Rodney R. Fournier - Customer Driven Consultant

Experience

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  Net Working America, Inc.

  Nov 1996 - Sept 2014

  Owner

  I am the President and lead consultant. I technical edit and author books and publications. I have been a Microsoft Certified Trainer for the past 17 years. I am very knowledgeable in various Microsoft Technologies – all current versions of Windows, SQL, Exchange, TMG/ISA, AD RMS and a former Microsoft MVP – Windows Server - Clustering.Books: • Technical Editor for Sybex-Wiley MCSA Windows 2012 Complete Study Guide• Technical Editor for Sybex-Wiley Windows OS Essentials• Technical Editor for Sybex-Wiley IT Career JumpStart book • Technical Editor for Sybex-Wiley Win 7 Config Study Guide• Technical Editor for Sybex-Wiley MCTS: Windows Server 2008 R2 Complete Study Guide• Technical Reviewer for Sybex-Wiley Windows 7 Desktop Support• Technical Reviewer for Sybex-Wiley MCTS Win 7 Study Guide• Technical Editor for Sybex-Wiley for Mastering Windows 7 Administration• Technical Editor for Sybex-Wiley MCTS NI Windows 2008 Networking• Technical Editor for Sybex-Wiley Windows Server 2008 Active Directory book• Technical Editor for 2 Sybex-Wiley Exchange Server 2007 books• Technical Editor for a McGraw-Hill Exchange Server 2007 book• Technical Contributor of Jim McBees’ Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 24seven• Technical Editor of Roberta Braggs’ Hardening Windows Systems• Technical Editor of Mike Meyers’ MCSE Windows XP Professional Certification Passport• Co-Author and editor of MCSE Training Kit -- Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Network Infrastructure Administration• Co-Author of MCSE Test Success: NT Workstation 4• Editor of various other computer related books.Speaking: • NWA TechFest 2010 & 2011 Cracking Open Kerberos: Understanding How Active Directory Knows Who You Are & 12 Tips to Secure Your Windows Systems: How Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008/R2, And Windows 7• TechReady Microsoft’s internal conference 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 17 from 2008 to 2013 Show less

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  Microsoft

  Jan 2007 - Oct 2013

  Premium Field Engineer - Dedicated Services Engineer

  In less than 4 years as a DSE (Dedicated Systems Engineer) for a Fortune 1 company I have helped the customer:• Save $250,000 by removing HBA’s and SAN connectivity for all 64-bit Domain Controllers.• Save the customer nearly $3 million when they moved to MDOP (Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack) and AGPM (Advanced Group Policy Manager)at a cost of $0 (include in the EA (Enterprise Agreement)) and was recognized all the way up the chain of command by Kathleen Hogan, VP of CSS.• Improve Schema updates from 31 days to 28 hours (the cost savings is too great to calculate).• Maintain and build an isolated lab to test over 25 business critical projects (the cost savings is too great to calculate).• Move 2 of the 9 forests to Windows Server 2008 R2 Forest Functional Level.• Roll out and replace 64-bit Domain Controllers, taking the number from 565 to close to 400.• Install and configure over 80 Windows Server 2008 R2 RODC’s (Read Only Domain Controllers) in branch locations.• Migrate and implement Windows Server 2008 R2 AD RMS (Rights Management Server) with 9 templates using the EA’s CAL.• Move from third party software to Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA 2006 SP1) for ALL inbound web applications, most the largest company application that handles all suppliers and vendors.In less than 4 years as an DSE I have helped Microsoft:• Grow the account to twice/three times the size (from 4 PFE’s to 8 currently, 1 Platforms to 4).• Renew the Enterprise Agreement.• Renewal of several PFE roles.• Become a Trusted Advisor in Security.In less than 6 years as an FTE I provided this internally:• First South Central Hybrid PFE (combo of DSE and Transactional PFE)• Nearly 150 On Site Visits/Phone Support with a perfect Customer Performance Evaluation (CPE) rating.• Helped customers across the United States and parts of Canada. Show less

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  Fast Switch, Ltd.

  Mar 2014 - Oct 2014

  IAM Engineer

  In charge of all things Quest/Dell – Dell One Identity Manager, ActiveRoles Server, Access Manager, Change Auditor, Quick Connect, Password Manager, etc.Helping update Active Directory to the latest version with people, processes, and procedures.

