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Tim Coker
Verified Expert in Engineering
Cloud Architect and Developer
Cedar Rapids, IA, United States
Toptal member since March 17, 2023
Bio
Tim is an innovative leader with a long history of working in and with the global IT industry. With skills ranging from support/design and enterprise/solution architecture consulting to research, technical sales, technical writing, project/program management, and management of IT personnel, Tim is always looking for opportunities to proactively transform business and culture while optimizing the experience for employees, customers, and partners.
Portfolio
Microsoft
Enterprise Software, Team Leadership, Strategy, Enterprise Systems...
GE Capital
Management, IT Operations Management (ITOM), IT Helpdesk...
Transamerica
Enterprise Architecture, Solution Design, Management, Change Management, TOGAF...
Experience
- Change Management - 20 years
- Solution Architecture - 20 years
- Enterprise Architecture - 20 years
- Leadership - 20 years
- Strategy - 20 years
- Presales - 15 years
- Azure - 13 years
- Office 365 - 12 years
Work Experience
Senior Enterprise—Global Technology Strategist
2008 - 2023
Microsoft
- Provided pre-sales, sales, and post-sales support. Managed the sales, business preparation, migration, and service enablement for hundreds of thousands of users to the M365 and Windows Enterprise (F1-E5) platform-related technologies.
- Led the technology side of the entire internal team on strategy, hybrid cloud deployment, consumption planning, and digital transformation. Achieved alumnus of the Microsoft Technical Leadership Development Program, completed in 2022.
- Oversaw the project portfolio for migrating users, migrating existing applications and hardware, refactoring applications, server migration and consolidation, and introducing new applications to hybrid IaaS/PaaS/SaaS platforms.
- Delivered and developed complex sales proposals, architecture designs, business cases, roadmaps, and business strategies to key stakeholders. Led or co-led contract/enterprise agreement negotiations with strategic customers.
- Facilitated architecture and solution design to help modernize business applications using platform services, architecture patterns/frameworks, and modern development/management/security practices.
- Became The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) certified.
- Secure trusted status with stakeholders across the business, from frontline workers to the CxO level. Translated vision, value, and purpose up and down the customer and partner management chains to drive clarity and interpret intent.
- Facilitated technical and cultural change, partnering with various project and development teams, including traditional and Agile/Scrum, to drive innovation and realize business value. Became Prosci certified.
- Worked with businesses of varying sizes from 500 to 100,000 users worldwide and in many industries, including financial services, healthcare, life and health insurance, manufacturing, agriculture, power, and utilities.
- Trained and mentored newer technology specialists, account executives, architects, solution sales specialists, and customer success managers.
Technologies: Enterprise Software, Team Leadership, Strategy, Enterprise Systems, Enterprise SaaS, Security, Tech Sales, Presales, Azure, Microsoft Intune, Office 365, Operating Systems, Architecture, Digital Solutions, Cost Management, Cost Reduction & Optimization (Cost-down)
Systems Support Manager—Site Manager
2007 - 2008
GE Capital
- Managed and acted as technical lead for a team that handled administration, maintenance, and support for all local computer and telephony systems, including a large call center and many other computer systems around the world.
- Gained significant exposure to Six Sigma and define, measure, analyze, improve, and control (DMAIC) while leading major computing platform and infrastructure conversions for Cedar Rapids' entire user base.
- Led the creation of a help desk environment and associated processes to support the local user presence.
Technologies: Management, IT Operations Management (ITOM), IT Helpdesk, Telecom Equipment & Solutions, Servers, Networking
Senior Enterprise Architect—Top Technical Specialist
1998 - 2008
Transamerica
- Developed and maintained the enterprise architecture program, including principles, processes, best practices, and templates used in design-level decision-making for major business initiatives that can leverage any technology.
- Worked on standards management, developed, defined, implemented, and maintained standards for hardware, tools, applications, processes, and patterns. I encouraged using technology and related solutions that can be standardized globally.
- Acted as a solutions architect and product assessment lead. Researched, evaluated, recommended, piloted, and developed the deployment of standards for applications and distributed systems hardware, accessories, and software across the enterprise.
- Achieved a Life Office Management Association (LOMAs), Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI) certification to ensure demonstrated, comprehensive knowledge of the life insurance industry.
- Served as the technical instructor and contracted as a Microsoft instructor and adjunct professor for Kirkwood College and Kaplan University during this time.
- Engaged in other roles, including server engineer and test lab manager.
