The Broadband Expo … Connecting Rural America to the World Nov. 1-3, 2010
Wireless Without Limits Cruise Nov. 14 -19, 2010
Mikrotik Users Meeting MUM, Sept. 30, 2010 – Oct. 1, 2010
Rick Harnish Bio
Richard D. Harnish
Mr. Harnish has been an entrepreneur throughout his career of 28 years. He has owned and managed a large farming enterprise in Northern Indiana. This business was instrumental in rounding out his skills in many areas of business including mechanical, technology, accounting and logistical planning. Having managed up to 130 part time employees starting at the age of 16, he understands how important employee relations are to business. He sold the farming business in November, 2003 to devote all of his energies to his broadband venture, OnlyInternet Broadband & Wireless, Inc. Mr. Harnish earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Purdue University.
While at Purdue, Mr. Harnish developed into an “early adopter” which carried forward into the farming operations. He formed sales relationships with Dataline (DTN) and Monsanto (Infielder Software/Apple Newton), and was the first in this area (1996) to use GPS technology in the harvesting operations on his farm. He became quite proficient with his computer skills, networking and technology knowledge.
In 1995, Mr. Harnish invested in Supernova Systems, Inc. and this company launched a local dialup ISP service in Bluffton, Indiana shortly thereafter. Mr. Harnish took on a secondary role in this company as it grew into a full service ISP. SSI made acquisitions in the web hosting industry and dialup industry. The professional services division was selected as a preferred vendor for ConAgra Foods and numerous nationwide brand websites were designed and maintained by the web design and programming staff.
Supernova began experimenting with wireless broadband in 1997 connecting the county library and several retail businesses through to Broadband using RF. This early deployment established OnlyInternet as one of the first Wireless ISP’s in the nation. This system was a great learning experience and in late 1999, a large scale deployment was initiated. Mr. Harnish began full time employment with Supernova in January, 2000 and took the lead in broadband deployment and sales. Since that time, OnlyInternet Broadband and Wireless, Inc. has installed over 200 base stations and a coverage area that spans 17 counties in Indiana and 2 counties in Ohio.
Mr. Harnish developed and coined a vWISP program in 2005 in efforts to assist an adjacent operator begin their WISP operation. Since that time he has assisted seven other WISPs begin operations and continue to operate through the SNT Virtual WISP program. These vWISP operations are supported at different levels depending on individual needs including CRM, billing, sales, technical support, network design, monitoring and installation.
Mr. Harnish was a Founding Board Member of the Wireless Internet Service Provider’s Association. WISPA became a legal Not-for-Profit 501c3 corporation on April 13th, 2005. Mr. Harnish is the current President. He has also held offices of Secretary and Vice President. The trade association has over 300 WISP and Vendor member from all over the United States as well as some from other countries. WISPA is a grassroots effort which aggregates the common interests of the fixed wireless broadband industry to efficiently and effectively lobby the FCC, Congress and other agencies.
He has also worked with the Indiana Department of Commerce in the formation of a State Broadband Plan and has held the co-chairman position for the Indiana High-Speed Broadband Technology Committee. He has also initiated 50 state WISP’s mailing lists so that WISP’s in each state can monitor and discuss the legislative environment of their particular states. Mr. Harnish has organized a several meetings, where Indiana WISP’s could interface with state government officials and each other, to enhance their business models by peering together.
In the fall of 2005, Mr. Harnish led a team to Waveland, Mississippi to help rebuild wireless communication backbones in some of the worst hit areas of Hurricane Katrina. He organized a computer donation effort and trucked 120 computer stations along with food items from local manufacturers and retailers to the hurricane ravaged area. This trip was in conjunction with the work of Mac Dearman, who was recognized in the national press for his instrumental volunteer effort to connect evacuee shelters, police, fire and Emergency Services outposts to broadband and VoIP solutions in the midst of a devastated communications environment.
He has spoken at WISPNOG, ISPCON, FISPA, Mikrotik Mum, WINOG, Wireless Without Limits and has participated in the Software Defined Radio Forum, Progress Freedom Foundation, Digital Cities Convention, and most recently the US Broadband Coalition Effort which published its National Broadband Plan in Sept. 2009. Mr. Harnish is currently organizing a WISPA Regional Meeting in St. Louis in July 2010 and the Rural Broadband Expo in Dallas in November.
Mr. Harnish has also been active in the community as a member of the Wells County Economic Development Board, Wells County Chamber of Commerce Board and has held offices of President, Vice President and Treasurer of the local Dollars for Scholars Program. This organization has awarded over $720,000 in scholarships to approximately 1000 graduating seniors since Mr. Harnish became involved twelve years ago. Mr. Harnish is also a member of Life Community Church.
Mr. Harnish has been married for 25 years to his wife Sandi and have three daughters; Haley, Kelsey and Emily, who have graduated from Ball State or presently attend Purdue University.
Wireless Internet Service Providers Assn. (Current President)
OnlyInternet (Former General Manager – Midwest Region)
OnlyInternet Broadband & Wireless, Inc. (Former President and Founder)
Supernova Technologies, Inc. (Former President and Founder)
Founding Board Member of WISPA (Current President for 2nd Term)
Contact Information:
Rick Harnish
1125 Fawncrest Ct.
Bluffton, IN 46714
260-307-4000 (cell)
866-317-2851 (office)
rharnish@wispa.org
