Mike Gaal Email & Phone Number

Redmond, Washington, Us

Redmond, Washington, Us

Redmond, Washington, Us

Redmond, Washington, Us

Redmond, Washington, Us

Redmond, Washington, Us

Redmond, Washington, Us

Redmond, Washington, Us

As a Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft based in San Francisco, I have the unique opportunity to work with some of the worlds largest and most influential enterprises & technology companies in embracing Azure to achieve agility, cost efficiency, and adaptability. I focus on complex enterprise and ISV technical scenarios in both a pre-sales evangelism and post-sales implementation success role, holding deep relationships with approximately a dozen market and industry defining customers. I engage in POC's through hands-on involvement, technical project management, escalation of customer issues directly to product team stakeholders as well as defining business cases for feature improvements and prioritization of implementation in the platform as a direct result of customer interaction.I am extremely proud and humbled to be working for Microsoft and seeing firsthand the sheer amount of investment, innovation, and learning required to forge this new generation of hyper-scale services and empower our customers.

Redmond, Washington, Us

I utilize my background of 10+ years experience as a subject matter expert across a variety of technologies in IT Operations and IT Applications to help Bay Area large enterprises deliver solutions to critical business challenges with Microsoft software. I am thrilled to be in this position, as I am able to aid in the future development of the software I've grown to love over my career managing thousands of workstations and servers, while at the same time getting to live vicariously through my customers in helping them achieve their goals through use of this software.I specialize in the following technology:Windows Server - all infrastructure components, including Failover Clustering, automation, deployment, configuration managementHyper-VSystem Center 2012: Configuration ManagerSystem Center 2012: Operations ManagerSystem Center 2012: Service ManagerSystem Center 2012: Virtual Machine ManagerSystem Center 2012: AppControllerSystem Center 2012: Data Protection ManagerSystem Center 2012: OrchestratorWindows Azure Storage + Azure Infrastructure as a Service (Virtual Machines)

Oakland, California, Us

Rewrote the organization’s configuration baseline for the supported Windows Server Operating Systems to be in line with the Center for Internet Security’s Security Benchmarks. Actions positively affected the compliance data of all Windows Server assets and supported mitigation of millions of dollars in regulatory fines. Receivedrecognition from CIS and added as a contributor to the published benchmark for providing feedback of PG&E’s environment and how the industry can benefit.Re-architected the organization’s geographically distributed Active Directory OU structure to support a new technology focused method of applying group policy. Introduced group policy as a method of managing servers. Translated the secure CIS configurations to group policy to enforce settings. Reduced complexity of image and deployment maintenance by over 30%.Developed a SharePoint based system of providing project specifications for all UNIX, Linux, and Windows infrastructure required in projects to work hand-in-hand with a standardized workflow process map governing infrastructure requirements and cross-team inputs and outputs. Allowed for automated work ticket generation with BMC Remedy, and integrated with ConfigMgr 2007 and VMware vCenter for automateddeployment. Developed scripts and repeatable actions done over standard SOAP services.Third-tier SME support for all Windows Server and VMware technology. Provided expertise to SCOM, SCCM, Active Directory, Citrix, Windows Client, Exchange, SharePoint SME’s.Evangelized modern management of the Windows Server platform and the benefits of virtualization, introduced automation, process, upgrades to previously hesitantfeatures, and within 6 months re-aligned the Windows Server strategy toward success.Aligned the Windows Server deployment and platform to the PG&E IaaS initiative via performance tuning, recommendations for standard capacity levels, and culture change around “capacity” as opposed to “models.”

Oakland, California, Us

See Expert description above.

Oakland, California, Us

Managed a team of 3 knowledge analysts during a period of transformation for the Computing Services organization.Took control of daily and monthly metrics reporting processes initially facilitated by consultants - completely re-architected and automated the presentation of the metrics utilizing existing technology within days.Forged relationships with various operational teams to gather requirements for a single "operations front door" integrated with the organization's incident tracking system. The front door directly impacted the team's efficiency to ensure proper routing of service requests.Coached direct reports on how to utilize SharePoint for requirements gathering and supported their efforts in creating efficiency by creating new operations front door web forms.Defined a system by which the Computing Operations and Integrated Design & Solutions organizations could request metrics and new forms - directed clients to use the form, allowing for management visibility and transparency of metrics and their reasoning.

