GEEK
NERD

TECHNOLOGIST! :-)

TECHNOLOGY EXPERIENCE

Senior Linux System Administrator, ZestFinance, Inc., Los Angeles CA (June 2011 - March 2013)

Built, maintained, monitored AWS cloud infrastructure for rapidly growing personal finance company. Server resources included web, application, database, statistical modeling, underwriting, development. Managed S3 storage, EC2 servers, Route 53 DNS, RDS/MySQL databases, IAM authentication, CloudWatch monitoring. Monitored with Pingdom, PagerDuty, NewRelic, Airbrake. Created and maintained archival backup for data. Managed Microsoft SQL databases and other Windows Server instances.

Senior Unix System Administrator, Tierzero Inc., Los Angeles CA (January 2010 - January 2011)

Built, configured, deployed, and supported Linux servers and BroadWorks VOIP system for regional network and telephony provider. Applications and hardware supported included BroadSoft VOIP application servers, ACME Net-Net session border controller, Postfix, SELinux, CentOS 5, Wireshark network analysis, Cisco and Juniper routers, MySQL, DNS, and proprietary applications in Ruby and PHP. Provided 24-hour on-call escalation support for VOIP. Debugged telephony configuration, voice quality problems, call routing failures, and upstream vendor issues. Worked with vendors and customers to provision, configure, and debug hosted and trunked telephony systems with a variety of compatibility issues. Provided top tier support for customer care department. Evaluated, configured, priced, and recommended hardware and software. Researched new technologies and products and wrote reports for executive management.

I.T. Analyst (Contract), DirecTV, El Segundo CA (June 2009 - December 2009)

Configured, deployed, and supported enterprise applications for worldwide satellite television provider. Applications supported included global order and offer management, enterprise-wide messenging infrastructure, advertising sales management, dealer services, and call center platforms. Platforms included AIX, Windows Server 2003, and Linux. Provided on-call support including off-hours and weekends. Wrote shell and Perl scripts for deployment and monitoring. Communicated with developers, project managers, operations team, and crisis management managers. Carried out regular enterprise-wide software releases as well as emergency break fixes and patches. Tools used include Weblogic, Tomcat, SeeBeyond ICAN, Sterling Commerce Comergent

Senior Unix System Administrator, Buzznet Inc., Los Angeles CA (February 2007 - February 2009)

Designed, built, and maintained networks and servers for fast-growing entertainment community web company. Primarily responsible for customer-facing and corporate email including site policies, security, mail filtering, and mobile device access. Installed and maintained virtual and standalone servers for web, database, authentication, development, and networked filesystems. Provided 24/7 on-call support for outages and service degradation in customer-facing and internal services. Assisted Infrastructure Architect in planning for capacity, security auditing, and debugging production software. Managed software releases. Debugged and repaired failures in blog software, web servers, databases, network hardware and software, and access control systems. Technologies used include LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, Python/Perl), CentOS/Red Hat Enterprise Server, Cisco switches and firewalls, Xyratex and other NFS SAN file servers.

Senior Unix System Administrator, FOX Interactive Media/FOXSports.com, Los Angeles CA (June 2001 - February 2007)

Built, installed, and managed large consumer-facing web application for major media property. Planned, designed, and implemented release and testing system for development, quality assurance, and production networks. Specified, installed, and maintained Linux servers for web applications, database system, content management systems, electronic mail, development, version control, domain name services, caching, proxying, and secure sockets layer gateways. Configured and maintained HTTP proxy server. Developed SSL client certificate system for secure content management system. Provided on-call system administration services for 24-7 web application including infrastructure monitoring, network outage diagnosis and resolution, OS and hardware technical support for Development and Quality Assurance personnel, and management of outages caused by third-party contractors and other business units in the company. Coordinated data transfer and integration of systems with corporate partners, subsidiaries, and vendors including cross-platform conversions. Systems supported on-call include advertising, news feeds, video feeds, web applications, database systems, networked filesystems, and proprietary caching and XML processing devices. Provided developers with high-level support and Linux training services. Reported to Director of Technology . Systems and task sets used include Red Hat and Debian Linux, Mac OS X and XServe, Jakarta and Tomcat, Sarvega XML Appliances, Cacheflow caching devices, AOLServer, Oracle, Apache, QMail, the Linux kernel, GNU and open source tools, and Perl.

