ABOUT
As a leader in the ISP industry with 25 years of experience, my passion has continuously driven me to expand my knowledge, experience, and relationships. Building networks is my life-long passion.
MY EXPERIENCE
Background & Expertise
As the Founder and CEO of a moderately sized ISP, I have had a very diverse set of experiences. I have also been a key person in the development of the WISP industry, in Western Canada, and beyond.
2016-2019
VICE-PRESIDENT/CTO/CO-FOUNDER, SWIFT FOX SYSTEMS - CALGARY ALBERTA
After the sale of Community Networks, we launched a firm that offers services to other ISPs across North America.
The three main areas of business were:
A pair of customer support centres in Winnipeg and Vancouver and a NOC in Calgary that served about 10,000 subscribers over roughly a dozen different ISPs across North America.
An in-house developed SaaS-based CRM/OSS/BSS that operates all aspects of an ISP business.
Business mentorship and engineering support to WISP owners and operators.​
​
2003-2016
PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT/CTO/FOUNDER, COMMUNITY NETWORKS - CALGARY ALBERTA
Accomplishments:
In 5 years took the company from 2 members to 17
Full responsibility for all human resource development
Budgeting and management of a >$1-2M/yr budget
Eliminated $250,000 in start-up debt in under 18 months
Built a wireless network with approximately 6500 sq KM of coverage over 14 transmitter towers
Went from zero to over 2700 Internet subscribers
Built well over 1000km of custom microwave links for government and private interests.
Sold the firm to a publically traded nationwide telecommunications provider
Management Responsibilities
Built business plans and applied metrics to the completion of each business stage
Training and mentoring of employees and communication apprentices
Development and management of several teams including field operations, sales, customer support and administration
Technical Responsibilities
Create technology strategy plans
Wireless network engineering including link budgets and WAN design
CAN (Community Area Network) Design
Project management
Selecting and managing installation contractors
24x7 customer trouble response
Network maintenance and repair
Administration of DNS and web servers
Cisco and Mikrotik Router configuration and maintenance
Management of installations and installers
5000+ Installations
Standards and procedure authoring
New equipment evaluation
All administration-related duties
2002
SENIOR INFRASTRUCTURE SPECIALIST, PLATINUM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION​
Wireless network engineering including link budgets and WAN design
Project management
Selecting and managing installation contractors
24x7 customer trouble response
Network maintenance and repair
Administration of DNS and web servers
Cisco Router configuration and maintenance
Management of installations and installers
300+ Installations and Rigging
Standards and procedure authoring
New equipment evaluation
2001-2002
FIELD SERVICE MANAGER, TERAGO NETWORKS
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Wireless network engineering including link budgets and WAN design
Project management 100+ deployments
Selecting and managing installation contractors
24x7 customer trouble response
Network maintenance and repair
2000-2001
FIELD SERVICE MANAGER, WIBAND COMMUNICATIONS
Wireless network engineering including link budgets and WAN design
Administration of DNS and web servers
Router configuration and maintenance
Project management
Management of installations
300+ Installations and Rigging
Sales Engineer
Standards and procedure authoring
New equipment evaluation
Customer support
Nation-wide DNS registration and name management
1998-2000
IT COORDINATOR, PBSC (IBM) COMPUTER TRAINING​
Administration of several Windows NT and Novell servers and over 150 clients
IBM security controls compliance officer
Planning of IT strategy
Co-ordination of custom projects with clients
Desktop support
Creation of an automated multi-platform OS and software deployment system.
Move coordinator as we relocated to a new campus
All other aspects of IT for all Calgary satillite branch locations
1998
IT TECHNICIAN (Apprentice) SOUTHERN ALBERTA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Installation and certification of campus-wide fibre optic, 10/100/1000Base2/5/T network cabling.
Installation of switches, routers and hubs.
