Systems Engineer Customer Service

Valentin J. Blatz, V

Queen Creek, AZ ***** 262-***-**** **************@**********.*** linkedin.com/in/valentin-blatz

IT Technology Sr. Systems Engineer

Project Management – System Administration – Engineer/Architect

Team Leadership

IT Management

Enterprise Level Consulting

AWS Cloud Certified

Infrastructure Management

VMware Administration

Horizon VDI

Virtualization Operations

Team Building/Leadership

Strategic Planning & Analysis

System Optimization

Process Improvement

Technology Risk Assessment

Pre-Sales Consulting

Superior Customer Service

Microsoft Windows/Exchange/365

AzureAD/Intune

Technically profound professional with solid history of devising/executing robust strategies aimed at strengthening multiplatform VMware, AWS/Azure Cloud, Citrix Xenapp, & Windows, Exchange/365.

Track record of successfully leading and completing virtualization projects using VMware/vSphere and directing cross-functional teams to solve complex project issues, while meeting deadlines within budgetary/time constraints.

Instrumental in devising long and short-term plans for application selection, systems development, and acquisition of resources.

Expert in IT infrastructure management, software configuration, distributed systems, and implementation of strategies that effectively utilize IT resources.

Adept at enabling business growth through accelerated throughput, reducing product lead times, and increasing system capacity, within high pressure environments.

Performance-driven with relentless commitment to quality, employee engagement, and customer satisfaction. Collaborative communicator focused on building relationships and synergy across business lines to drive positive change.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Robert Half Technology Phoenix, AZ 8/2021 to Present

IT Consultant

Worked closely with clients to analyze IT system requirements, client’s information technology needs and their resources in order to plan IT projects and fulfill client’s expectations.

Key Achievements:

Developed IT system specifications after evaluating customer's nature of work and business volume.

Certified on AWS Cloud Services as Practitioner and Solutions Architect Associate.

Solved client’s IT issues - Determined changes, recommended quality software, projected modifications of software, hardware and networking

1.Contract – Associated Asset Management

1.Support Citrix Infrastructure to include upgrade to XenApp 7.

2.Automation Support to include PowerShell Scripting.

3.Updated and installed new SSL Certificates that were expired.

4.Upgraded VMware to version 7.0

5.Storage Support to include NetApp & Nimble.

6.Support of Mimecast and Arctic Wolf.

7.Researched and resolved Azure AD Connect Sync errors.

8.Upgraded a Cluster File share to DFS Namespace.

9.Support of Network and Network Security on Meraki appliances.

10.Support of Microsoft 2019 Servers and Active Directory.

11.Support of Office 365 and Azure AD.

2.Contract – University of New Mexico Cancer Center

1.Systems Administrator working with multiple internal and external systems.

Troubleshooting and providing 3rd level support for clinical and infrastructure systems.

2.Upgrading and supporting VMware vSphere, Veeam, Citrix, and Nutanix.

3.Analysis and recommending improvements for all systems including monitoring tools.

4.Support of Nutanix and Cisco UCS Infrastructures, as well as, recommending and certifying new upgrades and solutions.

5.Recommended and did Proof of Concept on Cohesity Backup to include Ft. Knox.

6.Support of Microsoft Servers and Active Directory.

3.Contract – Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services

1.Systems Administration supporting Entra Azure AD, Intune, and SharePoint.

2.Developed Intune and configured user management of devices – PC, Server, & Mobile.

3.Managed Tenants Security Recommendations. Increased Score from 23 to 76%.

4.Developed Powershell Scripts to maintain the Azure AD Tenant.

5.Managed Registered Enterprise Applications and developed a SSO solution for SmartSheet.

Integrated Health Resources, LLC d/b/a Behavioral Health Link Phoenix, AZ 2/2021 to 8/2021

Senior Systems Engineer Lead

Overall high commitment to leading IT Teams to the next level.

Key Achievements:

Lead a Team of 8 Engineers and System Administrators – Desktop, Server, Network, and Telephony

Managed Relationships with External Vendors and Upper Management

Oversaw technical projects in alignment with organizational goals and large budget.

