Who We Are

ECC Technologies was incorporated in 1995 to provide technology and communications consulting services to Educational, Community, and Corporate (ECC) clients. This was at the time when the nation’s telecommunications industry was changing drastically through deregulation.

As the company grew and the demand for broadband connectivity and Internet access increased, ECC found its place in the Open Access fiber optics market as a national leader. Multiple broadband fiber networks were established in New York State through the leadership of ECC.  These open-access networks were developed in conjunction with communities, with the goal of spurring economic development in the regions where the networks were built. This type of leadership resulted in ECC being the 2015 recipient of the NYS Broadband Program Office’s Extraordinary Broadband Team Award.

For the past 25 years, ECC has provided technology and security consulting services to education, municipalities, government, and corporate clients. ECC continues on our mission to assist clients with the expansion of broadband and the implementation of technology and security solutions in communities to improve economic development, public safety, education, and healthcare services.

JOE STARKS

President & CEO

Joe Starks is a Marine Corps veteran who has over 30 years of technology and telecommunications experience. As the founder of ECC, he has developed and managed from startup a technology consulting group that has been responsible for the development of over $3 billion in technology programs throughout North America, including programs and plans for education, corporate, and community environments. Joe has extensive experience in developing, managing, and growing technology-based start-up opportunities. His experience includes the development of business models and is a proven visionary effective in diverse environments, with a strong technical and business background.

Matt Crider

MATT W. CRIDER

Vice President

Matthew is a project manager, senior consultant, and the Vice President of ECC Technologies. Matt is responsible for technology and security planning, design, and management for the Consulting Services Group. He has years of experience working with IP Networks, VPNs, telephone systems, unified communications, emergency communications systems, and security/surveillance systems. His work has led him to develop wide area network broadband solutions all over the State of New York.

Cory Brown

CORY BROWN

Chief Technology Officer

Cory Brown has worked in Information Technology for the past 25 years. His responsibilities with ECC include network design, installation, and support services for ECC’s clients; such as electric co-ops, government agencies, public safety, school districts, and health care facilities. These services include the development of IP networks, vendor-independent network systems design, network systems integration, migration strategies for network installations, VPN services, network installations, and project management.

Jammie Starks-Benthem

JAMMIE STARKS-BENTHEM

Director of Business Development

Jammie Starks-Benthem is a key Fiber Sales executive at ECC Technologies responsible for informing the businesses, carriers, and community members about the Open Access dark fiber networks that ECC Technologies manages. She identifies key prospects, works with clients to determine their needs, and develops solutions to fit those needs. Jammie also manages client satisfaction throughout their engagement with ECC Technologies and the dark fiber Open Access networks ECC supports to ensure the quality of service delivery.

Patrick Aldrich

PATRICK ALDRICH

Senior Technology Consultant

Patrick has been with ECC for six years and is responsible for designing, specifying, and administrating construction for network and security infrastructure. Patrick works directly with both design and operations teams, concentrating on project design, developing RFP specifications, drawing packages, and project management.

Jeff Holtmann

JEFF HOLTMANN, RA

Manager of GIS & OSP Services

Jeff has been involved with the complete design, contractor selection, and construction management of multiple fiber optic network projects in North Carolina. He is well versed in the various methods of contractor selection including RFP generation, open/closed bid processes, sole sourcing, and the design-build model with direct contract to ECC. Jeff also brings his wealth of knowledge in CAD and has supplemented this experience by becoming very proficient in the use of GIS technologies supporting fiber optic design and implementation.

Andy Lukasiewicz

ANDY LUKASIEWICZ

Director of Broadband

Andy Lukasiewicz is an award-winning broadband pioneer who brings more than 30 years of experience in leadership and innovation in the data and telecommunications industry. As director of municipal Open Access and broadband development for ECC Technologies, Andy uses his unique blend of technical, operational, and organizational management expertise to provide consulting services to various municipal entities for the development and operations of fiber and wireless-based networks. Andy facilitates public/private partnerships to advance sustainable broadband availability.

Tracy Roberts

TRACY ROBERTS

Director of Administration

Tracy Roberts has been with ECC Technologies since 2018. Her responsibilities include customer service and support, data collection, and issue tracking via an online ticketing system. She analyzes billing statements for cost efficiencies and validates and reconciles services to ensure contract compliance. In addition to customer support, Tracy provides internal office management support to both the New York and North Carolina offices.

Francis (Mac) McNamara

FRANCIS (MAC) MCNAMARA III

Director of Operations

Francis (Mac) McNamara III is a Military Combat Veteran and ESGR National DOD Patriotic Award Winner. He has over 30 years of broadband experience spanning from field operations to office management and has held such titles as national director of program management and senior operational leader with a major telecommunication company.

Mac has extensive insight with OSP and ISP Construction, Engineering, Business Relationships, and Contractors and has assisted in many multi-state projects throughout his tenure. 

As the Director of Operations, Mac is responsible for negotiating, budgeting, and purchasing. By creating efficiencies within the workflow, Mac will maximize ECC’s productivity and performance and aid in developing long-term operational strategies with senior management to meet ECC’s objectives well into the future.

