ST. LOUIS, MO--(Marketwire - August 2, 2010) - The Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA) hired an Executive Director, Rick Harnish, to start August 1, 2010.
"To aid in WISPA's increasing membership, addressing the barrage of new FCC rulings and other pending legislation, plus organize trade events, our growth mandated a full-time position," stated Forbes Mercy, WISPA Director of Promotions and board member.
The announcement came at WISPA's regional meeting, organized by Harnish and WISPA's Promotion Committee. The meeting registered 250 attendees, obtained the support of 40 WISPA vendor members, and numerous nationally recognized speakers. Harnish will spearhead efforts to increase membership, deliver greater value to members, continue WISPA's advocacy in Washington, D.C., coordinate and organize WISPA presence at events such as the Broadband Expo trade show on November 2010 in Dallas, TX. In addition he will assist in meeting future goals set by the board.
Harnish is a founding board member of WISPA. He has been working in the ISP industry for as long as commercial Internet service has existed. He was a key investor in his first ISP, Supernova Systems, Inc., founded in 1995 to offer dialup Internet service. Supernova, a pioneer in fixed wireless Internet service, spun off OnlyInternet, to offer wireless broadband in 1997. OnlyInternet completed its first major build out in 1999 and now offers services in 19 counties in Indiana and Ohio.
"WISPA's selection committee is confident that we chose the best candidate," said Elizabeth Bowles, WISPA vice president and head of the selection committee that chose Harnish.
Harnish advised the Indiana State Department of Commerce as it created the state's Broadband Plan. He has spoken at numerous trade shows including; WISPNOG, ISPCON, FISPA, Mikrotik Mum, WINOG, Wireless Without Limits and has participated in the Software Defined Radio Forum, Progress Freedom Foundation, Digital Cities Convention, and most recently the US Broadband Coalition Effort which published its National Broadband Plan in Sept. 2009.
Harnish believes in public service. He has served on the Economic Development Board in Wells Co., Indiana, the Wells County Chamber of Commerce Board and local Dollars for Scholars Program in Indiana.