About Me

Early Beginnings

During my childhood, my fascination with technology was sparked by several key influences. One was Robert Rand, a family friend and computer programmer for Novell and Bell Labs. Watching him work left a lasting impression on me.

Another influential figure was Randy Brewer, my half-sister's father, who worked at Gulf Coast Music Inc. in Clearwater, Florida. This business, widely known in the state, specialized in arcade game repair, installation, and maintenance for over 40 years. Seeing Randy diagnose and repair pinball machines and program new games into proprietary systems greatly intrigued me.

I also owe much to my mother, Deborah Brewer, who bought me my first PC—a Gateway Astro All-In-One with an Intel Celeron CPU and 32MB of RAM (which I upgraded to 64MB), running Windows 98 SE. This computer became my launchpad into tech experimentation. I explored hardware modifications, spent countless hours gaming, and learned the ins and outs of the operating system. My curiosity soon extended into networking, where I began studying wireless frames, beacons, channels, and encryption protocols like WEP and WPA, eventually even cracking my first network.

Later, my mother bought me a Dell Dimension 4550, which deepened my understanding of hardware and operating systems. I upgraded the RAM and CPU, installed Windows XP Pro, and began exploring networking and programming with VBS scripts. I taught myself to work with binary, modify and patch system files, configure GPO policies, and develop exploits around them, perform registry edits, partition drives, and more. I also began to explore BackTrack 5 using a live USB image I created, which allowed me to investigate network and system-level attacks, delve into file forensics and data mining, while also studying and practicing privilege escalation, backdoors, and persistence techniques, further enhancing my skills in cybersecurity.

In high school, I learned about Windows Server 2000, 2003, and 2008 Enterprise R2, along with terminal services and NComputing, as these were the technologies used in the school's infrastructure. During this time, I also took the initiative to teach myself various programming languages, including C#, Java, PHP, HTML, JavaScript, SQL, Bash, Batch, PowerShell, and Python, while working at a low level with systems, exploring cryptography, and engaging in reverse engineering and patching. This combination of exposure to real-world technologies and self-directed learning fueled my interest in servers, high availability, VMware, and VDI infrastructure, laying a solid foundation for my future in technology.

Professional Journey

In a previous role, I made significant strides in streamlining production environments across seven buildings, integrating data systems, and creating innovative solutions to enhance operational efficiency.

At a startup, I led all development efforts, successfully migrating web services to AWS with a strong focus on cybersecurity compliance, including full NIST SP 500-53 Rev 5 implementation and HIPAA-compliant environments across AWS and Azure. This set the foundation for sustained growth and safeguarded sensitive data. Additionally, I designed APIs and created insurance quoters, including the first Medicare Supplement Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) application, which drove substantial business success.

I was instrumental in the early designs and builds of LORAT (Life Optimized Risk Assessment Tool), which evolved into LORA and ultimately became known as Emma in its final form—a precursor to AI as we know it today.

In addition to these achievements, I also:

Architected and Deployed Secure Network Infrastructure: Designed network systems spanning multiple office locations, including Juniper and Sophos technology, VLANs, SSL VPN, RADIUS, and high-availability configurations. This architecture provided resilience and security through features like Sophos Sandstorm, Zero-day protection, EDR and XDR, and custom ACLs.

Enhanced System and Endpoint Security: Integrated Azure AD Single Sign-On (SSO) with AWS services and internal applications, implementing Conditional Access Policies, MFA, and Yubikeys to fortify user authentication.

Enabled Comprehensive Remote Work Solutions: Engineered an efficient transition to remote work using Intel vPro EMA, Sophos XG, and Pulseway, enabling seamless device management and security during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Advanced Monitoring and Real-Time Alerts: Built custom API services to interface with EagleEye Networks and other platforms, integrating logs and events into an Elastic SIEM cluster for centralized insights and real-time alerting. Additionally, I created a "Remote Employee Network Quality Monitoring" system to diagnose connectivity issues and optimize remote work performance.

Led Data-Driven Monitoring and Alert Systems: Established proactive monitoring through a custom LibreNMS cluster across office and cloud environments, tracking metrics from network throughput to environmental conditions during outages, with automated syncing once restored.

By leveraging cutting-edge tools and methodologies, I've consistently delivered secure, scalable solutions and optimized operations across various roles. Each project has strengthened my commitment to cybersecurity, efficiency, and driving meaningful innovation.

Leadership and Achievements

Most recently, as the Director of System Architecture, I spearheaded exponential growth, scaling revenue from $8,000 in 2017 to $4.75 million in 2018, $19.68 million in 2019, and surpassing $40 million in revenue in 2021. I played a crucial role in expanding and leading a highly skilled team, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence. Ensurem achieved a remarkable growth rate of 245,900.00 percent, earning top rankings in industry lists. My efforts were a testament to my commitment to transformative tech solutions and effective leadership.

Beyond the Tech World

Outside of my professional life, I cherish spending quality time with my family and friends. Living in Florida, I enjoy exploring the beautiful surroundings. I'm also an avid gamer, often immersing myself in new challenges and adventures.

In my spare time, I love working on personal tech projects, including managing my own homelab and exploring new innovations in system architecture. Additionally, I have a passion for automotive work, whether it's tuning up a car or tackling a new DIY project. I'm also passionate about photography and enjoy exploring and learning more about capturing the perfect shot.

Thank you for visiting my site and taking the time to learn more about my journey. I'm excited to share my experiences and connect with like-minded individuals in the tech community!