Mac holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science.  

Mark Meyerhofer

MARK MEYERHOFER

Director of Broadband

Mark Meyerhofer has over 30 years of experience working in government affairs and the broadband sector. He is a member of the Western New York power 100 list and has worked with numerous counties, states, and tribal organizations. He partners with community leaders to identify issues with respect to broadband and develops a vision and plans to resolve their issues.

Mark develops funding models and business plans which define municipal as well as privately-owned broadband opportunities. He implements qualitative research including performing market research and collecting business intelligence. Mark also works with local, state, and federal departments to identify, secure and manage grant funding opportunities.

Justin Zagorski

JUSTIN ZAGORSKI

Marketing Manager

Justin uses his unique blend of technical, operational, and organizational expertise to create, implement, evaluate, and optimize marketing strategies and best practices. This includes, but is not limited to, monitoring key KPI’s and metrics to inform decision making practices, ensure updates to CRM and client-based resources, BAAT evaluation and coordination, website development and optimization, ensure consistent overall messaging, keyword and ad placement development, marketing calendar implementation and evaluation, client focused engagement according to business needs, and the tactical and strategic support of sales team members to ensure accuracy and professionalism. Justin holds a BS in Business Management and Economics with a concentration in Marketing.

Ron Healey

RON HEALEY

Manager Broadband Design

Ron is a Rochester Institute of Technology graduate with a BS in Telecommunications Engineering. He also holds the RCDD (Registered Communications Distribution Designer) credential. Ron provides field surveys, design and spec writing, and construction inspection and administration services. He is responsible for AutoCAD drawing production and is also versed in Pictometry and ESRI ArcGIS mapping. Ron is in charge of the design and construction management for OSP fiber optic infrastructure as part of ECC’s fiber network projects in North Carolina and New York.

Chris Utesch

CHRIS UTESCH

Senior Technology Consultant

Chris has nearly 20 years of business development, sales, marketing, grant and proposal writing, and project management experience.

As senior broadband consultant for ECC Technologies, Chris works with elected officials, government entities, community leaders and businesses to identify needs and develop solutions focusing upon the increasing availability, deployment, and adoption of broadband in communities across the country.

As a key member of ECC Technologies’ consulting organization, Chris uses his unique blend of technical, operational, and organizational expertise to deliver solutions that expand quality broadband access.

Chris develops and recommends strategies, evaluates opportunities and advises on funding options for broadband expansion. Additionally, he helps with design capabilities, aids in the establishment and management of ISP operations and develops PPPs to advance sustainable broadband availability.

Chris holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Operations Management and Marketing from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Jon Von Tol

JON VAN TOL

Senior Communications Designer

Jon Van Tol is a BICSI RCDD (Registered Communications Distribution Designer) since 1995 and is also a Bellcore-trained outside plant infrastructure designer. He has over 30 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, having held positions in infrastructure installation and splicing, technical project management, engineering, and engineering management at several private companies, and the Federal Government. He has extensive experience in outside and inside plant infrastructure design in both fiber and copper cabling, encompassing conduit systems and aerial cable plant installation. Additionally, Jon is a retired United States Marine Corps veteran, having worked with all four branches of the military and the US State Department at various times in his 30 + year career in telecommunications.

Bill Hayes

BILL HAYES

Senior Technology Consultant

Bill specializes in the planning, funding, design, and implementation of technology and security projects for public sector clients. His electrical and technology engineering, project management, and construction management experience have helped him improve security for education and government clients for over 20 years.

Katy Heneghan

KATY HENEGHAN

Telecommunications Analyst

Katy has been with ECC for the last 16 years providing telecom design and installation support services. Katy’s diverse background in IT, telecommunications, technical writing, inventory management, and customer services allow her to solve any issue—start to finish. Her responsibilities include project management, data collection, defining end-user requirements, coordinating vendor meetings, issue tracking, remote testing, service migration, project documentation, and billing assessment.

Brad Broadwell

BRAD BROADWELL

Broadband Consultant

Brad Broadwell has worked for over 25 years with local governments and regional partners to advocate for and deploy affordable broadband to promote economic, educational and community development.  He has served on the State of Vermont’s Cable Advisory Board and the Mid-Shore (MD) Broadband Advisory Council.  His work in both the public and private sectors had him directing efforts that had communities bridge the digital divide through technology adaptations to foster rural quality of life.

As a broadband consultant for ECC Technologies, Brad works with elected officials, government entities, community leaders and businesses to identify needs and develop solutions focusing upon the increasing availability, deployment, and adoption of broadband in communities across the country.

As a key member of ECC Technologies’ consulting organization, Brad uses his unique blend of technical, operational, and organizational expertise to deliver solutions that expand quality broadband access.

Brad develops and recommends strategies, evaluates opportunities and advises on funding options for broadband expansion. Additionally, he helps with design capabilities, aids in the establishment and management of ISP operations and develops PPPs to advance sustainable broadband availability.

