Chris Williams
Partner / Programmer & Technology Executive
Chris owns half of WideNet, is a programmer and oversees all aspects of our technology. He shares company business strategy development and implementation with Derek. Chris has led our many efforts to stay on the forefront of relevant technology and over several years has created the WideNet Control Panel that is the CMS used in most of our client websites. Chris grew up as a Navy kid in Virginia before later moving to his mother's hometown of Oxford, Alabama where he attended high school. Chris is a graduate of Jacksonville State University's College of Commerce and Business Administration, holding a BS in Business with an Ecommerce specialization. He enjoys staying up to date with all the latest developments in the technology industries and writes a column for The Anniston Star on those topics. He is a dedicated father of two children.
Derek Conrad Brown
Partner / Sales & Operations Executive
Derek owns half of WideNet and is responsible for sales and business operations. He shares company business strategy development and implementation with Chris. Derek invests a great deal of time networking and building relationships through a number of business and other organizations in northern and central Alabama and organizes most website projects. In 2007 he was named as the first Ambassador of the Year by the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce. He sits on the boards of directors for the Chamber, the YMCA of Calhoun County, the West Anniston Foundation, and is a founding core group member of the Young Leaders Society of Calhoun County. In 2010 he became the 95th president of Anniston Rotary Club, its youngest president to date, and is a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow. In 2011 he was one of four co-chairs of the Arts For Tornado Relief effort that, with matching funds, raised over $115,000 for local tornado victims. He also competed in the 2011 Anniston Morning Rotary Dancing With Our Stars and was the 'roastee' at the successful first annual All Saints Center for Concern Local Celebrity Roast. He was named to the Anniston Star/ Calhoun County Business Magazine's '20 under 40' for 2012. He is a former member of the Samford University Young Alumni Board, the West Jefferson County Historical Society board, the board of The Opportunity Center- Easter Seal, and the Leadership Calhoun County board. He was a member of the 2008 class of Leadership Alabama's Alabama Leadership Initiative. He is a native of metro Birmingham, Alabama and holds a BA from Samford University.
Tonya Phares
Web Designer
Tonya is our talented web designer. Most clients will work with her during the proofing process. Tonya is a native of Des Moines, Iowa, and holds a BA in Graphic Design from Jacksonville State University. She lives in Jacksonville, Alabama and enjoys traveling and working out in her free time. She has completed the Insanity fitness program, worked through the CrossFit program, and lives a very healthy, active lifestyle. In an unlikely coincidence, both she and Chris are part native Hawaiian.
Gary Lewis
Programmer
Gary is one of our two programmers. He holds a BS from Jacksonville State University in 2004, and has worked with web content and related services for 15 years, including seven years managing online services for one of Alabama's largest newspaper and media companies. A native of Marietta, Georgia, he now lives with his wife and two children in Jacksonville, Alabama. He enjoys hiking and fishing and is an avid fan of JSU Gamecock football.
Lori Johns
Administrative Staffer / Trainer
Lori is our primary point of customer support and training. She also assists with various important administrative duties in the company. Lori holds a BA in graphic design from Jacksonville State University. She is married and lives in Oxford, Alabama.
Jenny Stedham
Staffer Emeritus
Most of our clients knew Jenny as the trainer and primary level of customer support from 2008 through 2011. After receiving her BA at Birmingham-Southern College, she worked with us while she was completing her Masters at Jacksonville State University as she continued her education in pursuit of achieving her dream of being a classroom teacher. At the end of May 2011 she took a position at Duke University for the summer and became a teacher at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Anniston. She was an important part of WideNet and we miss our friend in our everyday business life but we know generations of students will benefit from her vast talents.