Objective
Lead and direct a highly innovative and effective information services organization that leverages employee talent, technologies, best practices, and collaboration to create a secure, productive, efficient, and robust administrative service for the benefit of a dynamic organization.
Summary of Qualifications
- IT Leadership expertise, and extensive long-term relationships with major technology firms in North America.
- Service delivery experience to multiple business units in innovative and complex I&IT environments
- Excellent background in the support and delivery of network and computing-based security
- Strong proven track record in project management and change management
- Strong contract management, negotiating experience and vendor networking
- Creative problem-solving skills, with continuous emphasis on improving current delivery of systems and support
- Professional consulting skills, SLA development and delivery.
- Excellent customer relationship skills, team building skills, facilitating momentum and leadership
- Extensive written and oral communication skills. Written and develop multiple RFPs, RFQs each year.
- Experience juggling multiple priorities and managing competing customer demands
- Solid strategic planning, accounting, departmental and project budgeting skills
- Experience directing, managing and supervising staff, staff recruitment and skills development
- Experience developing business cases and achieving senior executive buy–in for large projects and initiative.
Technical Skills:
- Operating Systems: Windows 9.X – Vista, WIN NT 4.0,2000,2003,2008/2008R2,2012/2012R2/2016/2019
Linux SUSE, Cent OS, UBUNTU LTS, DEBIAN, KALI and RHEL
UNIX Solaris - Hypervisor Technologies / Tools: VMWare ESX / ESXi 3.5 , 4.x, 5.x Vcenter Server, Vsphere 4.x , 5.x vCloud Director , Windows Hyper-V 2012/2016
- Networking: TCP/IP, VLAN, PVLAN
- Services: DNS, DHCP, WINS, Active Directory, ADFS, LDAP, Terminal Services, VPN, FTP, MS Cluster, IIS, .Net, F5 Load balancer
- Scripting Technologies: PowerShell, WMI, ower CLI, PowerShell, VB, SQL Scripting, Bash, Python.
- Monitoring Tools: Nagios 2.0, HP SIM 5.3, Site Scope 8.2, Ipswitch WhatsUp Gold, Geneos, Solarwinds 6.0
- Antivirus Tools: Symantec, MacAfee
- Ticketing Tools: Peregrine, Remedy
- Patching Tools: Shavlik, BigFix, WSUS
- Databases: MS Access, MS SQL 7/2000/2005/2008/2012/2016
- Applications: MS Office suite, Visio, SCCM2007, Citrix XenApp
- Backup Software:Symantec, CommVault, Veritas NetBackup and Synology
- Point of Sale: Microsoft RMS, Admits,
- Hardware: Enterprise Rackmount & Blade Servers from HP, Dell, IBM, EMC VNXe 3300 Storage Array, EMC Clarion CX4, Dell Tape Library LTO3/LTO6, Brocade SAN switches, CISCO Network Switches, Blue Coat Proxy SG
- Telco Experience with loop start, ground start, analog, digital systems. Primary experience with ITT switches, TIE systems, Nortel equipment, Call Pilot, and TM3
Extensive Hardware service and repair experience.
Employment History May 2006 – Feb 2018: Manager of Computing and Telecom Services, Toronto Zoo
Responsibilities:
- developing and implementing computing strategies for the largest Zoo in Canada.
- management of 2 phone systems. Delivered on the consolidation into a single solution and reduced monthly telephone bill by 42%.
- setup and support of 3 new POS systems (Admisions, Retail and Food Services) for $44M revenue generation. 9 Retail stores and 5 online eCommerce sites using Hosted Checkout.
- setup and support of new ERP system for the Zoo and automated service delivery system. Delivered on 3 upgrades of software including all backend SQL systems.
- develop polices and work with City of Toronto and external Auditors
- full Director of the Zoo Operation for 4- 5 weekends a year
- management and consulting for all existing technology at the Zoo
- Approve, design and implement all new technologies for use at the Zoo
Accomplishments:
- Initiated, created and implemented a new secure workstation image to be distributed throughout the Zoo
- Setup automated parking systems, setup a dedicated NVR network, upgraded all POS systems, 8 new networks, hands free exhibit support of technology, digital signage, robotic backup system, 2 email upgrades, Active Directory upgrade, support ticketing system, consolidated and upgrade of entire site wide telephone systems which unified all communications on site and with all branches of the City of Toronto, upgraded network wiring and computer room layout and management
- Working directly with Rogers Wireless, The Toronto Zoo has obtained access to the Province of Ontario Contract pricing for all Wireless phones. Toronto Zoo can now operate a wireless phone with unlimited voice and texting for just $5 per month. Previously, this was roughly $27 per month without texting and only 200 minutes of voice. Smartphone contracts have also seen a 32% savings on monthly wireless phone bills (2015-04-01 $1300 vs 2014-04-01 $900.) Toronto Zoo gained access to this special pricing before COT.
