Specialist / Classroom Connectivity - Server QA Deployment Engineer Contractor via IIT
New York City Department of Education
Contract
Brooklyn, NY
July 2019 - Present
- I optimized existing PowerShell scripts for the configuration and integration of two 2012 R2 Hyper-V Hosts with five virtual machines, three - 2012 R2 VM's and two - Red Hat Linux 6.4 VM's.
- I reduced the integration's deployment time by approximately 50%.
- I significantly reduced the quantity of manual input for the integration. For example I used plink.exe to automate tasks which were manually executed within the vi editor. I also used winscp.exe to automate copying files.
- I utilized Excel to create an integration checklist.
- I created a quality assurance procedure to verify the configuration of the integration.
- I created new versions of the integration scripts for Server 2016, Server 2019 and RHEL 7.7.
- I created a RHEL 7.7 Kickstart image which enables automated custom settings per site. Previously the inherited RHEL 6.4 script block required the operator to manually enter the IP settings and the host name.
- Within the integration script I provided the operator with the ability to selectively execute blocks of code thus enabling the operator to both recover from errors and rebuild individual VM's.
- I created documentation for the pre-integration tasks and the integration tasks. I update the documentation as needed and I share it with the related teams.
- I also execute live demonstrations for my colleague, a NYC DOE employee, so he becomes aware of the process changes.
- I created a PowerShell script which locates and resolves Hyper-V replication problems.
- All blocks of code that execute changes are tested within an IT lab prior to being used within the production environment. Creating an IT lab was my first significant request to the Server Operations team.
- Daily tasks include receiving help desk (Cherwell) tickets, executing the scope of work, and updating the tickets accordingly.
- Provide support for the Classroom Connectivity Project of school server integration including but not limited to delivery, installation, and break/fix activities. Candidate may have to travel to schools.
- Configure physical (Windows 2012 R2 Core) and virtual servers (3 Windows VMs and 2 Linux VMs), Remote Access cards, Active Directory, DNS Services, LAN and network services.
- Troubleshoot and provide support for hardware and software problems during the server integration including, but not limited to, DHCP, DNS, Active Directory, SNMP, TCP/IP, and WINS.
- Create and update documentation of all work effort to support server integration for sites, including design documents and process diagrams
- Perform testing on Servers.
- Interact with the client's end-users and vendors to resolve logistic and hardware issues with equipment.
- Script/automate tasks to improve provisioning and troubleshooting
IT Support Engineer and IT Training and Job Search
Job Search Activity
New York, NY
October 2018 - July 2019
Notable activities:
- IT Training: Skillsoft online training classes | O'Reilly series "Head First Python" | System Center 2012 Configuration Manager (SCCM) Unleashed; Sams Pearson
- Created an Internet site within Linux to advertise my skills | distribute cover letters, resumes - Integrated with Google Analytics | Adsense, Search engines: Bing, Google, Yandex
IT Support Engineer
PHM Services
Self-employed
New York, NY
April 2019 - April 2019
Projects:
- Wonder Works Construction - Disaster recovery team member
- Desktop support - Formatted hard drives, deployed Windows 10: added to the domain and installed software
- Server 2012 support - Active Directory issues - diagnosed (dcdiag) / repaired (esentutl) after a system restore
IT Support Engineer
Baseil Associates
Part-time
New York, NY
March 2019 - March 2019
Projects:
- Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP - I was a member of a team that updated the Lenovo software on Windows 10-based computers and verified / updated the inventory of the end-user computer hardware.
IT Support Engineer
SourceWave Inc
Self-employed
New York, NY
November 2018 - November 2018
Projects:
- American Express - End User Relocation | New York Life - End User Relocation
IT Infrastructure Engineer
Kipany Productions, Ltd
Full-time
New York, NY
May 2018 - October 2018
Responsible for supporting:
- Company network, data center and end user computing hardware, Office 365 / Email encryption, Asset inventory
- Security and Compliance Initiatives: PCI DSS, HIPAA/Hitech, and SOC 2
- Documentation | Visio Diagrams
IT Systems Field Engineer
PHM Services
Self-employed
New York, NY
May 2017 - May 2018
I provided a variety of ad-hoc services for clients.
