About

I’m an infrastructure engineer and project lead at Networking Specialists, Inc., a managed IT services provider supporting small and mid-sized businesses in the Grand Forks, North Dakota region. I manage internal and client servers, including our Proxmox VE and VMware ESXi virtualization hosts, and I design network deployments from hardware selection through configuration.

My background spans enterprise hardware support, higher education, and local government IT. Day to day I work across Windows Server and Linux administration, virtualization, backup and disaster recovery, and networking. I hold Ubiquiti’s UniFi URSCA and UFSP certifications and am working toward CompTIA Security+.

I enjoy leading teams. Faith and community service are important to me, and part-time I serve as technology specialist at HOPE Church, where I lead the volunteer technical production team and manage its dedicated production network.

Experience

  1. Networking Specialists, Inc.

    Grand Forks, ND
    • Infrastructure Engineer & Project LeadJan 2026 – Present
    • Helpdesk TechnicianDec 2023 – Present
    • Deliver managed IT services and professional IT support to small and mid-sized businesses in the region.
    • Manage internal and client servers, including the company’s Proxmox VE and VMware ESXi virtualization hosts.
    • Design network deployments, from hardware selection through configuration, and lead UniFi deployment projects.

  2. HOPE Church

    Grand Forks, ND
    • Technology Specialist (Part-Time)Apr 2023 – Present
    • Audio, Video & Lighting Technician (Volunteer)Jan 2022 – Apr 2023
    • Deploy and manage all production network infrastructure, a dedicated network for production traffic separate from the general IT network, including multicast, QoS, and IGMP snooping configuration for Dante audio.
    • Lead the volunteer technical production team, providing audio, video, and lighting support for weekly services.
    • Support community outreach events, including Vacation Bible School (VBS).

  3. Worldwide Tech Services

    Grand Forks, ND
    • Server Support TechnicianJan 2023 – Dec 2023
    • Performed on-site hardware diagnostics and repair across Dell and Lenovo product lines as a field technician.
    • Served as dispatched “smart hands” for client central IT teams at branch offices without on-site IT staff.

  4. University of North Dakota (UIT)

    Grand Forks, ND
    • User Support TechnicianAug 2021 – Dec 2022
    • Provided chat and phone support to students, faculty, and staff, helping them use technology effectively in teaching and learning.
    • Troubleshot classroom AV equipment and resolved general hardware and software issues.
    • Managed a fleet of ~100 loaner laptops for community members whose devices were out for maintenance.

  5. GE Appliances

    LaFayette, GA
    • Cost of Quality Engineering Co-opMay 2021 – Aug 2021
    • Developed ISO 9001:2015-compliant test procedures for electronic controls used in production, field service, and returned-unit failure analysis to identify root causes of non-repairable field failures.

  6. Catoosa County Government

    Ringgold, GA
    • Technology Specialist InternApr 2020 – Aug 2020
    • Supported computer deployments and on-site issues for county departments, including E911, Fire, Sheriff, District Attorney, and Board of Commissioners; prepared bids for major purchases, including meeting-streaming equipment.

  7. Catoosa County Public Schools

    Ringgold, GA
    • Technology Specialist InternFeb 2017 – Dec 2019
    • Maintained a fleet of ~4,500 student HP Chromebooks from diagnosis through parts ordering and repair; resolved end-user tickets on site across Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS, and assisted with structured cabling and network hardware installation.

Projects

A few representative projects from my current roles.

UniFi Network Deployments

Networking Specialists, Inc.

Designing and leading UniFi network deployments for small and mid-sized business clients, from hardware selection through configuration.

  • UniFi
  • Network design
  • VLANs
  • Wireless (WLAN)
  • Firewall management
  • VPN
Read more

Servers, Virtualization & Backup

Networking Specialists, Inc.

Managing internal and client servers, including the company’s Proxmox VE and VMware ESXi virtualization hosts, with backup and disaster recovery.

  • Proxmox VE
  • VMware ESXi
  • Windows Server
  • Active Directory
  • Linux
  • Veeam
  • Proxmox Backup Server
  • ShadowProtect SPX
Read more

Live Production Network

HOPE Church

A dedicated network for HOPE Church’s live audio, video, and lighting production, kept separate from the general IT network and tuned for Dante audio.

  • Dante
  • Multicast
  • QoS
  • IGMP snooping
  • Network segmentation
Read more

Skills

Systems

  • Windows Server
  • Active Directory
  • Group Policy
  • Linux (Debian & derivatives)
  • Microsoft 365
  • Entra ID
  • Exchange
  • Intune
  • Windows, macOS, ChromeOS
  • PowerShell & Bash (basic)

Virtualization & Backup

  • Proxmox VE
  • VMware ESXi
  • Veeam
  • Proxmox Backup Server
  • ShadowProtect SPX
  • Backup & disaster recovery

Networking & Security

  • Network design & implementation
  • Routing & switching
  • VLANs & segmentation
  • Firewall management
  • VPN
  • Wireless (WLAN)
  • DNS / DHCP troubleshooting
  • Multicast, QoS, IGMP snooping
  • UniFi
  • SonicWall
  • pfSense
  • Cisco IOS
  • Ruckus
  • Structured cabling

Web Hosting

  • Apache
  • Nginx
  • Caddy
  • Reverse proxies
  • SSL/TLS certificates
  • WordPress
  • PHP
  • MySQL / MariaDB

MSP Tools & Service Delivery

  • ConnectWise
  • KaseyaOne (Datto, IT Glue, Autotask)
  • Help desk ticketing
  • Remote & on-site support

Hardware & Process

  • Dell & Lenovo server and client hardware
  • IT asset & lifecycle management
  • Project leadership
  • Root cause analysis
  • ISO 9001:2015 documentation
  • Equipment bids & procurement

Audio / Visual

  • Dante
  • Q-SYS
  • Live audio, video & lighting
  • Classroom AV
  • Meeting streaming systems

Certifications

Earned

  • UniFi URSCAUniFi Routing, Switching & Cybersecurity Admin Ubiquiti
  • UniFi UFSPUniFi Full Stack Professional Ubiquiti

Currently pursuing

  • CompTIA Security+ CompTIA In progress
  • Cisco CCNA Cisco Next
  • Red Hat RHCSA Red Hat Planned

Education

  • University of North Dakota

    Grand Forks, ND
    • Coursework toward B.S., Electrical Engineering & Computer ScienceAug 2021 – Dec 2022

    Dual major; Mathematics minor

  • Shorter University

    Rome, GA
    • Dual Enrollment & First-Year CourseworkJan 2020 – May 2021