About MeshEnvy

Mission Focus

We coordinate volunteer-placed access points across Nevada, support volunteers, and document deployment best practices so emergency responders, rural communities, and civic technologists have another communications path when primary networks are unavailable, overloaded, or out of range. We work alongside tower operators, carriers, and agencies who keep Nevada connected every day; our independent mesh adds redundancy that can bolster public safety when localized outages or disasters stress the systems people already depend on.

If you’d like to help, reach out about hosting an access point on your property, site scouting, technical expertise, or storytelling. We’re building this network together.

Legal Status

• Official name: MeshEnvy NCC
• Nevada Secretary of State Entity ID: E52600402025-2
• Nevada Business ID: NV20253463357
• IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN): 41-2583340
• 501(c)(3) status: Official 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status

These credentials allow us to operate transparently, accept donations, pursue grants, and partner with agencies that depend on accountable nonprofit governance. You can read the full announcement in our entity and EIN update. Since MeshEnvy NCC has received its 501(c)(3) determination, contributions are now tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law, expanding our ability to build and maintain mesh infrastructure statewide.

Public documents

Key filings and governing documents are available as PDF downloads.

• IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter
• IRS EIN assignment (CP 575)
• Nevada Secretary of State - Articles of Organization (redacted)
• Nevada use tax exemption
• Bylaws

Board of Directors

MeshEnvy NCC is guided by a board that blends hands-on technical experience with nonprofit stewardship. Meet the directors who keep the mission on track.

Ben Allfree

Ben is MeshEnvy's Founder & President. He draws on a career spanning software engineering, embedded and realtime systems, and networked communications. He has helped hundreds of founders take ideas from concept to launch and now dedicates that energy to building Nevada's mesh. Ben earned a BS in Computer Science and a BA in Music from UNR, plus an MBA focused on entrepreneurship from St. Francis University.

Leslie Allfree

Leslie Allfree is a seasoned healthcare administrator serving as the Student Health Services Coordinator for the Washoe County School District in Reno, Nevada, where she leads the Medical Emergency Response and Triage Program. Holding an MBA from the University of Saint Francis and a BS in Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno, she brings extensive expertise in public health, emergency preparedness, and stakeholder collaboration to ensure student safety and wellness. Leslie excels at transforming complex information into actionable strategies, fostering transparent decision-making, and aligning initiatives with community priorities. She is also actively involved in volunteer emergency response through the State Emergency Registry of Volunteers-Nevada (SERV-NV) and community health advocacy.

Robert Anderson

Robert grew up in Northern California and served nine years in the U.S. Army National Guard in communications. He holds a Bachelor's in Information Systems from the University of Nevada, Reno, and works as an Applications Engineer. An active supporter of Meshtastic and MeshCore, he is committed to growing complementary mesh infrastructure across Nevada and the vision of making the state 'one hop away' through a resilient, community-built network that bolsters public safety alongside existing towers.

Advisory Board

Our advisory board brings deep domain expertise to MeshEnvy without day-to-day governance duties. Advisors contribute article write-ups, technical recommendations, and strategic input that helps steer the project. When director seats open, we tend to favor people who have already served on the advisory board.

Mark Spencer

Mark is a retired Air Force pilot (T-38s, B-52s, U-2s), educator, and DoD senior engineer with degrees in metallurgical engineering, communications, and national security management. Based in Coleville, California, he focuses on data-link technology, remote sensing, embedded sensor control, and applied RF work for mesh nodes. His first MeshEnvy write-up compares vertical LoRa antennas using a NanoVNA. Read it in Vertical Antenna Comparison.

Tim Kendziorski

Tim manages NV Energy's complex, decentralized power networks. He works to improve real-time communication and feedback systems and advises MeshEnvy on complex statewide initiatives. He also stewards several MeshEnvy repeaters out of personal passion.