- Administration - Migrated Exchange mailboxes | Created/Deleted Active Directory user accounts
- Problem Resolution - VMware-based Windows Servers | Desktop Operating systems | Applications | Software
IT Messaging Contractor via KFORCE
New York City Department of Information Technology & Telecommunications
Contract
Brooklyn, NY
January 2017 - May 2017
I was responsible for assisting DoITT with planning and implementing new Enterprise Vault email archiving policies.
From a recommendation - Though the project never got off the ground, James did write a comprehensive document on what the City needed to do to reach its goal.
- The NYC DoITT Director offloaded tasks to me.
- I created proposals to enable city agencies to obtain funds to purchase equipment and/or software.
IT Systems Consultant via PHM Services
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Financial Services LLC
Contract
New York, NY
July 2016 - December 2016
I added value to the client by partnering with the in-house IT staff to complete the assignments with a high level of precision. A discovery process was performed, the subject matter was researched, the client was presented with options, and based on the client's feedback the plan was amended, verified within a VMware-based IT lab, and executed in production. A detailed run-book with Visio diagrams was created for the implementation.
- Built a VMware-based IT lab environment that contained elements from production to prepare for live changes
- Upgraded the existing single node BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) v. 5.0.2 with MSDE to a two node Active/Passive (high availability) configuration v. 5.0.4 MR13 cluster with SQL 2014
- Created a Mobile Device Management (MDM) proposal to deploy and manage Apple devices
- Active Directory
- Optimized Microsoft DNS and group policies in a multi-forest environment
- The recovery plan leveraged a combination of scripts with command line utilities to export the DNS configuration / data and similar scripts were created and verified for restoring the environment
- Prepared for an IT audit by identifying stale computer objects via PowerShell scripts
- Customized reports were created by modifying an Excel add-in's code to accept LDAP queries
- Upgraded legacy operating systems, e.g. Server 2008 to Server 2012 R2 via the use of VMware OS templates
- Migrated - FSMO roles | certificate authorities (PKI) | domain controllers | application servers
- Provided guidance and acted as a technical resource to both IT management and the service desk
- IT Management: MDM Solution | Microsoft Technology | FINRA Compliance
- Service Desk: Symantec Ghost | McAfee EPO
- Patch Management - Deployed a VMware-based 2012 R2 server with the WSUS role in the "DR" datacenter
- Utilized group policies to enable the DR computer objects in the forests to use the same WSUS server
IT Infrastructure Engineer / Team Leader
Lloyds Bank, Plc.
Full-time
New York, NY
March 2011 - May 2016
Hired as a full-time employee.
I was a trusted advisor to management, developed innovative solutions for unique problems, delivered projects in a timely and efficient manner, resolved end user and other technical issues, and shared knowledge with colleagues. Systems: Exchange 2003 - High Availability - CA RHA Clusters, Exchange 2007 Microsoft Clusters (CCR's) on VMware, and BlackBerry 5.x / 12.x, RightFax - High Availability, using VMware Site Recovery Manager.
- Participated in a datacenter migration: Data circuits | Created a script to copy data from EMC storage to NetApp storage. The script leveraged Robocopy and recursive logic to mitigate issues with long file/folder paths
- PowerShell / batch file scripts / scheduled tasks were utilized to extract and forward data via email to UK teams
- A PowerShell script was created to increase the efficiency of the monthly Microsoft patch installation process. The script stopped services on related groups of servers, application servers followed by the database servers. All servers were restarted, patches were installed, necessary reboots occurred, and the services were started on the database servers followed by the application servers.
