INDUSTRY

MCNC, which developed and operates the nationally recognized North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN) and a catalyst for technology based economic development in North Carolina for the last 27 years, today announced that Joseph A. (Joe) Freddoso will become the organization's CEO on July 1. Freddoso most recently was Senior Director of Community Relations for Cisco. MCNC Board Chairman Mike Murphy announced Freddoso's hiring on behalf the MCNC Board of Directors. "The MCNC board conducted a nationwide search to fill the leadership role for our organization. We are pleased to have reached agreement with someone who is familiar to many North Carolinians, particularly those in the education community," Murphy said. "Joe's track record of commitment to students at all levels of education in North Carolina is well known, and his leadership provides a great foundation to maintain and enhance the high level of service MCNC has been providing to our continually expanding education customers." MCNC's core focus is delivering high speed, reliable network services to enable research and education at all public universities and many private universities and colleges throughout North Carolina. A growing number of community colleges and K-12 schools are also supported by NCREN. NCREN supports the most demanding research needs of some of the world’s leading research universities as well as delivers the core network services required by the K-20 customers. Additionally, MCNC is currently part of a statewide team of government, education and business organizations developing a plan to provide high bandwidth service to elementary, middle and high school students. The goal is to assist in preparing these students for post secondary education and for an increasingly technology dependent 21st century workforce. Freddoso comes to MCNC after more than seven years with Cisco. He served as Director of Cisco's Research Triangle Park site operations for six years. During this period, Freddoso held several leadership roles with statewide and regional economic development, education and advocacy organizations including: Chair of the North Carolina Technology Association (2005); Chair of the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (2004-2005); Executive Committee of North Carolina Public School Forum; member of the Board of Advisors for the North Carolina New Schools Project; member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Principal Leadership for the North Carolina State Board of Education; member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Superintendent Leadership for the North Carolina State Board of Education and member of the North Carolina State University College of Management Board of Advisors. Prior to his work at Cisco, Freddoso served as CEO of the 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee. The Games were the largest sporting event in the world in 1999 and were held in the Triangle region. "Life in the 21st century is about boundless opportunity. The bandwidth and services delivered by NCREN carry content that can deliver that opportunity to every citizen of North Carolina. The content is the basis for educating and re-educating; for enhancing quality of life and for responsible citizenship," said Freddoso. "My personal values align perfectly with the mission of MCNC and the services provided by NCREN. I am excited to join MCNC and will strive to greatly reward the faith that the MCNC board of directors has shown in me."