The Net Manager for the Tropical Fast Net is Dave Sheppard, W2PAX.After a move to Florida, building a house, and getting married, Dave was granted his amateur radio license in the summer of 2009. Dave followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, who was an amateur radio operator for nearly 70 years. In 2016, Dave became active in the National Traffic System, which is the formal traffic arm of the American Radio Relay League. In 2018, he was appointed manager of the Southwest Florida Traffic Net, the local affiliate of the NTS. Dave serves as the ARRL’s Southern Florida Section Traffic Manager, ensuring all of the section’s NTS nets are staffed and operating as needed to support the section and reporting to ARRL headquarters.
Dave also serves as an Assistant Emergency Coordinator for Lee ARES in Lee County, FL. Part of his role as an Assistant E.C. for Lee County is to see that formal traffic liaisons between the NTS and ARES happen seamlessly and efficiently.
Dave and his wife, Jennifer, live in Golden Gate Estates in eastern Collier County. In their spare time, they enjoy spending time together in the kitchen as “foodies.”