Author

Thanks for stopping by. My name is Joseph Baxter, and I have been a working Technology professional since around 1994. So you’ll see a great deal of tech references on this blog. And all that goes with it. Old DOS games. Geek stuff. Graphics. No real surprises there.

What you may not immediately expect is the audio and the writing. I’ve been writing since Junior High on a fairly serious basis. As a matter of fact, as soon as we got our first Amiga 500 I would spend many late nights–not playing games–but crafting sentences just so. I’ve posted an example of that early work (probably around Freshman in High School). It is called “Keith McQueen Saves the Universe” and resides on the Fiction Page. I actually began college as an English major. It was around then that I started “Those Who Live by the Sword” in honor of the science-fiction great, Ray Bradbury. There will be more to come — as I find them on old diskettes.

The music and audio is a re-emerging interest for me. I started playing bass guitar on a professional level around 1990, and my interest in computers lead me to Cakewalk. Cakewalk and my Gravis UltraSound 16 was a fine combination, but I needed to upgrade to some professional synth modules…and I had alot of fun until I abruptly divested myself of all of my musical aspirations in the 1997-ish timeframe. Long story.

So. You’ll find some unexpected stuff here. Check out the Article pages for current projects as well–things like Rockets, MAME cabinets, and who knows what else.

Joseph Baxter (Tanstaafl)

P.S. And just because I keep it updated regularly (thanks to manager-tools.com), I’ll post the meat of my resume and certifications below:

October, 2003 – Present: Team Lead / Network Engineer, Jack Henry and Associates – Administer and maintain daily operations of Proactive Technology Management and Reporting deliverable. Create and implement security policies for PTMR, including regulatory compliance concerns. Research, respond, and remediate to customer’s audit findings. Utilize monitoring tools to prevent customer downtime; apprise of security, software, and/or hardware issues; oversee daily patch management status, mitigate any security risk, and alert customer staff on 24-hour basis. As install team lead, to supervise engineers onsite to deliver all objectives in project plan and statement of work as contracted. Maintain 4 out of 5 customer satisfaction averages. Develop security hardening procedures.

• Authored and presented strategic plan for PTMR year 2006. Adopted plan is projected to grow revenue in deliverable by 200% or more. Plan is listed as a major highlight of annual performance appraisal.
• Developed SQL DB for PTMR customer, agreement, and object management.
• Attained highest level of certification in department, including MCSE 2003 (plus Security specialization), CISSP, CISM, Security+, and CISA.
• Leveraged existing SQL based products into a cohesive SRS reporting environment that has revolutionized and automated monthly customer-facing reporting; drawing data from multiple MS SQL sources, as well as MySQL.
• Deployed first customer Blade Center and 12 TB SAN system for Matrix Network Services for 600-user bank.
• Team Lead of major upgrade for large, 200-node bank, converting Novell/GroupWise to Server 2003/ Exchange.
• Developed and taught multiple security training deliverables with associated curriculum.
• Developed 2007 Strategic plan for NIDS and HIDS monitoring and reporting, ensuring proper fit within current architecture and systems.

July, 2003 – September, 2003: Account Executive, Management Recruiters of Springfield

March, 2003 – June, 2003: ECE Support Specialist, University of Missouri – Rolla – Administer 500-node network, including graduate areas, laboratories and Computer Learning Centers. Enforce security of machines and adherence to University Policies. Manage work-study and student-help personnel. Responsible for setting up new projects as well as special-grant laboratories.

• Developed benchmarking methodology for use in new hardware purchases.
• Managed team of 10 work-study technicians, including time tracking and scheduling.
• Developed monitoring system of network traffic for unsupported and non-sanctioned usage.
• Implemented Group Policies for Computer Learning Centers

September, 2000 – February 2003: Network Engineer, EFCO Corporation, Monett, Missouri – Administrate 800-node network. Fulfill role as Project Manager: following assigned items to completion involving multiple departments, third-party vendors, and resources. Utilize and team with vendors and contractors when necessary. Plan all Cisco and Microsoft solutions in role as Infrastructure Engineer across nation-wide WAN locations and 3 MAN sites, including SQL Server 2000 as well as Cisco PIX, VPN Concentrators, Routers, and Switches.

• Managed project for enterprise-wide Office migration, involving multiple locations and many mission-critical applications without service interruption.
• Benchmarked and monitored network infrastructure, on several occasions prevented network downtime ($40,000 per hour) via proactive monitoring of traffic.
• Engineered and implemented all Microsoft NT and Windows 2000 solutions, including Active Directory, SQL 2000, and corporate imaging solutions.
• Crafted Cisco access-lists and internet proxy solution—including full custom reporting via intranet website.

February, 1999 – August, 2000: Computer Technology Lead Instructor, Vatterott College, Springfield – Create new department for Computer Technology, develop and deliver curriculum.

• Grew initial department from original 6 students to over 100 with 4 FTE instructors / 1 PTE

November, 1996 – January, 1999: Purchasing Manager / Technician, Kolar Business Machines – Maintain vendor relations and just-in-time inventory. Build NT 4.0 servers for customer orders.

• Developed Windows NT Server 4.0 Hardware configurations for High-End market.
• Developed intranet for customer block-contract decrements.

March, 1995 – October, 1996: Purchasing Agent / Technician, Service World Computer Center, Inc. – Maintain inventory of consumer PC products, perform inside sales. Perform PC and system troubleshooting as required.

Certifications

• Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer 2003
• Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer 2003: Security Specialization
• Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator 2003
• Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator 2003: Security Specialization
• Microsoft Certified Professional: Microsoft SQL 2000
• Microsoft Certified Professional: Windows NT 4.0 Server
• Microsoft Certified Professional: Windows NT 4.0 Server in the Enterprise
• Microsoft Certified Professional: Windows NT 4.0 Workstation
• Microsoft Certified Professional: Windows NT 4.0 Networking Essentials
• Microsoft Certified Professional: Internet Explorer Administration Kit 5.0
• Pre-installation Specialist Windows NT 4.0

• ISC2 – Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

• ISACA – Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• ISACA – Certified Information Security Auditor (CISA)

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (Expired)
• Cisco Certified Design Associate (Expired)

• Novell NetWare Certified Novell Administrator 5.0

• CompTIA Security+ Certified Technician
• CompTIA Server+ Certified Technician
• CompTIA i-Net+ Certified Technician
• CompTIA A+ Certified Technician
• CompTIA Network+ Certified Technician

Pursued Certifications

• Microsoft Certified Data Base Administrator – Test 70-229 Required

Professional Memberships

• Computer Security Institute

Training Completed

• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Installation and Administration
• Microsoft 1560B: Updating Support Skills from Windows NT 4.0 to Windows 2000
• Microsoft 2072: Installing, Configuring, and Administering SQL Server 2000
• Cisco DCN: Designing Cisco Networks
• Cisco MCNS: Managing Cisco Network Security
• IBM SAN: Training 1 and 2
• Franklin/Covey: Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
• Zenger/Miller: Frontline Leadership Interpersonal Skills

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