Oakland, California, Us

Engineered the organization’s Windows Server 2008 R2 standard image build delivered via the OSD component of System Center Configuration Manager 2007 platform. Created a robust delivery system that rapidly imaged all hardware types with a single task sequence via a completely automated process. Created custom VBScripts, software packages, .HTA front-end files and relevant documentation surrounding the build.Re-engineered the organization’s existing Windows Server 2003 R2 standalone DVD-based unattend.txt and custom application driven deployment solution into the network-driven OSD component of System Center Configuration Manager 2007. Completely automated the provisioning of servers over the network from disparate geographic locations spread out over the state of California and merged the deployment process with the emerging Server 2008 R2 platform into a single Task Sequence, improving deployment time by over 60% with only 2 minutes of “Lite-Touch” data entry needed from administrators. Presented metrics illustrating the savings of approximately $90,000 the year following adoption of the new process.Set a process precedent by concretely mapping an improved workflow for the Windows Server Services organization to act as a foundation for even further process improvements utilizing extensive automation on the SharePoint platform. By use of the new system a “Single Source of Truth” for deployment and retirement activities has emerged. Held training with multiple departments to encourage further adoption of the SharePoint Workflow platform, creating deliverables and training guides for SharePoint Designer, web design, graphics editing, etc.

San Francisco Information Technology content expert providing regular articles to Examiner.com.Check out my articles (and subscribe!) here: http://www.examiner.com/x-40630-SF-Information-Technology-Examiner

Dublin 2, Ie

Denied band-aid fixes of a legacy Access 2003 application used for tracking education grant requests via a complicated and overly engineered process, instead spearheaded the effort as project manager with stakeholder approval to completely re-design the system on the SharePoint technology platform. Managed vendor resources and developed all project documentation.Performed all technical analysis and implementation for the organization’s Citrix Presentation Server 4.0 to XenApp 4.5 upgrade entirely on a VMWare infrastructure with no downtime for legacy production applications. Reduced login times from 3+ minutes to a 13 second average globally. Created and performed all load testing and developed a performance management plan fine-tuned to monitor the performance of the farm down to exact user session metrics.Quickly assumed SME role on dozens of disparate pharmaceutical industry COTS and custom-developed applications.Analyzed and designed solutions to allow for custom vendor and in-house applications to be integrated and utilized in Citrix. Developed ad-hoc batch files, VBScript files, and custom group policy ADM templates to achieve program compatibility.Proactively volunteered to aid Technical Services staff in packaging applications, learning the DSM software distribution suite and providing training on how to best deploy packages. Aided in the distribution of several enterprise-wide software packages.

San Rafael, Ca, Us

Rapidly promoted from Desktop Support Technician 2, previously rapidly promoted from Desktop Support Technician 1 due to exceptional performance in analyzing and improving existing processes outside of immediate job scope.Managed an “IT Intern” with a 12 week curriculum touching upon all aspects of IT’s role in the enterprise. Project managed a custom coded solution for the Corporate Compliance department to track regulatory agency inspections and increase the efficiency of the organization’s response to inspections. System directly impacted the entire organization’s presentation to the FDA and other regulatory bodies.Project managed a completely in-house custom web-based system with a SQL backend utilizing external consultants to track software assets used during computer systems validation activities.Project managed the organization’s 700 client migration from SMS 2003 to Configuration Manager 2007. Standardized organization’s desktop patching process, streamlined the desktop imaging process, and packaged all standardized applications eliminating the need for technicians to touch workstations for software deployments.Project managed and implemented a complete migration of all field-based commercial operations staff computer systems to a standardized multilingual Windows XP image utilizing the MozyPro backup service to reduce recovery time of all remote workstations to < 1 day.Implemented the company’s first validated client/server implementation of the Empower 2 Enterprise software with a $100,000 budget. Developed system architecture, hardware procurement and all associated quality deliverables. Developed a “System Design Description” template and set of guidelines utilized department-wide governing all computerized system design.Coded VBScripts and batch files, packaged software, and unified the organization’s system deployment procedure with in-place technologies to allow for increased efficiency among Desktop Support staff.

San Rafael, Ca, Us

Refer to Business Systems Analyst position above.

San Rafael, Ca, Us

Refer to Business Systems Analyst position above.

Rohnert Park, Ca, Us

Offered unique conversion from Helpdesk Student Assistant to full-time Information Technology Consultant due to exceptional ability to document processes, create tools for troubleshooting, and act as a mentor for peer students.Mentored student staff with best-practice customer service concepts, explanation of technology, and involvement in complex troubleshooting.Developed process and created utilities to cleanse all models of laptops and desktops of spyware, viruses, and slow performance issues. Process became primary method of cleansing ~5-10 student systems per day of infection for years.Developed standard and secure operating system images for both Windows XP/2000 and Mac OS X.

Rohnert Park, Ca, Us

See Information Technology Consultant position above.

Master Of Business Administration (M.B.A.)

B.S., Technical Management

Education record