Don Spidell

Cloud Architect • Solutions Engineer • AWS Ambassador

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About Me

Profile

I'm a highly-skilled and seasoned technology professional with over 20 years of experience leading teams, developing technology strategy, and designing secure and scalable cloud architectures for organizations. An early adopter of cloud computing with a proven ability to construct highly-available, performant systems to achieve cost savings and service goals. A constant learner and capable team leader with a strong mind for technology, budgets, and team development. Comfortable and proficient whether in front of a computer terminal editing scripts or in front of a CEO explaining complex technology in plain language.

Experience

Cloud Architect Lead

Allocore (formerly Summit Technology Group)

Mechanicsburg, PA

2019 – Present

Work with various clients across multiple industries, with a focus on federal government, to modernize their IT infrastructure. Craft custom infrastructure solutions in the public cloud to save money, drive innovation, and create competitive advantage. Mentor Cloud Architect colleagues.

Director of Technology Architecture & Operations

Bucknell University

Lewisburg, PA

2016 – 2019

Served as a management-level technologist and strategist responsible for assuring Library & IT provides current, highly-responsive technology infrastructure to the Bucknell University community. Architect, plan, oversee, and maintain the University’s data centers, telecommunications, and wired/wireless networking infrastructure, as well as focus on cloud first when deploying new technologies. Lead and manage System Integration team and Network & Telephony team. Vision, implement, and support an ever-evolving multi-year roadmap of leading local and cloud infrastructure services, including CapEx and OpEx budgets.

Uptime Preservationist

Nxtbook Media

Lancaster, PA

2007 – 2016

Led and managed the administration of corporate technology infrastructure and servicing of external IT Services clients. Spearheaded efforts to preserve uptime of internal and customer-facing web services and digital products. Designed and architected highly-available, distributed, loosely-coupled systems on Amazon Web Services. Developed the external IT services revenue stream and portfolio of service offerings. Performed IT audits for external clients and collaborate with their executives to improve their infrastructures. Evaluated, selected, and managed IT vendors to deliver products and services to the company. Delivered IT reports at monthly all-company meeting. Participated in weekly leadership team meeting and periodic strategic and operational planning meetings to work towards company goals with other department heads and company owners.

Technical Specialist

Residential Warranty Company

Harrisburg, PA

2003 – 2007

Provided helpdesk problem diagnosis and resolution for 125 local and remote users across the US. Domain Administrator for fleet of Windows servers. Upgraded hardware and software on workstations and servers. Participated in weekly team meetings to share knowledge and streamline processes.

Involvement

AWS Ambassador

AWS Ambassador

As an AWS Ambassador, I engage with the cloud community to share insights on AWS services, best practices, and innovation. My role includes mentoring, blogging, and contributing to knowledge-sharing initiatives that help people harness the full potential of AWS cloud solutions.

AWS Certification Lead SME

AWS Certification Lead SME

As a Lead Subject Matter Expert for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Pro exam, I work alongside Amazonians to develop and edit questions for the exam and also mentor new question writers as they hone their skills.

Certifications

Publications

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Let’s connect and build something amazing.

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