Summary
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Accomplishments
Timeline
Generic

JOHN BLACK

Sackville,Canada

Summary

Over 15 years of experience in network implementation and maintenance, excelling at managing complex infrastructures and data center operations. Proven expertise in solutions-oriented business application problem-solving, consistently providing best-in-class service. Skilled at troubleshooting with excellent communication and collaboration abilities, effectively resolving issues and working collaboratively with teams.

Work History

Systems Specialist – Operational Technology

JD Irving
01.2022 - Current
  • Technical resource for connectivity between business and process networks interacting with division and site contacts and 3rd party manufacturer stakeholders
  • Perform risk and network assessments of various manufacturing sites, both onsite and/or remotely, providing recommendations and designs to improve their network and security posture in accordance with corporate standards
  • Analyze firewall rules and network topologies to recommend and design immediate improvements and future upgrade projects
  • Interact with equipment manufacturers and sites to design remote access solutions in accordance with established industry best practices and corporate standards
  • Participate in ongoing Operation Technology governance project writing and reviewing policies and standards based upon IEC 62443 and NIST 800-82
  • Perform incident response and troubleshooting for manufacturing sites
  • Provide Windows Server support in multitude of business and production environments across the company's divisions
  • Assist networking and security teams with understanding of change requests in production environments to enhance security measures, protecting sensitive operating environments and data from potential breaches
  • Maintain an understanding of industry trends related to the OT field focusing to continuously improve upon knowledge and skillsets
  • Develop and update documentation outlining system architecture
  • Performed network security design and integration duties.
  • Collaborated with stakeholders to enhance [Type] system utilization and efficiency by customizing business processes.
  • Conducted thorough analyses of existing networks to identify areas for improvement and optimization.

Senior Systems Administrator

Emmerson Packaging
03.2010 - 01.2022
  • Install, configure and maintain lifespan of three VMware clusters running on Dell and Cisco servers with NetApp, Equalogic and Compellent Unity SANs technologies to maximize resource utilization and reduce physical server footprint
  • Planned, installed, replaced, and configured MS ForeFront, to Trend Micro (2014), to Fortinet EMS (2018) anti-virus environment
  • Design, configure, and maintain Dell N-Series, Force10, PowerConnect and Cisco networks ensuring vendor interoperability
  • Maintained Cisco and Meraki wireless infrastructure
  • Domain Administrator of Windows 2016 AD environment implementing permissions, print servers, DNS, TCP/IP, DHCP and Group Policy
  • Installation and support of software and hardware for 350+ Windows XP/7/10 workstations and 100+ various Windows 2003 up to 2019 Servers
  • Configured and maintained Cisco routers as firewalls migrating to Cyberoam UTM firewalls (Spring 2012), to SonicWall NSA firewalls (Apr 2014 and Sept 2014), then to Fortinet firewalls (July 2018, upgrade Dec 2021)
  • Provide remote infrastructure support to Ontario and Kentucky manufacturing sites and sales personnel, periodically traveling to implement and support initiatives
  • Administrator 480+ email accounts via Microsoft 365 Service
  • Support Cisco CUCM VoIP phone system consisting of 200+ phone sets
  • Utilize SolarWinds Orion server for network and server monitoring
  • Orchestrate integration and communication of software and hardware upgrades within IT Department and assist any other departmental IT related projects
  • Continuous focus to evaluate, design and configure Backup, Recovery and DR
  • Troubleshot complex technical issues, providing timely resolution to minimize impact on end-users
  • Collaborated with stakeholders to define requirements for new IT initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives, and coordinated with cross-functional teams on complex projects, ensuring successful completion within deadlines and budget constraints
  • Managed vendor relationships, negotiating contracts and procurement to optimize pricing while maintaining quality service levels
  • Championed knowledge-sharing and technical leadership initiatives among team members through documentation and training sessions, promoting a culture of continuous learning
  • Delivered Tier 2 & Tier 3 support for identification, diagnosis and issue resolution
  • Conducted routine and emergency maintenance of assigned data center equipment
  • Planned and implemented upgrades to system hardware and software
  • Maintained flexible schedule and responded to after-hours emergencies
  • Researched and recommended new technologies and strategies for improving system performance

