Ray Lara Email and Phone Number

Digital Transformation Advocate for Business Intelligence, Machine Learning and AI, and DBA Solution Services. All solutions are supported in Hybrid, Public (AWS, Azure, & GCP), and Private Cloud. Trained to identify ways to enhance solutions including Data Warehouses, Data lakes, Data Migrations, DB Management, Data Ops, Database Upgrades, Data Replication, Data Analytics, and Machine Learning. Currently covering 23 states in Central Territory in Enterprise and Mid-market segments with MRR Quota using Salesforce Tools.

Partner Technical Advocates are technical consultants to clients, IBM sales teams and/or IBM Business Partners. They understand the client's business requirements, technical requirements and/or competitive landscape. They provide technical sales support which may include: collaborate with IBM sales teams to define, design, and detail the technical aspects and feasibility of proposed solutions; deliver Proof of Concept; develop and deliver technical education; support critical situations; design solutions; and answer technical questions. When engaged for a specific opportunity or project, they are responsible for the technical accuracy of the proposed solution.This Partner Technical Advocate position is, more specifically, a Hybrid Solution and Power Systems FTSS/Architect role. The role requires a self-starter and able to take action without complete clarity. I understand and promote the Hybrid Cloud and Power System strategy both inside and outside of IBM. Experience working on IBM's Power Systems on IBM Virtual Cloud, IBM Cloud Paks, Power VC, and IBM Cloud. Understand the concept of Microservices, Cloud Native Apps, Containerization, Cloud Orchestration, and Cloud Mobile Apps. Working closely and effectively with the Brand Leaders, STG & SWG Sales and FTSS/SA peers is key .. as is creating real (technical) value. IBM hardware and software expertise/experience - and knowing the competition - are understandably very important

Specialize in providing consultations/recommendations on all Enterprise Storage Customer’s requests received by the Dell Sales support team via phone/e-mail in Dell’s Public Accounts Set (Major Universities and State and local government) Provides detailed knowledge of SAN, NAS, and Direct Attach Storage solutions. Provide end users with solutions that use multiple Vendors’ products in heterogeneous network environments including iSCSI or Fibre. Specializes in Dell Branded Enterprise solutions including lines of the Powervault Storage/Poweredge Servers/Powerconnect Networking/Force10 Networking/Compellent and Equallogic Arrays/Infiniband or 10GB HPCC. Provide Cloud based solutions through blade or rack architecture recommendations. Certified in Fabric Switch Design. Provide recommendations on Snap/Restore/Backup and Disaster Recovery solutions. Can gauge power/racks/rack accessories for Datacenter deployments. Can size servers for applications based on user counts and growth potential. Proficient in the consolidation of Infrastructures utilizing Hypervisors and matching the correct hardware. Configures and gauges capacities for midsize and Enterprise Storage Libraries. Understands all tape and back-up to disk Technologies. Understand the concept of capturing special pricing for competitive bids and quotes. Works extremely close with sales and management for large enterprise opportunities to execute sales. Helps secure order closures and rapid quoting with all account teams within the segments and through tight vendor communication and education of third party products.(Currently carrying a 25 million dollar quota based on a mix of Revenue and Margin with 2 six month Halves per year.)

Specialized in Commvault Data Management Software supporting Dell Company wide. Engaged in all Pre-sales Consultations covering Backup/Restore/Archiving/Replication and Storage Resource Management. Participated in Web-ex Demos, Customer pre-site surveys, and Sales Conference Calls. Managed the Commvault pipeline through all of Dell's segments across the Americas. Worked with the Dell Sales Teams to meet new and existing customer's challenges by recommending the right software remedy from the Commvault suite of products. Understand the concept of capturing special pricing for competitive bids and quotes. Works extremely close with sales and management for large enterprise opportunities to execute sales. Helps secure order closures and rapid quoting with all account teams within the segments and through tight vendor communication and education of third party products.

Technical Sales Representative(February 2004-2006)Dell Computer CorporationSpecialize in providing consultations/recommendations on all Enterprise Storage Customer’s requests received by the Dell Sales support team via phone/e-mail in Dell’s Corporate Accounts Set. Provides detailed knowledge of SAN, NAS, and Direct Attach Storage solutions. Provide end users with solutions that use multiple Vendors’ products in heterogeneous network environments including SCSI or Fibre. Specializes in Dell Branded Enterprise solutions including lines of the Powervault Tape Libraries/Poweredge Servers/EMC CX Fibre Storage Arrays. Certified in McData Switch Fabric Design. Provide recommendations on Snap/Restore/Backup and Mirror over IP solutions for Disaster Recovery. Can gauge power/racks/rack accessories for Datacenter deployments. Can size servers for applications based on user counts and growth potential. Proficient in the consolidation of Infrastructures utilizing VMware. Configures and gauges capacities for midsize and Enterprise Storage Libraries. Understands all tape and optical technologies that are current. Understand the concept of capturing special pricing for competitive bids and quotes. Works extremely close with sales and management for large enterprise opportunities to execute sales. Helps secure order closures and rapid quoting with all account teams within the segments and through tight vendor communication and education of third party products.(Currently carrying a quota with this role 4 qtrs per year.)----Became Technical Sales Representative of the Qtr Q2 FY’06----Became Technical Sales Representative of the Year for FY2005. ----Won the EMC Partnership Award for FY2005 (Corp Acct Segment)----Advanced System Group Dell Certified

Provide internal sales reps with consultation/complete solutions for client level products that attach to Dell notebooks, desktops, workstations, and server configurations. Empower the sales force to sell more products faster, at the lowest operating expense by answering queue calls or responding to inquires in the Dell S&P Pre-Sales Technical Support e-mail box. Support and configure over 45,000 products from over 1,700 manufacturers in the high tech industry, e.g., monitors, software, networking, power, storage, memory, etc. Work well in a team environment and works closely with peers, vendor partners, Product Marketing, and Sales in a professional manner with a can do attitude. Extensive coordination and planning with Dell S&P Product Marketing, the sales force, Dell S&P Vendors, and cross-functional teams accomplished daily. Experience working on problems of moderate to high-scope where analysis of situations or data requires a review of identifiable factors. Focus and specialize on High End Storage products and Solutions for the consultant’s team. Exercise precise judgment and utilize the correct procedures and practices to determine appropriate actions.

Dell Technical Specialty Support--Give Dell customers updated status and information regarding their out-of-warranty PC repairs. Worked with accounting departments dealing with all of Dell's biggest clients involving methods of payment, purchase order accounts, and invoicing using DOMS and DPS order applications. Setup repair service, contacts and pick-ups, also followed through on all customer issues until resolved via phone support. This includes handling all expedites, duplicate tag issues, and lost tags. Also responsible for monitoring all order processing. Responsible for getting orders shipped to meet the customer’s expectations. Ran the Diskette Creation Process for all Dell techs and outsource partners. Downloaded all drivers dealing with any Dell model and operating system for Dell customers and Tech support.

Dell Direct Tech Support- Assisted customers by troubleshooting complicated problems ranging from configuration issues to Software or Hardware conflicts involving Dell Computers. Worked on assignments that are moderately complex in nature where judgment is required in resolving problem and making routine recommendations. Determined whether components were malfunctioning through extensive diagnostics and real-time problem resolution. Stayed updated with current PC Industry knowledge. Ran patches and fixes through the Dell website. Kept customers content by being patient, and carefully guiding them through any problem with any generation of Dell PC's via phone support. Thus, ensuring consistency and the objectives of the quality call, surpassing dell’s quality audits.