Category: Personnel

Please welcome ICIT’s new security and compliance officer – Hank Ritzert – to the team. Hank will help ensure that ICIT’s and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s systems remain secure and compliant with various state and federal regulations. In his role as security and compliance officer, Hank will also help write regulatory policies to guide ICIT’s practices. Hank reports to Elena Pokot.

Hank is no stranger to higher education, prior to joining ICIT, he spent 13 years as senior security analyst at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. At NIU, Hank helped conduct forensic investigations, monitored the network intrusion detection systems, and worked with law enforcement on security-related matters.

 Spotlight                                                                                                                                

office: 2003E | email: ritzerth@uww.edu | phone: 262-472-7026

What do you do? – explain how you fit into ICIT

• I help make sure UW-Whitewater is compliant with regulations stemming from legislation such as FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). I also make sure that data submitted through card payments is secure. Essentially, my role is to ensure that our systems remain secure and meet federal regulations.

Something people don’t know about you?

• I have a very eclectic taste in music. I like the classical composers such as Haydn, Mozart, and Tchaikovsky, but I also listen to Guns N’ Roses, Five Finger Death Punch, Pink Floyd, Amy Winehouse, and Adele to name a few. I also really like this a Capella group called Straight No Chaser, so I like pretty much everything but country.

Favorite hobby?

• I am a marathon cyclist. I participate in a seven day event every year called RAGBRAI with a group of friends. It is a week-long ride across the state of Iowa that consists of cycling, fun, and beer. I’d share our team name with you, but it’s NSFW.

What was your first job?

• I was a landscaper. I loved that job. I got to be outside all day and I got to be really good at laying sod.

What’s your favorite piece of technology?

• I just got an iPhone 6 Plus, that’s up there. But, I think my favorite piece of technology is the “cyclocomputer” I use when I’m on my bike.  It’s a little gadget that tracks things like heart rate, bike speed, rpms I’m pedaling at, and distance when I’m out for a ride. So when the weather is nice, that’s my favorite piece of technology.

Music genre?

• As I mentioned before, I’ve got a pretty taste. You name it, I’ll probably listen to it… unless it’s country.

Favorite vacation?

• Maui

Favorite food?

• I like food. So let’s go with, Tetrazzini.

Least favorite food?

• Mushrooms

Biggest fear?

• Failure. Flat. Out. Failure.

Ben Kroeplin joined the ICIT team on November 14^th as the new senior communications specialist. Ben will work closely with all areas of ICIT to help craft announcements and public-facing communications. Ben will also play a critical role in organizing events, behind the scenes planning, and a wide variety of marketing/communications-related projects. Ben reports to Elena Pokot.

Previous to joining ICIT, Ben worked in a similar role as marketing specialist for Dean Foundation, the research-oriented non-profit affiliate of Dean Health System. Ben has an extensive communications background having also worked as an on-air radio personality and as a journalist before moving to a less public career path.

Need to get the word out about something? Need some help promoting or communicating a department-wide or campus-wide project? Talk to Ben.

Spotlight                                                                                                                                

office: 2008B | email: kroeplib@uww.edu | phone: 262-472-5661

What do you do? – explain how you fit into ICIT

• I basically administer day-to-day communications for the department to help ensure that the information we are sending out to students and staff is timely and accurate. I’ll also plan department events and work on a pretty wide variety of projects within all areas of ICIT.  So, odds are you’ll see me pop in to your department from time to time.

Something people don’t know about you?

• I used to be on the news. I have worked at a couple of TV stations as an on-air news reporter and anchor. So if you ever see me wearing a shirt with a makeup stain on the collar, you know why.

Favorite hobby?

• I used to be a in a band. But, I just got married and plan to go to graduate school next year, so I no longer have time for fun things.

What was your first job?

• When I was about 14, I spent the summer hauling manure for farmers. While I couldn’t legally drive a car, apparently it is perfectly legal for a 14-year-old to get behind the wheel of a gigantic tractor hauling 3,000 gallons of liquid manure and then operate that gigantic manure-laden tractor on the public’s roadways.

What’s your favorite piece of technology?

• My iPhone. I’d like it even more if the new iPhone 6 wasn’t on back order.

Music genre?

• I have a pretty diverse taste in music. If I had to pick a favorite (or two) I’d go with old-school punk and progressive metal.

Favorite vacation?

• I like camping. So I try to get away and camp someplace exotic when I can (I prefer the coasts somewhere). Otherwise, San Francisco is my favorite place on earth besides Wisconsin.

Favorite food?

• Cheesecurds. I’m a cheesecurd snob connoisseur.

Least favorite food?

• Beets. Beets are gross.

Biggest fear?

• Heights… and the Minnesota Vikings winning Super Bowl which would render my repertoire of Vikings jokes useless.