Digital City EXPO Opening Keynote Speaker

M Mark Ansboury, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of OneCommunity, based in Cleveland

Creating a “Connected Community”

As cities strive to become digital, they face the challenge to deliver on the promise of becoming a “Connected Community.” Cities desire widespread broadband but struggle with the complexities of a competitive environment and the costs associated with becoming a digital city.

The Knight Center of Digital Excellence, operated by OneCommunity, focuses on leveraging technology and the social priorities of a community to drive economic development and civic opportunity, making widespread broadband a reality. Mark Ansboury, Senior VP & Chief Technology Officer reviews how to create a connected community by driving awareness and adoption, leveraging resources, and developing applications that directly benefit the community.

In a connected community, cities control their own destiny by building multi-stakeholder, public/private partnerships that establish new markets and aggregate demand for broadband, making the digital city a reality.

Mark Ansboury is an internationally known thought leader in leveraging IT and telecommunications services to enhance economic development, civic engagement and quality of life. A Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of the Cleveland-based non-profit OneCommunity, Mr. Ansboury is dedicated to improving the vitality of Northeast Ohio through the development and integration of innovative community technologies. He and OneCommunity have made great strides in advancing the region’s health care by establishing the Northeast Ohio Regional Health Information Organization (NEO RHIO), which has worked with OneCommunity to establish a broadband network, HealthNet, to connect area healthcare facilities in underserved urban and rural communities.

OneCommunity is also acclaimed in helping communities create a sustainable connected community and universal broadband access programs. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation partnered with OneCommunity to create the Knight Center of Digital Excellence to promote civic opportunities and drive economic development. Mr. Ansboury has spent most of his career transforming organizations by developing innovative business models and leveraging IT tools. He has advised or managed numerous high-growth technology businesses, including the creation of national and international telecommunication wire line and wireless businesses.