MACKLIN ZUKOFF

Director of Broadband Infrastructure Development

As director broadband infrastructure development for ECC Technologies, Mac uses his unique blend of technical, operational, and organizational management expertise to provide consulting services to various municipal entities for the development and operation of fiber networks.

Macklin Zukoff has managed projects his entire career, from both sides of the table. He has been on the "provider" side and has been a contractor. Direct reports--as many as 12, including OSP/ISP Engineering, Construction Project Managers, QC personnel, and managing a multimillion-dollar warehouse, with P&L responsibility. He has managed engineering and OSP construction for fiber to the building, fiber to the cell site, fiber to the node, metro fiber, and long line. In addition, he has facilitated the creation of RFPs for labor and materials and the reporting of progress via excel, power point, and other project management software.

Greg Houppert

GREG HOUPPERT

Account Executive

Greg is an experienced Technology Account Executive with over 30 years of Data and Telecom experience. Adept in using his ability to communicate effectively with technology, executive, government, and business audiences to develop mutually beneficial long-term relationships with major accounts.

As a key member of ECC Technologies Greg is responsible for forming and fostering strong relationships and navigating the hierarchy of customers organization to determine and work with decision makers. He is responsible for responsible for identifying sales opportunities, qualifying leads, developing solutions, presenting proposals, negotiating contracts, and closing sales of dark fiber assets and other services based on evaluations of the customer’s needs in a network planning and technical environment.

Nate Stahura

NATE STAHURA

GIS/CAD Designer

Nate has participated in numerous broadband infrastructure projects since joining ECC in 2012. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geology from SUNY Fredonia. Nate has become an integral member of ECC’s Inside and Outside Plant (ISP/OSP) team supporting numerous field surveys, GIS mapping production utilizing ESRI ArcGIS, Trimble GPS, Pictometry, LiDAR data collection applications, and AutoCAD drafting and design applications.

Fred Norter

FRED NORTER

Finance Analyst

Fred is a high energy results-oriented finance executive and Certified Public Accountant with multiple years of experience specializing in financial planning and analysis, financial reporting, internal controls and compliance.  A proven team leader with keen problem-solving skills, strategic vision and a track record of identifying and executing on efficiencies. 

As a key member of ECC Technologies Fred leads all aspects of formulary modeling and client support. Emphasis is placed on strategically evaluating financial models to drive optimum value. Fred works cross-functionally with Contracting, Management, and partners in analyzing formulary financials to make strategic recommendations on responses to Grants, RFPs or RFQs. He is accountable for leading the strategy for formularies modeling internally and externally, as needed. He is positioned to manage and lead formulary conversations directly with all levels of the ECC organization and Clients both virtual and in-person as needed.

Dylan Byers

DYLAN BYERS

GIS Technician

As a GIS Technician for ECC Technologies, Dylan uses his unique blend of technical, operational, and organizational expertise to create, implement, evaluate, and optimize GIS strategies and best practices. This includes, but is not limited to, providing GIS analysis services, technical research, data handling and mapping services for both studies and fiber design projects with the following scope: Inside Plant (ISP)/Outside Plant (OSP) cabling infrastructure; wireless, LAN/WAN, broadband and telecom services. The development and analysis of multiple address and parcel datasets as it relates to broadband. Dylan holds a BA in Environmental Studies from Guilford College.

Holley Keyser

HOLLY KEYSER

Telecommunications Analyst

Holley Keyser brings over 25 years of operational experience in the telecommunications industry including facilities construction supervision, repair, and installation dispatch management, and customer care. She has successfully designed, implemented, and managed a strategic construction project scheduling system resulting in the savings of two full-time equivalent positions. Holley leverages her considerable telecommunications expertise at ECC Technologies, focusing on the management of construction project scheduling, utility make-ready efforts which include hiring and managing electric contractors, submitting all permits and documentation quality control.

George White

GEORGE WHITE

OSP Engineer

George is a Project Design Manager and Telecommunications OSP designer with a strong construction management background. He has worked as a contractor and consultant in the OSP/ISP telecommunications engineering field since the early 1980s, with prior experience in civil design and land surveying. George possesses a wealth of experience, having well over 30 years of fiber optic design and build project involvement, from the early long-lines of construction to today’s fiber to the premise (FTTP) planning and design.

Ayush Joshi

AYUSH JOSHI

GIS Specialist

As a GIS specialist for ECC Technologies, Ayush uses his unique blend of technical, operational, and organizational expertise to create, implement, evaluate, and optimize GIS strategies and best practices. This includes, but is not limited to, providing GIS analysis services, technical research, data handling and mapping services for both studies and fiber design projects with the following scope: Inside Plant (ISP)/Outside Plant (OSP) cabling infrastructure; wireless, LAN/WAN, broadband and telecom services. And the development and analysis of multiple address and parcel datasets as it relates to broadband. Ayush holds a MS in Geospatial Technologies from the University of Washington and a BA in Geoscience and Economics from Lawrence University.