Dustin Stephens Email and Phone Number

As Sr. Manager of Network & Cloud Operations at CHG, I established a proficient cloud operations team focused on AWS account management, cost optimization, and non-CHG platform-specific workload deployments. I promoted automation and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) while ensuring team members received training opportunities to enhance their skills. Concurrently, I led the Network Operations team, composed of network engineers and a cloud telephony admin, resulting in annual savings of $100,000 through legacy network modernization and decommissioning. My role involved orchestrating modernization efforts, including SDWAN implementation, Wi-Fi expansion, and integrating network monitoring tools. I oversaw projects to ensure full redundancy with carrier diversity at all office locations, increasing network reliability. Additionally, I managed vendor negotiations, proof of concepts, and budgets to optimize project spend and ensure alignment with company objectives. Working with a team of engineers and managers, I helped design and launch a Change Management program and co-led the "Summer of Strategy" meetings for our IT Services division.

As the Systems Engineering Manager, I facilitated team growth and development, overseeing 6 engineers and 1 DBA. Within my first year of leadership, I expanded the team size from 5 to 7 employees, effectively meeting growing operational demands and fostering team cohesion. I implemented agile methodologies, leading daily standups, backlog refinement, and retrospectives to enhance task management and project delivery efficiency. My role included overseeing multiple initiatives to modernize legacy infrastructure across datacenters and remote sites, including HCI implementation and deploying modern backup and recovery solutions. Additionally, I negotiated vendor contracts and managed an IT Operations budget of over $1.5M annually.

As a DevOps Engineer, I automated and streamlined Linux server builds, system patches, and application deployments across production and non-production environments, resulting in reduced deployment times. I collaborated with developers to create a modern CI/CD pipeline for deploying containerized workloads in a micro-service architecture, enhancing the efficiency of the software development lifecycle and shortening the time-to-market for new features. I implemented and maintained application and system monitoring to ensure high reliability and performance of applications. Additionally, I provided technical expertise and support to cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing to drive continuous improvement initiatives.

As an Infrastructure Engineer, I engineered and implemented critical systems and solutions to enhance operational efficiency. I utilized DFS Replication to back up six remote sites to HQ and AWS Glacier, ensuring robust disaster recovery capabilities. I designed and deployed a robust patch management solution for both Development and Production Windows environments, improving system security and compliance. I managed a multi-site VMware vSphere cluster and SAN, consisting of approximately 1000 VMs and 233TB of data, ensuring high availability for virtual machines and data storage. Additionally, I administered Active Directory and leveraged PowerShell scripting to automate administrative tasks and reduce manual efforts.

As an IT Manager/Sr. Systems Administrator, I collaborated with developers to deploy production and testing environments, enhancing software development efficiency. I provided Tier 2 support for 450 users across three geographic locations on both Windows and Mac OSX platforms. I led and mentored my team, fostering professional growth and career development. I cultivated vendor relationships and negotiated software and hardware purchases to meet organizational needs. I spearheaded initiatives to improve the security and performance of IT systems, boosting reliability and reducing cybersecurity risks. Additionally, I implemented a network and application monitoring solution to ensure optimal performance and availability of IT systems.

As a Systems Administrator, I supported and maintained over 400 users in a globally diverse environment, administering Windows servers across multiple Active Directory domains. I successfully migrated to VMware vSphere virtual infrastructure with DRS and HA, which reduced server sprawl by 50% and enhanced resource utilization. I managed enterprise storage technologies such as EMC SAN and RAID arrays. I implemented and managed backup solutions for all company data and servers using Symantec Backup Exec, promoting data integrity and availability. Additionally, I installed and managed the NEC PBX phone system.

As a Network Administrator, responsibilities included managing all aspects of the company network's functionality. Successfully migrated the system from Novell Netware to Windows Active Directory. Standardized desktop configurations using MS GPOs and VB scripting. Created and maintained a robust backup and recovery scheme. Provided technical support for 11 offices and 160 users. Additionally, interacted with hardware and software vendors for company purchases, ensuring cost-effective procurement.