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STI Staff

Here is a group of the most dedicated Internet professionals alive today. Fortunately, these people chose STI as their second home.

 
  MIKE HARIAN, GENERAL MANAGER
Mike's Piccy
Mike Harian these days

Mike in High School
Mike in High School
After working at AT&T's ImaginNation network, Mike came on board to head up Sierra Tel Internet. Mike's hobbies include fishing, hunting, backpacking, and spending time with his family. Mike is also a musician, and can often be seen playing in one or more of the local clubs. Mike spends his "free time" working on his Masters Degree in Telecommunications and Network Management.
 
  TERRY HOKE, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Terry today


Terry 'way back then!

Terry is another staff member with ties to The Imagination! Network, where he worked as a Technical Support Supervisor and a Solaris Systems Technician. He joined the Sierra Telephone Local Area Network support group in 1998 and came to work at STI in 1999. He is responsible for overseeing the operations of the STI network and all related services (including dialup, DSL, wireless, email, web servers, etc.), as well as the Web Design department and all of the talented and capable Web Designers and Network Engineers who actually do all of the real work.

An IT career means constantly having to learn new things to keep pace with emerging technologies, and Terry has a laundry list of Cisco and Microsoft certifications to prove it. But what he really enjoys is spending time with friends, sports (especially NASCAR and football), reading, fitness, and his two cats.

 
  VERNE BAXTER, NETWORK ENGINEER
Verne's Picture
Verne Baxter today

Verne's Earlier Days
Verne's earlier days
Technology got the best of Verne years ago (surely you remember the Kaypro II?) and for the past several years he has been working with STI where is our network technician responsible for making sure all the web, mail and user accounts get set up, that the Internet servers work properly, and everything goes smoothly.

Verne is a former cop. He somehow retained a great sense of humor while being driven toward stressful jobs. Verne is operator of the North Fork Zoo, having dogs named Smokey, Candy, Jordy, Ginger and cats named Dr. Pepper and Fuzz Bucket (?!)

 
  BRIAN LEHIGH, NETWORK ENGINEER

Brian Lehigh: "Mister Fixit"
Brian started as one of STI's original call center technicians, working his way up to become an engineer in the network operations center. He currently holds certifications in A+, Microsoft MCSE (Windows 2000), Cisco's CCNP & CCDP, and is working towards earning certification as a CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert).

Brian has been a mountain area resident his whole life. With his recent marriage and purchase of his first home, he will not likely be leaving any time soon.
 
  SHANE MOHLER, NETWORK ENGINEER

Shane Mohler

Shane was originally from Riverside before moving to Coarsegold in 1985. Like many mountain area residents he enjoys camping as well as fishing for Large Mouth Bass. While Shane really enjoys working with computers and technology, he has a particular interest in the Linux operating system. He also loves spending time with his wife Kelly. Shane enjoys working around the house on those projects that seem to never end and enjoys watching T.V. as well.

 
  DAVID NORMAN, DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER SERVICE

David Norman in modern times

Dave in HS
Dave in High School
Running a 24-hour-a-day technical support operation is not for the timid. David has long experience solving problems in technology related companies, and he heads up the Technical Support division of STI. In his past technology life, he oversaw the beta testing program for World Play (formerly ImagiNation!) a division of America Online. Because he also formerly handled quality assurance testing, he is aptly suited for the customer support realm. He oversees a large staff of technicians - many of whom are listed below - and solves the really tough "buck stops here" sort of queries from our customers. It is a fact that the Internet is technologically challenging so at some point you will probably need to call Customer Service if your dial-up connection doesn't work. One of Dave's people below will be there to help you.
 
  STEVE VINSON, CONTROL CLERK


Steve today


Steve at age 14

Former Manager of Training and Development at Yosemite Concession Services in Yosemite National Park, Steve helped literally thousands of employees sharpen their customer service skills. He now enjoys a shorter commute from his home in Oakhurst, putting his own customer service skills to work as a "Control Clerk" at STI. (A Control Clerk provides customer service and accounting.)

Steve enjoys backpacking, skiing, and occasional rock climbing and kayaking. Naturally, he enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, and granddaughter. Steve also plays in a local rock band called "Stone River." He has sung the national anthems of the USA and Canada at Fresno Falcons hockey games, at both Save Mart Center and Selland Arena.

