Support for State-owned CNP Systems
Expert Guidance for State-Owned Child Nutrition Information Systems
With over 90 years of combined USDA Child Nutrition Program information systems experience, the Advantiv team provides unparalleled support for state-owned CNP systems, ensuring seamless operations and expert guidance.
Respect and Responsibility
Our Guiding Principles
Respect for State Ownership
We honor the authority of each state, ensuring our support aligns with their directives and ownership rights.
Practical Experience
Our extensive experience with CNP systems and the Code of Federal Regulations informs every recommendation, providing practical and effective solutions.
Clarity, Honesty, and Value
Our communication is transparent and straightforward, setting clear expectations for all parties involved. We deliver full value for every dollar spent with us.
Partnership and Stability
We are committed to fostering long-term relationships that ensure reliability and continuity for state systems.
Integrity and experience
The Team
Steve Franzkowiak
Executive Vice President
Dale Bastin
Principal Advisor
Dave Berkenbile
Principal Advisor
Troy Burger
Principal Architect
Mike Shipman
Principal Advisor
Gene Uttech
Principal Advisor
Dan Miller
President
(See profiles below)
CNP Consulting Services
Child Nutrition Program Consulting Services
The Advantiv CNP team provides consulting services exclusively focused on USDA Child Nutrition Programs and related federal initiatives, partnering with State Agencies to deliver mission alignment, strategic planning, and operational modernization within the complex regulatory framework of 7 CFR requirements.
We combine expertise in policy, compliance, finance, procurement, and technology to offer practical, actionable guidance that strengthens program integrity and performance.
From RFP development and vendor selection to contract structuring, system modernization, fraud prevention, and full project oversight, we support the entire CNP lifecycle with disciplined project management—ensuring technology, people, and processes align with USDA mission objectives to enhance accountability, improve service delivery, and safeguard program funds.
Strategic Support for State Agencies
Advantiv's Commitment to Excellence
For over 25 years, the Advantiv professionals have been trusted partners for state agencies, offering unparalleled support for major CNP systems. We understand the complexities of state-owned software and the importance of maintaining state control over source code and hosting. Our role is to support agencies to ensure their systems operate smoothly and efficiently.
Our expertise extends to states like Indiana and New Mexico, where we provide critical support for their CNPweb systems. Our team is collaborates closely with state program staff, ensuring seamless collaboration and understanding.
We assist with any challenges that arise, offering practical solutions based on years of direct experience with CNP systems. And our commitment to clarity and honesty ensures that our clients receive timely straightforward communication and reliable support.
Support for CNPWeb
Expert Support for State-Owned CNPweb Systems
CNPweb Advisor™
A courtesy advisory service for any state using CNPweb — a place to ask questions, seek perspective, or validate decisions without obligation.
CNPweb Concierge™
Structured advisory support for deeper analysis, process review, issue evaluation, and technical intake.
CNPweb Operational Continuity™
Continuity of Operations (COOP) planning for CNPweb, including fallback processes, quick response alternate hosting, and recovery objectives.
CNPweb System Migration™
Strategic advisory and turn-key technical support for transitioning a state-owned CNPweb system from the current hosting arrangement to a preferred alternative.
CNPweb Platform Stewardship™
Application-level troubleshooting, issue resolution, and programming assistance including bug fixes, minor and major enhancements, and new module development.
CNPweb Hosting™
Managed, secure hosting with monitoring, while ensuring full state ownership and authority.
The Advantiv CNP Systems Support Team
Meet the dedicated professionals who drive Advantiv's success in supporting state agencies with their CNP systems. Our team combines decades of experience and unparalleled technical and management expertise with a deep understanding of state CNP systems and operations, ensuring that we provide the best possible service to our clients.
Dan Miller
President
Dan has built his career helping organizations unlock the full value of their most critical initiatives—by aligning stakeholders, clarifying business value, and putting the right technology to work.
- Founder and CEO of Advantiv Solutions since 1996, with 40+ years spanning K–12 education, higher ed software, and enterprise technology leadership
- Principal designer of DecisionDirector®, a platform that increases value and reduces cost, time, and risk for enterprise software acquisition
projects by engaging stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle - Supported 400+ enterprise software planning and selection projects for public-sector, higher education, and healthcare organizations nationwide
- Co-founded Business Value Story, inventor of the Business Value Lexicon framework and the AI Value Generator—tools that help leaders define, prioritize, and align on measurable outcomes
Steve Franzkowiak
Executive Vice President
Steve is driven by a commitment to strengthening child nutrition programs through smarter technology, stronger compliance, and people-centered modernization.
- 30+ years of public-sector technology and program modernization leadership
- Provides strategic direction and operational oversight for statewide Child Nutrition Information Systems serving state agencies nationwide
- Deep expertise across USDA programs including NSLP, CACFP, SFSP, Food Distribution, Administrative Reviews, and Direct Certification
- Guides agencies through legacy system modernization, Azure Government cloud migrations, ADA compliance, and audit readiness
- Recurring national presenter at USDA CNAAT training sessions
- Currently focused on responsibly applying AI to regulatory interpretation, fraud risk detection, and operational analytics
Dale Basten
Principal Advisor
Child Nutrition Program Systems
Dale believes in building successful partnerships by coupling deep information systems expertise with his clients' specialized knowledge to create a powerful engine for growth and productivity.
