I am currently working as the head of an IS team that manages the network and communication technologies of a growing company in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina - as well as develops voice applications for VoIP systems

Experience Highlights

- 20 years experience in network management and design.
- 17 years experience negotiating contracts and managing independent vendors
- 17 years experience building and maintaining telecommunications systems, including call centers, ACDs, IVRs, PBXs, video conferencing, and voice mail, in multiple switch environments.
- 16 years experience in long-term project management, including management of local and remote personnel.
- 16 years experience in development using C, C++, Python, Perl, and various Voice platforms.
- Proficient on all forms of Unix, including Linux, Solaris, AIX, BSD, and HP-UX.
- Expert at integrating Open Source solutions into existing network infrastructures.

Work experience

Sept. 2002 - Present

CTO FeatureTel, Raleigh, North Carolina

Maintain high availability VoIP based phone systems. Program networking and telephony based applications primarily using Python. Setup and maintain ISP features for clients using OpenSource servers (Linux/OpenBSD) and OpenSource applications:
DNS (Bind), Email (Postfix), Web (Apache), Network Monitoring Services (scripting and OpenNMS), Firewalling and Bandwidth shapping (OpenBSD/PF).
Setup/Manage core and client network with QoS for clear VoIP communications using Cisco based switches and routers.

Sept. 2002 - ...

Independent consultant, Raleigh, North Carolina

Expert in integrating and deploying Open Source applications and systems, network design, High Availability and redundant systems, Firewalls, VPN's, Asterisk systems, VoIP, and QoS.

Sept. 1997 - Sept. 2002

HAHT Commerce, Raleigh, North Carolina

Manager of Information Services

HAHT Commerce was a company of 200 plus that developed and marketed a high-end web application server and consulting services. The enterprise was based in Raleigh with satellite offices worldwide.

The goal of our department at HAHT was to facilitate the flow of business within the corporation. We attained this goal by: training new users, presenting technical seminars, maintaining stable services, automating business processes, and providing easy access to help via email, phone, FAQs, with web-based tracking of both individual requests and projects

As Manager of Information Services (Information Technology) I was responsible for the Networks, Servers, PC's, Laptops, and Phone systems that were the infrastructure of the busy enterprise. I trained and managed two Engineers who did an excellent job of handling HAHT's day-to-day IT issues. I also filled-in during emergencies and vacations, however most of my time was devoted to security issues and long-term projects involving the corporate infrastructure.

At HAHT I organized long-term projects and complex tasks into simpler basic steps, and mapped those steps into actions and dates. Users could monitor progress and provide instant feedback via a home-made web based application that we built specifically for this purpose.

I possess an intuitive knowledge of computer systems and networks. I also have a thorough and practical knowledge of Linux, OpenBSD, Solaris, Win2000, WinNT, Win98, and most business applications run on those Operating Systems - MS Office, Open Office, IE, Mozilla, Oracle, SQL server, Apache, and IIS. I believe in using Open Source Operating Systems and Applications as standard tools for the corporation and I have integrated Open Source OS's throughly into HAHT's infrastructure.

Accomplishments at HAHT Software:

