I successfully supported and modernized an event management and monitoring system, consisting largely of IBM Netcool products as well as numerous custom integrations and point solutions, transitioning to a more sustainable and streamlined solution utilizing AIOps and including simplified and automated vulnerability management and remediation, adoption of modern technologies and processes, standard patterns and consistent approaches. This included support and development for two discrete event management systems, seamlessly and programmatically routing alert messages between the two as we decommissioned one (IBM Netcool) and pivoted to the other (BigPanda).I conceptualized, designed and developed an alert data stream processing system, utilizing Kafka and Python-based source, sync and processing microservices. Source node functions include listening for Syslog messages, SNMP traps, TCP socket streams, and RESTful posts, as well as message bus consumers from Azure and Google Cloud, serializing the discrete message formats as JSON, and passing them on to processing nodes for asset and support data enrichment, dispatch action enrichment, finally to a sync processor to make the decision based on tags, to which end operations system the alert should be routed.I developed a largely JavaScript based custom runbook automation framework, highly flexible, and meta-data driven. While focusing largely on integration with Amelia AIOps, Ansible, Microfocus Operations Orchestration as the automation actors and ServiceNow as the incident management targets. This included a near seamless integration to most any modern automation or ITIL system through data normalization and encapsulation of platform specifics within modularized transformers.

I drove the standard within a small "boutique" consulting organization, focused on Service Assurance/Service Management solutions, to insure quality, customer satisfaction, repeatability and consistency for an IBM ITSM and IBM Security business partner.I developed procedures and custom developed tools geared towards reducing cost and time in implementation and custom integration of commercial off the shelf (COTS) network and systems management software. My efforts in simplifying and streamlining technical sales activities and Proof of Concept (PoC) installations resulting in over 80% reduction in time and cost to deliver pre-sale pilot deployments, as well as proportionate reductions in time, cost and complexity of post-sales deployments.While balancing my time with company technology direction and future market focus, along with technical pre-sales support and internal team process improvement, I remained "hands-on" technical and was exceptionally effective in my primary role of best-practice operations and automation consulting, systems design and architecture. This effort manifested in a perceivable increase in year-over-year customer satisfaction with technical solutions and project interactions. This manifested in an increase in overall customer foot-print, as well as repeat business within existing customers.Being a small organization and necessitating the need for "many hats," I also designed, implemented and supported our internal network and systems infrastructure, supporting sales demos, lab systems for our consultants and support engineers, and training environments for our internal consultants and external customers. I developed and implemented security policies, devices/systems and compliance checks, providing secure and segmented internal end external access to key resources.

Consultant April 2012 to April 2013I provided development and production engineering support of a large enterprise management solution for a fortune 500 international banking and financial services organization, comprising multiple products from the IBM Netcool Suite (including OMNIbus, Impact, TBSM, et. al). I brought multiple projects to fruition through the entire project lifecycle; from inception and requirements gathering, through development and testing, to implementation and ongoing solution support.

I was a key technical resource, as well as member of the leadership team, for a small Service Assurance and Operations Management consulting organization. I filled the internal role of Chief Technology Office, providing direction and strategy as to service and solution direction for customers, and defining internal strategy for our business tools and infrastructure.I implemented various quality controls and solution standards that aided in improving overall satisfaction within our customer base.Key customer successes: Large Insurance Provider I provided staff augmentation support, design and implementation, in addition to migration strategies for the Netcool environment for a large insurance provider.Social Media Provider I designed and implemented a network and systems monitoring solution for a large U.S. based social media company comprising various IBM Tivoli products including Netcool/Omnibus, Netcool/Impact, ITNM, IBM Tivoli Composite Application Manager (ITCAM), and IBM DB2. Cellular Communications Provider I was tasked with the architectural design, implementation and operational strategy for a large U.S. based broadband provider, including a green-field deployment of the Netcool suite of products, as well as custom developed integration and support components.Tier Two Communications Provider I performed a business impact and functional operational analysis of an existing HP OpenView Operations Manager implementation. This assessment culminated in follow-on development and functionality enhancements. Large U.S. Based Cellular Communications Provider I provided solution development and integration for a nationwide wireless service provider's network monitoring infrastructure, consisting mostly of the Netcool suite of products. While engaged with this customer, I provided planning and architectural strategies for several key integration initiatives including a major architectural redesign, and incorporation of 4G (LTE) network monitoring.

