Craig Lodzinski

Experience

• 

  Aston University

  Sept 2007 - Jul 2011

  Student

  - BSc Business and management, specialising in Marketing and Work Psychology- Working in diverse groups on complex projects- Engaging theory and research to solve real world business problems- Exam, essay and project based modules

• 

  Millbrook Events

  Jun 2009 - Jul 2010

  Event Support

  54 week placement at The Concept Centre, Millbrook. - Event Management and Production- Client liaison and management- Working with a broad range of events and Clients- Management of contractors and suppliers

• 

  Softcat Ltd

  Jul 2011 - Apr 2012

  Public Sector Sales Executive

  - IT sales of software, hardware, infrastructure and security to verticals in the Public Sector.- Cold calling and account development- Vendor liaison and price negotiation- Introducing a wide solution portfolio to client- Tender response for key frameworks

• 

  Softcat plc

  Feb 2014 - Jan 2021

  Working within the office of the CTO, my focus is on researching and understanding new and developing technology areas – at both a technical and commercial level. This research is core to building out the Softcat offering – looking at the available technologies from existing and new vendors, understanding how those technologies integrate, working out what skills and packaged approaches are required from our Services organisation, preparing sales and customer-facing documentation, and visiting customers to discuss these technologies. This role is part of the overall technology strategy, in particular the vendors in which we invest and the services we create to support that investment. Show less - Starting as a trainee Pre-Sales specialist, moving to Infrastructure Pre-Sales consultant, providing hardware support to account managers at Softcat.- Acquiring and retaining a range of certifications- Interfacing with Security, Networking and software teams to advise and develop holistic solutions - Specifications for HP Proliant Servers, HP StoreEasy and StoreVirtual, HP BladeSystem, Cisco UCS, Edge, access and storage networking.- Softcat HP Thin Client specialist, working with clients and HP to assist in VDI deployments.- Training of account managers on core product areas- Remote and on-site consultancy and collaborative solution design- Ongoing learning of new and existing concepts and technologies- First Line user support, hardware configuration and build, and solution design and consultancy. Show less - Leadership of Softcat's Pre-Sales team, responsible for overall team direction as well as management of twelve permanent staff and members of the company's technical graduate programme.- Day to day management and leadership of the team, as well as strategic decisions in the long-term, working with senior management and directors to achieve this- Collaborating with other teams within Softcat in order to deliver the best technical solutions to our customers.- Client interaction and advice both remotely and face to face to further relationships and offer comprehensive solution consultancy.- Specifications for ESSN portfolio, Cisco UCS, HP PPS, as well as general technology advocacy.- Training of account managers on core product areas- Ongoing learning of new and existing concepts and technologies- Training of junior employees within the team and wider company- Responsibility for progression, training, expenses, absence and motivation of the team. Show less - I currently work as Deputy Team Leader for the Pre-sales team at Softcat, covering a team spanning across the company. This involves both solution design for account managers and management of the team.- I hold a range of certifications and qualifications from major vendors including HP, VMware, Apple, IBM, Veeam, Cisco and others.- Interfacing with Security, Networking, datacentre and software teams to advise and develop holistic solutions.- Client facing meeting and presentation of solutions in an agnostic fashion is key to the rols- Specifications for HP Proliant Servers, HP StoreEasy, MSA and StoreVirtual, HP Procurve Networking and some Comware, HP BladeSystem, Cisco UCS, Edge, access and storage networking.- Softcat HP Thin Client specialist, working with clients and HP to assist in VDI deployments.- Training of account managers on core product areas- Remote and on-site consultancy and collaborative solution design- Ongoing learning of new and existing concepts and technologies- Training of junior employees within the team and wider company- I compile a 'technology update' for the whole company that is also distributed to customers, in order to inform and give opinion on news and new products. Show less

  • Developing Technologies Lead

    Apr 2017 - Jan 2021

  • Infrastructure Pre-Sales Consultant

    Apr 2012 - Jan 2021

  • Pre-Sales Team Leader

    Aug 2014 - Apr 2017

  • Pre-Sales Deputy Team Leader

    Feb 2014 - Aug 2014
• 

  FlixBus

  Jan 2021 - now

  Senior Product Owner - Infrastructure