I’ve worked in IT for over 20 years. I started out on a help desk, worked my way up through network administration, and eventually ran an IT department. These days most of my work is in cybersecurity.
What I’ve Done
- Senior Systems Administrator (2025 to now): I’m the main cybersecurity person. I find and fix vulnerabilities, run the system that monitors the network for security problems, and handle the toughest support issues.
- Network and Security Administrator (2023 to 2025): I took a network from more than 20 problems on its government cybersecurity scans down to zero, and tightened up its firewalls, VPNs and DNS security.
- Director of Information Technology (2019 to 2023): I ran the IT department. That meant budgets, vendors, a small team, disaster recovery, a new phone system, and keeping everything running during elections.
- Senior Network Administrator and Network Administrator (2015 to 2019): I looked after the network, servers, email and firewalls, and moved everything onto newer, more reliable systems.
- Lead Technician and Field Engineer (2013 to 2015): I supported IT for a lot of small businesses, with plenty of email moves to Office 365 and firewall work, and helped train the newer technicians.
- Network Administrator (2011 to 2013): I rebuilt a school network and moved its servers to virtual machines.
- IT Manager (2009 to 2011): I was the only IT person, so I handled everything from vendors to fixing computers.
- Help Desk Supervisor (2008 to 2009) and Help Desk Technician (2005 to 2008): where it all started, helping people with their computers and later running the help desk.
Outside the Day Job
I’ve spoken on panels at GMIS conferences about open source in government and moving to VoIP phone systems, and I received the first GMIS Illinois Support Award in 2023. I’m also the secretary of the Illinois County Information Management Agencies (ICIMA) and a member of InfraGard.
I’m always trying to learn more about security and hacking. There’s a lot to learn, and I’m enjoying working through it.