What can I say... I'm super excited that we're at the point of the conference.. Seems like much of my life has been leading up to something like this.

Back in the good old modem days I used to write BBS software, spent loads of time building online communities on CompuServe, AOL, etc, for the likes of Macromedia in the 90s.. no, really, I'm pretty young still..

Now here at CompuMentor I get to leverage all these online community building skills assisting non-profits and community organizations in leveraging the latest evolution of online tools. 

I'm presently launching a new project with public libraries designed to expose, develop, and evangelize the best practices from around the country that are being employed to support public access computing.   We will be leveraging the experience of Net2 and our background supporting non-profit and CTC infrastructures.   I also co-host the TechSoup Open Source and Emerging Technologies forums (shameless plug).

CURRENT INTEREST AREAS AT COMPUMENTOR: Community Wireless, PAC/Public Libraries, CTCs, Non-Profit Communications, open source technologies, Drupal, leveraging Web 2.0 technologies.

PERSONAL INTEREST AREAS: the environment/ecology, cycling, snowboarding, my kitchen, electronic music, Drupal (ok, so I'm obsessed), my friends (obsessed as well). good beer. 

I look forward to meeting you all offline :) 

John Lorance

Associate Director - TechCommons

CompuMentor