Interim IT Supervisor

Emmerson Packaging
01.2018 - 11.2018
  • Maintained IT strategies and coordinated daily activities while full time position vacancy on two separate occasions
  • Analyzes business needs and develops and adapts technological solutions
  • Evaluates and assembles resources for implementation of new technology
  • Based upon business requirements, establish priorities for systems development, maintenance, and operation within the department
  • Directs integration of Information Technology operations, computer hardware, operating systems, communications, software applications, and data processing
  • Acts as resource to senior management on IT issues and planning
  • Develops and directs Information Technology policy and plan strategy
  • Consults with departmental managers on technology and systems capabilities; provides feasibility guidance and cost estimates

Systems Administrator

LED Roadway Lighting
02.2015 - 07.2015
  • Installed and support servers, workstations in office and production floor
  • Installed and support various applications
  • Domain Administrator of Windows 2012 AD environment

Information Systems Technician

Aerospace Telecommunications, CFLRS Det Borden
09.2009 - 11.2009
  • Attended Basic Military Qualification course – honourably released

I/T Network/Security Coordinator

Flakeboard Company Ltd
12.2002 - 09.2009
  • Supervised and mentored seven staff, issuing guidance on management of technical situations as arose across 10 locations in Canada and US since Aug 2006, two employees since Sept 2005
  • Design, configure, and maintain network infrastructure spanning ten locations engulfing approximately 120 servers and 700 workstations via seven HP networks (80 devices) and three Cisco networks (50 devices)
  • Planned and managed migration project of network assets in 7 locations across US from preparation to completion participating with Flakeboard and EDS/Weyerhaeuser personnel to bring a smooth, successful migration
  • Provide Tier 1 & 2 hardware and software support in Canada and Tier 2 in US on Windows 2000/XP Pro and Windows 2000/2003 and Citrix
  • Participate in on-call rotation and be available for 24/7 incident response
  • Steward of McAfee ePO 3.5 anti-virus environment
  • Domain Administrator of Windows 2003 AD environment
  • Primary Backup Admin of Computer Associates ARCServe Backup, Secondary for remote locations running Backup Exec v10 and v11
  • Interact with 3rd party contractors and suppliers to acquire, implement and maintain network assets

Systems Analyst

PC Assistance
04.1998 - 11.2002
  • Installation of multitude software programs and hardware systems meeting requirements within varying customer environments from 2 to 100 users
  • Administered Microsoft Windows 95/98/ME/NT4.0/2000 environments

Hardware Analyst and Technical Support

Skyway Computer Centre
04.1995 - 03.1998
  • Handled computer component support, testing and replacement for RMA
  • Implement and manage PC custom order assembly
  • Performed Inventory, Shipping and Receiving department duties

Education

Honours - Electronic Engineering Technology

Radio College of Canada
Toronto, ON
03.1995

Skills

  • Vendor Relations
  • Team Collaboration
  • Technical Troubleshooting
  • Problem Solving
  • Decision Making
  • Technical Analysis
  • Project Management
  • CCNA and MCSA
  • Network Administration
  • Adaptability and Flexibility

Certification

  • CCNA – Cyber Ops, 12/2024
  • CCNA – Routing & Switching, 02/2020
  • MCSA - Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator, Spring 2008

Accomplishments

  • Various online training via Percipio from 02/2022 to Current
  • Various online training via StormWinds 07/2017 to 01/2022
  • VMWare Install, Configure and Manage vSphere v5 - 03/2013
  • NetApp Data ONTAP 7-Mode Administration – 05/2011
  • SANS Intro to Information Security (SEC 301) – 03/2006
  • HP ProCurve Networking Adaptive EDGE Fundamentals – 02/2006
  • SonicWall Certified Security Administrator (CSSA I, II, III) – 12/2005

Timeline

Systems Specialist – Operational Technology

JD Irving
01.2022 - Current

Interim IT Supervisor

Emmerson Packaging
01.2018 - 11.2018

Systems Administrator

LED Roadway Lighting
02.2015 - 07.2015

Senior Systems Administrator

Emmerson Packaging
03.2010 - 01.2022

Information Systems Technician

Aerospace Telecommunications, CFLRS Det Borden
09.2009 - 11.2009

I/T Network/Security Coordinator

Flakeboard Company Ltd
12.2002 - 09.2009

Systems Analyst

PC Assistance
04.1998 - 11.2002

Hardware Analyst and Technical Support

Skyway Computer Centre
04.1995 - 03.1998

Honours - Electronic Engineering Technology

Radio College of Canada
JOHN BLACK