Annual Undergraduate Network Plan Competition: Spring 2005
Pictured (left to right): Chris Baker, Haywood Gelman (Cisco Systems), Neil Spellman, Curt Conrad (Cisco Systems), Robert Spanos, Professor Eleanor Loiacono, Sean O'Connor (WPI), Roland Cloutier (EMC Information Security)
Missing: Jeff Mora (student), Deputy Chief Lou Pacheco (Raytham Police Department)
The Annual Undergraduate Network Plan Competition was established by Prof. Eleanor Loiacono as part of the course MIS 3740: Organizational Applications of Telecommunications
As a real-world project that allows students to apply their knowledge by tackling actual business problems, the competition concretely incorporates WPI's "learn by doing" philosophy. Students are given a network plan request on the first day of class. The competition culminates in a three day presentation to industry judges and a final post-mortem session where judges give students valuable feedback on their network design and presentations.
This term's project was to network a police department's new building, including wireless and voice over IP technology. The winning project team included Chris Baker, Neil Spellman, Robert Spanos, and Jeff Mora.
This year Cisco Systems, the leading network company, sponsored the competition and sent two judges: Haywood Gelman and Curt Conrad. Additional judges included Sean O'Connor, WPI's Network Manager, Roland Cloutier (EMC Information Security) and Deputy Chief Lou Pacheco (Raytham Police Department).
Biography of Judges
Curt Conrad
Systems Engineering Manager, Cisco Systems
Mr. Conrad has 20 years in high tech with experience as a hardware technician, hardware engineer, software engineer, Unix system administrator and network designer, implementation and support. Currently he holds a position as Systems Engineering Manager in Cisco's New England Operation covering the Government, Education and Medical verticals. He has been with Cisco for the last 3 1/2 years. Prior to Cisco, he worked for Sun Microsystems for 6 years, Lockheed Sanders Surveillance Systems for several years as well as several years at the former Apollo Computer. He has an AS in Electrical Engineering Technology as well as a BS in Information Systems from UMASS.
Haywood Gelman
Consulting Systems Engineer, Cisco Systems
Mr. Gelman has been in technology for eleven years, with experience in desktop operating systems administration, network management, Unix system administration, network design, implementation and support. He currently work for Cisco Systems as a Consulting Systems Engineer, and has been with Cisco for 3 1/2 years. At Cisco, he is responsible for designing networks for medium to large businesses throughout New England. Before Cisco, he worked for International Network Services as a Network Systems Engineer, designing networks for Internet Service Providers, pharmaceutical companies and health care providers in New England. He has also worked for Scitex America, Avid Technology, Mentor Graphics, and the May Institute. He holds a BA in History from UMass Amherst and an M.Ed from UMass Lowell.
Last modified: November 20, 2006 10:35:38