• Traced down disconnect problems affecting remote access and sales demonstrations. The problem was with HAHT's phone vendor. HAHT was six months into a three year contract with the vendor. I worked with the vendor's technical support and sales representative for 30 days in an attempt to help them resolve the problem. At that point I seamlessly transfered the company over to a new vendor - noted for their reliable service - and then fired the old vendor. The new contract also resulted in an immediate savings of 20% on HAHT's long distance services.
• Standardized all new equipment and setup standard install for new employees - including standard sets of software on stored partition images. Although employees were free to install other applications of their choice, this initial setup created a de facto standard which made on-going maintenance and recovery much easier.
• Replaced old department based NT servers with a new Linux based Company fileserver. The company infrastructure had grown without proper planning or direction. Older unstable machines had been pressed into service within each department to act as departmental resources. I brought order to this chaos by consolidating all the services onto one Open Source server running Samba. This solved multiple problems and brought HAHT into compliance with its actual Server Licensing count.
• Laid out and completed a six month project to establish an on-going sustainable backup of the data and systems used by each department at HAHT. The initial step was discovery: identifying and documenting the location of the data used by each department. This also included migrating older unused data off to a storage facility. The next step was consolidating current data and reconfiguring systems so that the most important data was stored on fully redundant RAID 5 disk subsystems in an easily managed centralized location. I wrote several scripts to monitor the data and to pinpoint when and how often specific files were accessed or updated. This helped automate the migration of older data off of existing systems. The next step was to automate the backup procedures by using a DAT juke box, capable of backing up HAHT's projected data needs for the next 4 years - assuming that the accumulated storage would double each year.
• Converted HAHT from a small local network using NetBEUI and limited to 254 IP addresses (Class C network), into a wide-area network using TCP/IP and WINS, and capable of using 16,777,214 IP addresses (Class A). The implementation of WINS was especially important in the continued growth of HAHT's Wide Area Network.
• Setup and maintained fully redundant Linux based Firewall Clusters at HAHT's corporate headquarters. The firewalls used IPChains and a heart-beat script to initiate fail-overs.
• Setup DMZ using clustered Linux Firewall/Virtual Servers as the front-end. I setup and maintained HAHT's corporate web server as a cluster of Linux boxes within the DMZ. The servers ran Apache and mod SSL, with a security certificate provided by Thawte. We also used the DMZ to extend Exchange webmail services out to corporate users via the internet.
• Setup and managed HAHT's DNS. Maintained and acquired all of HAHT's internet domains.
• Setup NT based VPN and RAS allowing remote users fast and reliable access to the internal network. This dramatically increased the effectiveness of corporate consultants working at client sites.
• Connected Haht's satellite offices to a Wide Area Network using Linux and OpenBSD Firewall/VPN servers and an NT Backup Domain Controller/WINS server at each site. Satellite offices were connected to the internet via high-speed connections. Each satellite office connected to the corporate hub via IPSec or Secure Shell. The local BDC allowed for local log-ons to the corporate network. The local WINS allowed for NT based browser access across the entire WAN. The Linux/OpenBSD based VPN/Firewalls controlled the traffic between each network. Shell scripts monitored the connections, sending out appropriate warnings, and automatically re-establishing the VPN connections after any network or system problems had been resolved.
• Converted internal UNIX systems over to NFS, centralizing the administration of all HAHT's UNIX systems to the main corporate file server, and providing a common home directory for each user.
• Worked with corporate team to write and maintain HAHT's Disaster Recovery plan.
• Continually upgraded systems to remove known security holes. I regularly scanned HAHT's networks using the latest known intrusion tools (such as nmap), to insure that the networks were as secure as possible. I used Microsoft's security tools to monitor internal servers to insure that all critical updates had been applied. I also belong to the CERT alert list. Though the list is not timely, it is extremely thorough in its discussion of vulnerabilities, and has proven its value time and again.
• Installed and troubleshot various servers running Solaris, HP-UX, AIX, Linux, NT, and Win2000 for the QA department.
• Installed a PRI T1 and an Ascend Max 6000 to allow 56k remote access connections into Haht's internal network as well as video conferencing to older ISDN based video conferencing units.

Oct 1994 - June 1997

ON Technology, Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina

Manager of Information Technology for the Raleigh NC site/

Telephony Analyst for the Corporation.

ON Technology is a company of 500 people that develop and market software world wide. The Raleigh site for ON Technology employed 140 people before down-sizing in December of 1996.

As MIS of the Raleigh site, my goal was to maintain a dependable workplace where technology enhanced the performance of each employee. While working for ON, I was trained as a manager by the folks of the Landmark Forum. At the time I managed a team of 6 talented engineers and technicians whose efforts maintained a stable Novell/Microsoft network with zero down-time and an average response time of less than 15 minutes from report of problem to resolution. I established and maintained Software and Hardware standards for the Raleigh site. Those standards were later adopted by all of the company's domestic sites. I also established and standardized training and welcoming programs for new employees. Managing 8 people indirectly, at other sites, I grew our local area networks into one Wide Area Network with sites attached across the internet via IP tunnel (VPN). In recognition of my "superb problem solving skills and a vast technical knowledge of PC's, LANs, operating systems, and applications," I was named technical lead for the IS department and asked to move to corporate headquarters in Cambridge.

