Our technical principal, Allan Hurst, has over twenty years of experience in the computer industry. Allan is a graduate of University of Stan Francisco with a B.S. in Information Systems Management and a minor in Organizational Communication. Allan is a Certified NetWare Engineer (CNE), Enterprise CNE, and Novell Master CNE, and a Microsoft Certified Product Specialist. He also holds a CBDP and CDP. Allan has a background in traditional "big iron" systems analysis, design, and implementation. Prior to founding Spectrum SupportNet, Inc. in 1993, Allan worked for Electronic Data Systems, Barclays Bank, and Wells Fargo Bank.

Allan has been a member of Novell's Preferred Support and Gold & Platinum Councils. He was a member of the Novell customer task force that created Novell's Customer Response Center.

Allan has been published in LAN Times and quoted in numerous technical periodicals. Allan has been a frequent presenter at the NetWare Users Conferences, Advisor Conferences, and Novell BrainShare, where he's known as "Mr. DNS". Allan is the founder and eight year past president of the Silicon Valley Novell Users International chapter, as well as founder and seven year president of NOBUG - The Novell Oakland Bayarea Users Group.

In 1993, Allan founded Spectrum SupportNet, Inc., which grew over it's history from a one person consulting firm into a company with $3 M in annual sales. In 2002, Allan shut down Spectrum SupportNet, merging its client and engineering bases with KIS to form the largest Novell Platinum partner in Northern California.

When not working or researching, Allan enjoys reading, listening to music, square dancing, and square dance calling. One of his more obscure talents is creating balloon animals, a skill he learned in Chicago many years ago.