- developed new policies for the support of the computing environment
- adopted the use of a new authenticated proxy system for secure web browsing, initiated the use of a new secure proxy FTP gateway.
- proposed a plan with the Capital Works Program to obtain funding to deliver Fibre Optic networking to the various 710 acres of the Zoo. Worked with the City of Toronto to implement the first approved fully secure wireless infrastructure at the Zoo. Over 3 years I have added over 7KM of glass and rendered our previous DSLAM system obsolete.
- Upgraded ERP (Microsoft Dynamics V8 0, V9.0, and 2010), Setup/Support of Compass POS V9.0. Migrated to SQL 2005, Windows Server 2008 R2.
- Rated Exceeded in 4 of my yearly performance appraisals.
May 1993 – May 2006: York University, Computing and Networking Services (CNS), Toronto, ON Manager of CNS Micro Services and Manager of CNS Hardware Services
Responsibilities:
- developing and implementing computing strategies for the 3rd largest university in Canada with a student population of 45,000 and a staff of 4000
- seeking out and assessing the value of introducing new technology to the University community
- developing computing policy and procedures as part of a team of administrative and faculty representatives
- ensuring that computer networks, academic information systems, and all software and hardware components are functioning at all times
- ensuring the security of all computer systems, hardware support of all computers on campus
- developing and maintaining excellent relationships with various departments, faculty, staff and vendors
- manage a team of 10-14 direct reports in a unionized environment
- managed 40+ Novell Servers and 100+ Microsoft Servers=
Accomplishments:
- I proposed and received buy-in from 4 Faculties and 5 departments to deliver a cluster file service that supports 800 administrative staff simultaneously.
- In 1994, I provided the business case and successfully negotiated a central Anti-Virus solution for the entire campus. A University-wide Anti-Virus solution is now considered mandatory and I have gone on to set up and distribute the Anti-Virus solution for the Campus each year. (2004) this has now been extended to include a Campus-wide Microsoft Software Update Services (SUS) service and upgraded it to the WSUS (2005). Supported over 4000 computers with both same day anti-virus and security upgrades.
- In 1996, I negotiated with Novell (USA) to bring the Novell Educational VLA agreement to York University. This change saved the University tens of thousands of dollars.
- In 2000 I was selected to be the project leader for a campus-wide initiative to specify, purchase, and distribute computers to all Faculty Members over 3 years. Each year this program purchases 600-800 computers. Working with all Faculties to maintain (every 2 months) all the hardware and software specifications for 25+ different models of computers that are available.
- In 2003, I was successful in making a business case for York University to enter into Microsoft’s Campus Agreement program. This program saved my department alone, over $70,000 in its first rollout. I have since been successful in negotiating on the behalf of 4 other Faculties and 3 departments in incorporating them into the agreement.
- In 2003, I was selected to lead a preferred vendor program initiative in order to leverage the purchasing of computer desktops on campus. I modified the program into an RFQ and I was successful in obtaining the buy-in of all Faculties involved. In its first roll-out, the RFQ covered over 1000 computers and achieved a price saving of over $500 per computer (or $500,000 savings to the University).
- Designed and initiated the University Kiosk system (now over 130 workstations)
- Developed the first self-serve account creation system for York’s Computing Lab. The current version of the software is managing over 44,000 student Novell accounts, previously the accounts were created manually.
- Delivered student based print accounting system, incorporating the use of the library photocopy cards. This system his now the standard system used throughout the University and generates an income of over $100,000 per year for my department alone.
- Implemented a network monitoring system that provided various alerting notifications (ie. Alphanumeric paging & email). The system is now a department standard and monitors over 140 essential services and servers.
- Develop and maintain excellent vendor relationships with DELL, Microsoft, HP, Compaq, IBM, Novell
- In 2005, initiated and delivered the campus-wide warranty reimbursement service program involving the qualification of 43 technicians. This program is now a successful revenue-generating resource for the campus.
1984 – 1993: Founder and President of Crown Computing Incorporated
I created a company that focused on serving the Toronto corporate market by providing IT consulting, computer and networking sales and services. I specialized in the setup of accounting installations, point of sale and networking.
Accomplishments:
- began with 2 employees and grew to 10, grew revenues to over $2 million per year
- acquired ACCPAC Accounting Qualified Installer, Microsoft, IBM, HP, Novell GOLD authorizations
- achieved an impressive corporate client list, including Canada Wire, Philips Canada, Sandoz, Balmur Associates, Stitt Baker & Mackenzie, Unique Clothing and Smith Lyons
- became an authorized service center for Roland DG and Panasonic computers and printers
Education
Bachelor of Science, Specialised Honours in Computer Science, York University 2000
Microsoft MCSE (70-410, 70-411, 70-412) 2014,
CISCO CCNA, CCENT 2016,
PMP/PMI 2011,
ITIL 2004,
Facilitation 2002,
Project Management 2001, 2003,
Novell CNE, 1991, 1995, MCSE 2000