Michael Weiss - Candidate

What skills will you contribute to the National Capital FreeNet (NCF) board?

I am an Associate Professor at Carleton University and member of the Technology Innovation Management program (www.carleton.ca/tim). I have been actively involved in research on open source, business ecosystems, web technologies, and cloud computing. I am a contributor to multiple open source projects, a reviewer and faculty in Carleton's Lead to Win initiative, and a member of the Talent First Network.

What are the most important functions of the NCF for its members?

NCF has made a fundamental contribution to the National Capital Region by providing free dial-up and low-cost high-speed access to the Internet. When I moved to Ottawa in the mid-90s, my first dial-up account was with the NCF on recommendation of a colleague. Later, the NCF started to offer an at-cost DSL service that was characterized by transparent service terms and ease of use. Today, the NCF needs to consider how it can support the community through new service offerings. I see one of the opportunities in cloud computing and online storage solutions for individuals, small businesses, and educational institutions.

Why do you want to be an NCF director?

Giving back to the community is important to me, both as a faculty member at Carleton University and as an individual. I have been a volunteer for a number of non-profit organizations, including Carleton's Lead to Win, the Ottawa Jazz Festival, and the Social Planning Council of Ottawa. As a member of the board, I can bring my expertise and connections to the National Capital Freenet to help it expand into new service areas.