About Me...

Talking about myself isn't my favorite, and I try to avoid repetition. My resume is included below for my technical acumen.

Beyond my professional experience, I am a father of two girls and I currently reside in Iowa. My political views tend to align with the left side of the political spectrum in the United States.

I own a modified 2011 BMW 535i xDrive, which my girlfriend jokingly accuses me of stealing due to my lack of driving it since Feburary 2024, lol.

Cycling is a hobby I enjoy. Recently, I've rediscovered my geekiness after a period of sobriety following years of struggling with personal challenges. It feels good to be thinking clearly again.

NAME

Curtis LaMasters - Highly motivated and technology evangelist.

SYNOPSIS

A seasoned IT professional with over 23 years of experience in network design, security, administration, and cloud technologies. Proven ability to lead technical teams, manage complex projects, and deliver innovative solutions to ensure ongoing operational efficiency. Committed to continuous learning and staying abreast of the latest advancements in the field.

SKILLS

  • Networking: PFSense/OPNsense, Fortigate, PaloAlto, Cisco ASA Firewalls, Routing and Switching Technologies, Barracuda Networks, Meraki Platform, AWS Cloud Networking (Security Groups, Network ACLs, Transit Gateways)
  • Security: Network Security Design, Vulnerability Assessments, Incident Response, Security Policy Development and Enforcement
  • Cloud Technologies: AWS (DevOps Associate, SysOps Administrator Associate, Solutions Architect Associate)
  • Virtualization: VMware, Proxmox, XenServer, Docker
  • Operating Systems: Windows Server, Ubuntu, CentOS, Debian, Windows Desktop
  • Directory Services: Active Directory, OpenLDAP
  • Email Security: Exchange Server, Barracuda Email Security, Office 365, SPF, DMARC, DKIM, Spamassassin
  • Backup & Recovery: Backup Exec, Barracuda Backup Appliances, Veeam, Proxmox Backup Server, Acronis, Datto
  • Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, adept at presenting technical information to diverse audiences.
  • Leadership: Proven ability to lead and motivate technical teams, fostering a collaborative and results-oriented environment.

EXPERIENCE

Technology Evangelist | BuiltNetworks | January 2023 - Present

  • Managed services for SMB/SME organizations including server, desktop, application, and cloud services deployment and support.
  • Patch and vulnerability management.
  • Phone systems, video surveillance, and hardware sales and services.

Technical Services Architect | IP Pathways | September 2022 - January 2023

  • Optimized Logic Monitor for comprehensive network performance monitoring.
  • Collaborated with project management to develop customer project playbooks and automate recurring event resolution.
  • Standardized deployment documentation for a managed firewall solution.

Solutions Architect | Barracuda Networks | January 2022 - October 2022

  • Conducted demos of Barracuda security solutions (Network Security, Data Security, Email Security) to potential customers.
  • Provided top-tier escalation support for named customers during downtime situations.
  • Partnered with the sales team to expand the customer base and grow existing accounts.

CTO | Midwest Cloud Computing | Omaha, NE | October 2017 - December 2021

  • Established a thriving AWS Business Practice (Consulting Partner).
  • Designed and implemented a large-scale AWS hosted application for a financial institution.
  • Developed a 24/7 helpdesk and day-to-day operations MSP offering.
  • Led the technical team to build successful security audit, discovery, and remediation services.

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

  • AWS Certified DevOps Associate (2021)
  • Barracuda NG F Certified Engineer (2017)
  • AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate (2017)
  • AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate (2016)
  • CCNP (Partially Completed - 2014)
  • CCNA (2011)
  • Numerous technical certifications and military training (details available upon request)