Summer 2015
NCRWA.COM
3
from the executive director
A Lesson in
Cybersecurity.
“My account got hacked!” “My identity
got stolen!” “My computer got a virus!”
All statements we hear so routinely
these days that it seems to lessen their
perceived impact. However, don’t be
misled or oblivious; being afflicted
with any of these issues is paralyzing and feels catastrophic when
you are the one affected. It has been said, “The only routine surgery
is the one you’re not having.” Well cybersecurity issues are the same
way. Unfortunately, I learned this lesson firsthand during the past
few months.
Like most professionals whose daily lives revolve around email,
computers and other electronic devices, I do my best to maintain
good protocols for my electronics. I am fairly disciplined when it
comes to the following:
• Not clicking on strange links or emails, even when they
are from a familiar contact
• Using 7- to 10-digit passwords with capital letters,
lower case letters, symbols, and numbers
• Maintaining subscriptions to reputable antivirus,
malware, and firewall software
• Setting automatic daily, online backups of all data and files
• Not surfing or shopping on the web with a company computer
for generic and common websites unless needed specifically
for work related information
• Not using personal social media on a company computer
• Limiting use of public wi-fi like found at hotels,
public libraries, and coffee shops
• Not clicking on any pop-ups even if it is branded to a
reputable company such as Microsoft or Adobe.
Always visit their website and log-in to renew
subscriptions or make changes.
Well on May 1
st
while sending my April time log to payroll, my
Outlook abruptly shut down. After trying several times to open
it unsuccessfully, I restarted my computer. Outlook worked
momentarily, then shut down again. Within two hours, I had
the spinning wheel of death (the hourglass) on my screen, my IT
contractor on the phone, and my head in my hands (about to cry).
Some Microsoft-devouring virus was actively eating my computer’s
operating system (Windows), and there was nothing I could do about
NCRWA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President:
Barry Sutton,
Eastern Pines Water Corporation
Sr. Vice President:
Keith Hoilman,
Town of Newland
Vice President:
Sam Call,
Town of Wilkesboro
Secretary:
Dean Gaster,
City of Dunn
Treasurer & Immediate Past President:
Neil Carpenter,
Maggie Valley Sanitary District
Director:
Macon Robertson,
Warran County Water Department
Director:
Wilmer Melton
, City of Kannapolis
Director:
Jay Gibson,
Town of Franklin
Director:
Rod Watts,
Energy United Water Corporation
Director:
Joey Threewitts,
Wayne Water District
Director:
Lisa Smith-Perri,
West Carteret Water Corporation
Director:
Kenny Keel,
PE, Town of Hillsborough
Director:
Todd Taylor,
PE, Orange Water & Sewer Authority
Director:
Johnny Spencer,
Tyrell County Water
Director:
Maria Hunnicutt,
Broad River Water Authority
NCRWA STAFF
Executive Director:
Daniel Wilson, PE, CAE, UMC,
336-731-6963,
Technical Assistance Division Leader:
Al Slover, UMC,
919-812-5115,
Circuit Rider:
Keith Buff, UMC,
336-309-9363,
Circuit Rider:
Mike Hill, UMC,
919-812-6088,
Circuit Rider:
Becky Turner,
919-812-5744,
Circuit Rider:
Marty Wilson, UMC,
919-745-7968,
Training Division Leader:
Alan Oldham, UMC,
919-812-4513,
Water Training & Technical Assistance:
Lowell Gunter,
919-812-0568,
Wastewater Training & Technical Assistance:
Dwight Lancaster, UMC,
919-812-2717,
Wastewater Training & Technical Assistance:
Fred Summers, UMC,
919-812-5119,
Backflow & Cross Connection Training Specialist:
Ronnie West,
919-812-2940,
Training Specialist:
Mandy Hall,
919-812-1191,
Training Specialist
Joe Holden,
336-337-0697
,
Source Water Protection Specialist:
Debbie Maner,
919-812-5500,
Technical Assistance & Training Specialist:
Brian Grogan, UMC,
336-309-6529,
Finance & Human Resources Manager:
Sharon Lookabill,
336-731-6963,
Member Services Manager:
Amy Everett, CAE,
336-731-6963,
Member Services Coordinator:
Jamie Walker,
336-731-6963,
The Tarheel Pipeline® is the official publication of North Carolina Rural WaterAssociation, Inc.
®
(NCRWA) and is published quarterly for distribution to members of theAssociation as well as other
representatives of rural and municipal water and wastewater systems. The publisher reserves the right to
reject or edit any submittals received for publication. Statements of fact and opinion are the responsibility
of the authors alone and do not imply an opinion or recommendation on the part of NCRWA. Mention of
trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsements or recommendation for use.