 
  RANDY BERKLEY, FIELD SERVICE TECHNICIAN

Randy Berkley

Randy - High School
Randy in High School
Randy Berkley descended upon STI Technical Support after 20 years experience in customer service. He is a graduate of the Fresno Institute of Technology's Computer Systems Support Technician program and is an A+ Certified Technician.

Randy also enjoys interacting with people and at the same time enjoys the solitude of camping in out of the way places. He's an audiophile as well, with, uh, shall we say eclectic musical tastes.

 
  FREDA, SENIOR SUPPORT TECHNICIAN


Freda today


Freda's High School Photo

Freda has an extensive background in customer service. She worked for over five years at a Taco Bell, took time off to concentrate on raising two daughters, then joined TSN/ImagiNation!/WorldPlay. Since coming to STI in 1999, Freda has earned the CompTIA A+ and Network+ certificates.

According to the old saying, knowledge is power. Freda expands this to say knowledge shared is power multiplied, not divided, so she happily spreads the information she has gathered. Freda enjoys all kinds of educational situations, whether it is teaching classic Bible stories to Sunday School students or unraveling the basics of Outlook Express for our subscribers.

 
  LEE BEDELL, SENIOR SUPPORT TECHNICIAN

Lee Bedell
Lee is a fourth generation local resident of this area. He has a natural affinity for all things electronic, especially computers. A born problem solver, he believes that there is nothing that he cannot accomplish given an honest opportunity to do so.
 
  MATT SCHOONOVER, SENIOR SUPPORT TECHNICIAN

Matt Schoonover

Matt started working on computers at age six in 1987 when his dad bought their first PC. He has been building and repairing them ever since, and is well-known for his ability to fix a computer by simply walking into the same room. Matt's collection of computer equipment seems to grow almost daily. He currently has seven PCs, two Macs, and a Sun Ultra all connected to his network. When he's not either on or inside of a computer, he's probably taking apart or putting together an old car. He has restored a 68 Pontiac GTO, a 65 Pontiac Lemans, and two VW bugs (one of which is still under construction).

He graduated Fresno Institute of Technology in their Computer Technician program and is A+ certified. He is also a gamer who would spend a lot more time playing Unreal Tournament if only there were more hours in the day. Matt grew up in Coarsegold and Oakhurst, and was home-schooled from kindergarten through high school. He has been a homeowner from age 18 when he bought a condo in Oakhurst.

 
  BRAD HANDLEY, SENIOR SUPPORT TECHNICIAN
Brad Handley

Brad is a computer enthusiast who has been building, maintaining and upgrading computers for friends and family for over 15 years. He enjoys a good challenge and receives a great sense of satisfaction from solving computer problems for our customers. He also enjoys computer gaming and is an expert at digital photography and image editing.

 
  WARREN COX, CALL CENTER TECHNICIAN
This is Warren Warren Cox today

Warren HS
Warren in High School
Warren Cox is another transplant from TSN/ImagiNation!/World Play, having worked there as the resident Musician/Facilities Manager/Customer service rep/Beta tester. Warren now holds down the STI Technical Support fort during the wee hours of the night. See Warren's web page at www.sierratel.com/warrenc
 
  DENNIS JONATHAN, CALL CENTER TECHNICIAN
Dennis Jonathan today

Dennis in 9th Grade
Dennis in 9th grade

Dennis is our elder statesman of Technical Support. He helped start the division, and continues interacting with our subscribers on a daily basis. He enjoys working with all the industry's latest software and hardware. Most of all he loves assisting our customers to solve their problems.

Dennis and his wife Janell live locally and have four wonderful children and seven grandchildren. He loves the outdoors and also cuts and sells firewood in the winter.

 
  STEVE KNIGHT, CALL CENTER TECHNICIAN
This is Steve
Steve Knight doesn't have a "yesteryear" photo
Steve Knight is a 27 year veteran of life in our mountain community he also comes to us from TSN/ImagiNation!/WorldPlay where he was responsible for maintaining the DOS/UNIX Servers for their Production Operations. Steve was the lead technician who guided his fellow technicians through various Network, phone line and modem problems. Now, during the midnight hours, he happily guides our "night owl" subscribers through their Internet connection problems.
 