Led efforts to improve business applications and business technology processes through rigorous data collection.

Fostered a culture of robust documentation of business applications and APIs to reduce company operating costs.

Rigorously maintained and forecasted financial budgets to ensure all technical projects were delivered on-time and on-budget.

Identified and mitigated potential risks in project by devising and deploying risk mitigation strategies.

Opened New Sites with budgets of up to 1 million. Coordinating equipment and services so site opened on time.

Level 3 Support for all systems including VMware. Recently upgraded farm to version 6.7, VCenter and ESXi Hosts.

Support of KACE Ticket System and WSUS Patching.

Support of Microsoft Server and Active Directory.

Imprivata Lexington, MA 10/2019 to 4/2020

Implementation Engineer

Spearheaded and conducted project tasks, comprising of developing and deploying Imprivata products, while overseeing project through end user deployment with focus on improving on project outcomes and deliverables. Provided proactive support in envisioning and employing project related 'best practice' methodologies, while training staff to ensure continuous process/performance improvement. Guided customers on deploying products within their environment to improve customer satisfaction and retention rates.

Key Achievements:

Facilitated informed decision-making by drafting customer projects, Visio network, and user workflows as well as analyzing company and client goals.

Identified and mitigated potential risks in project by devising and deploying risk mitigation strategies.

Integration with Microsoft Active Directory and Azure AD.

Adient US, LLC Plymouth, MI 6/2017 to 10/2019

SENIOR VMWARE/WINDOWS ARCHITECT

Technical Scope: VMware research, VMware/vCloud Enterprise Suite components, vCenter Operations (vCOPS), vCenter Orchestrator (vCO), Automation Center (vCAC), and Site Recovery Manger (SRM).

Oversaw and deployed SCCM instance for 3000+ Windows Servers, comprising of patching and configuration, while accomplishing SCCM Administration Training. Delivered exceptional leadership and guidance to other members of team, while resolving 3rd Level Engineering Incidents to ensure seamless technical operations. Guaranteed compliance with standards and audit requirements by deploying Puppet Configuration Manager for 4500 Windows Servers, while gaining in-depth knowledge of Kubernetes. Supported technical decision-making by advising Senior Management on Hardware and Software Technology trends, while developing standards for windows Server 2016 and employing security hardening to CIS standards. Gained in-depth knowledge of Kubernetes, Jira, and Jenkins, while managing Microsoft Azure account to include dashboard and CLI.

Key Achievements:

Improved customers experience by establishing concept architecture for client server infrastructure based on customer server needs, while streamlining/updating technical documentation for core infrastructure.

Renovated all servers/enclosures to current firmware and driver revisions by overseeing up gradation project.

Delivered effective training to other staff in developing systems on dashboard and overseeing Training and Mentorship Program for continuous performance improvement.

Support of WSUS Patching Solution and Monthly Reporting of Windows Server Updates.

Part of the Change Management Team working on the ITIL Model.

Upgrade and support of Microsoft Servers and Active Directory.

Johnson Controls International Glendale, WI 3/2012 to 5/2017

SENIOR WINDOWS PROJECT ENGINEER

Technical Scope: VMware research, VMware 5.1/5.5, vCloud Enterprise Suite components - Director, vCenter Operations (vCOPS), vCenter Orchestrator (vCO), Automation Center (vCAC), Site Recovery Manger (SRM), Citrix Xenapp 5.0/6.5 Farm, VCE Vblock System 740 Convergent Infrastructure with VMAX 200K.

Led effective troubleshooting of 3rd level tickets for Citrix and server related issues, while updating disaster recovery plans to ensure smooth running of technical information. Delivered effective support to HP P-Class and C-Class blade enclosures, while configuring blade servers for network and SAN connectivity, as well as upgrading project for all servers/enclosures to current firmware and driver revisions. Configured and installed Cisco UCS blades as part of Vblock System, while developing and supporting Windows 2008 and 2012 Servers and Active Directory.

Key Achievements:

Achieved set performance goals by providing inspirational leadership to other team members.

Transformed all Citrix Farms to Xenapp 6.5 by delivering upgrade projects.

