Don Ferris

Global IT Team Management and Leadership

Driving Business Growth Through IT Solutions

Digital User Experience

B2B/B2C/XaaS Architecture, Integration and Scaling

Network/server configuration and administration

Project management

Data security

On-site/remote support

Ransomware/disaster recovery

Setup and augmentation of client/server apps (e.g. point of sale and inventory/asset management)

Front end/full stack web development

Virtualization/cloud-based microservices and web apps

Development of custom automation solutions and more

Collaborate with a diverse range of clients spanning all levels of tech sophistication

Provide project management services for website/web app development projects

Create innovative, eye catching, memorable websites and print materials asserting the client’s brand

Developed an award winning website for a 50th class reunion incorporating database driven social media elements at a time when social media was still in its infancy

Conceptualized and set in motion a revolutionary, groundbreaking entertainment platform providing remote audiences with live, front-row-interactive entertainment

Recruited stellar C-level executives from prominent companies like Gateway, eMachines, HBO, and AMD

Project manager for all projects

Served as IT Director and System Administrator, performing all IT-related duties

Implemented and customized sophisticated virtual office for remote collaboration

Significantly improved QA team productivity by designing, developing (full LAMP stack), and deploying intranet portal for rapid data entry of QA test results. Simultaneously provided the engineering team and management with up-to-the-minute reporting of software defects and detailed quality/performance metrics

Leveraged shell scripts and virtualization to create an automated build system, improving feedback loop between QA and Engineering, dramatically reducing (from weekly to sometimes daily) the cycle of build testing, defect reporting, and bug fixes

Opened channels of communication and fostered strong collaborative relationships with engineering and QA teams, giving customers a stronger voice with regard to product features and quality

Developed shell script for automating collection of detailed, in-depth system hardware, software, and process information including network and diagnostic data. Output as HTML for easy navigation with links to external resources, allowing support engineers to analyze and diagnose problems quickly, substantially increasing customer satisfaction

Lifelong learner - I have always had an insatiable thirst for knowledge. I LOVE learning new things, which is probably why I chose a career in Information Technology; there's always cool new technologies, always so much to learn!

Home Theater enthusiast - there's no home entertainment like immersive home entertainment! I enjoy movies, TV shows, and sporting events on a 120" screen with an excellent surround sound system. (An upgrade to 3D surround sound is in my near future!)

Smarthome afficianado - currently in pursuit of the holy grail of home automation - rock solid (room-to-room) presence detection. (The true holy grail of home automation is probably, “Alexa, do the dishes” but I’m keeping it real…)

Dogs - I'm one of those people who thinks dogs are some of the best people I know! I feel pretty good about the fact that almost all dogs love me back. I enjoy the boundless love of two absolutely wonderful dogs - Lola (a black Golden Doodle) and Louis (a Bearded Collie) who is my best friend and constant companion.

”Tikiphile” - I love of all things Polynesian/tropical. I’m happiest when I’m surrounded by palm trees, with sand between my toes and a drink with a little paper umbrella in my hand. No matter where we live, my wife and I surround ourselves with tropical decor and try to maintain that “island attitude”.

Woodworking - my "zen activity", I'm never more at peace than when I'm creating things from wood.

Passionate about music with broad, diverse (sometimes eclectic) musical tastes. More than a "music lover", I live music; it's a crucial, ever present element of my life.

Singer/songwriter with a home studio for production. I own a beautiful arch-top electric guitar, a bass guitar, a keyboard, an ukulele, and several harmonicas. Someday I will learn to play them all but for now I can only play my vocal chords.

(Former) bandleader, frontman, and lead vocalist for a 10-piece R&B horn band (inspired by Tower of Power) performing Soul, Motown, Funk, and a little Disco.

Audiophile - when you love music like I do, it's almost essential that the music be reproduced with the best possible fidelity and sound as lifelike as possible.

Motorcyclist - While I don't own a motorcycle currently, I have for most of my life. (Fun fact: my first motorcycle was an 80cc Harley Davidson "Shortster"!) I have probably logged more miles on a motorcycle than I have in cars, including a 5 week, 13 state, 8000 mile cross country trip I took with my wife.

Open-air motorist - when I'm not riding a motorcycle, I prefer to be driving a convertible - top down. (Fun fact: my first car was a convertible and I drove it home with the top down - in spite of the fact that it was a very cold, snowy winter day in Central Illinois... and when I got it home, the top wouldn't go back up!)

Last but definitely not least…

Happily married to a beautiful, kind, creative, artistic woman - with a heart of gold - for over 20 years.