- Engineering leader with 35 years of experience in software development and engineering management; BS in Computer Science from UW–Madison
- Specializes in C#, ASP.NET, SQL Server, JavaScript, and reporting solutions across healthcare billing, telecom, retail, manufacturing, and public-sector systems
- 13+ years dedicated to child nutrition programs—developing solutions for NSLP, CACFP, SFSP, Direct Certification, Administrative Review, and claims processing
- Proven track record converting legacy applications to modern platforms, improving security, and implementing new technologies to drive efficiency
- Valued by clients for industry best practices expertise and a partnership-driven approach that ensures accuracy, compliance, and accountability
Dave Berkenbile
Principal Advisor
Food Distribution Systems
Dave has worked inside the USDA Food Distribution Program technology ecosystem for nearly three decades — following a single product lineage from Colyar through DIS, LINQ, and now Advantiv. He advises state agencies and builds the systems they depend on for inventory, allocations, ordering, processing, DoD Fresh, and WBSCM integration.
- 24+ years of dedicated USDA Food Distribution Program systems work, spanning nearly three decades across a single product lineage: Colyar → DIS → LINQ → Advantiv.
- Helped build one of the earliest FDP platforms at Colyar; that platform evolved through DIS (founded by the same team) and LINQ (which acquired DIS) to serve 10+ states.
- Systems expertise spanning the full FDP scope: inventory, allocations, ordering, warehouse operations, DoD Fresh/FFAVORS, processing (NOI, FFS, EPDS, MPR, sweeps), and WBSCM integrations.
- Creator of Wisconsin's Monthly Performance Report solution and contributor to multiple SOWs, RFPs, and requirement analyses.
- Recognized mentor and code reviewer focused on quality, stability, and modernization.
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner and Microsoft Certified Solution Developer.
Troy Burger
Principal Architect
Systems and Applications
Troy is passionate about building technology that makes a tangible impact on people's lives, especially in education, healthcare, and wellness.
- Full stack software architect with 20+ years of experience; founder and principal engineer at SolveOnce Technology since 2005
- Expertise in AWS and Azure cloud services, serverless architecture, and mobile development (iOS/Android) using React Native, Node.js, and Next.js
- Led development of Mayo Clinic's "Joya" well-being app; architected scalable K–12 EdTech platforms and cloud-migrated legacy medical systems
- U.S. Army Airborne Infantry veteran bringing disciplined, end-to-end ownership from UX collaboration through deployment
- Passionate about leveraging AI to enhance solutions and building systems that scale and last
Mike Shipman
Principal Advisor
Food Distribution Systems
Mike has spent over 26 years building and supporting USDA Food Distribution Program systems — from core platform development through multi-state deployment. He provides advanced technical guidance on FDP system design, inventory, allocations, ordering, processing, and WBSCM integrations.
- 26+ years of dedicated USDA Food Distribution Program systems work, spanning a single product lineage: Colyar → DIS → LINQ → Advantiv.
- Original developer of core FDP modules still used across multiple states today, including inventory, allocations, ordering, and warehouse operations.
- Led FDP product development for over a decade, managing multi-state enhancements and serving as primary technical escalation point.
- Architect of recognized innovations including automated nightly inventory snapshot frameworks and the enhanced Monthly Processor Reporting module.
- Deep expertise across the full FDP processing scope: NOI, FFS, EPDS, MPR, sweeps, DoD Fresh/FFAVORS, and WBSCM integrations.
- Provides advanced troubleshooting, optimization, and modernization guidance for legacy state systems.
- Known for collaborative problem-solving and practical innovations that reduce administrative burden for state teams.
Gene Uttech
Principal Advisor
Child Nutrition Program Systems
Gene is committed to translating technical complexity into practical, resilient solutions that help organizations operate with confidence.
- Technology professional with 30+ years of experience in software development, systems integration, and network support
- Advanced degrees in Computer Science, including a Master's thesis in Artificial Intelligence focused on natural language processing
- Specializes in ASP.NET, SQL Server, and reporting solutions with a focus on precision and compliance
- Extensive work supporting NSLP, CACFP, and SFSP, ensuring compliance, streamlining administrative reviews, and improving reporting for child nutrition programs
- Led initiatives including telecom billing system upgrades, legacy reporting modernization, and secure state-level application development
- Known for a customer-first mindset, transparency, and dependable results that are effective today and resilient for the future
Responsibility and Support
Supporting State Agencies
State agencies entrusted with the operation of Child Nutrition information systems bear a significant responsibility in managing and maintaining these vital systems. At Advantiv, we are committed to providing unwavering support to ensure these responsibilities are met with clarity and steadiness. We respect the autonomy of each state and the systems they own. If a conversation about strengthening your CNP system would be beneficial, we invite you to reach out to us. Together, we can foster alignment and maximize value in your complex environment.