Nick Elliott

Director of IT

Knoxville CUSD #202 | May 2021 - Present (4 years)

Directed IT strategy for a K-12 district, driving cost-effective, scalable solutions through open-source technologies and modern infrastructure to enhance operational efficiency and support educational goals.

• Cost Optimization: Spearheaded migration from proprietary systems to enterprise-grade open-source alternatives, reducing costs without compromising service quality.
• Containerized Infrastructure: Designed and deployed Docker-based systems for critical services, including help desk (Zammad), network management (UniFi), password management (Vaultwarden), and asset tracking (Snipe-IT).
• Service Delivery: Implemented Caddy server with reverse proxy for secure, automated certificate management and efficient service access district-wide.
• Virtualization Overhaul: Transitioned from VMware to XCP-ng/Xen Orchestra, enhancing virtualization efficiency and slashing licensing expenses.
• Custom Development: Built a Next.js asset tracking app on Vercel with serverless functions, MongoDB, and Active Directory integration, automating device management and password resets via an on-prem Python API.
• Team Leadership: Led a 2-person IT team, established policies, and drove district-wide technology initiatives and user training.
• Systems Management: Administered Google Workspace and Active Directory using GUI, PowerShell, GAM, and Python for streamlined operations.
• Regulatory Compliance: Oversaw ISBE SIS state reporting, ensuring accurate and timely data submissions to meet Illinois state mandates.

Systems Administrator & Software Engineer

NAEIR | Oct 2018 - Apr 2021 (2 years 7 months)

Played a pivotal role in modernizing IT infrastructure, enhancing system performance, and developing robust software solutions. Leveraged a diverse skill set to manage enterprise systems, streamline operations, and deliver innovative applications.

• Cloud Migration & Email Systems: Successfully orchestrated the migration of an Exchange 2010 server to a fully integrated Office 365 environment, implementing Active Directory synchronization to ensure seamless user authentication and email continuity across the organization.
• Infrastructure Modernization: Consolidated and upgraded physical servers to Windows Server 2019, optimizing resource utilization and enhancing system reliability. Transitioned VMware vSphere from an outdated Windows Server installation to a streamlined vSphere 6.7 OVA, integrating vMotion for live migration and upgrading networking with a 10G switch and NICs to connect the SAN, significantly boosting performance.
• Storage & Hardware Enhancements: Reconfigured Dell server storage arrays from RAID 5 to RAID 10 for improved redundancy and speed, proactively replacing failed drives to maintain uptime. Upgraded CPUs in legacy servers to higher clock-rate models, accelerating performance on single-core-dependent AlphaServer systems.
• Network Optimization: Partially overhauled the network by deploying Ubiquiti switches and configuring VLANs to segregate traffic types, enhancing security and efficiency. Extended VLAN configurations to existing HP switches for consistent network segmentation.
• Legacy Systems Expertise: Mastered OpenVMS on a virtualized AlphaServer 1200, authoring DCL scripts to automate tasks and gaining hands-on experience with RMS databases to support critical legacy operations.
• Security & Monitoring: Implemented a Graylog server to centralize and simplify log analysis for internally developed applications and websites. Configured and maintained a Fortigate firewall to safeguard network integrity, and managed a Symantec Enterprise Protection server to ensure robust endpoint security.
• DNS & Proxy Services: Converted an on-premises DNS server to a cloud-based DNS service for improved scalability and uptime. Established an Nginx reverse proxy with a Let’s Encrypt wildcard certificate, reducing the need for multiple static IPs while securing external services.
• Software Development: Designed and developed C# applications, including an ASP.NET Core website with modern CSS and JavaScript frontends. Co-developed a .NET Framework WPF application using DevExpress MVVM modules for enhanced UI functionality, and scheduled synchronization tasks with .NET-based services.
• Database Management: Utilized Oracle 12c as the backend for custom applications, writing and compiling stored procedures to optimize data access in .NET apps. Executed SQL queries to maintain data integrity and resolve issues, leveraging DevArt adapters for seamless integration.
• Automation & Scripting: Authored PowerShell scripts to automate Windows administration tasks, including restarting all computers in an Active Directory OU, retrieving ClickOnce .NET app versions across specific OUs, and managing file backups for operational continuity.
• Version Control & DevOps: Employed Azure DevOps and SourceTree’s GUI for efficient Git version control, streamlining collaborative development workflows and ensuring code quality across repositories.
• Backup & Recovery: Managed and monitored Veeam Backup & Replication 10 to oversee comprehensive backup strategies, ensuring data protection and rapid recovery capabilities for all critical systems.
• Network Monitoring: Deployed PRTG software to monitor network devices, providing real-time insights into performance and potential issues across the infrastructure.
• Telephony & ISP Transition: Administered the Mitel phone server, updating and installing phones as needed, and guided a seamless switchover to a new ISP and telephony provider, minimizing downtime and ensuring service continuity.
• Support & Legacy Maintenance: Troubleshot and maintained a legacy ColdFusion server and its applications, addressed employee inquiries regarding IT systems, and repaired, upgraded, and configured PCs and peripherals to meet operational needs.
• Helpdesk & User Support: Implemented OsTicket as a helpdesk system, encouraging adoption among users to streamline support requests and improve response times.
• Cloud Services & Email: Leveraged AWS services, including Amazon SES for mass email campaigns and CloudFront for efficient website image hosting, alongside managing a hosted WordPress site for organizational presence.
• Additional Responsibilities: Managed a Postfix SMTP relay server, administered Active Directory with group policies, installed network cabling as required, and influenced process improvements to enhance overall IT efficiency.

