Organization

The West Central Florida Group, Inc. is a non-profit Amateur Radio organization. The organization was founded in 2001 with a mission statement reading “To promote and advance the art, science, and visibility of Amateur Radio and provide necessary Amateur Radio communications infrastructure during communications emergencies”. Keeping with this spirit, we operate West Central Florida’s only regional coverage linked amateur radio repeater system, NI4CE. The network operates five analog repeaters from four sites linked 24 hours a day. The group also operates numerous APRS digipeaters as well as a five NXDN digital repeater on the NXDN World-Wide Network. The Board of Directors is elected by active contributing members and is entrusted with the responsibility of operating and maintaining the NI4CE Repeater System and the organization’s other programs.

Our Leadership Team

Paul Toth - NB9X - President / Director Licensed – Amateur Radio Extra Class Former Broadcast News and Weather Journalist Former IT Manager and Programmer Land Mobile Radio Consultant 2005 NOAA Environmental Hero

Matthew Copeland – NC4FD - Vice President / Director / Trustee Licensed – Amateur Radio Extra Class

Larry Gispert - KR4X - Secretary / Director Licensed – Amateur Radio Extra Class FCC Commercial General Radio Telephone License with Ship’s Radar Endorsement 2nd Class Radio Telegraph License U.S. Coast Guard as a Radioman (E-5) A.A. in Business A.S. in Radio Communications B.S. in Business Management Former radio communications and operations officer,  Office of Emergency Management of Hillsborough County Former Manager of the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue 9-1-1 Dispatch Center Former Director of Emergency Management for Hillsborough County Former President of the Florida Emergency Management Association (FEPA) Former President of the International Association of Emergency Management (IAEM) Retired from Hillsborough County Government after 32 years of service ]

Paul Knupke, Sr. - N4PK - Treasurer / Director Licensed – Amateur Radio Extra Class FCC Commercial First Class Radio-Telephone license 1967-1984 B.S. in Electrical Engineering Masters in Business Administration Former Broadcast Engineer and On-Air Personality Former Design Engineering Manager, R & D Manager, and Quality Manager Former founder and President at a custom military & industrial electronics manufacturer Former Contract Consulting Engineer

David Rockwell – W4PXE - Director Licensed – Amateur Radio Extra Class FCC Commercial First Class Radiotelephone Operator, 1974-1984 B.S.in Electrical Engineering M.S. in System Engineering Former Broadcast Engineer Former Land Mobile Radio Manager, USAF Former Communications-Electronics Engineering Officer, USAF Former Chief Scientist, Federal Data Systems Branch Chief, Contingency Communications, US Coast Guard Auxiliary, National Staff Radio Operator, Pinellas County Auxiliary Communications Service ICS Instructor

Richard Sharp - KQ4KX - Director Licensed – Amateur Radio Extra Class FCC General Radiotelephone License General Mobile Radio Service License Skywarn Spotter

Sanford Wyatt - KM4WXX Licensed – Amateur Radio Technician Class Long time contributing member of the West Central Florida Group Active as Net Manager for the ARRL WCF Eagle Net (conducted nightly on NI4CE at 8:30pm) Operations Coordinator of the Sarasota Agri-Resources Group (SARG) to support the rural agricultural community in Manatee and Sarasota Counties in emergencies.

Nick Palomba - N1IC Licensed – Amateur Radio Extra Class Resident of Pinellas County and License Trustee for NI4CE Long time contributing member of the West Central Florida Radio Group

Dan Noah - WX4DAN Licensed – Amateur Radio Technician Class Served West Central Florida as Warning Coordination Meteorologist in Ruskin, FL for the past twenty-one years. Instrumental in building the SKYWARN Severe Weather Spotter Program with the support of the West Central Florida Group (WCFG). Long time contributing member to the West Central Florida Group.

John Chaput - KK4LI - Director Licensed – Amateur Radio Extra Class

Postal Address:
West Central Florida Group, Inc.
11931 92nd Way N.
Largo, FL 33773-4321

E-Mail Addresses:    Webmaster: [email protected]   Information: [email protected]   Contributions: [email protected]   NI4CE Trustee: [email protected]