Thomas Dickinson Email & Phone Number

Duluth, Ga

Technologies: Windows Server, VMWare, Nutanix, Ansible, Nagios, PowerShellProjects and Responsibilities• Windows system build automation with PowerShell and Ansible• Automating system configuration and application installs• Project management lead for software upgrades and migrations• Disaster Recovery planning and support• Monitoring systems with Nagios• VMWare administration• Supporting Windows Systems and LOB Applications• Windows systems configuration management and application installsI am currently working with the Data Center Operations group to support the Windows and VMWare infrastructure for our 2000 user corporate campus. Installing systems and associated software, performing systems maintenance, configuring and maintaining application servers, working with various departments on supporting, configuring, updating, and deploying business applications, maintain and executing disaster recovery plans for hardware and software failover, and installing, configuring and maintaining server hardware.I have spent the last eight months working to bring Ansible automation to our Windows environment. Writing playbooks and roles to automate our Windows build process, software installations, and systems configuration. Using a combination of Ansible and PowerShell we have reduced our server build time while implementing standardization and increased reliability.

Greater Atlanta Area

Director of ITBrought onboard this architecture firm to manage IT operations, facilitating growth from $10M to $58M in annual revenue and from 75 to 350 employees over tenure. Expanded IT infrastructure from one workstation and aging patchwork servers to a stable environment with standardized workstations, file servers, IT security policies, and disaster recovery/archiving processes. Promoted to management and sustained rapid growth to nine offices across six cities, building the IT department to a staff of 12 and a $2.5M budget. Evaluated business/end-user needs, developed business cases, and deployed new hardware/software, supporting 100+ applications. Reduced network downtime to less than an hour per month, saving $22K+ a week in lost productivity. Increased efficiency, information retrieval, and interoffice file-sharing by deploying Riverbed WAN acceleration ($250K)/Data Domain storage/archiving ($120K) solutions. Led multiphase, 12-month, $75K project to implement Altiris Deployment Server, asset management, software management, and helpdesk solutions, enhancing network reporting, usage monitoring, and helpdesk/analytics. Largely automated building custom PCs and updating the portfolio (100+ apps) via Altiris, reducing build time to two hours, saving 12K+ annually. Implemented hardware enabling 64-bit OS and software/SSD hard drive technologies and upgrading switching infrastructure to support gigabit to the desktop. Introduced a new helpdesk system and migrated user file storage to Nasuni, a cloud-based system.Supported growth from 100 to 350 staff (2006-2008) by doubling office space and forming an offsite IT services team. Oversaw IT components/logistics of startups, integrated acquired engineering firm into infrastructure, and managed IT components of spinoff/reintegration of engineering branch. During 2008 downturn, eliminated all IT staff, removed nonessential services, and restored IT infrastructure as economy rebounded.

Atlanta, Ga

Partnered with CEO and Systems Administrator to audit this stock brokerage firm’s IT systems and identify unnecessary services. Managed special IT projects, including opening a new office and documenting IT systems and processes. Identified and negotiated the cancellation of unnecessary service contracts that saved $80K+ annually. Audited network equipment/systems, improving inventory management and eliminating unnecessary IT spending.

Greater Atlanta Area

Internal Tech Support Manager1995-1997Desktop Support Technician1995Promoted within a few months of joining this technology firm to oversee the IT department. Managed two desktop support staff, a $150K annual IT budget, and vendor evaluation and selection, procurement, and systems engineering. Migrated company to new technologies and orchestrated company relocation (125 users) to a new office.

Education record

High School