Tim Higgins

Belmont, MI ***** • 773-***-**** • adptpr@r.postjobfree.com

IT Systems Engineer

** ***** ** *** ******** administering large scale IT infrastructures and network implementations across multiple platforms

An analytical, result driven technology associate with over twenty years of experience leading complex projects from inception through completion. Detail-oriented architect with 20+ years’ success devising innovative and tailored solutions to meet ever-changing business requirements within diverse industries. Advanced skill with leading-edge programming tools complemented by proven ability to assimilate and rapidly utilize emerging technologies. Skilled in aligning end-user needs with long-term resolutions to complex IT challenges. Excel in analysis, design, implementation, performance bench marking, optimization, and deployment.

Professional Experience

Linux, AWS

Senior Linux Administrator (2018 - Present)

Notions Marketing, Grand Rapids, MI. MI

Managed and completed the migration from ERP Legacy Red Hat to Red Hat 7.0/8.x, This allowed Notions to become compliant with all upgrade and PCI compliance issues. Managed the roll out of Linux based distribution systems for warehouse optimization. Leveraged AWS services for server-less computing (Lambda) and storage infrastructure offload (S3 and Glacier).

Key Achievements:

■Managed the migration of enterprise wide ERP system from RHEL 5 to RHEL 7/8, Migrated company website to RHEL 7, Set up load balancers for corporate web initiative.

■Systems administration of virtual Linux servers. Create, deploy and monitor / tune the Linux infrastructure.

■Work closely with the development team to deploy new builds based on customer requests (Agile).

■Implemented AWS S3 and Glacier, this saved the company significant spend in storage costs. And reduced footprint on primary storage devices.

■Ansible / JAMS, Automated jobs across different platforms and operating systems with the implementation of enterprise job scheduler. This initiative saved the company thousands of dollars and increased accuracy of reporting.

■Scriting all essential repeatable actions (bash).

■Container creation and management.

■Implement Splunk on the Linux hosts for reporting and SEIM operations, created useful splunk dashboards.

■Created our DR strategy with business and IT.

■Formulated and defined project scope and objectives through research and business benefits analysis.

Linux, AIX, Windows, and IBM iSeries systems

IT Architect / Consultant (2015 - 2018)

Fremont Insurance Co, Fremont, MI

Direct the move to new technologies from AIX to CentOS and Tape to EMC DataDomain. Architect and deploy Unix / Linux servers and operating systems utilizing virtualization techniques. Plan and engineer systems infrastructure, physical and virtual environments monitor and tune systems / applications for performance. Develop and document standardized procedures for IT infrastructure and Help Desk. Currently working to evaluate cloud initiative, providing recommendations, working with vendors.

Key Achievements:

Successfully implemented and designed of hardware and software to perform the migration from POWER6 to POWER8.

Systems administration of 100+ virtual Linux servers. Create, deploy and monitor the Linux infrastructure.

Work closely with the development team to deploy new builds based on customer requests. I have deployed over 25 major new features with our claims processing application.

Evaluated and selected new Enterprise Backup System (EMC DataDomain). This saved the company thousands of dollars and increased the efficiency of our backups. This initiative also enhanced our disaster recovery implementations.

Ansible / Skybot, Automated over 100 jobs across different platforms and operating systems with the implementation of enterprise job scheduler. This initiative saved the company thousands of dollars and increased accuracy of reporting.

Created our DR strategy with business and IT. Tested yearly off site at Sunguard.

Formulated and defined project scope and objectives through research and business benefits analysis.

Project Manager/Systems Architect (1999 - 2015)

IBM Systems and Technology Group, Grand Rapids, MI

Oracle/EBS, JDA, JDE, SAP, and other MRP

Key Achievements:

Deployed a Pharmacy Point of Sale solution for a major Midwest retailer ensuring that the server met the required specifications and interfaced with all the in-store facilities.

Successfully delivered an 18-month project on time and on budget. Directed a 12-person team for a large project migrating from HP-UX to AIX for a National Mortgage Lender for. Coordinated all technical activities, managed the project schedule, evaluated project risks, and reported to management on project status consistently identified and cleared roadblocks, assessed impacts to the schedule, and communicated to all stakeholders.

Facilitated the migration of a critical enterprise application for a global manufacturing and distribution company from a legacy, IBM AS-400 environment to an open source Linux based environment. Served as primary project manager and system architect, successfully integrating the organization's high-level business goals with the most effective technology available at the time. Worked directly with the company senior management, including the Director of Marketing, and Director of Technology to draft a project scope and high-level project plan. Subsequently, worked closely with IT staff to breakdown the project into key component steps with measurable milestones. Kept communications consistent and flowing among the project members and served as a consultant on a large array of technology issues.

Directed as technical lead on a database initiative for a major university to determine OLTP vs DW requirements. Collaborated with a team from DBA’s to Business Analyst to determine proper workload definition and system sizing.

Executed a financial application selection and implementation for a US Automobile manufacturer leading the database team through requirements analysis, detailed database analysis, integration, and implementation. Successfully created Project Scope worked within Time, Cost, Quality restraints, to deliver and implement a solution.

Established a benchmark initiative for a multi-state retail organization to identify and resolve performance based issues with ERP system.

Completed a ERP sizing project for a global manufacturer spearheading technology team through requirements analysis, detailed selection criteria, and implementation in an accelerated time frame.

Performed Fit for Purpose workshops to examine the wide range of considerations necessary to discuss in selecting a platform for given workloads and applications. Worked with cross functional teams to determine factors such as Time Horizon, ISV Support, Nonfunctional Requirements, Geographical Considerations, Strategic Direction and Standards, TCO Model, Skills, Politics, Platform Architecture, Technology Adoption Level, and Deployment Model. These workshops encompassed successful interaction with the Director of Technology to Application End Users.

Executed multi-year project to move a SAP Infrastructure running on SUN hardware and Solaris to IBM POWER and AIX encompassing working with executive level personnel to plan a project that incorporated detailed migration and sizing issues. Managed a team of remote systems administrators and local teams to initiate, plan, execute, monitor control, and close to a successful end within time frame and on budget.

Consolidated and migrated several AIX servers to fewer servers including understanding the business impact of each server and associated applications, substantial planning and coordinating of efforts across organizational lines.

Prior Experience as a System Architect with Sequent Computer Corporation (1997-1999), and System Engineer for SUN Microsystems (1996-1997), and NCR Corporation (1986-1995).

Education & Credentials

Bachelors Of Science in Business Information Systems,

Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI

Technical Training / Certifications

RHCSA (Red Hat Certified Systems Administrator) Red Hat 7 & 8 Certs

• CompTIA Security+

• Unix (AIX)

• MS Windows

• Linux

• Systems Management

• TCP/IP

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