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  IBM

  Sept 2014 - Jun 2020

  Senior Solutions Architecture Consultant

  Working on all things Microsoft Cloud related. I specialize in Microsoft 365, Azure Active Directory, Messaging, Security, High Availability, and Infrastructure Networking/Load Balancing.Sample Projects:Office ModernizationProject Description: Advisory role assisting customer migrate from Notes to Office 365. They leveraged my vast experience to help with policy definition and adhering to best practices. I defined, tested, piloted, deployed Microsoft Intune.IDM ImplementationProject Description: This is the second assignment for this customer. Now that we have a baseline, it was time to help them fix the issues I found. Topic included: 1. AD Framework Definition2. Test Recovery of AD Items 3. Develop standardized Domain Controller Golden Image 4. Group Policy Object (GPO) Standards a. Through interviews, workshops, review of documents and data from the current AD, discover the current state of GPO implementation. b. Through interview and workshops, identify the target state GPO standards c. Document the GPO Standards d. Publish and review the GPO Standards with best practices in mind. 5. Lost & Found Analysis 6. Azure AD Connector 7. Assess / Remediate Authentication Delays IDM AssessmentProject Description: 6 week engagement to assess the company’s overall IDM strategy and design. Then to look at the automated On-Boarding, Off-Boarding and Password changes processes corporate wide. Provided a workshop on IPv6. Provided a 3-day workshop on Group Policy Objects. 40 Page detailed report as a final output.Merger and AcquisitionProject Description: Lead of Infrastructure side of a large Merger and Acquisition of 19 companies from an Email (Office 365) and Active Directory – consolidation to a single domain. Helped the customer by providing and running a migration team Helpdesk of 10 people and a large infrastructure team of almost 20 at the height. Show less

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  TEKsystems

  Jun 2020 - Jan 2021

  Azure Senior Infrastructure Architect/Engineer

  I consulted on all things Microsoft Cloud related. I worked on Azure Active Directory, High Availability, and Infrastructure Traffic Manager/Application Gateway/Load Balancing all with a Security focus.• Active Directory Federation Service (ADFS): I design, tested, and help migrated from ADFS 2.0 on premise to ADFS 5.0 completely in Azure -> Traffic Manager -> Application Gateway -> Internal Load Balancer -> ADFS Web Application Proxy -> Internal Load Balancer -> ADFS Backend server attached to a Cloud Witness SQL Server 2019 Availability Group.• Documentation: I lead an effort to put in place Standard Operating Procedures for Azure Requests and As-Built Documentation standards. I developed the M365 SharePoint repository, templates, and how to guide.I helped support a large State Government with 136 separate agencies, bringing them into Azure securely. Working on the Azure Commercial and Government space. This was a 6-month contract position funded by COVID-19 Federal funds to help secure the state. Show less

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  Sogeti

  Feb 2021 - Apr 2022

  Senior Management Consultant

  Azure/Microsoft 365 - Senior Infrastructure Architect/EngineerI helped a global accounting/auditing firm create an Azure Landing Zone using Microsoft’s Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF). I helped establish governance, naming standards, Azure tagging policy, Azure Policy, Azure Blueprints.I worked on Azure Active Directory, High Availability, and Infrastructure Traffic Manager/Application Gateway/Load Balancing all with a Security focus.• Automation: I oversaw the design, testing, and deployment of true Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Hashicorp’s Terraform. This allowed our team to readily deploy applications and setup the infrastructure seamlessly. All resource Groups, resources (Application Gateway, vnets, storage accounts, etc.) were created and setup with parameters with the click on a button.• Remediation: I lead a team of engineers that assessed, defined, and remediated Azure Subscriptions; to conform to the new data governance model. I facilitated data from the various teams – infrastructure, business intelligence groups, Capgemini offshore resources, and cloud team.I helped large manufacturer analyze and prepare for the deployment of Microsoft Defender.I helped a retail chain migrate Microsoft 365 to Microsoft 365 (Tenant to Tenant) using BitTitan Complete Migration Wizard. This was part of a Merger/Acquisition. I helped with the governance, PowerShell scripts for data queries, Frequently Asked Questions, Communications streams (7 days out, 3 days out, 1 day out. Today is the day), and project flow. Show less

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  US CLOUD: Microsoft Premier/Unified Support Alternative

  Jun 2022 - Jan 2025

  In my roles as a DSE I perform architect-level consulting where I specialize in various Microsoft technologies. As a DSE I help organizations achieve long-term IT success through coordinated service delivery and service delivery planning, root cause analysis, partner for successful deployments and migrations, and knowledge transfer for the technologies you use and find most important. I become an integrated part of your team to add value by providing counsel and advisory services related to your IT environment.What I do as a DSE?• Maximize the value of your technologyo Cost savings analysiso Provide IT governance assistance and support• Increase stabilityo Help define organizational best practiceso Work with and train your staff to achieve a higher level of uptime• Traino Lunch and learnso Workshops• Bridge the Knowledge Gapo Between IT staff and Managemento Between Management and Executives• Elevate your IT team's effectivenesso Help your organization right size: people, processes, and technologyo Help with application and process flow• Mentoro Lead by exampleo Work with junior memberso Brainstorm with your organization Show less

  • Consulting Services - Enterprise Architect Manager

    May 2024 - Jan 2025

  • Dedicated Support Engineer

    Jun 2022 - May 2024
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  Parex Technology

  Jan 2025 - now

  Consulting Services - Enterprise Architect Manager

  I manage a team of Architects and Engineers that support all MSFT technologies.Parex is the Consulting Services wing of US Cloud LC.