people

Mark Johnson is a national leader of innovative broadband solutions. As the principal architect of MCNC’s North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN), Mark earned the reputation as a creative, forward-thinking Chief Technology Officer who transformed the state’s simple leased network into a sophisticated fiber-optic one, growing the capacity by 2.5 million percent. Consequently, North Carolina continues to be a leader in this space with one of the most robust networks in the country. Top organizations recognize Mark’s abilities and seek his guidance, including the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Internet2. In addition, he helped found and was an initial board member of both the consortium of state networks known as The Quilt, and the national Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB).

Mark’s impressive career spans more than 30 years during which the telecommunications industry evolved from little more than traditional phone service to the essential information tool that it is today. He pioneered the use of the Internet by NC’s state government, establishing its first e-mail and web presence. His unique ability to coordinate the management, engineering, and operations for ambitious new projects sets him apart from his peers.

He has been a principal investigator on National Science Foundation (NSF) research projects and led national multi-institutional project teams. Mark also gives back to the community by volunteering his time to serve as president of The Internet Legacy Institute and as a board member of Research Triangle High School.

Liz is a talented executive with more than 25 years of experience focusing on telecommunications, economic development, and corporate transactions, particularly among regulated entities. She served as Chief Deputy Secretary for the North Carolina Department of Commerce and understands the critical role of fast, reliable, and affordable broadband in business recruitment and development as well as its importance in education and workforce development. During her tenure at Commerce, the State attracted hundreds of corporate expansions and relocations, bringing more than 50,000 jobs and well over $10 billion investment to the state. She served as a member of the Governor’s Broadband Task Force and on other boards related to economic development, transportation, and education.

Liz has served as General Counsel for both commercial and non-profit organizations where she successfully tackled novel business, regulatory and operational issues as well as high-stakes litigation matters. She served as General Counsel for MCNC which has been nationally heralded for its 4,400 miles of high-end fiber optic infrastructure serving education, research, libraries, healthcare, public safety, and other community anchor institutions throughout North Carolina. Liz has a proven track record of being able to successfully see and maximize synergies among various corporations, governmental entities, and non-profit organizations to create mutually beneficial deal structures. She handled MCNC’s restructuring which moved its research and venture funding activities to a separate company now known as NCIDEA, whose mission is to provide early-stage companies with venture funding, grants and loans to promote economic development. In addition, she managed the sale of the research operations and extensive patent portfolio to RTI International.

Liz served as Deputy General Counsel for BTI Telecom, a Raleigh-based multinational business with 60,000 customers and a workforce of 1,500. She later worked at UnitedHealthcare and implemented its exchanges in North and South Carolina under the Affordable Care Act and worked on the company’s initial forays into telehealth.

As an attorney with Brooks Pierce, Liz guided AT&T, Time Warner Telecom and other new entrants through the roll out of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, expanding competition in the market. She started her career in 1992 with the firm of Howrey & Simon in Washington, DC.

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Liz graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University where she studied American History. She also holds a law degree with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and served as Managing Editor of The North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation.