Extended CV / 2005–Present
Work over
time.
Twenty years across hosting, infrastructure, WordPress, integrations, security, technical service delivery, and solutions. I’ve stayed close to the implementation while working directly with partners, customers, product teams, and operators.
Tybee Island / 2024
About me.
I’m a hands-on generalist solutions engineer. I work across technical, product, business, and people boundaries, helping hosting companies, SaaS products, apps, and registrars launch and scale services.
At Automattic, I work across platform engineering, systems, operations, partnerships, and sales. My work covers technical discovery, solution architecture, partner integrations, production operations, product shaping, developer enablement, incident response, and difficult escalations.
I stay close to implementation. I deploy code, build platform features and internal tools, manage servers, and troubleshoot production systems across databases, caches, APIs, origins, and edge infrastructure. I turn production findings into product changes, documentation, and training.
Over 20 years, I’ve worked across hosting, systems administration & engineering, infrastructure, security, development, WordPress, and technical service delivery. I’ve also led teams and projects, supported sales, and worked directly with customers and partners.
I connect technical details, business goals, and the people responsible for delivery. I stay steady through incidents and escalations, account for downstream effects, and follow the work through.
I also work on practical AI operations. I focus on reducing toil without handing unverified work to the next person, with validation, clear reporting, and human accountability.
Early on, I won national web development competitions and helped grow and lead managed service providers. I served on the University of Tennessee technology advisory board, helped build and run a regional brewery, and worked in hemp production. Before that, I worked my way out of poverty with help from some incredible people.
I’m based in East Tennessee. Away from the keyboard, I tend old farmland and brew beer.
May 2024–Present
Forward Deployed Solutions Engineer
I help hosting companies, SaaS products, apps, registrars, and other partners scale operations, launch services, and grow revenue. At Automattic, I work on a systems team across platform engineering, operations, partnerships, and sales. My work spans technical discovery, solution architecture, partner integrations, product shaping, service delivery, go-to-market work, development, developer enablement, incident response, and escalations.
WP Cloud / partner success / platform engineering / WordPress and PHP / MySQL and caching / APIs, logs, and metrics / origin and edge infrastructure / security / AI operations
October 2022–May 2024
Senior Technical Lead, Pressable
I served as Senior Technical Lead for Pressable operations, bridging development and support with WP Cloud and other platform teams. I led technical triage and escalations across hosting infrastructure, WordPress, Jetpack, security, and performance. I expanded product capabilities, translated operational needs into platform features, and developed technical guidance and service processes.
Pressable operations / WP Cloud integrations / technical triage / product development / developer outreach / hosting performance / security / service operations
April 2020–October 2022
Lead Technical Cache Flusher, PHP & SQL Tinkerer, and Bug Whisperer
I engineered solutions and service across WordPress.com, Pressable, Jetpack, WooCommerce, and other Automattic products. I built and trained internal teams for advanced issue resolution, led learning sessions, and investigated failures across code, infrastructure, performance, and security. I worked with platform and product teams to isolate bugs and improve tooling, documentation, and repeat-issue prevention.
Global hosting infrastructure / PHP and SQL / security research and response / escalations / developer outreach / technical training / tooling
November 2018–April 2020
Happiness Engineer
I engineered customer solutions and product improvements across WordPress.com products and services. I worked through migrations, hosting issues, Jetpack, technical troubleshooting, and escalations while building deeper knowledge of the platform.
Customer solutions / WordPress.com / migrations / Jetpack / hosting operations / technical troubleshooting / product feedback / escalations
June 2016–October 2018
Solutions Architect
I designed and delivered WordPress, hosting, security, and IT solutions for small businesses and organizations. The work covered web applications, Linux and Windows servers, AWS, databases, migrations, compliance, and production hosting.
Solution architecture / WordPress / cloud and servers / security assessments / databases / project delivery
June 2006–December 2015
Consultant
I built websites and managed hosting, infrastructure, security, and technology projects for businesses and community organizations.
Web development / production hosting / infrastructure / security / client delivery
February 2017–February 2018
Brewery Operations and Technology
I worked across brewhouse, packaging, customer, and IT operations for a growing Chattanooga brewery. I supported process controls, packaging automation, internal systems, and WordPress.
