Changing of the Guard in LAN Service: Dziuba, Kajdasz to step up following Decker’s retirement
From desktops to laptops to netbooks to Chromebooks, over the past three decades the Western New York Regional Information Center (WNYRIC) has come a long way in providing the very best learning experience for the students of Western New York. Scott Decker, who has served as Supervisor of Field Technical Services since 2006, has announced his retirement on May 15, 2020.
Immediately stepping in as supervisor for LAN microcomputer technical support specialist (MCTSS) staff in the Orleans-Niagara Region will be Mat Dziuba. Scott will continue to oversee the LAN senior MCTSS’s for both Erie 1 and Orleans-Niagara regions, along with the Erie 1 MCTSS staff, until May 15. At that time Dave Kajdasz will oversee the Erie 1 MCTSS staff and both Erie 1 and Orleans-Niagara LAN senior MCTSS’s.
Dziuba started on the WNYRIC LAN team in 1991. As the RIC grew, he began to specialize in networking, starting the WAN team which was responsible for everything from the district wiring closets back to the RIC. As supervisor of the WAN team, the team began connecting districts to the Internet, and making sure Erie 1 BOCES had network connectivity at the ‘new’ education campus when operations moved from Lancaster in 1996. Mat initiated and managed the WAN services, VoIP services, Core services and ERate departments before they transitioned to other supervisors. Dzuiba returns to WNYRIC after assisting Buffalo Public Schools.
Kajdasz was an MCTSS in messaging services when he started in 2008. In 2013, Decker hired him as a LAN senior MCTSS for the Erie 1 Region, supervising tech support. In 2019, he transitioned to the role of data protection, security and compliance officer. After May 15, Kajdasz will be the main point of contact for districts with MCTSS seniors and staff in the regions listed above.
“I look forward to providing the same great service that Scott has for many years,” Kajdasz said.
In 1995, Decker started as one of the original senior MCTSS’s providing support for LAN and WAN for many of the Erie, Orleans/Niagara school districts at the WNYRIC. In his role, Decker provided key leadership as the small 15-employee LAN/WAN department grew into separate entities which now include Field Services, WAN services, VoIP services, Core services, ERate, E1B Technical Support and many other services. All included, a staff that totals over 150 employees.
“I’ve known Scott for a long time, and I know I can never replace him or his institutional knowledge. I’ve appreciated picking his brain over the last couple of months in my new role here. All in all, I can’t express the amount of respect I have for him and I wish him the best as he truly deserves it,” Dziuba said.
Jan Mathis, director of infrastructure and operations at WNYRIC, added, “His leadership and experience spread far beyond his region and helped future supervisors learn what it takes to support multiple districts and employees in a professional and caring manner.”
One of Decker’s other crowning achievements is the creation of WNYRIC Tech Fest. The event that began in 2007 with five local vendors in one conference room has grown over the years to utilize the entire Erie 1 BOCES Education Campus for 35 local and national vendors and attendees from public and private schools across all 7 counties of Western New York. Dziuba is also taking the reins on WNYRIC Tech Fest.
“To all the wonderful folks whom I had the opportunity to work with, you will be missed, and I thank each and every one of you. Each of you have contributed dearly, page by page, to my book of life,” Decker said. “Everything has a beginning and an end and I’m ready to turn the page and start a new chapter.”
Dziuba can be contacted at mdziuba@e1b.org or 821-7112. Kajdasz can be reached at dkajdasz@e1b.org or 821-7093.