Board of Directors
Cindy Finney, President
Cindy M. Finney serves as the Radio Systems Manager in the Enterprise Technology Service Department, Radio Communication Servic es Division of Miami-Dade County, a diversified communications organization serving one of the largest metropolitan county governm ents in the nation.
Mrs. Finney joined the Miami-Dade County family in January 2001. She is responsible for activities associated with the management, maintenance, repair, and uninterrupted operation of the telecommunication radio systems that are essential to the safe ty and welfare of the citizens and employees of Miami-Dade County. Included in the responsibilities is the management of the 800 MH z M/A-Com Simulcast trunked radio systems which operates on an Enhanced Digital Access Control System (EDACS) protocol. Ther e are over 8 different radios systems that comprise the radio network. Her responsibilities includes load balance analysis, network management, maintenance and issuance of FCC licenses, control of unit assignments, group structures, user account maintenan ce, user interoperability, and research audio and data reporting.
The 800 MHz Radio system has over 30,000 radio users, and generates over 8 millions transmissions monthly. Additional responsib ilities include coordinating activities, projects, and exercises with Federal, State, Municipal, Tribal, and Local Government agen cies. She is also responsible to coordinate projects related to telecommunication systems installation and modifications. Making c omplex technical decisions is a daily part of her job. Mrs. Finney manages a group of supervisory, professional, technical, an d clerical staff whose work is critical to the daily operation of the radio systems. She is responsible for keeping abreast of developments in the rapidly changing field of telecommunications systems to assist upper management in strategic decision suppo rt for new technology implementations.
Mrs. Finney holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems (MIS) from Barry University and a Masters Certific ate in Project Management from Florida International University (FIU). She is a Standardized Awareness authorized Trainer fo r the US Homeland Security Department on National Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Her professional affiliations include the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International (APCO). Sh e was elected and is currently serving for Region 7 (Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties) as the Co-Chair in t he Communications Working group for the State of Florida Southeastern Regional Domestic Security Task Force (SERDSTF). Mrs. Finney w as also elected and is currently serving on the International M/A-Com Wireless Users Group Board and the State of Florida Commu nication Interoperability Working Group.
Peter Gauthier, President Elect
I have worked for E-Comm since 1999. E-Comm, among other things, supplies radio communications to police, fire and ambulance in our area. I am the Director of Wireless Services and responsible for the radio system. Prior to my arrival at E-Comm I spent twenty six years in the airline industry with the bulk of it involved with ground based radio communications. Also spent over fifteen years as a Reserve Constable with the Vancouver Police Department.
Eric Linsley, Vice President
Eric Linsley is the Director of Public Safety Communications for Mobile County Commission. Eric has 20 plus years in Public Safety Radio Communications. Eric started out installing public safety two-way radios for a local Kenwood dealer for the City of Daphne, Alabama Police Department. Eric continued to work at other dealers installing radios, responding to dispatch centers and radio repeater towers for service calls. In 1991, Eric worked for a local GE dealer who had the contract to install Mobile County’s 800 MHz EDACS Trunking System. In 1994, Eric started working for Mobile County Commission as an Electronic Systems Analyst maintaining Mobile County's EDACS System. In 1999, Eric was promoted to Department Head in charge of all Mobile County Commission Electronic Systems.
Mobile County’s EDACS system currently has 4,500 units with over 120 agencies including local, state, and federal users, and generates over 170,000 calls a day. Current configuration is 6 sites, Multi-site with twelve C3 Maestro Consoles. Mobile County recently added a three site, twenty four channel Simul-cast system to support the City of Mobile users. The City of Mobile will add an additional twelve C3 Maestro Consoles and 1,700 handhelds/mobile radios.
Eric has been active with APCO for fifteen years now in public safety frequency coordination and training. Eric’s various activities include: Chairman of the Region 1 Alabama 700 MHz Planning Committee, APCO Primary Alabama Frequency Advisor, Alternate Mississippi Frequency Advisor, Alabama State Homeland Security Technical Member, and Alabama Mutual Aid System Advisor Council Member.
Eric’s Professional Licenses include; Associates Degree of Electronics Technology, FCC General Radio Telephone Operator License #PG-GB-01552, APCO Institute, Inc. Certificate of Competency, NICET I Fire Alarm Systems Certificate #111545.
Eric’s Professional Achievements include: Past recipient of APCO International RF Technician of the Year 2008 “The Best of the Best”, and recently commended by the Senate of Alabama 2008 by Senator Rusty Glover,
Eric has had two publications: APCO Public Safety Communications – October 1996 – Vol. 62 – No. 10 “Technology Today, Radio Compatibility: A Technician’s View”, Ericsson OpenMic – Spring 1999 “Mobile County’s Radio Communications Withstand Nature’s Toughest Blows”
Eric has two children, daughter Erkya 20 and son Brad 15.
Steve Litschauer, Secretary
Currently holds the rank of Lieutenant with the Manatee Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit and as a Volunteer is the Deputy Chief of Logistics with the Manatee County Emergency Management. He retired, December 2007 as the Commander of the Legal Affairs/Support Division and of Emergency Services for the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, Bradenton, Florida. He had held Management positions in all three Law Enforcement Bureaus, which included the Administrative Bureau, Enforcement Bureau and the Investigation Bureau.
His law enforcement career spanned 35 years, including 30 years with the Sheriff's Office. His law enforcement career began in 1969, when he joined the Sheriff's Office Explorer Post.
He is the Past Chairman of the Florida Tyco Electronics Wireless User Group, Past Chairman of the National Tyco Electronics Wireless User Group, and the Past President of the International Tyco Electronics Wireless User Group and currently serves as the Secretary of the International Tyco Electronics Wireless User Group and is a Life Board Member of the Florida Tyco Electronics Wireless User Group.
Mike Miller, Treasurer
Michael Miller is President and CEO at RACOM Corporation. RACOM operates the country's largest privately owned wireless voice and data communications network serving the Public Safety/Law Enforcement market.
Prior to joining RACOM, Mike spent five years with the General Electric Capital Corporation, headquartered in Stamford, CT, where his last position held was as an Audit Manager. He graduated with distinction from Iowa State University in 1990 where he majored in Finance.
Mike is very active in the community, having served as the Chair of MEDIC (Marshall Economic Development Impact Committee), President of the Community Y Board of Directors, member of the Iowa Valley Leadership Steering Committee, Marshalltown Development Foundation board member and served as Marshalltown's Second Ward City Councilperson from 2000 to 2004.
Mike is married to Jennifer, who is the Marshall County Attorney. Mike and Jennifer have two children, Emily (2000) and Owen (2003).
Werner Brunke, International Director
Bio coming soon!
Paul Kehrer, Utilites Director
Paul Kehrer is a Principal engineer in IT Telecommunications Engineering for American Electric Power Service Corporation. He has 29 years experience as a Telecommunications engineer for American Electric Power subsidiary companies and holds a professional engineering license of electrical engineering in Virginia. Paul received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York in 1979.
American Electric Power owns and operates an EDACS 800 MHz trunked radio network across their eleven-state service territory. The radio system provides mobile coverage over 90% of the 220,000 square mile area. The system installation was started in 1992 and has grown to over 320 EDACS sites, 35 virtual sites, 13 multisite controllers and two stargates. Ten thousand users operate on the system and half of them utilize EDACS mobile data. Mobile data is currently used for Distribution Work Management, SCADA and AVL applications.
Paul served as chairman of EUTRA, EDACS Utility Trunked Radio Association, from 1998 to 2000.
Ray Ryan, Director at Large
Bio coming soon!
Jerry Vahling, Past President;
Bio coming soon!
Greg Coleman, Harris
Greg Coleman is a native of Jacksonville Florida and 1976 graduate of Florida A&M University.
Greg spent twelve years in the National Football League as a Punter, ten of those years were with the Minnesota Vikings.
He has the distinction of being the First African American punter in the National Football League. He was also selected by fans to be a member of the Viking 40th anniversary team. He is a member of the Florida A&M Football Hall of Fame also a member of the State of Florida Track & Field Track Hall of Fame.
Currently, he is a Manager of National Public Safety Markets for M/A-COM Wireless Systems, a Division of TYCO Electronics that offers total communication solutions that provide land mobile radio customers with reliable, state of the art technology and products. M/A-COM Wireless Systems serves public safety, utility, industrial, commercial and government organizations worldwide.
He is the founder of The Pepsi Minority Golf Tournament a golf tournament in his hometown of Jacksonville Florida to provide college scholarships for minority students.
He serves on the board of Metropolitan State University in the Twin Cities and is involved in several other charitable causes. He also host the Greg Coleman Celebrity Golf Tournament, this tournament provides scholarships for the Urban Teacher Program at Metropolitan State University in the Twin City area.
Greg serves as the Sideline Analyst for the Minnesota Viking radio Broadcast Network on KFAN 1130 AM during the season.
He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
He and his wife Eleanor have two adult children Cara and Gregory II.
He is a golf enthusiast.
He is an Ordained Minister at the Living Word Church in St. Paul, MN.
Dirk Young, Harris
Dirk Young is the Manager of National Public Safety Markets at Tyco Electronics M/A-COM business and joined the company is 2007. In this capacity he serves as the company’s consultant liaison and fire industry advisor for the company.
Dirk has over 20 years of public safety experience. He served 11 years as a fire chief and has a total of 10 years experience as a paramedic and flight paramedic. From 1992 to 1997 Dirk was Executive Director of Mobile County EMS. During that period he implemented the first EMS system for rural Mobile County serving 1200 square miles and a population of 225,000. It was also the first dispatch center to implement a priority dispatch solution in the SW region of Alabama.
From 1997 to 2006, Dirk worked in the public safety software market for several CAD/RMS/Mobile Data vendors, including Intergraph, Tiburon and SunGard OSSI. He has an associate’s degree in safety engineering.
Dirk and his wife Amanda have four children and one grandchild. Dirk is the Worship Leader for First Church of the Nazarene they reside in Mobile, Alabama.