Brewing operations / process control / packaging automation / internal IT / WordPress
January 2016–June 2016
Technical Supervisor, Managed and Cloud Services
I led Chattanooga systems administrators and field technicians across managed and cloud services. I combined systems engineering and escalation work with project delivery, hiring, and datacenter on-call responsibilities.
Systems engineering / managed services / team leadership / project delivery / escalations / datacenter operations
October 2015–June 2016
Dedicated Systems Administrator and Engineer
I planned and delivered infrastructure and support work for manufacturing, healthcare, and financial-services clients.
Client infrastructure / systems administration / project planning / regulated environments / service delivery
July 2014–January 2016
Field Engineering Team Lead
I led systems administrators and field technicians across Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Nashville. The team delivered SLA-driven support across hundreds of client environments, infrastructure deployments, and high-priority incidents.
VMware and Citrix / Active Directory / storage and networking / WordPress / team leadership / incident response
February 2014–July 2014
Systems Administrator
I executed infrastructure projects and resolved escalations across servers, networks, desktops, datacenters, and EMR/EHR environments while working directly with clients and technical account managers.
Servers and networks / datacenter operations / EMR and EHR / patching / SLA delivery / partner support
June 2011–February 2014
IT and Marketing Manager / Outdoor Guide
I owned IT, web, and online marketing for an outdoor recreation business while also working as a guide. I built and maintained network infrastructure, reservation-related web services, managed WordPress hosting, and security controls.
Network infrastructure / web services / managed WordPress / security / business operations
November 2012–August 2013
Field Account Representative
I developed IT solutions for government and higher-education accounts, advising departments and University of Tennessee decision-makers on procurement, migrations, and technology launches.
Technical account management / public sector / solution development / procurement / migrations
September 2012–May 2013
IT Lab Technician
I deployed and maintained IT infrastructure across university labs, supporting users, Active Directory, printing, and lab systems.
Infrastructure deployment / Active Directory / end-user support / lab operations
June 2010–August 2010
Technical Assistant, Mayor’s Office
I supported the mayor’s office with IT repair and management, legal filings, equipment maintenance, and general technical work.
Municipal IT / equipment support / records / public service
July 2005–June 2006
Player Community Correspondent, Community and QA
I represented the Star Wars Galaxies player community to the development team. I documented more than 100 bugs and exploits, performed QA testing, and communicated development updates to players.
Community feedback / quality assurance / bug documentation / developer communication
Education
University
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Coursework in political science and public administration, business, information sciences, and technology, with additional MPPA and JD credits.
Technology Fee Advisory Board / Student Government Association / Pi Sigma Alpha / Geology Advancement and Tutors Program / Students For Liberty / Alpha Gamma Rho
Credentials
Licenses & certifications
VMware Certified Professional 6 – Data Center Virtualization
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional
Brocade Certified vRouter Engineer
VMware Certified Associate – Data Center Virtualization
Certified Internet Web Professional: Network Technology Associate
Certified Internet Web Professional: Internet Business Associate
Recognition
Awards
Andy Vanosdale Microsoft Scholarship
Four-year scholarship recognizing achievement and innovation in technology.
National Web Development Champion, First Place
Beyond work
Service & memberships
Dean’s Technology Advisory Board, University of Tennessee
Responsible for technology planning, budgeting, and direction of campus technology projects.
Pi Sigma Alpha, POLITICAL SCIENCE HONOR SOCIETY, University of Tennessee
Alpha Gamma Rho, Alpha Kappa Chapter
Updated chapter technology, developed risk-management programs, and worked with alumni on a technology roadmap.
West Polk County Volunteer Fire and Rescue
Students For Liberty at UT
Polk County High School Technology Advisory Committee
Microsoft Hobbyist Developer Council
Tested prerelease technologies and documented more than 1,000 bugs, exploits, and errors for Microsoft teams.
State Farm and National Youth Leadership Council Project Ignition
Helped revise a national teen safe-driving and service-learning program and led workshops at the 2010 NSLC.
Future Business Leaders of America
Multi-year state and national competition winner across events such as web development.
Later served as a national judge, judge consultant, and competition program contributor for both FBLA and collegiate PBL programs.