Sr. Systems And Network Administrator IT Manager IT Director

Chad DeGroot ITIL, MCSE: Server Infrastructure

Sr. SYSTEMS and NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR

IT Manager – IT Director

Proven Success in Systems Optimization and Strategic IT Solutions

Accomplished systems administrator with over 18 years of experience managing server and network infrastructures, data-center and desktop operations across multiple platforms (Apple, Linux, Windows and mobile platforms). Effectively plan, install, configure and optimize the IT infrastructure to consistently achieve high availability and performance.

Proven ability to create and deliver solutions tied to business growth, organizational development and systems/network optimization. Skilled problem identifier and troubleshooter comfortable managing systems, projects and teams in a range of IT environments.

Highlights of IT Skills

LAN/WAN/Wi-Fi Administration

Project Management

Workflow Planning

Productivity Improvement

Risk Assessment / Impact Analysis

Technical Support

Systems Installation,

Configuration & Upgrading

Security Solutions

Policy Planning / Implementation

MCSE: Server Infrastructure

Network and Systems Security

Server and 3rd party Patches & Updates

Training & Mentoring

Experience

Buffalo Thunder Casino & Resort – Santa Fe NM

October 2016 – Present

Doorman – Security

Responsible for the safety and security of customers at the venue

Patrols the venue to preserve order among patrons and protect the property

Interacts with customers to prevent and detect improper activities and is responsible for defusing altercations before they become uncontrollable.

Has the authority to tactfully evict patrons from the premises if they are behaving in a disorderly way. Serves as liaison between the venue and local law enforcement officers.

Confers nightly with the manager of the venue, reporting any incidents or accidents that may have occurred in or near the facility.

May be required to work in other areas of the venue

Maintains bank in accordance with banking procedures.

Signs, counts, and balances bank. Collects money for drinks and gives change.

Skylight LLC – Santa Fe NM

June 2014 – September 2016

IT Support – Security

Maintain integrity of the network, security, and POS (Point of Sale Systems)

Train and Supervise new Security Staff to assure they work within established company guidelines.

Ensure network connectivity throughout a company's LAN/WAN infrastructure is on par with technical considerations.

Design and deploy networks.

Troubleshoot and resolve network connectivity.

Create, maintain and support Closed Circuit Video Surveillance System

Deployed Computer and Software updates as needed.

Troubleshoot and resolve Computer Hardware issues.

Assist customers and create and ensure safe and secure environment.

Maintain and troubleshoot Wi-Fi and LAN infrastructure.

Pueblo of Pojoaque – Pojoaque NM

September 2015 – October 2015

Systems and Network Administrator

Aids in the administration and maintenance of applications and storage infrastructure including, but not limited to DNS, DHCP, AD, SANs.

Develop and implement Disaster Recovery policies and procedures to ensure a continuity in business.

Delivered a broad range of managed services, including infrastructure monitoring and management, security management, VoIP telephony management, and I.T. technical support.

Implementation and utilization of 3rd party monitoring applications including Solarwinds, ManageEngine, WhatsUp Gold, GFI and Nagios.

Installed and configured wireless routers on enterprise network.

Design, builds, configures, administers, and maintain network backbone infrastructure including, but not limited to, routers, switches, APs, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, content filtering platforms, WAP, and telecommunication systems.

Management of troubleshooting and resolution of infrastructure compatibility issues based on system architecture, project requirements, and customer expectations Replaced major manufacturer’s vulnerable network with robust security through joint architecture of firewall and DHCP.

Conduct quarterly maintenance routines and change control processes for assigned systems to ensure optimal operation while minimizing business impacts.

Setup and maintained LAN connectivity and wireless networks.

Planned and built redundancy into existing systems to eliminate downtime due to server failure.

VMware Enterprise Infrastructure deployment, administration and troubleshooting and upgrade to the latest version.

Wrote tools to create and automate security reports such as stale accounts and administrative group changes enterprise-wide.

Identified opportunities for internal process improvement, eventually leading to the development and implementation of new policies and procedures.

Plans, coordinates, and implements network infrastructure security measures in order to protect data, software, and security threats.

Deployed and maintained a Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) platform.

Created, deployed and maintained/managed/updated companywide Group Policy Objects (GPO’s) for entire Windows Network environment

Santa Clara Casino & Hotel – Espanola NM

April 2015 – June 2015

IT Manager for Systems and Network

Supervises the System Administrator and Network Specialist.

Implemented critical network configuration changes for Cisco routers and switches, ASA firewalls, Brocade switches, Aruba/Cisco/Meraki wireless controllers, DNS, DHCP, VoIP, and disaster recovery/business continuity testing.

Maintained over 50 servers with full responsibility for 100% system uptime.