- Redesigned the US Active Directory - Forest Consolidation | Group Policy | Schema updates - to harmonize US AD to headquarters' directives with minimal impact to production
- Implemented Cisco IronPort email security appliances with redundancy
- Implemented MessageLabs SPAM Manager: Reduced IT overhead | Provided better service to the colleagues
- Managed Microsoft Exchange - Consolidated Exchange Organizations | Upgraded Exchange 2003 to Exchange 2007 Microsoft Clusters (CCR's) on VMware
- Implemented BlackBerry 5.x and 12.x with high availability
- Integrated InfoBlox DNS physical and virtual appliances with Microsoft DNS: Harmonized US and UK systems and enhanced the security posture of the IT environments
- Managed RightFax | Upgrades | SIP line migration | BCP via VMware Site Recovery Manager
- Optimized / redeployed Websense and Microsoft ISA to achieve better integration in the production and the DR datacenters thus eliminating past issues | Leveraged pac files - enabled a simple method of automatic failover/ load-balancing. Utilized group policies to push the configuration to servers and workstations
- Replaced Websense / Microsoft ISA with appliances from Trustwave (M86): Malware filtering, URL filtering, Internet Proxy - Created the initial polices, regex expressions … - handed over to the US IT Security team
- Participated in the rollout of Windows 7 | Policies | Configuration | Application Palette
- Composed documentation for business requirements, project implementation, bulletins, Visio diagrams
- Created PowerPoint presentations to educate and to build consensus for strategic decisions
- Acted as IT Liaison to internal and external counsel for all US and relevant UK Legal Discovery (e-discovery), gathering relevant data for active and pending litigation. Application - Enterprise Vault Discovery Accelerator
- Managed the US IT Compliance (FINRA) program for a broker/dealer business from inception, employing Enterprise Vault Compliance Accelerator with WORM storage to satisfy FINRA requirements 17a-3 and 17a-4
- Responsible for the annual audit with the Bank's 3rd party designee to FINRA
- Implemented Globanet's Merge1 to capture BlackBerry SMS | PIN-to-PIN | Bloomberg Email
- Implemented Actiance Vantage software to capture Cisco Jabber chat data
- Managed and executed the IT Infrastructure tasks for a business divestment
- Provided guidance to the UK e-surveillance program to satisfy a LIBOR requirement for the FSA
- Primary contact between US IT Infrastructure and UK - Home Office IT for Cyber-security and Infrastructure projects | IT related - Architecture, Project funds, Human Resources - Training systems | Employee Records
- Built multiple VMware-based preproduction test environments in the US that were integrated with the respective UK headquarters IT test environments to facilitate the deployment of UK application/systems in the US
- Leveraged VMware to deploy Windows servers from OS templates integrated with UK standard build scripts
- Assisted with the administration and maintenance of Citrix XenApp, NetScaler, VMware vSphere, NetApp SAN
IT Infrastructure Engineer Contractor at Lloyds Bank, Plc.
Apex Systems
Contract
New York, NY
September 2010 - March 2011
Provided IT support services at Lloyds Bank, Plc.
IT Systems Consultant
Garrigan Enterprises Inc.
Self-employed
New York, NY
January 2008 - September 2010
Provided IT services to small businesses as independent contractor to PHM Services, Technologies on Premises, and other IT services companies. Clients included small mom/pop retail entities, restaurants, law offices, and hedge funds.
- Data Backups: Backup Exec | Internet-based backups
- Deployed Symantec Endpoint Protection with the management console
- Managed the desktop via group policies
- Implemented Citrix server with thin client terminals
- Implemented Symantec Ghost for the deployment of hard drive images
- Implemented Windows Software Update Services (WSUS) to deploy Microsoft updates / patches
- Leveraged VMware to migrate legacy application servers from legacy hardware
- Built multiple VMware hosts on HP Servers, racked/stacked, copper & fiber cabling, fiber switch configuration
- Migrated active directory from server 2003 to server 2008 on new hardware
- Migrated a Smarter Email system to Exchange 2007 with a Barracuda appliance
- Upgraded / replaced IT equipment: servers, workstations, network electronics, Cisco ASA
- Supported Websense URL filtering: Modified policies - Added/modified URL's and managed user permissions
- Updated a real estate management company's computer environment (Active Directory | Data Shares | NTFS permissions | Operating Systems), delivering accurate and more efficient applications and systems
- Supported computer operations of a staffing company with 10+ office locations, enabling computer operations which would have not been affordable with full-time employees
