Self-hosted on Ubuntu Server · Docker · nginx · Let's Encrypt SSL

James Copeland

A seasoned systems administrator and cloud engineer with 10 years of hands-on experience, a deep understanding of cloud fundamentals, and a passion for solving difficult problems motivated by making IT seamless, dependable, and enabling for users at every level within the organization.

Key Skills & Competencies

General

  • Communication
  • Presentation
  • Time management
  • Team-building
  • Research
  • Decision-making

Infrastructure

  • Windows / Linux
  • Office 365
  • Exchange Online
  • Active Directory
  • Docker
  • Cloud Security
  • Virtualization
  • IAM / SSO / MFA
  • Disaster Recovery

DevOps

  • Methodology
  • Git / GitHub
  • CI/CD
  • IaC

Languages

  • PowerShell
  • JavaScript
  • Bash
  • Bicep
  • SQL
  • Python
  • Micron
  • HTML

Azure

  • Architecture & Design
  • API Management
  • Logic Apps
  • Azure DevOps
  • App Services
  • Azure SQL
  • Data Factory
  • Virtual Networking
  • Intune
  • Cost Management
  • Azure Backup
  • NAT Gateway

Experience

Foley & Lardner, LLP — Dallas, TX Sep 2024 – Present
Systems Automation Engineer
  • Quickly assessed and took ownership of role responsibilities with minimal training or orientation. Upon 30-day review, manager wrote: "I typically expect a new hire to spend the first 30–60 days finding their footing, and you've already found it and are off and running."
  • Fully documented previously undocumented and deprecated automation architecture.
  • Led a realistic and cost-effective approach to migrating to PowerShell Universal — moving from a stateful, data-driven recurring job schedule to a stateless, event-driven process which greatly reduces overhead.
  • Played pivotal role in getting traction on a stalled project to move enterprise IAM processes to SailPoint. Project is finally nearing completion of phase 1.
Fortune Beast, LLC — Frisco, TX Aug 2023 – Jul 2024
Cloud Engineer
  • Established standardized IT management best practices for a multitenant environment, including DLP, IAM, mobile devices, licensing, and billing.
  • Leveraged Azure Bicep IaC within Azure DevOps to reduce service deployment times from an hour to 5 minutes.
  • Improved IVR readability and usability within the Vonage Contact Center system to reduce ramp-up time for other engineers.
  • Built internal tools and dashboards via APIs and JavaScript to monitor contact center activity at a greater level of detail than the native platform allowed.
  • Saved PreAuthorization team hours by integrating Microsoft Azure API Management Services with external tools to automate the medical information intake process.
  • Simplified remote device management across multiple tenants by constructing a suite of internal tools and dashboards.
OneShare Health — Irving, TX Mar 2020 – Aug 2023
Director of IT (Sep 2021 – Aug 2023)
  • Identified and reduced technical debt left by previous leadership.
  • Saved over $654,000/year in wasteful spending by selecting more appropriate software, building solutions in-house, switching to open-source where possible, and removing unnecessary proprietary tools.
  • Implemented RBAC across the org using dynamic group membership rules against a matrix of user properties.
  • Fulfilled need for VPN by integrating AWS VPN with Azure AD as an Identity Provider.
  • Mentored and trained junior team members on Office 365 and Intune administration.
  • Successfully completed a development project under a restrictive timeline to integrate accurate data flow from a front end to a Salesforce CRM at scale.
Senior Systems Administrator (Mar 2020 – Sep 2021)
  • Improved new computer deployment time from 2–3 days to 20–30 minutes using Microsoft Intune and Autopilot.
  • Instrumental in creating deployment profiles and developing the equipment onboarding process.
  • Automated onboarding and offboarding workflows including Leave of Absence, name changes, and department transitions — reducing turnaround from days to minutes.
Aventiv Technologies — Carrollton, TX Sep 2019 – Mar 2020
Cybersecurity Access Administrator
  • Managed IAM procedures for organizing and executing user access to resources.
  • Utilized PowerShell to automate routine departmental tasks.
  • Saved 2–3 hours per employee per day by outlining and presenting streamlined workflows for routine processes.
Credera Consulting — Addison, TX Sep 2018 – Sep 2019
IT Administrator
  • Designed and managed VLANs throughout the office using Dell SonicWall N2048P switches.
  • Maintained revolving inventory of macOS and Windows devices, managing deployments via Jamf and Intune respectively.
  • Maintained a solid security posture using CrowdStrike Falcon.

Education & Certifications

Collin College — McKinney, TX

Associate of Arts, 2014

Licenses & Certifications

Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
CompTIA A+
CompTIA Security+