representative.
As advisor for Region 8, I helped to put on the first regional event, as well as traveled around the region meeting other groups. I have been an active volunteer at 12 major APCUG events, in Las Vegas, Chicago, Atlanta, and New York. I have been a roundtable presenter on cybersecurity issues at most of those events.
In addition to my APCUG activities, I am the Director of the Management Program at the Lamar Institute of Technology, where I also teach credit and non-credit courses in computer security and cybercrime. I am a police officer who has lectured internationally on computer crime, and accepted as an expert witness in several computer crime cases. Currently, I am working under a $900,000 National Science Foundation grant to develop a nationally recognized curriculum in computer forensics. I host a weekly radio show and write a weekly computer column, which is also provided to APCUG groups.
I have an MBA from the University of Maryland, and graduated from the Jefferson County (TX) Sheriff’s Academy.
I was the winner of the Rogers Community Service Award, the highest award in Southeast Texas for community service, as well as the Dan Bell Service Award from the Better Business Bureau.
Platform Statement
Since I first became involved with APCUG in 1990, the user group movement
has undergone dramatic changes. Once the premier source of computer help,
information, and support for the early adopters of the then-new technology,
many formerly prosperous users' groups are now struggling for basic
survival. We need to not just assist in the survival of UGs, but to
encourage prosperity. APCUG needs to be more of a liaison between the UG
community and those organizations that still support us, plus APCUG needs to
develop new resources for the UGs. APCUG needs to more actively promote
itself both to the user population and those interested in marketing to the
users. Positive publicity as well as active solicitations of support is
vital, and should be an APCUG priority. APCUG should offer as a service to
its member groups some form of voluntary coordination of presentations such
that potentials vendors could feasibly reach both large and small groups,
while meeting their own fiscal limitations. APCUG may need to work with
companies to help create, test, and distribute "Presentations in a Box" that
could economically provide UGs a quality experience, within the tight
financial constraints of our corporate friends.
Board of Advisors
A Melb PC member since 1984, I have served as a volunteer, then member of Management Committee, for 10 years. I own a small Melbourne advertising agency, and am a qualified journalist.
3 years ago started ComputerAid SIG to upgrade donated PCs for World Vision and other charities, since then an estimated $600,000 worth of machines has been sent to Ghana, Romania, Papua, Zambia, Kenya, East Timor and others 3rd-world countries plus local charities, schools, women's refuges, Aboriginal settlements etc.
For 10 years I have run the club's Monthly Meeting for an average 300-member audience, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of sponsorship prizes from computer companies and developing good connections with them.
An Italian-Irish Englishman with an Australian family (wife and 4 adult children), I believe I have the broad international perspective for an advisor's role.
I visited the APCUG Conference in 2002 where I met quite a number of people from all over the US (mostly) and others from outside. One thing I felt then, and even more so now, is that APCUG needs to be truly international, bringing in clubs from Europe, Asia, and all the countries in the world where computing is creating a revolution in people's lives.
Bill James
Computer Club of Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, OK
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Bill James is a life long resident of Oklahoma City. He is currently employed by the Federal Aviation Administration as a Supply Systems Analyst where he has worked for the past 30+ years.
Bill first became involved in a PC User's Group in 1992 when he joined the Oklahoma PC User's Group now known as the Computer Club of Oklahoma City to learn more about the computer he purchased.
He has been a member of the clubs' Board of Directors since 1998. Bill was elected President of the Computer Club of Oklahoma City in 2000. He is currently in his second term as President of the club and is the club's Webmaster.
Bill attended his first APCUG Fall Conference in 2003. He is an active member of Toastmasters International Club #627. Bill is an Immediate Past President and a current member of the Board of Directors for North Care Center, a private non-profit behavioral and social service facility located in Oklahoma City.
Paul Stephen
Winnipeg PC User Group Inc
Winnipeg, Manitoba, CA
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My name is Paul Stephen. Perhaps you've seen my posts on WebBoard. I'm
editor of the Winnipeg PC User Group newsletter and have held that
position since 1985. I've been connected with APCUG even before it was
formed -- proudly placing the Winnipeg PCUG "pin" on Doug Thompson's
User Group map at the Sahara Hotel in 1986.
