Webinar: The Emerging Role of Broadband Wireless Networks in Emergency Response Crises

James Farstad is the founder and President of rClient, LLC, a U.S. based, international technology consulting firm has more than 24 years of experience in strategic planning and the management of complex technology initiatives. He is also a Senior Research Fellow with Yankee Group, a global independent technology research and consulting firm providing insight and counsel to the builders, operators and users of connectivity solutions. Mr. Farstad's clients include local government, telecommunications providers, and financial service, educational, manufacturing, and healthcare organizations. Mr. Farstad is a frequent public speaker on a wide range of technology, business and community topics.

Jim brings over 20 years of executive management experience to BelAir Networks, where he is responsible for product management, product marketing, business development and marketing communications activities for the company's comprehensive family of products. Prior to joining BelAir, Jim was Chief Marketing Officer at 3Com Corporation where he led the company's marketing efforts worldwide. Before 3Com, he was Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Centra Software. Previously, Jim was Global Vice President, Marketing at Level (3), a Fortune 1000 global telecommunications and Internet service provider. He also worked at Genuity, where he held senior management positions in marketing and sales, and at CompuServe as Director of Product Marketing and Strategic Initiatives.

Jim became a recognized Internet authority when he served as Senior Telecom Analyst at Forrester Research, responsible for coverage in the telecom and Internet space. Jim earned a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude from Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio. He also holds a Master of Arts in Mathematics, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Education, from Ohio State University.

As CIO, Lynn Willenbring leads the City's Business Information Services (BIS) department, which coordinates the City's technology needs by helping City departments leverage technology to improve the way they operate and provide services to residents. In her duties as CIO, she will approximately 70 employees that serve 16 City departments with a total staff of 3,500. Willenbring has been with the City of Minneapolis as Director of Information Services & Customer Relations since 2004, and brings 20 years of management experience to the CIO position. Before coming to work for Minneapolis, she held management positions with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and the Minnesota Department of Revenue. She also worked for the United States Department of the Treasury as an advisor to the Lithuanian government.

Willenbring has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Science in Management from Cardinal Stritch University.