Changed career to a Meridian System Administrator / technician in early 2002 to developing new Telecommunication skills supporting an in-house PBX supporting 600 users, carried out network cabling, call logging, structure training with [snip], mobile phone administration, switchboard support & carried all user comms problems.  Troubleshooting cabling faults & configuring pickup groups, hunt groups along with all types of moves & changes.  Achieve some large cost saving with mobile phone administration & ISDN 30 Tariff changes.  My drive to succeed as a Telecom / Network Engineer continued with [snip] to develop an increase Meridian understanding with Meridian Mail, Call Pilot & network monitoring over 3 sites.  I continued to troubleshoot on telephone network with [snip] from workstation upgrades, to onsite server support incorporating network, server & workstation support.   After securing a contract at [snip] as a NOC Support Engineer became involved with [snip] to develop a wider range of troubleshooting skills to support a number of military & commercial projects. 

After a 4 year apprenticeship as a carpenter my interest towards IT / Network grew to bring on a late career move away from construction to telecommunications after I achieved a HND in computing, with a number of disappointing opportunities my skill base has increased to cover a number support roles.  Working towards my long term goal as a CCIE Cisco Engineer I had to use my original career to financial support my family which I worked to achieve 2 years of Telecoms experience which was enhanced by my last contract as a NOC engineer.  I am a strong willed individual who thrives on hard work in a challenging environment. 

TELECOM & NETWORKING ACHIEVEMENTS 

·         Monitored & troubleshooting on a large fire rescue network in the UK, covering netcool, solarwinds, Meridian & Cisco monitoring.

·         Worked on the world 3^rd largest TAP database, using LDCN & remedy.

·         Working on UNIX networking monitoring & restarting services of scripts.

·         Network Transformation on Windows NT Server for [snip] Services as part of the Equinox Project at [snip] Banks throughout the UK, server backs & release workstations of network.

·         Dedicated Administrator for major Meridian Switch upgrade from Featurenet for 600 phone lines at 186K, which was delivered smoothly in 1 weekend.

·         Increased phone access for 150 to 250 users in 2 days saving £2000. Identified one third failed phone cab ports and installed 135-140 new digital ports from scratch in 2 days (186K).

·         Built new Access database of 2000-3000 phone user records in 2-3 weeks, verifying and transferring old data for new Meridian network installation. 

·         Reduced costs of 100 internal mobile phone users from £6k to £2.5k in 5 to 6 months as part of 186K’s downsizing.  Reduced Monthly invoice by £2,500 within two months at [snip].

·         Collated data for 120 independent ISDN/ADSL lines for transfer onto one internal Meridian network at 186K.  Identified lines, assessed purpose and contracts with decommissioning costs.  Delivered in line with data protection act for 186k home users.

·         Successfully administered and maintained [snip] £44k Switchboard out of hour Voice Activated Directory (VAD) achieving above 90% accuracy response rate (186K).

·         Administer the [snip] Switchboard SIM database with involvement in Tariff Management.

·         Continually recognised for effective results over and above previous Telecom Manager as well as approachable and team-focused approach. 

TECHNICAL SKILLS 

·         Remote troubleshooting a Cisco network

·         Used http, HyperTerminal, telnet & spectrum to flush devices to monitor & investigation alert on Military network.  Worked on worlds 3^rd largest TAP database.

·         Advanced Meridian 1 System administration on option 11C, 61C & 81C including OTM.

·         Data cabling using 25 pair & CAT 5 for Analogue to Digital short term fix.

·         Conversant with Symposium - changing skill sets, activating connection from Meridian to Symposium and efficient system management.

·         Trained on [snip] software, Voice Activated Directory Tariff Manger, Call Logging, Connect 2 and CIM (Call Information Module) Operator Person Module Database controlling switchboard.

·         Strong user of MS Office applications, Win 98, NT, 2000 and XP.

·         Knowledge of Lotus Notes, Vision (Vodafone billing software) & online Corporate mobile phone billing

·         Helpdesk fault logging using HEAT, Concept & Contivity.  Logged Timesheets on SAP.

·         Certified IT Pat tester for work at the Custom & Excise building in Swansea, Cardiff & Bristol

CAREER

April 2006 to Dec 2006 – Service Desk / Network Engineer (Contract) at [snip] 

Provided 24/7 NOC support on military & commercial networks.  The software to monitor this Cisco network was Solarwinds & Netcool to troubleshooting, monitored LAN & WAN links passing all faults on to 3^rd party support, a Cisco network with meridian VOIP telephones was support 24/7 investigating SNMP alarms, clear CRC errors on faulty interfaces including enabling ports, clearing security violations, add / remove switchport security on switches & weekly ISDN test calls to check status of BRI interfaces.  Telecom configuration was carried out using OTM for any changes to the hunt or pick up groups & setting new data & voice TAPS & ITG cards  

Our main military TAP database was accessed through Spectrum with TAP flushes carried out through LDCN using remedy as the main database, had full admin rights to remedy to add & amend all entries.  Our daily tasks were to carry out TAP flush, activation / deactivation including ports in LINK state, also cleared device alarms & change port speeds.  We provided initial telephone assistance to Site Network Managers / Comms Officers on 3 COM & Cisco device over secure links covering site all round the world.  All logged called were added to clarify with tight SLA requirement to be escalated in under an hour.  Troubleshooting a secure UNIX bases server’s network by following written scripts to restart service, renew password or investigate fault before escalating to 3^rd party support.  

