by I feel that LOPSA is poised for a time of growth. We are getting more interest from system admins, from companies who cannot find system admins to hire, and from students who are starting to realize that system administration is a good career. I have been focused on improving LOPSA's communications with it members and prospective members by putting out the LOPSAgram on a monthly basis, posting to social media sites about LOPSA events, representing LOPSA at several conferences such as SCALE, LinuxfestNW, LISA, and ACPENW via working the booth and giving talks, mentoring several people at work and via the mentorship program along with co-chairing the Cascadia 2012 IT Conference. I have also been involved in setting up a new 4 year system admin degree at Bellevue College in Bellevue, WA.
If re-elected, I plan to focus on the education aspects of system administration. I want to expose high school kids to LOPSA and system administration by getting volunteers to make presentations at high school career centers as these kids need know that system administration is a valid career option. Once they are interested in system administration, we need a colleges that will teach system administration so I will continue my efforts to improve system admin education by working with Bellevue College on their degree and teaching an automation course at the college. I am also working with the community to help define what a system admin should be taught and how to teach them.
In college and once they start their jobs, they will need mentors and internships to get the skills and guidance to be successful. I will continue to work as a mentor and try to get more people and companies involved in mentorship. I will continue to teach and give talks on topics of interest to system administrators at conferences, meetups, and local meetings to improve skillsets and raise the awareness of the general public on system administration
I have worked as a system admin since 1982 for large and small companies in the private, public, and education domains. I spent 10 years as a hands on IT Manager/Director before deciding to return to system administration full time. I am currently the senior system admin at a K-12 school district and have a part time consulting business. For fun I enjoy hiking and am a field qualified team leader of King County Search and Rescue.
Please contact me at ski98033 on IRC and most IM services or drop me at email at ski@lopsa.org with your questions, comments, or ideas. Thanks for considering me for your board.