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By Wayne Dawkins
Daily Press
Jack L. Ezzell Jr., a self-effacing entrepreneur and small business executive
with a crusading spirit to make computers and technology accessible to all,
has been named the Daily Press Citizen of the Year for 1998.
Ezzell is president and chief executive
officer of Zel Technologies, or ZelTech, a 10-year-old Hampton-based enterprise
that helps companies and the military integrate old and new computer technology
into more efficient uses. Ezzell has grown his company from one employee-owner
in 1988 to 125 employees today. Half of them work in offices along West Queens
Way in downtown Hampton. The rest work at a handful of locations elsewhere
in the United States and in South Korea.
Ezzell, however, is being recognized
for another segment of his work that demonstrates the ideals of citizenship
and community service: The KidTech computer lab operated in a room in the
second floor offices of ZelTech.
Daily Press President and Publisher
Kathleen Waltz praised Ezzell's innovative approach.
"As the Internet changes the way
we all learn, shop and work, it is critical that all people have access,"
she said. "The gift Mr. Ezzell gives to children and seniors is a gift
of knowledge and opportunity. There may be no more important tool for young
people entering the work force than a comfort level with computers.
"We're extremely proud to name
Mr. Ezzell Citizen of the Year for 1998."
To date, at least 600 children in grades
K-5, plus 120 senior citizens, have learned to use computers and the Internet
at the KidTech lab at no expense.
"I'm interested in technology for
the good of humankind," Ezzell said. "This is the age of Interneted
technology. If you get past the aura and spend some time, you can get comfortable
with technology. The Internet is a biological organism. It adapts to changes."
Ezzell wants to be sure that children
and the elderly, regardless of income or social class, are in step with the
changes.
Three years ago, Ezzell said, he hired
a recent elementary education graduate to find what was available in educational
technology. Ezzell's experiment was to provide computer access for the children
of ZelTech employees. It rapidly grew into a community service.
With $170,000 of his own and the company's
money, Ezzell set up a lab with 10 computers and scores of CD-ROM educational
software. The CEO and civic leader wants to expand access beyond the KidTech
computer lab at his company. This year, KidTech was established as a non-profit
corporation. The idea is to get corporate and foundation grants and bring
the concept to other communities.
Ezzell is also aiming to create a "Cyberbus"
outfitted with computers that can take technology to neighborhoods the way
a Book-mobile serves as a traveling library.
Potential honorees of the Daily Press
Citizen of the Year award were nominated by readers, leaders in the communities
served by the newspaper and members of the Daily Press staff.
This year 35 people were nominated for
the annual award, which recognizes a person who, by his or her daily life,
demonstrates the highest values of citizenship. Ezzell is the 10th winner
of the award, which began in 1989.
The award carries with it a contribution
of $1,000 from the Daily Press Inc. to the charity of the recipient's choice.
Ezzell has requested the donation be
made to KidTech and Achievable Dream - Hampton.
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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