Stephen Culpepper Email & Phone Number

Swanton, Oh, Us

Toledo, Ohio Metropolitan Area

In this role, I lead the team in innovation planning and deployments. I forecast equipment needs and oversee vendors and contracts. I also assess and sign off on equipment installation projects: direct network configurations, deployments, timelines, budgets, and interest during construction (IDC).A few of my key accomplishments include• Currently administering a $61.4M capital budget for innovative technology deployments.• Assuming multiple leadership roles and serving as the primary engineer during new system installations, network connections, and configurations.

Greater Atlanta Area/Toledo Metropolitain Area

In this role, I introduced modernization for cross-departmental operations and designed, documented, and implemented processes for global IP network enhancements. I performed risk assessments for recommended changes and assured compliance and audit readiness by maintaining systems with current fixes and security patches. I also leveraged operations-wide best practices to develop a user-friendly systems infrastructure.Some of my key accomplishments include• Delivered exceptional Tier III network reliability engineering service and support, project outcomes, and customer service.• Developed procedures and trained Tier II support staff (train the trainer) for new platform introductions, TechDev automation, new software releases and system upgrades.

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

In this role, I built a strong SDN POC (software-defined networking proof of concept) and core networking business case by identifyinging pain points and testing benefits for modernizing traditional tools. I created unique solutions utilizing computer software tools and innovative strategies. I also highlighted and recommended future offerings by prototyping modern technologies and implementing and demonstrating how MEC (multi-access edge computing), wireless, and edge cloud can minimize latency, increase efficiency, and save costs. Lastly, I collaborated with diverse stakeholders to improve internal frameworks and tools, outline requirements, and accomplish targeted milestones.My key accomplishments include• Saved costs renegotiating contracts with traditional hardware vendors for replacing legacy tools with NFV (network functions virtualization) by demonstrating xPON capabilities using commodity hardware.

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

In this role, I provided feature requirements documentation for the DWDM (Dense wavelength-division multiplexing) equipment evaluation team.Key accomplishments include• Collaborated with optical transport equipment Fortune 500 companies to identify and track hundreds of new feature requests, enhancements, and defects across multiple platforms and software/hardware releases.• Reduced operational costs by leading efforts to standardize software releases and settings, transition to a life cycle support model and prepare for the retirement/replacement of ~65K+ SONET and MSPP network elements from 5 vendors and ~10K+ DWDM, DCS, and optical switch elements from 6 vendors.I have additional experience as a Tier IV Product Evaluation Technical Support Specialist, Broadband Architecture and Services Planner, Transmission Engineer, and Outside Plant Electronics Network Design Engineer for AT&T in LaGrange and Atlanta, GA.