Ben Pizarro
Renton,WA
Summary
Forward-thinking IT Systems Engineer experienced in planning, installing, and maintaining large-scale systems and infrastructures. Managed and designed Exchange infrastructure, facilitating integration of on-premise systems with cloud services while upgrading conferencing technologies and developing software release management processes to enhance operational efficiency. Collaborated with cross-functional teams to define system roadmaps and improve messaging solutions.
Overview
1
1
Certification
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Systems Engineer
Starbucks
Seattle, WA
10.2013 - Current
- 25+ years as a Systems Engineering, and Microsoft Windows, and Exchange Engineer.
- Microsoft 365 Collaboration Products Teams, Exchange Online, Skype for Business, SharePoint, One Drive 6+ years
- Integrated Starbucks on-premise Exchange and Skype for Business infrastructure with Microsoft 365 to streamline communication.
- Managed and designed Starbucks Exchange 2007-2016 infrastructure, and Microsoft Exchange Online.
- Acted a liaison as a Subject Matter Expert for Active Directory, Exchange, Teams, and Skype for Business
- Implemented Cisco and Microsoft enterprise voice solutions, enhancing overall communication capabilities.
- Conducted the upgrade of Starbucks conferencing technologies, to include Microsoft Teams Rooms
- Led evaluation, research, and testing of new conferencing and messaging technologies, collaborating with other teams for Starbucks.
- Manage conference room devices, Microsoft Teams Rooms, Surface Hubs, Scheduling Panels.
- Developed Starbucks Software Release Management process pertaining to conference technologies
- Lead the Starbucks collaboration engineering team, oversight, governance, and design direction new technologies for all of Starbucks
- Coordinated with the security team to ensure messaging, windows servers, applications, and systems complied with security standards.
- Collaborate with the Executive leadership team, Starbucks architects to define the roadmap for systems and applications.
- Engaged in developing Microsoft 365 reporting with Splunk
- Q-Sys engineer and consultant support high-stake online streaming videos
- Designed Starbucks China's messaging solutions
Senior Systems Engineer
Puget Sound Energy
Redmond, WA
08.2012 - 10.2013
- Managed PSE's Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, and FTP infrastructure to ensure reliable network services.
- Manage and support DNS network appliances.
- Administer and support PSE's Lync 2010 Server infrastructure
- Upgraded PSE's Exchange 2010 infrastructure to Service Pack 2 Rollup
- Maintain and provide support for McAfee's Ironmail, Symantec Enterprise Vault, BlackBerry Enterprise Server, SQL servers, VMWare, F5 Load-Balancing, Forefront Security
- Completed NERC Security Training
- Addressed intricate problems to maintain operational efficiency.
Senior Systems Engineer
Swedish/Providence Medical
Seattle, WA
01.2012 - 08.2012
- Designed Swedish Production Lync 2010 infrastructure to enhance communication capabilities across teams
- Oversee Active Directory management to ensure secure access to network resources
- Designed and built Swedish development environment Lync 2010 to facilitate streamlined testing and deployment processes
- Infrastructure Manage and support Swedish Exchange 2010 Infrastructure
Senior Systems Engineer
Corbis
Seattle, WA
10.2011 - 01.2012
- Led design and implementation of the Corbis Exchange 2003 to Exchange 2007 migration, ensuring seamless transition and minimal downtime.
- Led Starbucks enterprise systems support for store and corporate technology platforms.
- Administered Windows and Linux servers across Starbucks production environments.
- Managed ServiceNow incidents, changes, and problem tickets for Starbucks teams.
Senior Exchange Engineer
Infospace, Inc
Bellevue, WA
03.2010 - 09.2011
- Designed, implemented, deployed and administered Microsoft Lync 2010 Infrastructure
- Manage and Support Exchange 2010 SP1 Infrastructure for 500 mailboxes
- Designed and implemented full automated Exchange 2010 Disaster Recovery solution
- Managed and supported SIP Mediant 1000 SBC for Lync 2010 to ensure seamless connectivity
- Designed, implemented, deployed and administered Microsoft Lync 2010 Infrastructure
- Designed, implemented, and deployed VoIP Phones for Lync 2010
- Integrated SIP Trunking replacing legacy PBX infrastructure
- Manage and support SIP Mediant 1000 SBC for Lync 2010
- Administer Active Directory Group Policy settings to enforce security and configuration standards.
- Administer DNS, F5 appliances, and Infoblox systems to ensure network reliability and performance.
- Manage DNS, F5 appliances, and Infoblox
- Designed and developed integration of systems for Infospace business units
- Administer and maintain Active Directory services
- Administer and maintain Microsoft ISA and TMG firewall servers
- Manage and Support BlackBerry Enterprise Servers
- Manage and Support VMWare ESX Host Servers
- Create scripts for automation with Powershell
- Document all implemented and supported technologies
- Train and educate support desktop and operations personnel
- Build Windows 2008 R2 SP1 SQL Cluster Servers
- Researched, recommended, and proposed new technologies and solutions to streamline automation processes
- Worked closely with Network Engineers to enhance and maintain network infrastructure performance.
Exchange Engineer
PACCAR, Inc
Renton, WA
03.2001 - 03.2010
- Consulted on life-cycle management of applications, server hardware, and software, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.
- Exchange 2003 Migration Project
- Managed and supported Windows Hyper-V hosts and servers for Windows 2008 builds, enhancing system stability and performance.
- Provide expert-level project consulting for life-cycle management of applications, server hardware and software.
- Recommend, document and publish PACCAR server and application standards, procedures, and policies.
- Manage and support Windows Hyper-V host and servers for new Windows 2008 builds.
- Led implementation of Cisco IronPort, successfully replacing legacy systems including SurfControl, FinJan, Tumbleweed, and ISA 2004 Servers.
- Implemented PhoneFactor two-factor authentication that replaced our RSA infrastructure.
- Managed and supported various technologies and software used in PACCAR's IT infrastructure.
- Project Manager for implementation of Cisco IronPort. Project replaced SurfControl, FinJan, Tumbleweed, and ISA 2004 Servers.
- Managed and supported Exchange 2007, Windows Deployment Services, MS OCS, SMS, SQL 2005/2008 Servers, and IIS 6.0 and 7.0.
- Active Directory Migration Project from 2003 to 2008.
Education
Bachelor's Degree - Information Technology
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZAssociate of Arts - Information Technology
Shoreline Community College
Seattle, WASkills
- Windows systems engineer
- Microsoft 365
- Active Directory
- Cloud services
- Messaging platforms
- Collaboration Technology Integration
- PowerShell automation
- PowerShell scripting
- Networking Firewall and Load Balancing
- Network troubleshooting
- Systems administration
- Complex issue troubleshooting
- Root Cause Analysis
- Business Process Analysis
- Technical Project Coordination
Personal Information
Title: Senior Systems Engineer
Certification
2025 Q-Sys Certification Conferencing Technologies, 2000-06 Microsoft MCSE - Messaging, 2001-06 Microsoft MCSA
Interests
Running and fitness, and playing drums
Timeline
Senior Systems Engineer
Starbucks
10.2013 - Current
Senior Systems Engineer
Puget Sound Energy
08.2012 - 10.2013
Senior Systems Engineer
Swedish/Providence Medical
01.2012 - 08.2012
Senior Systems Engineer
Corbis
10.2011 - 01.2012
Senior Exchange Engineer
Infospace, Inc
03.2010 - 09.2011
Exchange Engineer
PACCAR, Inc
03.2001 - 03.2010
Bachelor's Degree - Information Technology
Arizona State University
Associate of Arts - Information Technology
Shoreline Community College