  JOHN RATCLIFFE, CALL CENTER TECHNICIAN


John Ratcliffe


John as a child

John recently joined the STI family as a Customer Service Representative. Having worked in the Quality Assurance department at Sierra Online for nine years and the Technical Support Division at Codemasters USA for five years, John returned to school to earn his CompTIA, A+ and Network+ certifications.

John is generally known in the local community as “the guy with no shoes.” He does have some, he just can’t find them. John has a loving wife, two kids, two dogs, two cats, six guinea pigs and a collection of assorted wing nuts. His hobbies include computers, cars, and he is an avid reader.

 
  DAN WOOLARD, CALL CENTER TECHNICIAN
Dan's Piccy
Dan Woolard in modern times

Dan in Military
Dan in Viet Nam
Dan is another of our Customer Support staff with lengthy technical experience in computers and in the online world. Much of his quality assurance background was gained in his years with Sierra Online where he tested their products on computer systems for compatibility and other quality assurance testing projects.

You will either find Dan talking on the phone, helping one of our subscribers fine tune their Internet settings, or reading a deep true crime novel.

 
  TINA LINDEMANN , CALL CENTER TECHNICIAN

Tina Lindemann
Tina Lindemann

Tina moved to the Oakhurst area in March, 2005 and she has no intentions of ever moving again! Though she's lived all over the country, she spent the majority of her childhood in Chicago. She's happy to say she does not like snow any better here than she did there. Tina enjoys reading, gaming, movies (big movie fan) and music. Computers are an obsession as much as learning, and there simply can never be enough learning.

She says, "My job with STI has been a lot of fun, but also a tremendous step for improving my computer, Internet and customer service knowledge. There's nothing more satisfying than being able to help someone who is very frustrated, and making a situation right for them. It's a wonderful motivator."

 
  LAURA NORMAN, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

Laura Norman


Can you guess which is High School Laura?

Laura brings life force and candy to the STI family. Her energy, enthusiasm and infectious laughter abound, gaining her the claim of "Most Shushed" employee. A big part of her Marketing duties is to attend Events. She is one of the more visible STI employees being seen at Grizzlies and Falcons games, county fairs, and various other gatherings and activities throughout the state.

Laura is the mother of three great kids (Heather, Craig and Daphne) who often join her at the events. They live on several acres in Ahwahnee where they raise market lambs and assorted poultry.  They also participate actively in the Coarsegold 4-H Club and Valley Cow Horse Association.

 
  BOB HEITMAN, SYSTEMS ANALYST

Bob Heitman

Bob Heitman brings to STI, the software development skills acquired over a 20+ year career in the entertainment software industry. Bob was the Vice-President for Engineering at Sierra On-Line in the late '80s and went on to be the General Manager of what was to become the Imagination Network. Bob owns his own software consulting business and currently has three programs that he has published and sells over the internet. Bob develops the software STI uses for specialized web applications, customer service software, and all the behind-the-scenes software operations of our company.

 
  SUSAN NORMAN, WEB DESIGNER
 
Susan Norman
Susan Norman


Susan as Tom Sawyer

Susan is a web designer with a multifaceted background. She received a Bachelors degree in Geological Sciences from UC Santa Barbara, and then crewed on archaeological digs in Israel and North Dakota before taking a job as a geological draftsman. Merging technical and artistic abilities, she next became a computer graphics artist.

To escape LA, Susan moved to Oakhurst and got a job with Sierra On-Line, a computer game company. In the five years she was there, she progressed from technical and creative writer to assistant designer to lead designer to unemployed. After On-Line's Oakhurst division closed, Susan taught herself HTML and dabbled in Java and JavaScript. She also freelanced designing computer toys.

Though no relation to STI's Director of Marketing, Laura Norman, Susan is married to our Director of Customer Service, David Norman. Their "kids" are Toby, Chewy and Buddy.

 
  LISA RHOAN, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
 

Lisa Rhoan
  Lisa moved to the Sierra Foothills after obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration at Sonoma State University. She took a position with the gaming company Imagination Network and it was there that she originally met and worked with many of her current STI co-workers. You may recognize Lisa from Sierra Tel Business Center where she worked for the last 10 years before transferring to STI.

Lisa is a music enthusiast and is often told by her 10-year-old son to “turn it down, Mom.” She also enjoys online gaming, hiking and backpacking in the Sierras, and spending time with her family.
 
 

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