For years I've reverse engineered and written software as a hobby, and now I get to put those skills towards advancing new technologies. This has been interesting work as I get to use my programming experience to write software and test quality assurance of data used for AI learning.

In 2021, the rise of the hybrid workforce sparked an urgent demand for unified communication solutions. At CNP Technologies, I was at the forefront of this transformation. I played a key role in virtualizing customer equipment, transitioning digital trunks to SIP signaling, and enabling secure VPN access to remote desk phones. I collaborated with network and SIP vendors to ensure clean voice signaling and secure packet transfer from firewall to user endpoint by deploying virtual EGWs, SBCs, Mobility routers, and SIParators on the DMZ while utilizing VoIP packet captures and traffic logs to ensure QoS. In my role at CNP, I gained project management experience by leading project kick-offs, establishing clear timelines, and completing tasks. I built procedural documentation and troubleshooting guides, as well as contributed scripts that streamlined processes related to data migration and maintenance. My professional services spanned a range of cloud UCaaS and CCaaS products, including Mitel, GoTo Connect, Fortivoice, and Ring Central.

During the pandemic, the entire industry quickly transformed away from premise systems and my family business had to close. The relationships I built with my customers allowed me to continue freelance services as an individual contractor. During this time, I performed various tasks such as onboarding, software upgrades/migrations, troubleshooting, and resolving issues.

You might say I have telecom in my genes. After earning my degree in Computer Science, I joined my family's business, Sharpcomm - a small business with big talent. As the lead partner for Verizon Federal, we upheld mission-critical communication services across Washington D.C. and Virginia government industries, including NIH, both major airports, all National Park Service locations, federal museums, embassies, and national army bases. I may be biased, but I'd say these were some of the most talented large system PBX engineers in the country. Most of my early experience was in troubleshooting on-site issues related to damaged copper, static, faulty hardware, and corrupted data, as well as performing routine backups and software upgrades.As technology advanced away from the digital and analog era to more environmentally friendly VoIP systems, Sharpcomm was able to provide systems that reduced the carbon footprint and energy costs of hundreds of our customers. This is when I found I could make the most impact at the company - by becoming proficient in VoIP and SIP. My role shifted to a small systems VoIP expert, integrating voice with existing networks and servers. I gained experience building call centers, training admins and users, correcting QoS issues on the network, configuring network routes and VLANs, integrating Windows Active Directory, and developing various scripts for SQL databases, and streamlining maintenance processes in the Windows Environment.