Jan 2006 to March 2006 – Server Support Engineer (Contract) for [snip] Services.           

Support AVC with server support to backup scripted services & re-establish new DNS settings before proving new connection with all site work stations.  Required to confirm old & new IP / MAC address on server locate workstations on network, delete DSBSched Queue on server before releasing IP.  Carry out scripted procedures to content to new DNS or carry out onsite server installations if network transformation fails. 

March 2005 to Jan 2006 – Carpenter (Contracting) for [snip].                        

Carrying out maintenance, upgrade, road forms & shuttering work as part of the construction contract [snip] have with the [snip].  All work on both site were under strict health & safety procedures. 

Sept 2004 to Feb 2005 – Onsite Workstation Engineer & Pat Tester (Contract) for [snip] 

I carried out workstation upgrade at [snip] counters to comply with new ADSL connection supplied by [snip], installed memory, PCI cards, CMOS battery & full IT pat test on all site equipment.  The contract continued with IT PAT Testing at [snip] building in South Wales & Bristol. 

Jan 2004 to 27th August 2004 – Telecom & Network Support Engineer (Contract) [snip]  

All cases within [snip] were logged through HEAT with strict SLA’s to carry out desktop support, network support & telecommunication support.  Worked with a Nortel Meridian 1 81c, 11c PABX carrying out moves changes, fault traces.  Required to building of pick up groups, hunt groups from all the departments using HyperTerminal & direct consol programming.  I worked on all in-house patch cabinets, krone frames & under floor CAT 5 cabling to carry out department moves & cable fault tracing.  Programmed agents through symposium to log & monitor all calls to the call centre agents.  Was in charge of all mobile phone administration including call billing using

Mar 2003 to Jan 2004, Self-Employed Carpenter/Joiner (Contract)

Provided general building service and worked loft conversion.  Customer service support role with maintenance work for [snip] to providing a wide variety of skills before property hand over. 

April 2002 to Feb 2003, Support Technician/Telecomm Manager (Contract) 186k Reading 

Part of the Telecommunication team to carry out a role out from featurenet to 61C Meridian 1 PABX, became involved in CAT 5 cabling to change analogue patch panels to digital.  Carried out call logging, mobile phone administration, call billing & monitoring switchboard.  Updated to CIM database for switchboard efficiency with all telecom working cover by 2 engineers, I was the only telecoms engineer on site covering over 500 users.  I worked along side the facilities team to liaise with any 3^rd party contract supporting the phone network for all site visits.

Sep 1996 to Apr 2002, Self Employed Taxi Driver / Student – To cover University Studies

Jun 1982 to Sep 1996, Various Carpentry & Joinery Roles, (Contract) South Wales area

Fully time served Carpenter/Joiner having completed a 4-year apprenticeship at a large joinery production.  Renovated fleet of chartered yachts at all stages of refurbishment including re-lining of cabins, replacing roves, windows, doors, ceilings and completed full blind/awning installations.

ACHIEVED TRAINING CERTIFICATION

ü       December 2005 - Server Building training at [snip], Bristol

ü       September 2004 - ADSL upgrading for Post Office Counter training & IT PAT Testing at [snip], Birmingham

ü       December 2002 – Tariff Manager Administration at [snip], Reading

ü       October 2002 – Call Information Module training at [snip], Reading

ü       September 2000 – HND in Computing at University of Wales College, Newport

ü       July 2000 – Meridian 1 Advanced System Administration at [snip], Kent Hill, Milton Keynes (Self Funded)

ü       June 2000 – Meridian 1 Basic System Administration at [snip], Kent Hill, Milton Keynes (Self Funded)

ü       September 1999 - HNC in Computing at University of Wales College, Newport

ü       June 1985 – City & Guilds Advanced Craft in Carpentry & Joiners at Barry College

ü       June 1984 – City & Guilds Craft Certificate in Carpentry & Joiners at Barry College 

PERSONAL

DOB: 22^nd May 1966 - Status: Engaged to Marry Oct 2007

Interests: Part of the Welsh Archery Squad as a Bowman class archer with reserve 4th place archery in the Archery Welsh Team for Gents Recurve, enjoy walking, cycling, playing squash & badminton.