ISRAEL ORDONEZ, JR
Meriden
Summary
Infrastructure and datacenter operations leader with expertise in managing multi-site environments to enhance operational performance. Successfully consolidated servers into hyperconverged clusters, significantly improving uptime and reducing incidents. Proven ability to standardize security architecture and optimize hybrid cloud strategies, delivering enhanced reliability and cost efficiency.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of IT
Integrated Polymer Solutions (IPS)
05.2023 - Current
- Lead infrastructure operations across a distributed environment supporting 8 business units (~800 users), including two primary datacenter facilities and multiple edge locations.
- Oversee a hybrid operating model of internal teams and MSP partners to ensure consistent service delivery and operational standards across all sites.
- Drove infrastructure modernization by consolidating 80–100 servers into Nutanix hyperconverged clusters across core datacenter sites, reducing physical footprint and virtually eliminating recurring infrastructure-related incidents that were previously impacting operations on a monthly basis.
- Standardized network and security architecture across all locations by replacing legacy MPLS with Fortinet SD-WAN, implementing high-availability firewalls, and deploying redundant ISP connectivity with diverse routing paths.
- Resolved critical network performance issues impacting production by replacing legacy inter-building wireless links (~80–100 Mbps) with dedicated high-speed connectivity (1 Gbps), delivering a ~10x increase in throughput and significantly improving application performance and reliability.
- Led hybrid cloud optimization strategy within AWS GovCloud, reducing monthly spend from ~$80K to ~$20K by right-sizing workloads, eliminating underutilized resources, and repatriating appropriate systems to on-premises infrastructure.
- Identified and eliminated single points of failure, upgraded aging hardware, and improved overall system stability across all sites to strengthen infrastructure reliability.
- Established standardized infrastructure and security frameworks across multiple acquired entities, integrating disparate environments into a unified, scalable operating model aligned with CMMC, SOC 2, and regulatory requirements.
Chief Technology Officer
Scan-Optics LLC
Manchester
11.2018 - 06.2023
- Led enterprise infrastructure strategy and operations, overseeing hybrid cloud and on-premises environments supporting business-critical applications and service delivery.
- Architected and executed a hybrid infrastructure model, optimizing AWS utilization and repatriating key workloads to on-premises Nutanix hyperconverged clusters.
- Enhanced resource allocation control and performance while reducing operating costs through targeted operational improvements.
- Standardized enterprise networking across all locations through deployment of Meraki firewalls and secure connectivity, improving reliability, simplifying management, and enabling consistent operational performance.
- Established formal IT service management (ITSM) practices by implementing ServiceDeskPlus, introducing structured incident, change, and service request processes that improved response times, operational visibility, and service delivery consistency.
- Led SOC 2 compliance program by implementing security controls, developing operational policies, and building audit-ready processes, strengthening governance and aligning infrastructure operations with regulatory requirements.
- Negotiated enterprise agreements with Microsoft, Cisco, and hardware providers, optimizing vendor costs while ensuring scalability and modern infrastructure access.
- Transformed technology capabilities with AI-driven automation, RPA, and intelligent data processing solutions, leading to new service offerings and expanded revenue opportunities.
Senior Manager, Infrastructure Operations
Valassis / Harland Clarke
Windsor
11.2006 - 11.2018
- Progressed through multiple infrastructure and engineering roles over 11+ years, culminating in leadership of engineering systems supporting nationwide manufacturing operations across 18+ locations, each with localized infrastructure environments and a centralized enterprise datacenter in Windsor, CT.
- Directed infrastructure operations across distributed sites, overseeing servers, networks, systems, and manufacturing technologies to ensure production performance and availability.
- Led and supported infrastructure modernization initiatives, transitioning legacy standalone and VMware-based environments to Nutanix hyperconverged platforms, improving scalability, reducing hardware footprint, and increasing overall system stability.
- Drove network transformation by replacing legacy MPLS connectivity with Meraki solutions, enhancing site-to-site performance and simplifying management for geographically dispersed operations.
- Supported the relocation and full buildout of a primary datacenter facility (30+ racks), contributing to infrastructure design, deployment, and operational readiness for enterprise-scale systems.
- Partnered closely with business and manufacturing leadership to ensure high availability and performance of production-critical systems across all sites.
- Led a major manufacturing technology modernization initiative, replacing legacy inserter systems with next-generation platforms and integrating them with enterprise ERP systems under an aggressive 6-month timeline.
- Consolidated multiple legacy machines into a single platform, reducing labor per machine by ~50% and lowering overtime and temporary labor utilization.
Skills
- Infrastructure Strategy
- Datacenter Operations Leadership
- Infrastructure Design
- Hybrid Cloud (AWS GovCloud)
- Capacity Planning
- System reliability
- Service level management
- Incident response
- Cost Optimization
- Compliance readiness
- Multi-Site Operations
- Vendor Management
- Team Leadership
Certification
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Core Capabilities
- Datacenter Operations Leadership
- Infrastructure Strategy
- Multi-Site Operations
- Uptime & Reliability
- SLO/SLI Management
- Incident Response & RCA
- Capacity Planning
- Cost Optimization
- Compliance & Audit Readiness
- Team Leadership
- Hybrid Cloud (AWS GovCloud)
- Network Architecture
- Vendor Management
Timeline
Director of IT
Integrated Polymer Solutions (IPS)
05.2023 - Current
Chief Technology Officer
Scan-Optics LLC
11.2018 - 06.2023
Senior Manager, Infrastructure Operations
Valassis / Harland Clarke
11.2006 - 11.2018