Not your Average “It Guy”

Staff colleagues of Bryan Mundy’s know him as a technology enthusiast. You don’t get the stereotypical “IT guy” frustration with Bryan; every help request or technology conundrum presents an opportunity to talk about what program, device or system may best provide a solution. He’s one member of a team that keeps Westerville poised to know and appreciate how emerging technologies can help us best serve our residents and businesses.

Where are you from? How did you come to your position in Westerville?

I’m originally from Marion, Ohio. During my high school years, I was active in local BBS (Bulletin Board Systems –before the World Wide Web) and computer meetings. During this time, I met peers in the same line of work. This led me to a full-time position at the City of Dublin. While I was there, I gained experience and worked my way up to an administrative position. I had moved to the Westerville area in 2004 and saw there was a job opening much closer to me that offered more responsibility. I applied and the rest is history.

What are your job responsibilities?

I work for the City as a Network Operations Manager, which really means that I get the chance to lead a great team in all things technical. We are the driving force behind all of the technical services at the City, from Web pages, wireless access and online services to telephone networks and fiber optics to pretty much anything else that is part of the technology framework that we manage behind the scenes. With the rapid pace of emerging technologies, things never get boring!

Technology experts typically talk about “taking things apart” and rebuilding them to learn their skill set. How did you first become acquainted with technology?

My first experience with computing was with a Texas Instruments TI-99. I was very lucky; my father had plenty of computer equipment to “fix.” At the time, I was breaking more than fixing, but after much trial and error, I would go to my parents’ friend’s houses to fix their systems. I’ve always had the drive to figure out what makes things work.

What type of training did you pursue in your field? How do you stay in the know about new and emerging technologies?

Initially, I focused on Novell, Microsoft and Cisco training. Today, we are more focused on cloud computing and mobile technologies. It’s very difficult to stay up on trends and technology. Much of my personal time is devoted to “geeking out” with new technology as it becomes available. I subscribe to several podcasts, participate in online forums and do plenty of online training. We try to visit technology road shows when time and schedules allow. Sometimes the best thing to do is get with others in the industry and see what they are using and why they think it is the way to go.

The City recently implemented a bring-your-own-device mobile policy. How does that benefit the organization?

I’m glad you asked that. Bring-yourown-device (BYOD) is a new trend that we are seeing become commonplace. With the rapid release schedule in the mobile industry mirroring what we saw with personal computers more than 10 years ago, it’s impossible for an organization to keep the newest technology in the hands of those who need it. With this policy, the City has established a common framework to allow select devices to access data anywhere. This means if you unwrapped a new tablet or smartphone recently, it will be possible to access data that you need for work. This also allows others who like to buy the latest and greatest gadget to leverage that device for work purposes. Another benefit is that you now have enterprise-level security and encryption protecting your device, which is becoming much more important now that so much information is stored on these devices.

What is the most common question you’re asked about technology from people outside of work?

“Can you help me fix my (insert device name here)?” Or, “Should I buy a new one now or wait a couple more months?” You are everyone’s best friend when you know how to fix nagging tech issues.

What is the most common piece of advice or tip you give about technology?

If the deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. When shopping for that new device, it’s worth a little extra to get what you really need. Typically, with technology, you have three levels of devices: cheap, mid-range and over-the-top expensive. I tend to stay to the middle ground most of the time. The cheap side will be last year’s technology and only end with frustration. The over-the-top expensive route will be nice at first, but when the next gadget comes out in a few months, you may regret the expense. The midrange gives you the capacity you need and hopefully some money left in your pocket. Another piece of advice that I like to give is, “Just give it a chance.” I know that people are hesitant to change, and it’s true that change isn’t always for the best. But when a new device, operating system or application comes out, just give it a try. One thing to remember is that the vendors in the game today are not going to go back to the old version.

Where do you see technology leading us in community services and programs?

I think that there will be a natural progression to mobility and ease of access. With Web-based services dominating today (Yahoo, Amazon, Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) people expect to access City services just as easily. You may notice our website has a mobile format now and we are continually working on making more services available from anywhere. I think the same can be said about the programs we use today.

What do you like to do in your spare time, technology or non-technology related?

Well, I do love my technology. But in my spare time, I really enjoy hiking with my wife, summertime family cookouts and vacationing to areas without technology. I also spend time working on cars, specifically tuning high-performance engine computers. I spend many summer weekends at car shows and track days.

Special Events in Westerville

Take any given weekend in Westerville and there is likely to be a special event, whether it is a race, fundraiser or community celebration. With our expansive parks system and public facilities, Westerville is a popular destination for organizations when they select a site for their event.

The City of Westerville requires a permit for special events, defined as those including festivals, performances, competitions or other organized public events in which public rights-of-way or public property will be used or significantly impacted. Events of these types are considered to require the involvement of public personnel and equipment, particularly to consider the safety of the public. Parades, block parties, events on private property and private rental agreements are not considered special events that require a City permit.

A committee comprised of staff members from each of the 10 City departments meets each month to review and approve special event applications. Event organizers and community organizations are invited to this meeting to have a discussion about what City services, facilities or streets and public property may be needed for the event.

Last year, the committee endeavored to complete a thorough review of the Westerville application and event management process as compared to other municipalities in our region. Committee members also worked to streamline, improve or repair processes related to past event issues or administrative concerns.

Each year, the City of Westerville recognizes staff members for their dedication and commitment to their jobs and the residents of Westerville. The following employees were nominated as Employee of the Year by their staff colleagues. The recipient of the Employee of the Year, as well as nine Excellence in Service winners, will be profiled in the March/April edition of Westerville Magazine.

Jonathan Arnold, Public Service Department

Joe Bargdill, Planning & Development

Jason Bechtold, City Manager/Economic Development

Chris Davis, Westerville Division of Police

Cheryl Denman, Public Service Department

Aaron Dickison, Westerville Division of Police

Gino Iasiello, Water Department

Nick Jones, Westerville Division of Fire

Sandy Kitzmiller, Westerville Division of Fire

Dan Koch, Westerville Electric Division

Nancy Mattiello, Mayor’s Court

Joe Peterson, Public Service Department

Lee Pierce, Planning & Development

Margi Rundio, Parks & Recreation

Leonard Sagar, Westerville Electric Division

Toni Schorling, Parks & Recreation

Rebecca Stalnaker, Finance Department

James Tharp, Westerville Division of Fire

Ed Townsend, Finance Department/Utility

Billing Service

Gary Turner, Planning & Development

As a result, the Special Events committee has updated its application procedures with changes designed to improve processes and recover public costs where appropriate. An updated application and process are now posted online at www.westerville.org/specialevents. If you have hosted events in the past or regularly host events in Westerville, we encourage you to read the application for policy updates. For more information, please contact us at 614-901-6400.

Number of community events and special occasions making up the “year of the Arts” in Westerville throughout 2013. More events may be added! For more information, consult the 2013 City of Westerville community calendar. Didn’t get a calendar? pick up a copy at City Hall, 21 S. State St., or call 614-901-6400.

Reminder: Trash/Recycling Bins

Trash bins and recycling containers need to be picked up within 24 hours of refuse and recycling collection each Tuesday. If you have any questions or concerns about a collection date, or you need to order a replacement bin, please contact the Westerville Public Service Department at 614-901-6740.

Civic Organizations

By Garth Bishop