TEL8 Honors Kathy McCarthy

A satellite tips its panels and people throughout the TEL8 network receive information. At least that's how life was in 1995 when the network went online. Now the network is videoconferenced on a private network. While the technological changes in TEL8 have been rapid as the electronic communications world expanded, one thing in TEL8 stayed constant.

Kathy McCarthy, honored recently by TEL8, served as the mistress of organization. She was the executive secretary from day one. In thanking her for dedicated service to TEL8, Doug Benson, executive director, said, "We have long recognized the significant contribution Kathy made to TEL8 and the important role she played in its development. TEL8 presented her award with appreciation for all she has done and for the critical role she played in making TEL8 a success."

Then he added the statement that really said it all: "We will miss Kathy and her good humor and thoughtfulness. She made TEL8 a much more pleasant place by being a part of us."

The Board of Directors of TEL8 relied heavily on McCarthy as the system grew. She was the center of fiscal management of a 10-site, six-state teleconference network, the only national network of its kind focused on transportation.

She was there for the major reconfiguration of TEL8 from a satellite system to a land-based transmission medium, helping smooth the transition. McCarthy managed accounting, network programming and network scheduling.

While being part of the creative team for the blossoming TEL8, McCarthy added organization of national events for a congressional field hearing with the Secretary of Transportation's office and the videoconference delivery of the Transportation Research Board's Annual Meeting to the western United States.

McCarthy continues as a vital part of the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, working as administrative manager of the Institute and the Mountain-Plains Consortium. She maintains all financial accounting records for the programs and is the office manager. The TEL8 assignment has moved to Mary Marquart.

From her perspective, McCarthy notes her enjoyment of the TEL8 network. "I met lots of people from the region and visited sites. Learning about videoconferencing was interesting and educational," she said.

McCarthy joined the Institute in 1990 and has more than 20 years of experience in the secretarial field. She attended Interstate Business College, Fargo.