Antwanye Ford

Vause Computer Systems, LLC is a trusted technology management and cybersecurity advisory firm specializing in independent data center technical advisory services for municipalities facing rapid data center growth. Founded in 1990, the firm brings more than three decades of experience helping municipal leaders make defensible transparent and future ready infrastructure decisions. Vause Computer Systems, LLC is led by Professor Gary Vause II a nationally recognized scholar practitioner with hands on data center and telecommunications operations experience from MCI WorldCom BellSouth and Sprint. His background includes enterprise scale power redundancy cooling and availability operations Big Four consulting methodology from KPMG and senior level public sector fiscal oversight as the first and only Black American legislative budget analyst for the Georgia House and Senate General Assembly. He also brings public safety and critical infrastructure expertise as a sworn law enforcement official and partner of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Our Municipal Data Center Advisory Solution Vause Computer Systems, LLC provides on call independent advisory services designed specifically for municipalities including. • Independent review of applicant submitted technical studies • Evaluation of power demand substations generators and battery energy storage systems • Assessment of cooling systems energy efficiency and sustainability claims • Noise modeling review and mitigation evaluation • Water usage and long term infrastructure impact analysis • Emergency operations and public safety alignment • Translation of technical findings into enforceable development agreement provisions • Support for municipal staff leadership and public hearings Our work is grounded in independence public trust and long term infrastructure resilience helping municipalities govern data center growth with confidence clarity and accountability. #MunicipalTechnology #DataCenterGovernance #CriticalInfrastructure #PublicTrust #DigitalInfrastructure #CyberSecurityLeadership

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Deadline Approaches to Address the Digital Services Gap Why the Fuss - What's Involved https://lnkd.in/e4Xr9vyJ National Academy of Public Administration SSTIG ASPA Barrett and Greene Inc. George Mason University - Schar School of Policy and Government Public Technology Institute

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Highlights from CED (Center for Entrepreneurial Development) 2025 NC Venture Report NC Venture Capital: A Year of Sectoral Transformation 💵 $3.4 Billion raised in 2025 — up 7% YoY and 108% above 2023 levels 🏆 4th time in 5 years NC has surpassed the $3B VC threshold 🔬 Life Sciences jumped 145% to $1.3B — Kriya Therapeutics ($321M), Tune Therapeutics ($175M) & Atsena Therapeutics ($150M) led the way 🏭 Advanced Manufacturing exploded +5,061% to $792M — Vulcan Elements alone raised $685M across two rounds 📊 62%+ of all VC dollars now flowing to Life Sciences & Advanced Manufacturing — Tech no longer dominates 📉 Fewer companies funded — 166 in 2025 vs. 192 in 2024, with deals becoming larger and more selective 💼 Average deal size: $18.9M | Median deal size: $3M (up from $1.7M) — investors want proof of progress 🔺 Research Triangle = 73% of all deals — Durham led with 54 transactions 🌊 Emerging hubs rising — Wilmington's Vantaca raised $300M; Charlotte growing in fintech, proptech & cleantech 🤝 CED supported 797 companies, delivered 8,000+ hours of support & made 1,000+ founder-to-investor introductions 📝 The Bottom Line: NC's startup economy is maturing — capital is concentrating into fewer, high-conviction bets in Life Sciences and Manufacturing, while the Triangle tightens its grip as the Southeast's innovation hub. Founders outside those sectors will need to work harder to compete for capital in 2025's more selective environment. https://lnkd.in/eXu4grGm

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North Carolina’s Governor Josh Stein signed Executive Order 24, “Advancing Trustworthy AI,” to make NC a leader in AI innovation and governance. Key steps: creating an AI Leadership Council, launching the NC AI Accelerator, forming agency AI Oversight Teams, and rolling out statewide AI literacy training. This plan drives economic growth while prioritizing ethics and equity. NC’s AI future is bright. #AI #NorthCarolina #TechInnovation #ExecutiveOrder24. Mark Hinkle

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The storm has passed, and while the waters are receding, the recovery journey continues. Sometimes, the most challenging part of recovery is the “quiet” after the storm. FirstNet, Built with AT&T resources remain in Kerr County with its Network Disaster Recovery (#NDR) team to maintain and support critical connectivity in areas impacted by flooding. Making a difference every step of the way, the #FirstNet Response Operations Group (#ROG) — a team made up of former emergency responders — has been dispatched to coordinate the use of FirstNet assets. Their mission is to respond precisely to the needs and requests of our public safety partners on the ground and to the communities. Together, we’re ensuring that first responders have the communication tools they need to support communities as they rebuild and recover.  FirstNet, built in partnership with AT&T, is the only nationwide 5G network designed specifically for emergency service personnel in the United States. Built with and for first responders. FirstNet, Built with AT&T First Responder Network Authority Public Safety Broadband Technology Association

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