I attended COMDEX from 1985-1993 and participated in many APCUG
roundtables. In the early 90's I had the honor of videotaping an
interview with Dr. Philippe Kahn, then CEO of Borland.
Rheumatoid arthritis now prevents me from attending the "big event" in
Las Vegas, but I keep in touch with everyone thanks to the Internet.
I do not pretend to be a computer "expert" -- it's just a hobby for
me, but I do keep "up-to-date" with industry happenings. I know a
little about a lot -- not a lot about a little.
I've acted as our own "vendor rep" since 1985 and have "negotiated"
with many software companies.
I would be honored to represent Canada on the APCUG BODA and ask for
your support.
Platform Statement
I'd like to represent Canada on the APCUG BoA as I feel I know more
about Canadian UG "problems" than an American assigned to represent
our country.
User Groups in Canada have difficulty clearing software through
customs, paying brokerage fees, encountering high shipping costs,
getting "deals", etc. that are not encountered by American groups. I
would like to help alleviate these problems.
I'd like to give "rebirth" to the contests for Newsletters and Web
Sites and acknowledge the efforts of individuals who write material
for these platforms.
Remember the first (and only) APCUG Shareware CD? I suggested it.
Perhaps it's time for another as many UG members do not have
broadband.
I would also like to help vendors actually SELL discounted product to
UG members. It would involve a coupon redemption system where local
stores would sell product to UG members after vendor presentations. It
would be a win-win-win idea for UG members, local computer companies
and the software developer.
For the past 4 years, I have been employed as a systems engineer for Strategic Resource Consulting Group. This is a substantial change from 25 years spent working in various libraries around the world. My technology background includes database management, database administration, data migration, networking, various server environments, support of several operating systems, and project management. My formal experience includes implementing a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant, implementing various computer-training classes for the public, managing a computer center, implementing training and workstations for special needs clients, and general software support for library personnel in the Las Vegas - Clark County Library District.
Positions that I have held in the Las Vegas PC User Group are President (current), Access SIG Leader (current), Past Vice President, Program Chair, Acting Advertising Director. I am also involved with a number of other non-profit community based organizations or programs, including Boulder Dam Area Council – Boy Scouts and the Las Vegas Art Museum.
I have a very diversified work background and have worked in a gas station, theater, ceramic shop, Sales Representative for a library based hardware and software company, insurance billing for Medicare and SAMI, custom seamstress, medical assistant, as well as the library experience listed above. During my library employment I have worked in adult services, children’s services to include story time with puppets and everything, Bookmobile, Technical Services and the computer labs. Those jobs have taken me to Montana, Pennsylvania, Germany, Massachusetts, and Nevada.
Judy Taylour
Santa Clarita Valley PC Group
Valencia, CA
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Judy currently serves as the President and Editor of her PC group – the
Santa Clarita Valley PC Group in southern California. She has been a member
since the beginning of the group in 1988. She co-facilitates the quarterly
SCRUGS (Southern California Regional User Group Summit) meetings. SCRUGS is a
group of officers from 24 groups in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Kern,
Riverside & San Bernardino counties who meet quarterly to exchange
information, discuss problems, find vendors who are new to user groups, and
set-up tours for vendors so they can present to several groups in one week.
Her APCUG responsibilities include Advisor for Regions 5 and 10, as well as
Chair of the Editorial PUSH and Benefits / Services committees. She is also
co-chair of the ever-popular Southwest User Group Conference held in San
Diego.
Her day job is Legal Department Administrator for in-house counsel and she is
the lead teacher at her local adult school, teaching computer classes two
nights a week and an occasional Saturday. She has four grandsons, ages 7-1/2
years to 9 months.
Roger Laurel Tesch resides in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. He currently works as an
Information Systems Professional for the Wisconsin Department of
Transportation, where he has been employed for 19 years.
Roger was appointed to the APCUG Board of Advisors for Region 7 at the
beginning of 2004.
Roger has been actively involved with the Madison PC Users Group (MPCUG)
since 1994. During this time he has served as Public Relations Director,
First Vice President (Program Director), APCUG Representative, Secretary,
and President. He is currently First Vice President and Public Relations
Director. Roger is also Secretary and Executive Director of the Madison PC
Users Group Foundation, which works with the Community SIG and CommunityIT
coalition to provide community projects in the greater Madison area.
