Meet the Eastern Colorado Repeater Association’s Board members
Bryan, KB9UZO (left, beside his Elmer, AA0L)
Bryan, KB9UZO, is a founding member of the Eastern Colorado Repeater Association (ECRA). A retired firefighter and skilled aircraft mechanic with two decades in aviation maintenance, Bryan has been a dedicated Colorado resident since 2004. His journey into Amateur Radio began in the early 1990s, fueled by a deep passion for emergency communications, SKYWARN, radio & repeater technology. He also has interests in HF and APRS tech.
Bryan's vision for ECRA was born from his experiences as a frequent traveler across Colorado’s eastern plains. He recognized the critical need for expanded radio communication coverage, particularly in underserved areas and the lack of representation and support of proper communication coverage in the eastern plains. Drawing from his involvement in several large clubs along the Front Range, he became increasingly aware of the challenges posed by a "Good-ole-boy" mentality and a lack of transparency within those organizations.
Determined to create a different environment, Bryan and his colleagues founded ECRA with a clear mission: to bridge the communications gap in eastern Colorado. Their commitment to serving underserved residents, communities, and travelers is unwavering, ensuring that the values of inclusivity and accessibility shape the association’s initiatives.
As ECRAs chairman, Bryan aspires to foster a community where everyone can sit at the table and contribute to the vital mission and goals of the association.
Matt, KD0QLY
Matt, KD0QLY, is a pivotal figure among the founding members of the Eastern Colorado Repeater Association (ECRA) and is ECRA’s Vice Chairman. Matt also serves on the board of directors for the Colorado Emergency Service Support, Search and Rescue (COESSSAR), https://www.facebook.com/COESSSAR
With years of experience in emergency communications, search and rescue, technical rescue and aerial search and rescue operations, Matt’s expertise is essential to ECRA’s mission of promoting communication coverage across Eastern Colorado and its continued growth.
Matt has played a crucial role in ECRA's efforts to procure necessary equipment, including the donation of several vital pieces that support our operations. His commitment extends beyond just equipment acquisition; he is deeply involved in ECRA's logistical and community outreach initiatives, in addition to using his technical expertise in the installation and fabricating of ECRAs equipment and hardware, contributing significantly to the overall infrastructure and installations that are vital to our work.
His passion for community service and technological advancement resonates through both ECRA and its membership. Matt’s dedication ensures that our organization continues to grow and adapt, reinforcing our shared goal of implementing and enhancing communication capabilities in the region. His contributions embody the spirit of collaboration and innovation that is central to ECRA’s mission.
Joe, KE0TSE
Joe, KE0TSE, is another one of ECRA’s foundational members and serves as ECRA's dedicated Repeater Coordinator, bringing a wealth of experience from his background in communications technology. His expertise in communication hardware and software is crucial to ECRA’s operational integrity and public service mission.
In his role, Joe oversees the technical and operational functionality of ECRA's repeater systems, ensuring they run seamlessly. His commitment to enhancing ECRA’s capabilities is evident through the implementation of advanced features such as Allstar, Echolink, APRS and Digital Mobile Radio (DMR). Joe’s technical knowledge and in-depth understanding of interconnecting networked systems ensures that ECRA’s mission and goals are preserved and advanced.
Another of Joe’s critical responsibilities includes ensuring compliance with FCC Part 97 regulations. He actively oversees the linking and networking initiatives between ECRA and other collaborating repeater systems throughout Colorado. In addition, Joe plays a vital role in creating policies and adaptations for ECRA’s future initiatives, notably those which aims to give a voice and representation to clubs, organizations, and entities in eastern Colorado.
Joe's dedication and technical acumen make him a pivotal figure in ECRA, embodying the association's commitment to excellence and collaboration within the ham radio and eastern Colorado communities.