Hi, I’m
Christopher Watson
Winnabow,NC
"Someday isn't a real day like Monday or Tuesday; it's just another word for never"
Robert Herjavec
Summary
I still love technology and science as much as when I was a kid. I got an early start in the field while I was in college and spent the next few years of my life dedicated to getting certifications and growing my knowledgebase with hands on experience.
Eventually I moved into Senior roles in networking and server administration as well as management, and became a major social contributor to others through mentorship.
Most recently I am the Senior Network Engineer at Atlantic Computers Services. I have been working for MSPs for 14 years and I have come across just about anything you can think of in this filed from military, to healthcare, and more.
Overview
17
years of professional experience
10
Certificate
Skills
- Server Administration
- Active Directory
- Microsoft Azure
- Microsoft 365
- Networking with Cisco, PfSense, SonicWALL, HP
- High Availability
- Network and user security
- Disaster recovery
- Emergency response
- Growth and project implementation and deployment
Work History
Atlantic Computer ServicesWilmington, NC
Operations Manager / Sr. Network and Systems Engineer
03.2021 - Current
Job overview
- Drove projects to deadline through leadership and team development
- Planned and implemented small, medium, and large scale networks, servers, and cloud deployments
- Planned and implemented large campus wide wireless networks
- Planned and implemented major network and server upgrades
- Performed any diagnostics related to network traffic issues across various platforms
- Contributed to correcting the company trajectory with new technologies and standards
- Hosted meetings with staff, upper management, and clients
- Directed operations staff by providing guidance, training, and support in order to meet company objectives
- Directed changes to the core of the company structure to promote growth and reduce time to resolution
- Managed and maintained hundreds of clients and projects
- Performed cost analysis for various projects to determine budget requirements
- Monitored and improved efficiency of processes, team performance, and customer service
- Directed day-to-day operations by spearheading implementation of short-term and long-term strategies to achieve business plan and profitability goals
Data Spring Inc.North Charleston, SC
Sr. Network Engineer/Helpdesk Manager
01.2011 - 02.2021
Job overview
- Managed and maintained hundreds of customers
- Used scripting to automate resolutions and alerts for break fix tickets through monitoring and proactivity
- Implemented failover clustering and replication (VMWare, Azure, Hyper-V, Citrix)
- Implemented brand and partner product standards across the board to simplify our resolution times
- Trained staff on new technology and promoted certifications while actively achieving certifications myself
- Led a team to higher profitability and consistency by changing the wide mix of products and services into repeatable and achievable outcomes
- Managed and implemented all of our RMM platforms
- Implemented multiple layer security platforms across the all clients
- Provided technical support for local area networks, wide area networks, virtual private networks and other data communication systems
- Implemented advanced Layer 3 networking as well as VLANs for customers to optimize network traffic and prevent bottlenecks
- Implemented load balancing and failover for all equipment possible and multiple internet connections
- Supported and grew the remote worker culture during COVID and maintained that culture for clients and staff
- Performed onboarding and offboarding of customers and acted as an expert resource during organization sales and transitions to new ownership
- Rebuilt our company website from scratch
- Acted as the top escalation engineer for all departments including software development and cloud engineers
Laurentide Incorporated
IT Manager
05.2008 - 08.2010
Job overview
- Managed and maintained the servers, networking, and VoIP infrastructure
- Developed and implemented IT policies and procedures to ensure compliance with government and industry standards
- Deployment resilient campus wide fiber networks between 5 buildings
- Implemented a ticketing system and ticket resolution standards
- Managed SonicWALL Firewalls, Cisco ASA Firewalls, 3Com NBX V3000, and Barracuda SPAM protection appliances
- Managed all company systems and mobile devices including CNC and PLC systems
- Implemented an Intranet through Sharepoint (MOSS 2007) to streamline business
- Managed content filtering, security training, and enforced IT policies
- Managed all IT related vendor service accounts
- Implemented DFS namespaces for high availability of user documents and file shares
- Implemented a secured campus wide wireless mesh network
- Performed a Migration from a SBS 2003 server to a server 2008 R2 Enterprise stack with Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft SQL
- Implemented an Acceptable Usage Policy
- Implemented multiple password policies and biometrics for increased security
- Implemented a Disaster Recovery Plan
- Designed and implemented a Network Observation Center with adequate cooling, electricity, and generators
- Implemented document and information controls
- Implemented battery backups and surge protection across the organization
Island Realty Inc.
Network Administrator
10.2006 - 05.2008
Job overview
- Managed all clients in a 100+ node environment
- Managed and implemented networks for 5 offices
- Managed backups and antivirus
- Implemented video conferencing
- Implemented several 900MHz point to point wireless bridges and fiber for an island
- Installed racks, APCs, CAT5e surge protection snap-ins, patch panels, and Cat5e jacks/lines
- Managed 3Com NBX V3000 Phone system
- Managed firewall and content filtering systems
- Managed 5 servers
- Built, maintained, and repaired client machines
- Implemented, managed, and maintained a large wireless mesh network
- Implemented SharePoint (WSS 2.0)
- Setup file server for document and application repository
- Implemented a secured wireless network with 256-bit encryption.
Education
Trident Technical College
from Telecommunications Systems Management
02.2003
University Overview
GPA: 3.43
Oakley Road Christian School
05.2001
University Overview
- GPA: 3.8
- SAT: 1390
- Honor: Salutatorian
Certification
- Microsoft Transcript ID: 1007573
- MCTS
- MCP
- Volume Licensing Specialist
- Configuring SBS 2011
- Deploying Office 2010 and Windows 7
- Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012
- Altaro Backup Certified
- Introduction to Microsoft Azure Certified
- Auvik Certified Professional
Accomplishments
- Published author of "How To Make Group Policy Work For You"
- Tutored and assisted countless others in my field starting and progressing their careers
- Became the head of research and development strategies for two consulting firms
- Moved up from mid level support engineer to leadership roles in two organizations
- Attended several technology conferences and networked with hundreds of preofessionals in the field whom I still keep in touch with
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
Spanish
Elementary
Availability
See my work availability
Not Available
Available
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
swipe to browse
Timeline
Operations Manager / Sr. Network and Systems Engineer
Atlantic Computer Services
03.2021 - Current
Sr. Network Engineer/Helpdesk Manager
Data Spring Inc.
01.2011 - 02.2021
IT Manager
Laurentide Incorporated
05.2008 - 08.2010
Network Administrator
Island Realty Inc.
10.2006 - 05.2008
Trident Technical College
from Telecommunications Systems Management
Oakley Road Christian School
Affiliations
- Woodcrafting (furniture and signs)
- Kayaking and Fishing
- Sports and vacations with the family
- Junior Olympics Qualifier for Track and Field
Hobbies and Affiliations
Active member of "Heroes on the Water" where we take military and law enforcement veterans out kayak fishing. We loan them kayaks and cook during each trip.
Mentoring IT Professionals and assist them with issues and growing their careers across different fields of expertise across various online groups.
Woodworking and home improvement.
Camping, fishing, Disney, and education.
My family also helps children with no parents and guide them with schoolwork and values.
References
References available upon request.
References
References available upon request.
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