Other current affiliations include Fitchburg Lion's Club and Board Member of
Fitchburg Historical Society. Roger previously served as an Alderman on the
Fitchburg Common Council for 9 years and on the Dane County Board of
Supervisors for 2 years.
Through his involvement with MPCUG, Roger obtained knowledge and skills that
have benefited his professional career. He has continuously demonstrated his
passion for user groups as a way for users to help users, to share
expertise, to develop skills, and to bring people and community together.
His mission is that people get value out of using their computers, whether
for work, home, or play. As an APCUG Advisor, Roger has visited many user
groups in his region, provided information about APCUG's benefits, and
communicated with user group officers.
Melvin Weekley
Seniors Computer Group
San Diego, CA
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I am a retired aerospace electronics test engineer/manager. I have worked with computers, from the day-to-day word processing tasks to the automated design and control of testing of Space Craft. I retired in December, 2002.
My first home computer was a Z81 assemble-it-yourself kit. Then I moved to the Atari ST, the Commodore 64, the Apple MacIntosh, and finally to the IBM PC and compatibles.
I first joined a computer club in 1983 and have been active in computer clubs ever since. I have served as Treasurer and Membership Chairman in the past and am presently the Vice President, Programs for the Seniors Computer Group in San Diego, CA. I also teach classes on Computer skills two evenings a month in the community. I love being able to help my neighbors learn to use their computers. I also enjoy helping them resolve problems with their computers.
I have worked with volunteer organizations for over 50 years doing organizational and administrative work. I have a Doctor of Business Administration in Management and Leadership, a Master of Science in Religious Education, a Bachelor of Science in Business Organization Management, an Associate in Christian Education, and an Associate in Biblical Studies degrees.
Platform Statement
My goal is to improve communications between APCUG and the User groups and their
individual members so that they are fully aware of what APCUG is about. And what
it does for its members. Also to research and identify resources, and make them
available to the User Groups.
I see a great need for APCUG to be a channel for communications between User
Groups and the Vendor community.
APCUG also needs to be an instrument for developing unity and cooperation among
the User Groups. And a source of help for our User Groups in developing a
unified effort in organizing the groups in regional and local areas.
Cheryl Wester
Temecula Valley
Computer User Group
Temecula, CA
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My name is Cheryl Wester and I'm running for the position of Advisor for APCUG. Currently I'm a high school computer and math teacher in Corona, California. In this capacity I've successfully dealt with all types of personalities. I'm a people oriented individual and I have done numerous presentations on Windows Mobile devices, Outlook, and Google to various computer clubs including the APCUG conference.
At the present time I also work part time for Mosaic and Microsoft training people on selling Windows Mobile devices. I am a member of several different computer clubs and pride myself on my organizational skills. I'm a detail oriented person that meets all deadlines in a timely manner. I feel I would be an asset to our organization.
Sherry Zorzi
Cajun Clickers Computer Club
Baton Rouge, LA
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Hello from Cajun country! My name is Sherry Zorzi and I've been a member of
the Board of Directors of Cajun Clickers Computer Club since 1992. I've
served as President, Vice President, Secretary, Public Relations Chairman
and Education Chairman. I'm currently serving as Vice President. I also
host The Cajun Clickers Computer Show, an expert advice show on our local
talk radio station and write a Cajun Clickers technology column for a local
newspaper.
I'm a former high school math and Latin teacher, who became addicted to
computers in the mid-1980s. In 1990, I founded Zorzi Consulting which
provides software training and support to businesses and educational
institutions.
I've been active in APCUG for many years and have attended APCUG Fall and/or
Spring Conferences almost every year since 1993. I've made presentations at
APCUG events. I've served on the Board of Advisors for about 3 years. I've
just recently (finally!) been assigned to represent Region 8, which is my
home region. I've created a WebBoard discussion list for Region 8 officers
to communicate among themselves on topics of interest to user group
officers. I serve also as Secretary to the Board of Advisors. I've enjoyed
working with the Board of Advisors and with Region 1, Region 5 and Region 8
User Groups and would like your vote so that I can continue.
Thanks for your consideration!
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