CB Technologies Hires New Exec To Bridge Digital Divide In Schools

Solution provider CB Technologies has added New Mexico’s former public education chief information officer to its executive team to boost initiatives aimed at shrinking the "digital divide" in K-12 education, the company said.

The Orange, Calif.-based company -- No. 258 on the CRN 2015 Solution Provider 500 list -- said Michael Archibeque's pursuit of progressive, comprehensive education reform in New Mexico make him a good fit to serve as CB’s senior vice president of government solutions.

CB praised Archibeque’s work leading the development and implementation of education support applications and databases, saying he improved New Mexico’s education system.

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Archibeque said he will use his new position to continue CB Technologies' efforts toward closing the gap between students with access to IT and those who either have restricted access or no access at all -- otherwise known as the digital divide.

"I foresee my team providing solutions in support of CB Technologies' commitment to the education community, ensuring that every student, regardless of socioeconomic status, race, or location, has the skills and opportunity to become a productive member in our workforce," Archibeque said in a statement.

Kelly Ireland, CB Technologies' CEO, said in a statement that the company is committed to deliver on the needs of the K-12, higher education and public sector customers, which she said will be even stronger with the addition of Archibeque.

"Mike's extensive experience with government and academic entities will have an immediate impact on current initiatives such as GenYes and development of our Learning Management solutions," she said.

CB Technologies is teaming up with GenYes -- a nonprofit dedicated to closing the global digital divide -- to train teams of students to manage the school's computing devices and networks, allowing schools in New Mexico to become self-sufficient as they ready themselves for a computer-based testing from the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC).

In his new position with CB Technologies, Archibeque will not only focus on education, but will also manage and guide the company’s federal, state and local government business.

As the CIO for New Mexico’s Public Education Department for five years, Archibeque oversaw IT operations and managed the maintenance and support of infrastructure, hardware, applications and software agreements.

Before that, Archibeque spent two years as the CEO of program and project management services company MA Strategies. He also served a five-year stint as the vice president of government relations with IT consultant Bency and Associates.