Led teams across broad technical, financial and business disciplines. Focused teams on business objectives and tracked progress to ensure project milestones were completed on time, on budget and with the desired results.

Managed staff members on various cyber security projects.

Directed and aided the IT Systems Administrator, IT Help Desk Technician and IT Application Support Team in administration and maintenance of applications and storage infrastructure including, but not limited to DNS, DHCP, AD, VMware, SANs.

Enhanced the skills of IT staff through regular trainings while taking full charge of creating and recording goals for team members and conducting quarterly review.

Implementation and utilization of 3rd party monitoring applications including Solarwinds, ManageEngine, WhatsUp Gold, GFI and Nagios.

Collaborated with the management and department heads to guarantee the efficiency of the technology for each defined process.

Design, builds, configures, administers, and maintain network backbone infrastructure including, but not limited to, routers, switches, APs, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, content filtering platforms, WAP, and telecommunication systems.

Migrated and updated servers from Windows Server 2003 to Server 2008R2 and Windows Servers from 2008R2 to 2012R2. Develop backup routines and disaster recovery protocols and validates them by regular testing.

Help plan/budget the hardware and software needs of the offices and ensure that all hardware and software acquired meets specification established by CIO.

Performs installation, configuration and administration of POS Terminals and related equipment.

Responsible for implementing, supporting, and maintaining 24x7 network services.

Build multiple Microsoft Servers from scratch, managed, monitor and administered those to maximize Web hosting, terminal server, file/print sharing and domain control performance.

Assist in the writing and review of organizational security policies to support internal control (access management, contingency planning & testing, Security Awareness, intrusion detection, Patch Management, Anti-Virus, etc.)

New Mexico Educational Retirement Board-Santa Fe NM

February 2014 – February 2015

Sr. Network and System Administrator

Assist in the writing and review of organizational security policies to support internal control (access management, contingency planning & testing, Security Awareness, intrusion detection, Patch Management, Anti-Virus, etc.)

Perform daily system monitoring, verifying the integrity and availability of all hardware, server resources, systems and key processes, reviewing system and application logs, and verifying completion of scheduled jobs.

Collaborated with the management and department heads to guarantee the efficiency of the technology for each defined process.

Setup and maintained LAN connectivity and wireless networks.

Planned and built redundancy into existing systems to eliminate downtime due to server failure.

Technologies include security engineering and concepts, MPLS IPVPN's, IPSec VPN's, Cloud storage and computing, traffic analysis, Quality of Service, VLAN's, and general network engineering improvement analysis.

Discover, research, document, and test solutions to ensure successful implementation, and optimization of carrier products within customer networks and equipment.

Managed external IT Security partner in running annual internal and external security audits and based on those reports worked to resolve or remediate known security issues.

Ensure network connectivity throughout a company's LAN/WAN infrastructure is on par with technical obligations.

Create, maintain and support Active Directory infrastructure, Create, deployed and maintained/managed/updated Group Policy Objects (GPO’s) for entire Windows environment.

Deployed and maintained a Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) platform.

Design, install and configure internal and customer facing servers, network devices and firewalls.

Administer and support core Microsoft, Cisco, Citrix and VMware technologies.

In-depth expertise in the implementation, optimization, troubleshooting and documentation of LAN/WAN networking systems.

Develop and implement project plans, risk assessments and contingency plans

Implementation and utilization of 3rd party monitoring applications including Solarwinds, ManageEngine, WhatsUp Gold, GFI and Nagios.

Assist plan/budget the hardware and software needs of the offices and ensure that all hardware and software acquired meets specification established by CIO.

Designs, administrates, and supports systems, networks, and application infrastructure (e.g. LAN/WAN, firewalls, routers, systems security, global email systems, etc)

Plan, coordinate and implement network security measures in order to protect data, software and hardware

Develop and implement Disaster Recovery policies and procedures to ensure a continuity in business.

Create and manage site to site data circuits for remote office’s connectivity.

Created and implemented a robust and secure VPN system for remote user to access company systems and data.

Completed a replacement of entire internal network and system hardware.

Completed a complete system operating system refresh to bring all licensing into legal compliance.

New Mexico Department of Health - Santa Fe NM

August 2012 – February 2014

IT Support Specialist

Manages and maintains Microsoft Windows applications and systems including but not limited to Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows Server 2003/2008 and Microsoft Exchange.

Field incoming help requests from end users via both telephone and work

orders in a courteous manner.

Record, track, and document the help desk request problem-solving process,

including all successful and unsuccessful decisions made, and actions taken

through to the final resolution.

Apply diagnostic utilities to aid in troubleshooting.

Access software updates, drivers, knowledge bases, and frequently asked

questions resources on the Internet to aid in problem resolution.

Identify and learn appropriate software and hardware used and supported by

the organization.

Perform hands-on fixes at the desktop level, including installing and upgrading software, implementing file backups, and configuring systems and

applications.

