February 25, 2022
Rachel Jurs-Lauderdale
Rachel Jurs-Lauderdale is an Administrative Assistant for NIU Division of Information Technology, member of NIU Administrative Professionals Advisory Council and Assistant Secretary for iFiber. She has been with NIU more than 7 years and provides expert and confidential administrative support to the Chief Information Officer, Chief Information Security Officer, Associate Vice Presidents, Directors, Managers, and staff within the Division of Technology Services (DoIT). She also works with iFiber and Ventures members and Board of Directors to coordinate strategic goals and map progress.
Rachel earned a BS in Business Administrations from NIU, is a licensed substitute educator, member of the National Society for Leadership and Success, Executive Officer for Delta Sigma Pi professional business fraternity, and NIU Business Passport Scholar. She is currently working toward completing a Scrum Master Certification along with an advanced degree in Management of Information Systems at NIU. Beyond her duties as an employee of NIU, Rachel is a member of the #337 Bayard Brown American Legion Auxiliary, an officer for the Genoa Community Women’s Club, and volunteer for “It’s a Pittie Rescue.” Rachel said she “has two awesome sons: one an NIU alumni working as a graphic designer for a firm in Chicago and the other an Augustana alumni working with Polk County Iowa Conservation Core who also share her interest in technology.”
Prior to working for DoIT, Rachel worked in Educator Licensure for NIU managing licensing and Illinois State Board of Education (ISBBE) compliance for all K-12 educators completing programs at NIU. She coordinated and helped manage the most recent accreditation cycle for the University Office of Educator Licensure and Preparation to earn the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) stamp of accreditation. Her interest in technology and working with the public evolved during her 5 plus years with the 16th Judicial District Court as a Deputy Clerk for Kane County. Before working with the public through governmental agencies, Rachel enjoyed a career working with architects, builders, decorators, and engineers as a Design Specialist creating high end kitchen and bathroom designs using AutoCAD.
Rachel believes “people steering technology and commerce are central to the core mission of iFiber and our vision to bring affordable Internet connectivity to under-served areas.” She said, “building strong IT -business relationships and mobilizing digital transformations at scale across organizations requires the whole team and a healthy culture that embraces change.”
November 11, 2021
Jennifer Uridil-Dolman
Jennifer Uridil-Dolman has been an IT Technical Associate and Project Manager for Northern Illinois University’s Regional Technology Services Division for three years. Jen manages broadband projects for iFiber and NIUNet and is the fiber Damage Investigator. Prior to joining NIU, Jen previously worked for iFiber’s facility maintenance company overseeing the installation and construction of iFiber and reporting progress to NIU/iFiber. She then transitioned into the main POC overseeing all daily operations once the installation was completed. Her responsibilities included overseeing the locating and dispatching staff, iFiber design engineering, managing relocations and underground utility issues and damage investigating and reporting.
She has over 20 years of experience in the fiber/telecom/contract locating industry and started out in the Control Center at a facility Maintenance and Engineering company in 2000 as a dispatcher. She then transitioned into other positions including Network Operations Supervisor, Outside Plant Specialist (OSP) and Safety & Fleet Coordinator for their Midwest Region. Jen left the company after receiving an opportunity to work for Crown Castle as a Fiber Engineer in the estimating department, where she stayed until being offered a position by NIU to work with iFiber once again.
Jen is an avid advocate for damage prevention which began early in her career and has participated in damage prevention events and councils. She has been on the Illinois JULIE Board of Directors since March 2016, starting in the position of VP of Contract Locating. She currently is the VP of Telecom and Board Secretary. She attended College of DuPage and Joliet Junior College and is currently working on her Undergraduate degree in English at NIU, minoring in Nonprofit. Fun fact about Jen is that she worked several years alongside her father, Lou, at the facility Maintenance and Engineering company where she began her career. They were eventually joined by Jen’s oldest daughter, Jesse, to have three generations working together in the telecom industry.
Wendy Thompson
Wendy Thompson, Accountant III in Northern Illinois University’s Division of Information Technology, has been with NIU for 24 years. She has worked with iFiber for two-and-one-half-years, providing accounting and business office support.
Joe Trickey
Joe Trickey has enjoyed the varied roles and experiences he’s been afforded in his 22 years at Northern Illinois University; starting out as a student building computer labs, then working at the IT Helpdesk. After being hired full-time, he’s enjoyed the roles of Service Desk Supervisor, Network Engineer, Field Technician Manager, Project Manager for Campus IT projects, and Interim Director-Broadband Services. Joe currently is Sales Engineering and Project Manager. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Computer Science from NIU. He is a certified Project Management Professional and has an ITIL Certification in Intermediate Service Strategy.
In 2013, Joe’s primary focus shifted to supporting iFiber. He came in on the tail end of the initial installation of equipment, and has had thorough immersion into many of the facets required to get a start-up IT business off the ground. From physically installing the core and distribution sites, coming up with pricing strategies, training of staff, designing and engineering systems, managing contracts and customers, iFiber has provided Joe many wonderful and engaging experiences. He looks forward to what he will learn and be able to contribute to ensure the ongoing success of iFiber for years to come.
Joe enjoys learning all the jargon, acronyms and business speak for the various disciplines required to run a broadband network like iFiber. He recently experienced what he calls “a whimsical moment of reflection” while facilitating a Thought Shower to come up with a Womb to Tomb, Swimlane Process Chart to ensure 5 Nines reliability for a Most Favored Nation client’s, Golden Goose product. The group’s synergy was unstoppable. They had addressed every key element, until the last item: the client wanted the solution…cost neutral! Joe welcomes you to share your favorite business jargon, or talk to him about how iFiber can help your community. E-mail him at
Sales@ifiber.org.
Samantha Zamudio
Samantha “Sam” Zamudio is Project/Incident Coordinator for NIU’s Regional Technology Services Division and has been with the team since October, 2019. Sam assists fellow team members with day-to-day action items and coordinates customer support and notifications.
Sam prides herself in being open and adaptable which allows her to work in a team setting or independently. She is dedicated to the Regional Technology Services Division and to iFiber’s mission. Sam believes in the partnership between NIU and iFiber as being valuable for rural areas they bring coverage to. Sam is encouraged by the way NIU and iFiber are always looking for ways to improve customer support.
Prior to joining NIU, Sam worked more than 10 years as a Dispatcher and Damage Investigator for two underground utility locating companies. She also has two years’ experience as a Logistics Operations Manager, which has enhanced her problem-solving skills. Sam is a student at NIU working to achieve the GIS Certificate. She previously attended Joliet Junior College and achieved a Certificate of Completion for Basic Construction and has two years in for General Studies.