As Telephony Analyst, I installed and maintained two call centers for the company, one in Raleigh and the other in Cambridge. The Raleigh site has recently been combined into the Cambridge site. Using remote systems, I programmed and managed the Phone systems, as well as the UNIX based ACD, Voice Mail and Call Recording systems. I was responsible for the programming and operation of the Raleigh Video Conference systems and, trouble-shooting Video Conference problems company-wide. I evaluated bandwidth (voice and data) demands at all sites on a quarterly basis and managed the local as well as the long distance accounts for the company - balancing continuous functionality against cost.

My last projects included:

• Movement of email over to Microsoft Exchange on NT server.
• Integration of Phone/ACD/Voice-Mail with the company WAN and databases.
• Pop-up screens in the call center with information gathered via Caller-ID or IVR prompts
• Upgrading DNS and Firewall at Raleigh Site.
• Connecting recently acquired German site to internet, and to Company WAN.

July 1993 - Sept 1994

DaVinci Systems, Raleigh, North Carolina

Manager of Information Systems.

DaVinci was a software development company of 60 people which aggressively marketed its own eMail package. MIS was responsible to the company for any issue involving communication technology.

Duties involved:

• Build and generate file servers using Novell Netware.
• Maintain and trouble-shoot a network comprised of 15 active file servers and 5 MHS installs.
• Build and maintain TCP/IP network to facilitate internet access and allow remote access to LAN.
• Program and monitor Cisco routers using HP Openview.
• Monitor system security.
• Maintain and test backup systems.
• Set-up and trouble-shoot DOS, Windows, OS/2, NT, and Macintosh workstations and servers.
• Train employees on all company used applications: Windows, Excel, Word, Paradox, Lotus, WordPerfect, Folio Views, and Service Point (an SQL database application).
• Order, install, and test software upgrades for production servers.
• Set-up and monitor Electronic Data Interchange between DaVinci and its vendors.
• Monitor phone use and voicemail activity.
• Program and test Adix phone system to handle company calls as well as rudimentary ACD.
• Maintain and trouble-shoot T1 connections to phone switch and internet.
• Advise and aid the Testing department in the installation of various systems and software, such as: Linux, Sun Unix, Banyan Vines, LanMan, Netware Lite, and Lantastic.

Sept 1991 - April 1993

Networks, Raleigh, North Carolina

Systems Engineer.

Network consultant with over 120 clients. Designed, tested, and managed networks at various client sites. Installs include Ethernet, Token-Ring, and Arcnet. Designed, built, installed, and managed File Servers, Print Servers, Email Servers, Routers, Hubs, and Gateways. Designed and managed Remote networking sites. Recommended and installed software at client sites. Trained clients on software and management of network. Trouble-shot network and PC/Software problems at client sites.

Networks employed various trainers to teach Network Topologies, Netware Installation and Management, MS Excel, MS Word, MS Access, Lotus Notes, and WordPerfect. I graduated from each of the courses with honors, and later taught many of the courses.

Jan. 1990 - Aug. 1991

USDA-ARS, Raleigh, North Carolina

Lab Technician.

Worked with Forage research group doing lab analysis of various grasses. Set up weather stations to collect continuous data at two research stations. Collected and analyzed data weekly. Designed and programmed remote units that attached to cattle and measured eating and movement characteristics. Performed statistical analysis of data using SAS programming. Measured photosynthesis and respiration of various grasses during periodic growth phases. Wrote programs that modeled and predicted feeding and growth patterns of cattle.

Education

North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina

Bachelor of Science in Physics, Dec 1989.

Worked throughout college to pay for education expenses: Carpenter, Programmer, and Tutor.

References

Eric Young:

Director of Information Services, HAHT Commerce. Eric was my coworker and supervisor at HAHT for four years.

Kevin Sonney:

Sales Engineer for Red Hat / Chairman of Triangle Linux Users Group. I worked with Kevin for two years at Davinci and later for two years as a Steering Committee member for TriLUG.

James Rivera:

Testing Engineer, MicroSoft Corp. James and I met while working at DaVinci. We have worked side by side for three years and have become good friends.

Please email me for more complete reference information.

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