ACD Telecom, LLC & Public Safety Communications
Since its inception in March, 1998, ACD Telecom, LLC has become a nationally recognized telecommunications consulting firm specializing in public safety communications. The unique nature of ACD’s personnel, technical, management, and leadership experience over the past 30 years positions ACD to provide premier consulting services to public safety agencies.
ACD offers a comprehensive range of radio communications design and implementation expertise to the Public Safety Communication community.
ACD Core Team
Maria Shahnami – President
Maria operates out of the primary ACD Telecom office located in Lake Mary, Florida.
Ali Shahnami – Vice President
Ali currently holds public safety communications systems contracts across the United States. He is the lead project manager and consultant for 800 MHz rebanding projects throughout the United States. Mr. Shahnami has over 37 years of extensive experience and knowledge of FCC policies, rules and regulations, and spectrum management. He also has a strong background in public safety wireless system design. He has participated in many public safety projects on the national level, having served as the lead APCO headquarters representative for Project 25, along with being a member and chairman of various other groups and committees. He earned his B.S.E.E. and M.S.E.E. from the University of Central Florida.
Bob Yeager – Project Manager
Bob has spent the previous 26 years directly involved with Project Management. The problem solving, leadership, and management skills Bob has developed and has honed through his experience translate to address the project needs of ACD Telecom’s public safety and government clients. Bob uses his extensive history and knowledge to work with customers overseeing system design, vendor activity, and accomplishing the daily project tasks essential to deploying successful public safety communications systems on time and on budget.
Joe Kearns – Senior RF Engineer
Joe has over 34 years of LMR infrastructure experience. He has extensive knowledge and experience in radio frequency site construction and maintenance, coverage testing, and propagation prediction modeling He is knowledgeable in FCC/FAA regulations, VHF/UHF/700/800MHz bands. Over the last 16 years has worked with various propagation prediction software.
Jose Velez – Principal Technology Consultant
Jose specializes in translating ideas into highly available networks. His technical background is strongly rooted in wireless transport solutions and cyber security. His technical expertise has allowed him to successfully assess, analyze and develop system design specifications for multiple public safety and government organizations. Jose holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering with focus on computer and wireless networks. His industry certifications include Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP), Certified Wireless Network Expert (CWNE #385), Security+, Six Sigma (Yellow Belt) and Lean IT.
John Haynes – Project Manager
John is responsible for system review, RFP development, proposal review and recommendation and acting as the client’s agent to oversee project implementation, testing, and acceptance for Public Safety technology projects. Prior to joining ACD John was the Deputy Director of Emergency Services in Chester County, Pa. In this role he was responsible for all public safety technology projects and operations. John has been an active NENA member. As chair of the contingency planning sub-committee his team developed documents to provide PSAPs with the tools to maintain operations during disaster situations. As chair or the PSAP Operations Committee, John led the development of the “Virtual PSAP” and “Devices and Sensors” documents as part of the NG911 initiative.
Jon Powell – RF Engineer
Jon has experience in Propagation analysis, FCC regulatory work, public safety communication systems and statistical analysis. His technical background is strongly rooted in efficient spectrum allocation. Jon specializes in P25 Public Safety Communications Systems. His strong regulatory background allows him to efficiently allocate and license frequency channels per FCC requirements.