My professional IT journey began in an unlikely environment - a small pest control office here in Florida. It was during this period that I not only managed the office staff but also took on the comprehensive role of transforming our IT infrastructure. By procuring, implementing, securing, maintaining, and decommissioning technology systems, I converted our office from a paper-based model to a modern, digital operation. My efforts enhanced efficiency, accuracy, and the customer experience, fueling my transition to an IT-focused role at my alma mater in 2021.
With the foundational IT skills honed in the pest control industry, I embraced a Tier 2 technical support role at the university. My duties spanned the processing of onboarding, terminations, and name changes within our database and Active Directory, as well as tackling escalated technical issues and liaising with specialized teams like InfoSec, Server, Network, and Engineering, to address higher-level challenges. Concurrently, I pursued a Master of Computer Science degree, which I am now close to completing.

In 2023, I took on my current role as IT specialist where I've been utilizing my knowledge and skills to configure and manage our IT infrastructure within the Microsoft environment. I collaborate closely with engineering teams to secure and establish identity and access management, provision applications, and maintain our Intune and Autopilot set up. Building on this foundation, my responsibilities extend to ensuring the reliability and performance of essential services such as Okta, Adobe, DocuSign, 8x8, LastPass, and eFax. My ability to troubleshoot complex mail flow issues with tools like Proofpoint, Exchange message trace, and Defender advanced hunting, alongside administering Cybereason antivirus software, showcases my versatility and dedication to safeguarding our IT environment. Acting as a liaison between our organization and key technology vendors—including Microsoft, Dell, and Lenovo—allows me to address and resolve technical incidents beyond standard admin center solutions. This role not only benefits over 1700 internal users but also enhances our operational efficiency and security.

Moving forward, I am seeking to transition into a more specialized role in systems administration and cloud engineering. My journey is directed toward mastering cloud technology and leveraging my skills to design, implement, and manage scalable, resilient, and secure IT infrastructures. I plan to continue with obtaining advanced certifications especially post completion of my Masters degree. My academic projects in database management and machine learning have laid a solid groundwork for pursuing innovative solutions in data science and AI, areas I am eager to explore in professional settings.