Tier 2&3 technical support, PC, monitor and printer repair, maintenance and repair of terminals and servers - Calgary Alberta
EDUCATION
& Certifications
2015-2017
MTCNA
MTCTCE
MTCRE
MikroTik Certified Network Associate
MikroTik Certified Traffic Control Engineer
MikroTik Certified Routing Engineer
​
2001-2018
FALL ARREST
TOWER SELF RESCUE
H2S ALIVE
WHMIS
STANDARD FIRST AID
PYROTECHNICIAN
​
Maintained various safety certifications
2003
SELF-EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
A 12-month program in self-employment, learning about business topics, with a special focus on the unique aspects of start-ups.
2001
MICROSOFT CERTIFIED SYSTEMS ENGINEER
MCSE certification with a speciality in Windows NT 4.0 and TCP/IP
2000
NETWORK+
A+
Completed both the N+ and A+ certifications, with a 97% passing grade on both exams.
1996-1998
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY
3 years of courses in Electrical Engineering Technology, at Red River College and SAIT.
SERVICE WORK
2007-2012
TROOP SCOUTER
I led a team of volunteers and delivered a dynamic development program to several dozen youths (12-16yr). My troop was located in a socially disadvantaged community and I became integral to the upbringing of many of the youth and to their families. I gained a reputation for delivering a modern and dynamic program.
2011
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR
Delivered a recycling education program at an international Scout Jamboree in Sweden. Attended by 40,000.
2012, 2014, 2015, 2016
THEME CAMP LEAD
I was the leader of several Burning Man theme camps, with a special focus on harm reduction and consent topics.
2010-2011
ALBERTA APPRENTICESHIP BOARD
I sat on the Telecommunications apprenticeship board, setting the direction for the trade and promoting education in the trades
INTERESTS AND HOBBIES
PHOTOGRAPHY
I have been an amateur photographer for over 20 years, shooting on a mix of digital and film.  I draw particular inspiration from our industrial past.
SPACE AND TECHNOLOGY
Ever since I was a child I have been fascinated by Space.  I was privileged to once spend a day as a trainee Astronaut and train at Zero-G.  I have a voracious appetite for anything space related and dream of one day visiting or living in space.
TRAVEL
I have travelled extensively, with a special focus on China and Asia. Â Whether travelling for pleasure or business I have always enjoyed being outside my comfort zone and experiencing other cultures. Â This also allows me to enjoy many of my other interests, from SCUBA to international entrepreneurship.
PROJECTS
A sampling of some of the types of projects I have completed
HOME GATEWAY DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING PROJECT
We took a client's list of requirements for custom label home gateway routers. Â We procured a manufacturing partner in China and jointly developed a custom product. Â I worked with our manufacturing partner directly via several trips to Shenzhen. Â This project had a budget of about $100,000, over 2 years.
FIRST NATIONS WISP START-UPS
I have worked with 3 different First Nations over 10 years, providing in-depth support in them establishing their own successful ISP and Telecom firms.  I designed and delivered training programs for their employees and apprentices.  The firms are entirely First Nation owned and operated and support about 3000 subscribers with high-speed internet and VOIP.  These projects have created several dozen telecom tradespeople and full-time employment for managers, on the reserves.
siksikatel.com - stoneynakodatelecom.com - firstcom.ca
SPRUCE MEADOWS WIFI & FIBRE NETWORK
I designed, deployed and supported a campus-wide Wifi system that supported events with over 10,000 in attendance.  I also built over 7km of fibre optic backbone across the campus that was used for events including qualifying for the 2010 Olympics and the G8 summit.
EFIREHOSE NETWORK REDEVELOPMENT 2012
In preparation for the sale of our company, we made a $250,000 hardware investment in our network. Â Upgrading all 14 towers to the latest Airmax technology. Â I personally led the effort, coordinating with my own teams. Â We eliminated over 1200 2.4ghz CPEs from the network and applied minimum service standards to all 2700 subscribers.