Technologies: Enterprise Architecture, Solution Design, Management, Change Management, TOGAF, Architecture, Digital Solutions
Case Management Lab Section Supervisor—Advanced Service Engineer
1993 - 1997
Gateway Inc
- Acted as the manager and primary technical contact of Gateway's central case management lab, often referred to as the "Tech Lab," comprised of the top technical support personnel in the company.
- Served as the fourth and final tier of technical issue escalation regarding all Gateway and partner products. Before taking on the leadership role, I was a tech lab technician in both the Sioux Falls and North Sioux City locations.
- Served as a subject matter expert and advanced service engineer, specializing in motherboards and associated chipsets, basic input/output systems (BIOS), networking, and operating systems. Served as liaison in these areas to engineering.
- Held the role of a technical support technician for Gateway.
Technologies: Management, Operating Systems, Networking, Hardware, Engineering, Technical Support
Project History
Heathcare Cloud and Windows 10 Migration
I assisted in preparing the infrastructure, people, processes, and culture for a massive cloud migration at a significant healthcare provider network. The preparation process took a few years. Once we were ready, we did the majority of migrations in less than a year. Before the cloud move, I helped the company prepare for a significant migration of over 30,000 devices from Windows 7 to Windows 10.
Energy and Financial Services Data Center Migrations
I helped many customers in many industries move data center operations to the cloud. Still, a couple of these stand out because the intent was to get out of the data center hosting business entirely. I worked for years on the preparation for these moves, and some of them are still underway, with the completion planned for 2024.
Enterprise Architecture Program Development
I was a major contributor and primary author during the creation, maintenance, and enhancement of the enterprise architecture program at a global life insurance company. This included principles, frameworks, best practices, tiered standards, application lifecycle management, and related processes.
Education
2022 - 2023
Progress Toward Master's Degree in Strategic Leadership
Mount Mercy University - Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States
2020 - 2023
Bachelor's Degree in Management of Information Services (MIS)
Mount Mercy University - Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States
Certifications
AUGUST 2022 - PRESENT
Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals
Microsoft
MAY 2022 - PRESENT
Accessibility in Action
Microsoft
FEBRUARY 2021 - PRESENT
Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals
Microsoft
APRIL 2020 - PRESENT
Prosci Fundamentals of Change Management
Prosci
MARCH 2020 - MARCH 2022
Microsoft 365 Certified: Security Administrator Associate
Microsoft
AUGUST 2019 - PRESENT
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals
Microsoft
MAY 2019 - PRESENT
Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals
Microsoft
MARCH 2019 - PRESENT
Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
Microsoft
AUGUST 2017 - PRESENT
Microsoft Certified Solution Architect: Cloud Platform
Microsoft
JULY 2017 - PRESENT
Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions
Microsoft
JULY 2014 - PRESENT
Power Base Account Management
Holden
SEPTEMBER 2005 - PRESENT
Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI)
LOMA
SEPTEMBER 2004 - PRESENT
TOGAF Certified Practitioner
Open Group
APRIL 2003 - PRESENT
Certified Internet Web (CIW) Professional
Computer Training Schools
MARCH 2003 - PRESENT
Master Accredited Systems Engineer (Master ASE)
HP
AUGUST 2002 - PRESENT
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) | Routing and Switching
Cisco
MAY 2001 - PRESENT
Certified Netware Engineer (CNE)
Novell
FEBRUARY 1995 - PRESENT
Certified A+
CompTIA
FEBRUARY 1995 - PRESENT
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
Microsoft
Skills
Tools
Microsoft Intune, VPN
Paradigms
Change Management, Management
Platforms
Microsoft, Windows, Azure, Web, Windows Server, Linux
Frameworks
TOGAF
Industry Expertise
Life Insurance
Languages
Visual Basic
Other
Leadership, Enterprise Architecture, Strategy, Tech Sales, Presales, Technical Support, Sales, Solution Architecture, Office 365, Enterprise Software, Team Leadership, Enterprise Systems, Enterprise SaaS, Security, Operating Systems, Solution Design, IT Operations Management (ITOM), IT Helpdesk, Servers, Networking, Hardware, Management Systems, File Servers, Architecture, Audio Engineering, Cost Management, Cost Reduction & Optimization (Cost-down), Telecom Equipment & Solutions, Engineering, Data, Dynamics CRM 365, Accessibility, Windows 10, Remote Desktop, Data Migration, Applications, Remote Work, Virtual Work, Digital Solutions, Acoustical Engineering
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