Information Systems Technician

City of Galesburg | Apr 2013 - Oct 2018 (5 years 7 months)

Delivered comprehensive IT support and development for municipal operations, enhancing public services through innovative software solutions and robust system administration.

• Hardware Management: Managed 100+ computers, performing repairs, upgrades, and maintenance to ensure operational reliability across departments.
• Mobile Development: Developed the "City of Galesburg" Android app (available on Google Play Store), enabling public access to information and report submissions with photo attachments via Google’s mail servers. apk | info
• Software Development: Designed a WPF C# application with Visual Studio, integrated with an MS SQL database to track users and their devices for internal use.
• Digital Transformation: Converted a paper-based application to an online system using Doculicious, now a widely used tool hosted on the city website.
• Automation & IoT: Utilized Python, PLC, and SCADA systems to optimize performance of municipal infrastructure, improving operational efficiency.
• Systems Administration: Administered Active Directory, adding users and supporting software upgrades/migrations to maintain system integrity.
• Deployment Tools: Deployed Microsoft WDS for efficient software rollouts and network-wide updates, streamlining IT operations.
• Remote Management: Controlled computers remotely using PsTools and authored batch scripts to automate routine administrative tasks.
• Backup Solutions: Established a Linux server for network-based OS image backups, converting physical media to ISOs for centralized access on a file server.
• Network Infrastructure: Ran network cabling to expand and maintain physical infrastructure, ensuring connectivity across facilities.
• Reporting: Mastered SAP Crystal Reports to generate financial reports for the Finance department, supporting data-driven decisions.
• Collaboration Tools: Managed Google Apps for Economic Development, moderating an internal Google Community to share best practices and boost employee efficiency.
• Training & Support: Created user-friendly tutorials with videos and screenshots to address common technical queries, reducing support overhead.
• Documentation: Documented processes extensively in an internal MediaWiki with role-based permissions, enhancing knowledge sharing and system support.
• Technical Support: Provided technical support, led system migrations, and emphasized detailed documentation as a cornerstone of operational success.

MSP Support Technician

Office Specialists, Inc. | Dec 2013 - Jan 2014 (2 months)

Served as a technician at a Managed Service Provider (MSP), delivering a wide range of IT support services, including installations, configurations, and troubleshooting for diverse client environments. Enhanced operational efficiency through hands-on technical expertise and process improvements.

• Technical Support: Provided hands-on assistance with imaging, networking, and equipment troubleshooting across client sites, ensuring reliable system performance.
• Process Optimization: Reduced imaging time from 12 hours to 3 hours by implementing streamlined procedures and workflow enhancements.
• Installations & Configurations: Performed hardware and software installs, including desktops, servers, and network devices, tailoring configurations to meet client-specific needs.
• Network Infrastructure: Ran network cabling for client facilities, establishing and maintaining robust connectivity for LAN and WAN environments.
• Windows Server & Domain Management: Diagnosed and resolved issues with Windows servers and Active Directory domains, including user management, group policies, and domain controller maintenance.
• MSP Operations: Supported a variety of client IT environments, handling tasks such as patch management, backups, and system upgrades to ensure uptime and security.