IT professional since **** with the majority of time spent working as a Systems Administrator of Windows based systems, mostly as a generalist and adapting to whatever needed to be done, such as: project manager of many small and medium projects, Team Lead of small teams of engineers, technology therapist, and many other hats. Over the last years the focus has started to be more emphasized and enthusiastic toward VMware, virtualization, and lately special attention toward automation of processes (PowerShell, SCORCH, etc). The next step is to take the experience and recent interests in the direction of DevOps, where computer language and infrastructure collide!

Professional Experience

First Citizens Bank, Raleigh, NC – Systems Engineer II 6/2016 – 3/2019

Day-to-day ops of VMware and backoffice Windows server environments. Coordinating between multiple teams, up and down the management chain within the company to ensure timely, accurate, and beneficial support/implementation:

Sole member of the Server Engineering Operations (SEO) team to support both the Windows Systems Operations and Virtual Systems Operations (VMware) during audits and helped maintain consistent 98%+ compliance throughout both environments

Acted as primary representation for all disaster recovery preparations and testing for the VMware & Windows team and provided expertise to application and infrastructure teams, utilizing VMware SRM

During 18 month push, partnered with two other SEO engineers to form cross discipline team to provide dedicated operations support while remaining SEO members were dedicated to vulnerabilities remediation across the IT environment

Pioneered SEO enterprise level documentation for new employees, SRM DR tests, VMware and Windows patching process, etc.

Provided engineering and operations expertise for the design, build, and launch of several new internal and external facing applications as well as an upgrade of three VMware environments from 5.5 to 6.5

Primary representation for all disaster recovery preparations/ testing for the VMware & Windows team

Provided expertise to application and infrastructure teams, utilizing VMware SRM

Worked weekly with the Information Security team identifying potential threats to infrastructure/OS and finding resolution through patching, lockdown, or elimination, consolidation or reallocation of resources.

Booz Allen Hamilton, Lexington Park, MD – Senior Consultant 6/2015 – 6/2016

Contracted to design, build, and deliver ENERMS (Enterprise Navy Emergency Response Management System) which replaces the current NERMS (Navy Emergency Response Management System). The new system is designed to centralize and consolidate management of the systems responsible for receiving and coordinating 911 calls and emergency alerts/alarms on US Navy bases impacting worldwide operations.

Brought to attention of the team a key missing component: Data Backup Strategy. Drove the design, configuration, and implementation of a backup strategy for all 7 sites

Helped to design and perform system operation verification tests for several sites

Worked alongside the Navy/US Government Security Audit teams to identify and resolve any and all potential violations or breach points within the infrastructure, software, or network

At 7 sites across 5 geographical areas the following systems were integrated, configured, and managed:

oWindows (7, 2008 R2), Active Directory configuration and management including GPO and WSUS, NetApp (FAS3250, DS2246, DS4246), Dell (M1000e, M620 blades, R530), VMware ESXi 5.5 U3, VMware View (Horizon) over 10-50 zero clients at each of the 5 regional dispatch centers

Professional Experience - Continued

Windstream Hosted Solutions, Raleigh, NC – Virtualization Engineer II 7/2013 – 5/2015

Delivered support of VMware infrastructure for Cloud based customer environments as well as performed implementation and on-going support for both new and existing customers. Our small team managed over 60 different private clouds and 8 nationwide public cloud based environments with totals in excess of 300 hosts, over 500 customers, and more than 20,000 VMs spread across all locations with these numbers growing every week.

Operations Level Support – Delivered customer resolution on technical issues, disaster recovery support, recommendations of services and systems design, provided regular status reports, implementation of new environments or requested increased capacity, and helped lead our Enterprise Client Service “Red Pod” which provided a small set of our best customers specialized, specific, and personal support.

Internal Support – Ensured the continued operation and improvement of our VMware (ESX, vCenter) environment including, but not limited to, physical and virtual hardware upgrades and break/fix, OS level (Windows) support, disaster recovery, and new product implementation

Keihin North America, Tarboro, NC – IT Network/Systems Coordinator 10/2011–7/2013

Responsibilities include: administration of the networked computer systems in the local plant and linked systems in corporate headquarters; proactive and reactive resolution of network system related issues across the organization; project planning and implementation of updates, upgrades, improvements, or replacements of hardware and software utilized in the regular operation of the organizations network; communication between local and corporate management for any major changes, upgrades, problems and resolutions, suggestions, and concerns as well as coordinating expectations, desires, and directions regarding IT infrastructure

Coordinated efforts with companywide Network Administrators to update and streamline the virtual architecture for use in the combined local and corporate environments

Generated and performed regular systems maintenance plans for: Active Directory, monitoring, Windows client and server OS (NT – 7, 2000 – 2008 R2), Microsoft Exchange, SAN Storage (NetApp and EMC), etc.

Directed and engaged in efforts of small to large effect planned and emergency downtime

Initiated and oversaw continuous project to document all policies, procedures, inventory, disaster recovery plan, and any other necessary information for local plant and corporate activities and systems

Oversaw installation of EMC SAN and transition from NetApp SAN to allow best practice and efficient data storage and usage

Supported the planning and creation of a training schedule for the plant IT Networking team

Managed and mentored PC Technicians and junior staff in technical methodology and service-oriented excellence to encourage best practices in PC/Server maintenance and repair

Maintained a running budget of all equipment orders, and worked hours including repairs done to servers, network devices, and PCs and their related peripherals

Professional Skills

Project Management ~ Infrastructure Planning/Development/Implementation ~ Vendor Negotiations

Technology Evaluation ~ Team Building ~ Analytical Evaluator ~ Task Resolution ~ Processes Streamlining

Best Practice Implementation ~ Operations & Resource Management ~ Enterprise Level Documentation

Technical Skills

VMware: Administration, ESXi 4.0-6.5, vSphere 4.0-6.5, SRM ~ Disaster Recovery ~ SAN: NetApp, EMC

Microsoft: Orchestrator, Exchange, Windows: Client 7 and 10, Server 2008 R2 and 2012, PowerShell

Active Directory ~ DNS ~ Networking ~ Process Automation ~ Information Security

Anti-virus and Spyware Systems ~ Expert Troubleshooting Hardware, Software

Education & Training/Certifications

B.S., Computer Networking Management – Westwood College of Technology, Denver, CO

VMware Certified Professional (VCP5-DCV) – Nov. 2014

ITIL Foundation – Aug. 2016

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