Manager Engineer

BRENDAN LAURENCE

954-***-**** *******.********@*******.*** www.linkedin.com/in/brendanlaurence

IT/TECHNOLOGY

Hands on servant leader, experienced in leading company-wide technology projects from start-to-finish. Achieved cost-savings, improving data and network security, enhancing compliance, deploying hosted/cloud solutions, improving IT policies and driving datacenter buildouts and consolidation. Skilled in leading multiple technical teams across Helpdesk, Network and Infrastructure.

Devices: Cisco ASA, Routers, Switches & PIX Firewalls, Checkpoint Firewalls, Juniper SSG-140

Network: DNS, WINS, DHCP, VPN, SMTP, SNMP, MPLS, SMB, Wi-Fi, eSafe Gateway, RDP, OSPF, SAN, VoIP, BGP

Security: Cisco ASA, Symantec Antivirus Corporate Edition, Norton AntiVirus, Malware Removal, Monitoring, PCI-DDS, ISS RealSecure & Internet Scanner, Sophos AntiVirus, Barracuda Email Security Gateway, ntopng,

Cloud: AWS, Azure, G Suite

Applications: HP OpenView, CiscoWorks, ISS RealSecure & Internet Scanner, Observium, Nagios, SmokePing, Squid, Snort, ACID/BASE, Cacti, Cisco Call Manager & Unity Manager, Project, Visio, Office365, Remedy.

OS: CentOS, Red Hat Linux, Windows XP, 7, 8, 10

EXPERIENCE

IT Consultant 2018

Directed IT/Infrastructure planning for Lotto Payment Association, a startup payment processor based in Boca Raton, FL. Managed DNS for 170 domains registered and hosted through GoDaddy. Setup and supported Office365 for 10 corporate end-users via creating users’ accounts, groups and internal contact lists. Worked with remote developers on technical specifications, business goals and POCs. Created IT operational procedures and policies.

Appcard (Formerly: S&H Greenpoints/S&H Solutions/Pay By Touch/You Technologies /Prologic Comsumer Marketing Services/Prologic Retail Services) - Delray Beach, FL

Director of IT & Network Services 2003 to 2017

Led IT/technology planning and implementation. Accountability for driving company-wide initiatives to improve network connectivity, data security and compliance across 1,200 nationwide retail locations along with 50+ corporate end-users. Managed network, infrastructure, disaster recovery, security, compliance, licensing and 24/7/365 helpdesk/technical support. Maintained hybrid environment using both Linux (CentOS & Red Hat) & Windows Servers as well as Cisco ASA Devices across 3 data centers: Atlanta, GA, colocation facility in Miami, FL, and Tokyo, Japan.

Led, trained and evaluated combined team of 10 including 24/7/365 Helpdesk Support, Network and Infrastructure. Worked internally with Executive Team plus department heads to assess business needs and project CAPEX budget. Managed a 1.5 million dollar OPEX and staffing budget.

Led IT project management and system implementation for proprietary software solutions at clients’ sites across the US. Drove planning, architecture, configuration, quality assurance (QA) testing, deployment, end-user training and support to ensure real-time OLTP and security across nationwide network.

Led planning and rollout to eliminate Miami colocation DC, saving $250,000 annually.

Key role in evaluating and selecting Tokyo DC by traveling to assess facility capabilities.

Deployed Cisco ASA into primary Atlanta DC in 24/7/365 environment with zero impact to production.

Improved security via new intrusion detection & prevention, firewall, antivirus and VPN functionality. Worked with 3rd party consulting group to plan deployment.

Replaced frame relay with MPLS & site-to-site VPNs, reducing OPEX and expediting systems implementation for new clients.

Migrated from on-premise to hosted Exchange Server, achieving OPEX cost-savings.

Deployed Office365 to 60 end-users.

Responsible for the integration, support and maintenance of the backend application servers in the Japan Greenstamps Data Center in Tokyo.

Troubleshoot network connectivity issues.

Managing and supporting the IT Infrastructure 24/7/365.

Relocated the Data Center 5 times between 2003 and 2013.

Relocated the Co-Location facility, 3 times between 2003 and 2016.

Migrated the network from Frame Relay to ADSL, then to MPLS & DMVPN, as well as from EIGRP to OSPF & BGP.

Configured, deployed and supported 90 dual hub, dual cloud DMVPN locations.

Migrated DMVPN locations to openvpn, eliminating the CPE/router at the locations.

Worked with a 3rd party consultant to implemented PCI DSS compliance in a subset of the infrastructure.

Negotiated contracts with providers & vendors.

Maintained documentation of the IT infrastructure and customer network topologies.

Created & modified IT operating policies, procedures and guidelines.

Migrated VoIP service to new vendor, achieving both cost-savings and additional functionality/performance.

Migrated Symantec Antivirus Corporate Edition to Sophos.

Designed, planned and managed the buildout of the infrastructure in the new office. Successfully coordinated and managed the move into the new space without any interruption to business.

S&H Greenpoints. (Formerly: APT Inc./xiNETix Inc.) – Pompano Beach, FL

Network Manager

Led team of three network engineers to support 150 remote locations across US. Managed, administered, secured and monitored all network devices (firewalls, routers & switches) and infrastructure (servers) across primary DC and colocation facility. Supported Sales Team and clients’ staff in drafting IT requirement documents to facilitate system implementations. Negotiated new contracts with IT vendors.

xiNETix Inc. (Formerly: APT Inc.) – Pompano Beach, FL

Helpdesk Support Manager

Led team of 5 helpdesk and 2 network engineers to troubleshoot and resolve tier 1, 2 & 3 tickets focused on connectivity, network uptime and data security. Delivered tier 3 helpdesk support. Created knowledge base (KB) articles regarding tier 1/frontline issues. Updated team regarding known software bugs, workarounds along with upcoming fixes.

APT Inc. – Pompano Beach, FL

Technical Support Engineer :

Provided technical support to 250 remote sites and field personnel over a VSAT WAN.

EDUCATION & DEVELOPMENT

AWS SysOps Administrator - Associate 2017

AWS Solutions Architect - Associate 2017

CCNA Security 210-260 Boot Camp 2017

CCNP Boot Camp + Routers + BGP Mastery 2017

Cisco OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) 2017

Cisco Secure Pix Firewall Advanced 2003

Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices 2003

IT Security & Ethical Hacking 2017

Checkpoint VPN-1 Firewall Management I & II 2003

SANS (SysAdmin, Audit, Network, Security) Institute – Security Essentials 2005

SCO Open Server Release 5 Administration I & II

CERTIFICATIONS

Cisco CCNA – Routing & Switching (434224170498IMYN)

MCSE Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (Inactive)

MCP+I Microsoft Certified Professional + Internet (Inactive)

EDUCATION

Sheridan College Ontario, CA

Systems Analysis Diploma

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