Utilize and maintain the helpdesk tracking software. Document internal procedures.

Assists and Trains users in operation and navigation of business critical software applications.

1st and 2nd Level support, responsible for troubleshooting workstations, networks, software applications, phones, copiers and other technologies.

Resolve technical problems with Local Area Networks (LAN), Wide Area Networks (WAN), and other systems.

Jemez Mountain Electric Cooperative – Hernandez NM

April 2011 – May 2012

IT Director

Manages and maintains Microsoft Windows applications and systems including but not limited to Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows Server 2003/2008 and Microsoft Exchange.

Demonstrated leadership skills in directing IT staff and consultants.

Manages technology inventory to include procurement and disposal.

Responsible for the monitoring, analysis, and break-fix management of the enterprise network infrastructure, which is comprised of local and remote business offices, data centers, data/telecom equipment closets, MPLS circuits, servers, routers, switches, and associated support equipment including UPS systems, climate control systems, standby generators, fire detection/suppression systems, and water detection systems.

Managed outages, failures, and service degradation issues, which included incident management, problem management, root-cause analysis, performance monitoring/analysis, and detailed reporting.

Collaborated with business operations teams, engineering teams, and various subject matter experts in order to identify and address critical errors, failures, or malfunctions, and verify service impact to internal users, external business partners, and members. Implemented immediate corrective action(s) when necessary, as part of the troubleshooting/break-fix process.

Analyzes technology requirements and develops functional specifications. Conducts comparative analysis and competitive bidding when necessary.

Assists staff and employees in understanding and using technology; conducts regular presentations and trainings.

Created and implemented processes and procedures for the availability, continuity and security of data and information pertaining to the organization.

Develops annual technology goals and detailed plans for goal accomplishment.

Took charge of project timelines creation and maintenance as well as IT budget administration.

Created and implemented Windows SharePoint services for improved efficiency and communication.

Improve the performance of the employees by conducting quarterly and annual reviews.

Manages network operations to include: troubleshooting connectivity problems; installing & maintaining routers; adding/terminating users; assigning rights and access; resetting passwords; establishing e-mail addresses; assessing and reporting operational status; performing backups and restores; etc.

Implementation and utilization of 3rd party monitoring applications including Solarwinds, ManageEngine, WhatsUp Gold, GFI and Nagios.

Develops and manages technology budget and monitors and approves related expenditures. Reviews and approves cost pool expenditures.

Maintains a thorough knowledge of the organization and adheres to all organizational standards.

Advanced and high level administration and support of all IT system and network infrastructure, including but not limited to internal servers, hosted services, security systems, and PBX.

Los Alamos National Laboratory – Los Alamos NM

January 2011 – May 2011

IT Network Analyst/System Administrator

Implementation and administration of a Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Domain.

Provide Tier 2 and Tier 3 support to 250+ users on Apple OS X, RedHat Linux and Windows XP and Windows 7.

Migration and configuration to a unified Microsoft Exchange platform.

Analysis and configuration of various desktop platforms to meet LANL security compliance.

Member to a team responsible for handling the overall operation, and support of various enterprises LAN/WAN applications and services. Tasked with maintaining high availability and reliability for all internal and external users.

Technical responsibilities included, but are not limited to the monitoring, installation, configuration, upgrades, security testing and troubleshooting of various mission-critical communications network devices.

Professional responsibilities included, but were not limited to coordinated projects, documentation, change management, following LANL policies and procedures, reports to management and perform periodic review and research.

Testing, implementation, and training of VMWare products.

Developed and maintained a comprehensive operating system hardware and software configuration database/library of all supporting documentation.

Knowledge of emerging computing technologies in industry.

Skill in working closely with customers and suppliers to define expectations and mutual responsibilities.

Knowledge of Web-based technologies including Web page development and maintenance and Web-based tools and utilities.

Conducts, or assists in routine hardware and software audits of workstations and servers to ensure compliance with established standards, policies, and configuration guidelines.

TekSystems – New Mexico Heart Institute – Albuquerque NM

August 2010 – October 2010

IT Network Analyst/System Administrator

Creation, implementation and administration of a Windows Server 2003/2008 Active Directory Domain.

GPO (Group Policy Object) creation and management as both domain policies and user level policies.

Configure wireless routers on enterprise network.

Creation and testing of VMware virtual server environment.

Creation and implementation of VMware VMview services.

Administration of Network Attached Storage devices.

Provide Support to Wireless clients for network troubleshooting.

Advanced Network Administration including managed switches, VPN access and account management, firewall administration and Guest User access.

Administration of Cisco network appliances.

Support and administration of web and email filtering appliances.

