Austin, Texas, United States
Customer focused, strategic advisor who excels at explaining complex solutions to both technical and business focused audiences. Comfortable speaking to small groups of executives or in a large conference setting. Able to execute on the details while maintaining a focus on the bigger picture and solution. Fast learner of technology based on a sound foundation as a system administrator, a trait that has allowed a successful career spanning products from hosting to security to data. Specialties: Big Data and Data Technologies, Strategic Planning, Training and Education, Technical Marketing and Product Development, Security, Enterprise Architecture, Linux/Red Hat, Public, Private and Hybrid Cloud Management, Virtual Infrastructure, Value Selling, Sales Engineering (pre-sales and field)
Executed the planning and groundwork to allow a one year sabbatical. Accomplished a list of personal goals including: • Learned welding (MIG and Oxyacetylene) and blacksmithing to create both sculptural and functional items. (Background image above is a hand blacksmithed dinner bell and ringer I created. This is after sandblasting and before final finish). • Completed restoration of a 1958 bungalow. Documented the process to help others preserve similar homes.
First pre-sales engineer brought on to shape the position for the organization – created the processes and training that allowed the sales team to consistently achieve and exceed quota as the product portfolio expanded from MongoDB alone to Redis, MySQL, Elasticsearch, Hadoop (primarily Hortonworks), and Cassandra on multiple platforms (dedicated, cloud and hybrid). • Worked closely with marketing on whitepapers and trade shows to increase lead generation and with product teams on new offerings, such as a suite of pre-packaged professional services options that allowed for the closing of two in-flight deals the first week they were available. • Conference speaker at Rackspace::Solve Dallas and San Francisco and at Big Data Tech Con Boston (2nd most attended session), Topic: Starting Your Big Data Journey • Selected by peers for Rackspace Innovation Award, aka The MacGyver Award. (Q1 2015) Primary Skills Utilized: Linux OS, database theory and design, MongoDB, MySQL, Redis, Elasticsearch, Hadoop (Hortonworks-primarily core functionality e.g. HDFS, HIVE, etc.), software development methodologies, cloud architecture (primarily Rackspace, some AWS), security best practices, compliance (HIPAA/PCI) and high availability/growth planning.
Pre-sales engineer for big data focused, Linux based encryption and key management solution. • Lead engaging demonstrations showing how users of varied big data platforms (e.g. MongoDB, Hadoop, Cassandra) can encrypt their data-at-rest to protect PII, PHI and other sensitive data as well as to fulfill compliance requirements (e.g. PCI, HIPAA, FERPA). • Recorded targeted demonstrations and how-tos, wrote topical blog posts, and assist with other social media promotion. • Represented Gazzang at trade shows as needed, e.g. MongoDB Days New York June 2013. Primary Skills Utilized: Linux OS, MongoDB, MySQL, Hadoop (Hortonworks and Cloudera), Java development kit support, cloud architecture, security and compliance (HIPAA/PCI/FERPA) best practices.
Pre-sales, field engineer for cloud automation and management software, vCloud Automation Center, helping large enterprises achieve full life-cycle management of their public and private clouds. Primarily dedicated to the Southern and Central regions but assisted across the Americas as needed. • Performed engaging and interactive demonstrations showing OOTB functionality and extensibility. • Lead Proof of Concepts (POC) of vCloud Automation Center Software & Development Kit. • Represented and demonstrated products at trade shows as needed, such as The Business of Cloud Computing Conference - Dallas and VMWorld. • Achieved over 200% of quota for FY 2012. • Awarded “Big Hitter Award” Q1, 2013. Primary Skills Utilized: vCloud Automation Center, vCloud Suite and full VMWare product stack from ESX up, .Net with vCAC development kit, Windows and Linux, cloud architecture and management (primarily AWS and Rackspace), desktop management (e.g. Citrix), and security and compliance best practices