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Published: Sunday, December
19, 1999
Section: OUTLOOK
Page: H1
BYLINE: By STEPHANIE BARRETT Daily Press
TEXT:
It's been a great 12 months for Jack Ezzell Jr., the 1998 Daily Press Citizen
of the Year.
Ezzell,
57, is president and chief executive officer of the Hampton-based business
Zel Technologies, or ZelTech, which helps companies and the military integrate
old and new computer technology into more efficient uses.
And he
is a man who has made it his personal mission to help all members of the community
have access to computers.
More than
1,000 people have received free computer training in a lab called KidTech,
located at ZelTech on West Queens Street in downtown Hampton.
Ezzell
set up KidTech last year as a non-profit organization, hoping to attract support
from other companies and foundations. He had opened it three years earlier
to give children and senior citizens free access to a computer lab. The free
lab is designed to help close the gap between people who have computer skills
and those who don't.
"We
believe what we do here is successful and it can be replicated, and that's
what I've been focusing on," Ezzell said.
This fall,
he joined with the Hampton Roads Partnership to improve computer literacy
throughout the region in an initiative called Hampton Roads Community Learning
Center Network. The partnership represents 17 communities and includes leaders
from government, business, the military, education and civic groups.
"We
want to educate and train people to use the Internet, but the other issue
we're addressing is access," he said.
Through
the network, KidTech and the partnership help any interested community groups,
such as neighborhood or church groups, start learning centers where citizens
can receive free computer training and access to the Internet. The network
gives technical support, advice on how to raise money, training on computer
curricula and other services.
"My
goal is to have 80-year-olds and 8-year-olds working side-by-side," Ezzell
said. "I think that's what you want to see in a neighborhood."
Ezzell
said the network is setting up a clearinghouse for used computers to help
some groups start up learning centers. But mostly, Ezzell said, the network
is sharing the knowledge and expertise learned from KidTech. That's everything
from tips on how to make senior citizens feel comfortable at the computer
to software that helps students learn different subjects in a fun way.
Ezzell's
former director of corporate affairs, Hank Lewis, is now the executive director
of KidTech and is helping to get community groups to model the KidTech program.
Lewis
said, for example, that he worked with the Newtown Learning Center in Hampton
to set up a lab of 17 computers. And he said he has been talking with a Newport
News housing complex about computer training for residents.
Though
Ezzell highlighted the network initiative, he said KidTech experienced positive
changes itself in the past year.
Ezzell
explained how he started KidTech with the help of a college graduate who earned
a degree in elementary education. But she is teaching now and helping only
part time at KidTech. So, Ezzell said, he opted to get volunteers to teach
the computer classes and coordinate the schedules. Now, KidTech is running
with the help of volunteers who are retired or part-time military, retired
teachers, senior citizens and parents. Ezzell said KidTech has created a handbook
specifically to train instructors.
And the
organization this summer received a $20,000 grant from Hampton that has helped
to develop the curriculum and buy supplies for the lab.
As for
Ezzell's company, he has expanded that, too. ZelTech grew this year by two
offices - one in Nebraska, the other Massachusetts - which is an addition
to six other offices around the country and in South Korea.
"Even
though I'm doing outreach, I'm really focused on the company and growth,"
he said.
Meanwhile,
Ezzell has also increased the number of civic boards he serves on, though
they were numerous before now. Some of his new board memberships: the Virginia
Air and Space Museum; Downtown Hampton Early Childhood Development Center;
Community Advisory Board of the Junior League of Hampton.
Ezzell
said he works to strike a balance between his community work and running his
business. Often, that means getting about four hours of sleep per night.
"I
believe the private sector has to give something back to the community, and
we are trying to be a working example of that."
Stephanie
Barrett can be reached at 247-4740 or by e-mail at sbarrett@dailypress.com
Copyright , Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
For more information about Zel Technologies,
please contact us as follows:
Zel Technologies LLC (ZelTech)
Attention: Corporate Affairs
54 Old Hampton Lane
Hampton, VA 23669
Telephone: (757) 722-5565
Fax: (757) 722-8516
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