Project management and testing of migration to Exchange 2010

Robert Half Technology – New Mexico Finance Authority – Santa Fe NM

December 2009 – July 2010

Lead IT Network Analyst/System Administrator

Creation, implementation and administration of a Windows Server 2003/2008 Active Directory Domain.

User management, account creation and troubleshooting within an Active Directory Domain.

Oversight for application and project budgets, collaborating with program managers and development/test managers in case of project overruns, and estimating and monitoring project application-level risks, while mitigating actual instances of such risk issues. Tracked development team "lessons learned" over course of initiatives, submitting highlights to appropriate repositories.

GPO (Group Policy Object) creation and management as both domain policies and user level policies.

Led a team that provided production and project support for desktops, networks, telecommunications, and applications.

Desktop support for end users including password resets, new user account (including email accounts) creation and support and troubleshooting of various attached devices.

Advanced Exchange Server 2007 administration, including migration of users from Microsoft Exchange 2003 to Exchange 2007 and provided web access.

Creation and management of Microsoft SharePoint Servers to aid in the workflow and document tracking, scheduling and project development.

Advanced administration and management of newly installed VoIP communications system.

Installation and administration of closed circuit security camera system, including file storage and archiving.

Creation and implementation of data backup and rotation procedures.

Installation, configuration and management of VMware virtual server environment, including a remote disaster recovery site.

Administration of Network Attached Storage devices.

Advanced Network Administration including managed switches, VPN access and account management, firewall administration and Guest User access.

General Dynamics Information Technology – Santa Fe

August 2006 – May 2009

System Administrator/Computer Specialist & Help Desk

Creation and implementation of a Windows 2003 Active Directory Domain.

Ongoing maintenance, configuration and troubleshooting of Active Directory networks due to expanding user accounts and changes in security measures.

Created a supportive team environment that was defined by collaboration and knowledge sharing within the Division.

Measures network performance, anticipates and/or diagnoses network problems, isolates problems, corrects network failures, plans for and implements upgrades of network equipment and software. Monitors network performance periodically to determine system requirements for maintenance or upgrade. Installs and maintains data communications hardware and software (i.e. micro to micro, micro to mainframe, and LAN applications.)

User management, account creation and troubleshooting within an Active Directory Domain.

Provide Tier 2 and 3 level support to remote users, including separate FHWA Division offices that have no on-site support.

SMS and Remote management of FHWA employees in 6 states.

Creation and management of Microsoft SharePoint Servers to aid in the workflow and document tracking, scheduling and project development.

Work with other Field Administrators on coordinating a rotation schedule for remote support of shared resource FHWA Division offices.

Serves as the systems manager for the division office across several States.

Integration of emerging technologies into the office work environment, device include PDA’s, Smartphone’s and secure Wi-Fi for laptop integration.

Creation and management of Group Policy Objects (GPO’s)

Oversees and maintains all system security to integrity of the system. Keeps current virus signature files up-to-date to eliminate viruses and possible attacks on the system from external and internal sources.

Makes recommendations to management concerning microcomputer utilization which includes placement of workstations, application, usage and operating procedures.

Serves as the division applications specialist for Outlook Exchange, Microsoft Office applications and may work with specific staff in the installation and customization of certain software applications on a job specific basis.

Develops, coordinates and provides training presentation of baseline software packages. Tailors specific applications for division users as required.

Technical specialist in administering, managing and coordinating computer operations for various internal and external program areas and assisting division staff as required.

Envision Utility Software – Santa Fe

July 2005 – June 2006

QA Analyst

Daily testing and quality assurance of proprietary Oracle based programs in a Windows environment.

Detailed reports addressing issues found in patches and releases created by Envision’s Development department.

Communication with Envision’s Technical Documentation department to ensure proper procedure manuals to be delivered to the end customer.

Custom PL/SQL script creation to address data integrity to be compared with the test results from the application.

Java and HTML testing and quality assurance for Envision’s web based applications.

Creating and compiling patches and releases for Envision’s test environment and submitting these to the end customer after quality and integrity has been assured.

Organizing and tracking release and patches with a alpha and numeric system to designate weather it is a test release or a production release.

The Life Link – Santa Fe

October 2004 – July 2005 IT Administrator

TekSystems – Albuquerque NM

Sept 2003– January 2005 IT Consultant

Robert Half Technology - Albuquerque NM

May 2003– January 2005 IT Consultant

Additional

Have extensive knowledge in Windows operating systems in both the network and standalone environment.

Detailed experience in Help Desk policies and procedures.

Have experience in network security.

Have extensive knowledge in installing, upgrading, maintaining, and troubleshooting PC hardware and peripherals.

Familiarity and experience in installing, configuring and troubleshooting Apple OS X, Windows Desktop and Server Operating Systems.

Education

1994–1996 Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids, MI.

Pursuing an AA in Computer Science.

References

Available upon request.

Contact this candidate