MOREnet’s executive leadership team brings a diverse set of experience to the consortium. With more than 95 combined years serving MOREnet and our members, we are proud to support the MOREnet staff and the more than 700 organizations that make up this consortium, reaching every county in Missouri. Since MOREnet’s founding in 1991, our mission has guided us to ensure we remain your trusted technology partner. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you and your organization; it’s our pleasure to help you to be better connected.
Please feel free to contact any one of us directly. We would love to hear from you!
We are governed by a council that consists of representatives from each of our member groups. Learn more about the MOREnet Council.
Natasha Angell
Executive Director
angelln@more.net
Natasha is a native of Columbia, Mo., and studied computer information systems, American history and government while working full-time in a dynamic environment that merged technology, communications and sales. Passionate about high-quality customer service and leveraging the power of the broader community, her move from private industry to the public sector and MOREnet in 2002 was a natural fit.
As Executive Director, Natasha guides MOREnet’s strategic vision, stressing the importance of application and value for consortium members, while appreciating and leveraging the skills and expertise of an incredible team of MOREnet staff to continuously enhance and expand service offerings. She actively participates in national groups such as The Quilt and Internet2, and encourages the same for the MOREnet leadership team, always promoting the value of exchanging experiences and sharing a similar member-centric mission with other research and education network leadership teams across the country.
Natasha has undertaken a number of roles in her time at MOREnet. Before being selected as Executive Director in December 2017, for more than 12 years she served as the Director of Member Services, which comprised the organization’s service delivery and support functions, including Member Relations, Product Development, Marketing, Conferences and Events, Network Consulting, Network Security, Technical Support, Technical Training and Video services. Prior to serving as the Director of Member Services, Natasha was Manager of Technical Support Services for MOREnet.
Before joining MOREnet, Natasha held numerous leadership positions in private industry, most recently serving as Vice President of Education for OMD Corporation, a global provider of integrated management information system software for the office equipment industry, where her responsibilities included oversight for software system implementations, application training and user support services.
In her free time, Natasha enjoys outdoor activities including gardening and one day hopes to build a small greenhouse. She holds a Bachelor of Science in computer information systems and is a 2012 University of Missouri Administrative Leadership Development Program cohort alum.
Lynn Burgan
CFO
burganl@more.net
Lynn leads the MOREnet finance and accounting team and is part of the executive leadership that develops the organization’s long-term strategies and goals. The MOREnet finance and accounting group is comprised of staff members who are responsible for supporting our members in the areas of E-rate and accounts receivable and the organization in the areas of accounts payable, financial reporting, budgeting, purchasing, inventory, asset management, facility management, payroll and human resources.
Before joining MOREnet in 2006, she worked in finance and accounting in Columbia for a public accounting firm and Stephens College. Lynn has taught accounting at Columbia College and continues to teach at Central Methodist University online.
Lynn grew up in Palm Harbor, Fla., and earned her bachelor’s in finance from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. She has also received an MBA from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, Calif., and an accounting degree from Columbia College in Missouri.
Chip Byers
Director of New Initiatives
chip@more.net
Chip Byers provides long-range vision and strategy for MOREnet. As the Director of Strategic Initiatives, he managed the planning and implementation of Missouri’s first fiber-optic research and education network — MOREnet’s Next Generation Network (NGN). Byers monitors federal funding and legislation to understand the implications and benefits for MOREnet members.
Since 1995, Byers has provided leadership and vision for MOREnet as the longest-serving member of the senior management team. Byers served nine years as Director of Operations with responsibility for all MOREnet’s technical operations and three-quarters of MOREnet’s staff. Byers has been an active, contributing member of the Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB) and The QUILT communities, two national organizations that represent the depth and breadth of research and education networks and regional optical networks.
Byers has a rich history of public and private IT positions with such organizations as Datastorm Technologies, University of Missouri – Columbia, USDA’s National Center for Animal Health Information Systems (NCAHIS), ANR Freight Systems, CitiCorp/Diners Club International and Playboy International Corporate Data Systems.
Byers received a B.S. in Business Administration with concentrations in Computer Information Systems and Accounting from Colorado State University.
Hank Niederhelm
Director of Infrastructure
hank@more.net
Hank Niederhelm is the Director of Infrastructure for MOREnet. Prior to his current position, he held the positions of User Services Manager, Network Services Manager and Associate Director of Operations with MOREnet. Hank is responsible for all network operations, server administration, application development and desktop support for MOREnet.
Network Services manages the MOREnet network which includes 3,500 miles of fiber and 575-plus member circuits with an aggregate capacity of more than 430 Gbps. The Application and Systems Administration group develops MOREnet’s business applications and operates more than 250 UNIX- and Windows-based servers in virtual and non-virtual environments.
Prior to working for MOREnet, Hank held various management positions during his 13 years of employment with the Systems Division of MBS Textbook Exchange.
Hank lives in Columbia, MO, with his wife. He has a daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter living in Lee’s Summit, MO, and a son who lives in Columbia, MO. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Columbia College.