I owned and operated an independent consultancy providing technology solutions to various clients, specializing in the area of enterprise and operations management. I specialized in standards-based operations management strategies, best-practice software implementation and integration, custom development and operational assessments.Key customer successes while with GranIT Solutions: Business Service Management Solutions Provider I provided consulting services for a business service management/user experience focused software provider, integrating as a key member of their user experience assessment and implementation team. Mortgage Corporation I provided assessment and correction of a failing Netcool/OMNIbus and Microsoft Operations Manager implementation. I quickly identified and corrected faulty areas and successfully increased the client’s faith and satisfaction in the software. I instituted a workable and stable custom developed interface to the in-house ticketing system, and provided the client an ongoing strategy for operations management. Cellular Communications Provider I provided development and implementation support for a nationwide wireless service provider's Netcool implementation. Additionally, I provided planning and architectural strategies for a major architectural redesign, a platform-wide in place upgrade, a migration from NetXpert and large scale functional upgrade to support emerging services. Managed Services Provider I provided architectural design and implementation services for an internationally focused managed service provider. I implemented integrations to commercial of the shelf (COTS) software and custom developed fault management and event correlation solutions for multiple customers world-wide. Healthcare Organization I developed an information systems centric business continuity plan and disaster recovery plan for a large Midwest hospital and health services organization.

I was instrumental in implementation and ongoing support of a network management solution and tools automation for a 90,000+ employee company, supporting three Network Operations Centers (NOCs) worldwide. The software I supported principally comprised Cisco Infocenter, Netcool/Impact, HP OpenView Network Node Manager, HP OpenView Operations and CiscoWorks.I assessed, and implemented operational and process improvements aiding efficiency of the operation and interaction of the Tools and Automations group and our three Network Operations Centers. Additionally, I improved, standardized and automated outage reporting processes for the disparate business units supported by the organization.

I designed, implemented and supported a managed services network and systems management infrastructure comprised of a geographically dispersed and redundant Netcool/Omnibus implementation, including Netcool Reporter, HP OpenView Network Node Manager, NetIQ AppManager, Microsoft Operations Manager and CiscoWorks for a 24x7 “follow-the sun” operations center with sites in the United States, India and France. I provided management and monitoring of the central infrastructure and customer premise security devices (Firewalls, IDS and VPN concentrators), as well a customer network infrastructure.I developed the security policy, and spearheaded the effort around tracking and enforcement of information security practices and acceptable use of the underlying systems and network infrastructure for a network operations center supporting customers in over 16 countries.I provided system administration and system security for the central infrastructure comprised of several Windows Servers, RedHat Linux servers, and a diverse install base of client workstations. Additionally, I was instrumental in administrative and security implementation and compliance, including network security management, host-based intrusion detection, assessment and intervention, for Windows-based servers and Cisco network equipment in the customer environments. I performed the role of database administrator of one large Sybase ASE database and several Microsoft SQLServer databases. I managed an effort involving the assessment and development of a custom-developed customer facing portal using Microsoft SharePoint.I developed custom customer-driven management solutions to include managing and coordinating the implementation and deployment of supporting equipment worldwide.

I designed, implemented and supported the technology and processes for an enterprise wide network, systems and problem management solution supporting a 12,000 employee healthcare organization including 4 corporate offices and over 650 remote sites. I started with a "green field" environment, with a charter to determine the best software solution, develop the processes and procedures, I managed the deployment efforts, and assessed the technical integration and process needs of the entire IT organization. The resulting COTS products which I implemented and integrated included HP OpenView Operations, HP OpenView Performance Insight, HP Openview Vantage Point Internet Services, HP OpenView Service Information Portal, Telamon Telalert Enterprise, Open NerveCenter, CiscoWorks and numerous custom developed integrations using Visual Basic and PERL scripting.I developed problem management processes and business continuance strategies as well as providing direction and guidance for all individuals involved in a 15 month implementation project including a team consultants, operations staff and stakeholder team members from customer organizations. During the course of this effort, I managed a multi-million dollar budget for assessment, development and implementation of this enterprise management solution and successfully completed the project three months ahead of schedule and 20% under budget.

I designed and implemented a service provider class operations management system including fault, configuration and systems management, DNS and IP management and various supporting systems and integration facilities. I provided hands-on implementation and development while managing a team of several employees and contractors, resulting in a distributed and highly redundant fault, configuration and performance management system including Netcool/Omnibus, Netcool Internet Service Monitors, Veritas NerveCenter, BMC Patrol, Quallaby Proviso and custom developed software solutions.

I was a member of an internationally respected technology services organization and personally successful in delivering technical architecture and technology solutions to customers nationwide, while mentoring junior consultants and providing training to both customers and fellow consultants. The quality and respect I engendered within the consulting organization as well as with our customers manifested in expanded project foot prints within existing accounts as well as new business with organizations who had interactions with prior projects in which I was engaged.