System Administrator, Metapa, Inc., Los Angeles CA (September 2000 - May 2001)

Administered Linux systems for fast-growing media infrastructure company. Responsible for development and production software environment, including installation, policies, and desktop and server standards. Installed, configured, monitored, and manage critical database and content delivery systems. Wrote and enforced policies on use of company systems. Installed and tested new releases of company software on production systems. Built and maintained corporate and outside email infrastructure. Software used included: Apache, MySQL, Debian Linux, Perl, CVS, shell scripting, NIS/YP, NFS, Python, and Metapa proprietary systems.

Mad Scientist (System Administrator), The Romp, Hollywood CA (February, 2000 - September, 2000)

Designed, built, and maintained technology infrastructure for startup Web entertainment company. Built Linux servers to provide web services, databases, email, firewalling, centralized system logging, statistics, DNS, and content management. Installed hardware and software at colocation facility. Monitored services and quality of service for web-based video, Flash animation, and database throughput. Software used included Apache, MySQL, Perl, Qmail, Debian Linux, VA Red Hat Linux, Bind 8, and shell scripting.

Manager of Information Technology, System Administrator, Internet Developer, University Access, Los Angeles CA. (May, 1998 - February 2000)

Managed technology infrastructure for growing Internet-based distance education company. Departments supervised include Systems Administration, Technical Support, Hardware Configuration, Network Administration, and Technology Training. Installed, configured, secured, and managed Linux servers for web, mail, streaming media, firewall, routing, database, and all other services. Wrote and enforced technology policies for security, training, acceptable use, and standards. Trained systems personnel and conducted company-wide training sessions. Wrote and maintained software for systems administration, including user management, monitoring, and security. Managed relations with vendors in networking, telephony, and hardware. Assisted Director of Technology and executive management in making strategic technology decisions. Specific software packages managed include: Apache with mod_perl, Qmail, RealServer, Amanda, Samba, Cisco IOS, RedHat and Debian Linux, and Perl. Specific server management tasks include mailing lists, intranet configuration, web authentication, router configuration, service monitoring, and Y2K audit.

Intranet Developer (contract position) Sprint, Overland Park KS. (September, 1997 - May, 1998)

Designed, programmed, and maintained intranet website for cutting-edge technology development group. Tasks included interface design, search engine development, creation of original graphics, writing, editing, and training. Developed Java- and Javascript-based interfaces for website. Integrated website with development projects. Converted legacy documents to hypertext format.

Webmaster/Online Marketing Manager, Davidson/CUC Software, Torrance CA. (June, 1996 - March, 1997)

Planned, designed, built, and maintained World Wide Web sites for leading educational and entertainment software publisher. Created: main corporate sites for Davidson and CUC Software Worked with producers, artists, programmers, marketing and sales managers to build international corporate interactive strategy. Assisted in development of Internet-enabled software. Managed America Online forum, including site creation and liaison with AOL.

Online Services Manager, Hollywood Online Inc., Santa Monica CA. (July, 1995 - June, 1996)

Designed, built, and managed on-line forums on America Online, CompuServe, Prodigy, eWorld, and Delphi for major Internet entertainment news publisher. Coordinated redesign of Hollywood Online on America Online. Hosted live entertainment events including celebrity interviews, premieres, and awards ceremonies on America Online, CompuServe, and Prodigy. Created, published, and edited on-line entertainment news service including wire service, photo assignments, and column features. Hosted on-line chats. Managed message board communities and forums for fan clubs, industry insider groups, and independent film associations. Hired and trained staff for America Online communities. Planned and designed AOL forums.

MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE

Manager, Medical Transcription, Good Samaritan Hospital, Los Angeles CA. (November, 1990 - July, 1995)

Managed 24-hour mission-critical information department in tertiary-care teaching hospital. Hired, trained, and supervised staff of 20. Budgeted, acquired equipment, and negotiated contracts. Researched, acquired, and configured networked medical records word processing and database system with digital signature and remote reporting systems. Wrote departmental policies and procedures.

TRADITIONAL MEDIA EXPERIENCE

Assistant Editor, Music Editor, The Los Angeles Reader, Los Angeles CA. (August, 1986 - August, 1987)

Edited entertainment and news sections of weekly newspaper, including criticism, listings, local news, and letters sections. Wrote feature articles, music and theater criticism, humor, and interviews. Typeset articles and listings. Assigned and edited work of free-lance journalists and columnists.

EDUCATION

UCLA, 1983-1987. English Major. Program Director, Music Director, KLA Radio. Regents Scholar.