Chris Athanson Email & Phone Number

In my capacity as a Solutions Engineer, my proficiency spans key focus areas crucial to organizational success:- UCaaS and CCaaS Integration: Designing and executing unified communication and contact center solutions customized to meet organizational requirements.- Technology Optimization: Harnessing my in-depth knowledge to optimize existing communication infrastructures, ensuring maximum performance and efficiency.- Sales Engineering: Providing invaluable support to sales teams through technical expertise, facilitating the effective communication of product capabilities and benefits to potential clients.- Continuous Learning: Maintaining a commitment to staying at the forefront of industry advancements and trends, ensuring clients benefit from innovative and future-proof solutions.

Troy, Michigan

As a Senior Sales Engineer, I played a pivotal role in the design, implementation, and support of customized UCaaS, NaaS, and SD-WANaaS solutions, addressing the diverse network, communication, and collaboration needs of clients while supporting Channel Managers. Key responsibilities included:- Conducting thorough needs assessments to understand and analyze client requirements, engaging with clients to identify specific communication challenges and objectives.- Developing comprehensive UCaaS solutions aligned with client needs, encompassing the selection of appropriate communication tools, integration of existing systems, and the design of scalable, efficient architectures.- Maintaining a profound understanding of UCaaS, NaaS, and SD-WANaaS technologies, protocols, and best practices, while staying updated on industry trends and emerging technologies to provide innovative solutions and recommendations.- Collaborating with sales teams and Channel Managers to support the sales process by providing technical expertise during client presentations, demonstrations, and proposal development.- Ensuring alignment between technical solutions and client expectations by collaborating closely with account managers.- Proactively identifying areas for improvement in UCaaS solutions and recommending enhancements to maintain a current and efficient technology stack.- Collaborating with internal teams, including product development, engineering, and support, to share client feedback, contribute to product improvement, and ensure a cohesive and streamlined customer experience.

As a Senior Sales Engineer, provided dedicated support to sales teams across three offices, delivering impactful customer presentations, comprehensive systems design, accurate equipment and labor estimations, and timely product update information. Offered crucial pre-sales customer support to enhance overall client satisfaction. Collaborated closely with the operations department throughout the installation and implementation process. Played a pivotal role in the launch of a new telecommunications company, contributing to the provision of IP Telephony, Carrier Services, Data Networking, Paging, and Structured/Backbone Cabling. Successfully expanded the customer base from inception to over 500 clients within a span of 5 years. Instrumental in achieving Mitel's top Platinum Solution Provider status and Hewlett-Packard's ProCurve Specialist Partner designation for Converged Solutions. Conducted thorough research and evaluation of auxiliary equipment and applications, enhancing the company's portfolio of voice and data products. Conducted customer site surveys, leveraging both interpersonal and technical skills to establish trust and credibility with customer technical staff. Engineered and competitively priced over 100 successful and profitable Mitel IP PBX installations and upgrades.

In my role as a Field Engineer and Project Manager, I assumed a leadership position overseeing multi-site enterprise Mitel PBX installations. My responsibilities encompassed comprehensive planning, meticulous scheduling, and adept cost management. I specialized in the programming and installation of telecommunications systems, spanning Networked TDM and IP-based PBXs, PRI/T1, and Key Systems tailored to the diverse needs of small to large businesses. Additionally, I demonstrated a keen understanding of LAN and WAN networking environments, coupled with foundational knowledge in the configuration and management of Cisco and Hewlett-Packard networking equipment.

Managed all administrative aspects of the Interlochen 800+ station Definity PBX and Intuity Audix voice mail system, overseeing responsibilities from the switch to the instruments. Spearheaded the management of the campus-wide fiber and copper cable system, entailing project management, RFP composition, installation, documentation, maintenance, and performance testing of backbone and structured cabling systems. Additionally, oversaw the comprehensive management and maintenance of the Audio/Video inventory, Two-way radio system, and materials inventory for all systems.

Associate'S Degree, Electrical, Electronics And Communications Engineering

High School

Activities and Societies: JV And Varsity Baseball, Concert Band, Jazz Band