Architected and deployed Citrix Presentation Server, upgrade, and added services/products by working as a consultant at a number of large enterprise companies.

Tushaus Computer Services Milwaukee, WI 10/2011 to 2/2012

CITRIX ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS ENGINEER

Technical Scope: Presentation Server 5.0 farm with 150+ Windows 2003 32bit and 2008 64 bit Servers on IBM Blades and VMware ESX 4.0 platform using Citrix Web Interface, Microsoft Windows 2003 and 2008 Servers and Active Directory.

Ensured optimal configuration, and architecture by steering Pre- and Post-Sales Consulting with clients on Citrix Product Sets, including XenServer, XenDesktop, and XenApp. Resolved and escalated Citrix issues and conducted troubleshooting for sales and systems engineers at all client sites to meet designated targets, while serving as Virtualization Specialist in VMware, Citrix, and Microsoft.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

System Architect at State of Wisconsin, Dept. of Health Services, Madison, WI

Citrix Systems - Lead Engineer at Covenant Healthcare System, Inc./Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI

Micro LAN Technician IV at Firstar Bank, Milwaukee, WI

Advanced Network Engineer at CompuCom Systems, Brookfield, WI

Network Specialist at Aerotek, Inc., Brookfield, WI

Quality Assurance Specialist at Holiday Inn Worldwide, Atlanta, GA ~ People Network, Inc., Atlanta, GA

Night Audit Supervisor/Systems Administrator at Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Atlanta, GA

Customer Support Technician at Encore Systems, Atlanta, GA

TECHNICAL PROFICIENCIES

Protocols:

IPX, SNA, NETBIOS, NETBUI, TCPIP, Token Ring, Ethernet, Fiber-Optics Infrastructures, PBX, Fax, CD-ROMs.

OS / Software:

Novell – (NOS, Clients, LAN Workplace, GroupWise), Microsoft – Windows: (Server - NT, 2000, 2003, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2018 - Desktop – Windows 10, 7, Vista, XP, 98, 95, 3.x, DOS, Clients, Active Directory, Office Suite), Lotus – (Notes, ccMail, Office Suite), Citrix – (Winframe, Metaframe, Presentation Server), XenApp – (1.8, XP, 3.0, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0,6.5,7.1), Backup – (Backup Exec, ArcServe, Data Protector, Veeam), VMware ESX – (7.0, 6.7, 6.0, 5.1/5.5, Data Center Virtualization, vCloud Virtualization), Microsoft Mail, Exchange 2000/05, Office 365 Groupwise, Lotus and Notes/ccMail.

Hardware:

Cloud:

IBM, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, Apple, AT&T - (Servers, desktops, portables, printers.), Ports Boards – (Stallion, Computone, Digi, Bell Labs/AT&T), Citrix – (CAG and AAC, Remote Access).

VMware, AWS, Azure/Azure AD.

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS

BA, Political Science

Marquette University Milwaukee, WI

MA, Humanistic Psychology

University of West Georgia Carrollton, GA

Professional Association

Member of the Windows Project Engineering Team Corporate

Member of the Global Infrastructure Windows VMware Engineering Team

Captain–Chemical Corp United States Army Reserve

Reserve Officers Association – Life Member

Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem – Milwaukee Priory

Knights of Columbus, Equestrian Order of Holy Sepulchre – North Central Lieutenancy, Order of Saint Gregory Great

Certifications & Professional Development

AWS – Certified Cloud Practitioner & Architect

Microsoft – MCSE, MCP on Windows95, Windows NT Workstation, Server in Enterprise, Proxy Host, Microsoft Exchange/365, SharePoint, IIS, PowerShell and SQL.

Novell – Certified Netware Administrator, Certified Netware Engineer in NT Integration (4.11/5.1).

HP/Compaq – Rack Builder Certified, ASE.

A+ Certification – Industry wide hardware and software.

Extensive HP, IBM, Compaq, and Toshiba hardware certifications.

ITIL – Foundation Certificate #63755, May 4, 2008

VMware – VCA – Data Center Virtualization, vCloud Fundamentals, Completion Certificate – vSphere v5.1.

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