MidAmerica Nazarene University

Vice President, Cloud Infrastructur at EMPLOYERS

Responsible for overall design and engineering of compute, storage, network, and cloud-based server and storage platforms that deliver high availability, performance and capacity, in a cost effective and secure manner. This includes managing a team of architects and engineers. The position reports into the CIO.Provide leadership and direction to the IT infrastructure organization to foster a team based culture and driven by continual service improvement techniques to ensure alignment and contribution to the company goals.Lead the development of the IT infrastructure strategy and roadmap, and ensure its integration with the overall enterprise strategic plans through coordination with the CIO.Develop and control the annual operating and capital expenditure budget for IT infrastructure to ensure it is consistent with overall strategic objectives and is within plan.Working with the CIO, maintains current on new technologies and platforms and provide direction on what emerging technologies should be implemented to ensure IT continues to support the needs of the enterprise's business strategy.Drive the implementation of enterprise technology standards, governance processes and performance metrics to ensure global infrastructure delivers value to the enterprise.Provide leadership, direction and day-to-day management to the IT infrastructure team and staff (including staffing, budgeting, and other relevant management and administrative functions).Identify, mentor, develop and retain high performing information technology professionals.

EMPLOYERS

Vice President, Cloud Infrastructure

Director Of Infrastructure

Aon Corporation has a global multi-vendor provider model for data center hosting.  The company has several external hosting providers, and our global strategy is to reduce that to three.  I lead a team of professionals responsible for evolving the vendor relationship while pushing for innovative, cost effective solutions and services for the client.  This includes governance, new contracts, and managing a budget over $27 Million per year.  In the last year I have been responsible for moving two large Aon owned data centers to our hosting providers.   My role allows me to evaluate and manage new technology aligned with Aon’s business strategy; lead, develop and participate in the creation of infrastructure technology, strategy, and direction; complete full life cycle technology management, including performing cost/benefit analysis; and develop technology roadmaps to implement and manage technology processes.  I am also responsible for Change Management, Release Management, and Incident and Problem Management escalation.

Director Data Center and Hosting Management

I led the Infrastructure Systems Team, overseeing server infrastructure, Storage Area Network and Data Center Facilities. My team managed more than 100 Physical servers and 80 VMware ESX Virtual servers; which encompassed the Microsoft Exchange 2007 environment, with more than 1000 mailboxes; and the Microsoft Windows Active Directory environment.  I directed the building, managing, and maintenance of all servers which include, IIS, SQL, File, Print, Domain Controllers, Exchange, and other misc. application servers, as well as the security and management of Cisco Firewalls.  I was in charge of the datacenter budget, creating relationships with vendors, and finalizing hardware and software contracts. As BCP manager I directed Disaster Recovery Planning for the entire IT infrastructure.  This entailed creating and documenting the company’s Disaster Recovery Plan.  In this role I worked closely with the Recovery Services Provider to ensure contracts were up to date and the company was prepared in the event of a disaster.  As the leader of semi-annual Disaster Tests, I worked with my team to ensure all Backup servers were restored and brought online at the backup location and all applications were functioning properly.  This task involved the coordination of approximately 50 individuals and consultants.

Systems Management Team Manager

I managed the Network Team for budgeting, creating and maintaining Network Policies and Procedures, procuring equipment, ordering data circuits, and managing personnel.  My team was responsible for the LAN, WAN, Security, and Cisco IP telephony.  We utilized a MPLS network that was connected with Cisco routers and switches and Cisco ASA devices for firewalls and VPN termination.

Dale Ramsey