Today's date: Saturday, March 05, 2011
JOE LOURENCO
Work Status: C & C Technologies
Title: IT Manager
Work Start Date: April 26, 2010 - Current
Current Location: Rio De Janeiro, Brasil
Last Contract: Exceed Education
Last Contract Location: Edison, New Jersey, USA
Duration: 11 months, 2/25/08 - 1/21/09
Title: Systems Engineer / Administrator
Skills: Windows 2008 Server, Red Hat /CentOS, and Solaris 10.
Cisco and Network Engineering, Vsat Comm (CapRock), Storage SAN, and NetBackup.
Network Infrastructure Support: Racking and Cabling.
Security and Packet Monitoring: Netflow Analyzer, Firewalls, Proxies, IDS.
Certifications: Microsoft MCSA, CompTIA A+ and Network+
Currently studying to complete MCSE, RHCE, CCNA.
Volunteer Firefighter: Earl Naval FF Academy, Freehold, NJ Graduate.
Musician: Guitar and Piano Fluent in: English, Spanish, Portuguese
Any non-profit organization needing volunteer PC repair, feel free to contact me.
Even though I am a Systems Engineer, I will gladly help out.
Contact Info: +55-21-3208-2082 or (732) 972-5343
Email: ani@joelourenco.com and CC to josephlourenco@yahoo.com
As of April 2010, I began work at C & C Technologies as Network Engineer. Recently, I have been promoted into IT Manager, and I am currently head of a team of 3 technicians; helpdesk, developer, systems administration personnel. I am also the responsible party to technical support to 5 Ships that work in the Brazil coastal area on Petrobras based projects, surveying the ocean floors for critical data in the OIL Industry. I am responsible for the internal IT operations, and Vsat communications on our ships, as well an ambassador between the US Louisana based HQ of C & C Technologies IT Dept. and Brazil's IT Dept. and Administration. We are a Linux based shop with 80% of our systems in Linux, 5% Solaris, and 5% Windows Server. In a difficult, harsh, and challenging environment, working in the OIL Industry is indeed a build of true character. Overcoming culture barriers, resource importation issues, project management and quality control, plus making sure systems are up 99%, are critical to our business; the cost of keeping a ship without systems functioning are an astronomical loss. Definetely, one of the greatest challenges in my career.
March 4, 2011
Key factor I have learned in 1 year in Brazil: Difficulties build Character, and Character builds Strength, and Strength, builds Hope. Keep your head up and let your Yes be Yes and No be No. Do your job upmost 110%, be proud of your work regardless of how difficult the harsh environment fights against you. The world is not an easy place, and some challenges can overwhelm you, so take one day at a time, and do your job with true integrity, that way, at the end of the day, you know you have given it your best.
March 3, 2011
The middle of march is approaching and I am currently in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. As of December of 2009, I became MCSA certified. Onward I go to become MCSE, and thereafter, CCNA. In studying for the microsoft exams, which take quite some effort, specially the MS 70-293 exam, I noticed a bit of time away from Red Hat Linux and Solaris. Therefore I've had to prioritize my time by allowing study time for all of which is required in my field. My goal, is to combine my systems administrative skills with networking support, and to get there, MCSE and CCNA are required. I will do so!
March 8, 2010
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In summary, this portal, is a creation of technical creativity and research; my studies. Its main objective is to be a reference site to assist me in my work, such as tutorials, script library, important links, and up to date information. It is also a potential source for employers to get to know who I am and a source for me to know where I am in my studies. My broad IT background, ranging from work as a Web Developer, Programmer, Levels 1 to 3 Helpdesk and Tech Support, to my goal as a Systems Engineer, presents itself as a difficult task to keep up to date with new technology and the task of learning it. Such tasks are the learning of Scripting for automation, Coding for logical processing, Systems' Analytics for OS administration, and System's Engineering for the build and support of infrastructure and desktops. It all takes time, patience, and dedication. And overall, a committment to excellence. Brought up from a family, specially my father, in engineering and IT, my sources of influence and motivation are abundant. As this site grows, it is a goal of mine to present this site as a source of technical resources and as a model of the IT services I provide.
I recall writing the above paragraph...I was, at the time, attending New Horizons, in NYC, studying for my MCSE. Now, I am attending classes online because I just don't have the time to get to NYC by 6 pm. I am currently employed at Exceed Education, in Edison, NJ. Located at the Raritan Center, Exceed's Campus at Edison, has transformed my IT skills, management skills, and leadership skills. I am now, a Systems Engineer! Windows is my area of expertise because my work calls for it, but it also has given no other choice but to face up to a huge learning curve towards Solaris and Linux, plus VMware. These 3 are major clients of Exceed and our contract states that a Technical Advisor must be available during the class' duration, for technical support. Nothing short of a miracle, my hard work and perseverance paid off.
I have so many plans and ideas for this website. Mainly at first to guide and educate people towards the art of Desktop Deployment and Imaging, and Systems Administration for not only Windows, but Red Hat Linux and Solaris 10; I am very fortunate to be able to handle all 3 OS. Tools such as Ghost, Altiris, WDS, BDD, Zero Touch, Clonezilla, and not to forget Kickstart and Jumpstart Servers, are abundant on tutorials, reading books, and standardization. However, the difference I intend to provide, is where each technology is applies in a work scenario. Simply in the tutorial, stating the objective of the tutorial, and why the project needs it done. Each has a specific niche and the key is to use each and everyone to your own advantage, that is, getting the job done efficiently, and professionally. Let's add to it Winbatch, WMI, VB, and Perl, for automation. Can't go far without Microsoft tools, like Sysprep, Sysinternals, Steadystate, and last but not least, Win XP and Win Server 2003.
One thing I have learned in this field, IT, and I wish to present itself here, as I go forward, is that none of us are ahead, for simply, falling into a job. It took perseverance, hard work, determination, and lots of trial and error in studying and long nights at home built labs. The failed job offers and disappointing interviews, can not discourage you. Your time will come in the place you belong...of which you will wake up in the morning, happy to go to work because you love what you do, not that the paycheck owns you, and neither does your boss.
Now, before we go ahead, build yourself a LAB. My home lab consists of 3 Windows Machines, 1 Red Hat Linux Machine, and 1 Solaris 10 Machine. These 3 Windows Machines are: 1. Windows 2003 Server Domain Controller, 2. Windows 2003 Server Std, and 3. Windows XP Pro. Have a router available and a switch as well for networking purposes (Firewalls, ACLs, VLans, etc...). A good printer will be useful for those needed manuals (print on both sides when you can, it will save you paper and allow you to be able to staple it all together properly). If you can add 2 more machines, 1 each for the Red Hat and Solaris client machines, it would be great but not necessary. And very important, 1 machine for the VMware ESXi server, of which we will work on virtualization of server farms. Good Luck!
February 4, 2009
Joe A. Lourenco