Christopher Welch

Current

Network Design Manager at WVT Communications

Past

Lead Network Specialist at WVT Communications
Information Systems Network Specialist at WVT Communications
Senior Technician at WVT Communications

Online Help Desk Customer Assistant at WVT Communications
Inventory/MIS Manager at Wadeson Home Center

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Education

Orange County Community College
Warwick Valley High School

Recommended

4 people have recommended Christopher

Connections

144 connections

Industry

Telecommunications

Websites

Christopher Welch’s Summary

With over a decade of telecommunications experience under his belt already in his young career, Christopher Welch continues to expand his knowledge base seemingly without limits. He has excelled in the management of a next generation MSO and continues to be ranked within the top of his organization's workforce. Christopher has strong leadership abilities, which have been proven time and again throughout his career. He continues to deliver project after project on time, with quality, and under budget. Christopher excels at cost consolidation, vendor management, contract negotiation, and capacity planning. He has a strong background in InfoSec including SOX audits and Federal/State government compliance. Christopher has performed CALEA audits and has a a strong background in computer forensics, as well as, LEA liaison responsibilities. His background includes management of video head ends, IP and ATM television networks, IP/ATM networks, and unified communication SAS products. Christopher has a vast network engineering and computer science knowledge base including Linux, MS, and Apple application servers. Christopher has a wide variety of configuration and troubleshooting skills including ISP services, IT/IS, call center management, and advanced repair triage methodologies. His background includes sales engineering and customer relations management. Christopher has formal visual arts and marketing training. He specializes in knowledge management, as well as, project management in the Scrum and Agile methodology. Christopher also has a background in financial analysis and strategic product development.

Christopher Welch’s Specialties:

Clerical skills. Network management & best practices. Application servers such as LAMP. Multimedia development including video, web development, and audio production. Security audits complying with CALEA or SOX. Routers, switches, servers, network elements, and application services. ISP services inc. DSL, Dial up, and FTTH. Familiar with: Cisco, Foundry, Nortel, Red Hat, Debian, Microsoft apps/OS, Adobe apps, Motorola FTTN, IPTV, and VoIP/Mitel. Scrum and Agile Project Management techniques.

Christopher Welch’s Experience

Network Design Manager

WVT Communications

(Public Company; 51-200 employees; Telecommunications industry)

November 2007 — Present (1 year 9 months)

Managed six person Network Engineering division reporting directly to the SVP of Operations. Lead project manager of MPEG-4 HDTV deployment project. Developed Network Policy handbook adhering to SANS/COBIT best practices, as well as, SOX Act. Successfully developed policies within WAN elements to meet CALEA Federal compliance mandates. Introduced capacity planning and longterm growth forecasting including capital purchase analysis procedure. Deployed open source network management tools and centralized application server management. Managed two person Tier 3 TAC and Outsourced Call Center relationship. Oversaw daily operations, monitored call metrics, and improved both meantime to resolution/repair. Managed three person MIS/IT department responsible for maintaining corporate LAN, remote office, ERP/OSS platform, and corporate Internet access services. Managed carrier class VoIP PBX CO hosted SAS product including overseeing WAN/LAN integration, LAN optimization, and monitoring.
Lead Network Specialist

WVT Communications

(Public Company; 51-200 employees; Telecommunications industry)

January 2006 — November 2007 (1 year 11 months)

Supervised five person Network Engineering division reporting directly to the VP of Operations. Deployed project management interface providing knowledge base centralization and task management metrics. Successfully rehabilitated core data communications network including modernizing metrics, alarming, and implementing carrier class best practices within data centers. Project lead on email services migration from Solaris to modern Debian cluster. Migrated DNS services to modern unified management system. Implemented two year budget plan that enabled continued updates to Network and Video Head End while lowering overall costs. Engineered next generation fiber 40 Gb/s capable MRP ring. Managed outsourced Technical Assistance Center relationship including methods and procedures documentation. Utilized open source solutions to develop and deploy tapeless back up system between server clusters and Network Appliance RAID arrays improving disaster recovery/avoidance capabilities.
Information Systems Network Specialist

WVT Communications

(Public Company; 51-200 employees; Telecommunications industry)

March 2003 — January 2006 (2 years 11 months)

Provided Tier 4 support for trouble tickets. Products supported included voice, video, and data products. Provided customer support for web site and domain hosting services. Installed, maintained, and developed a WAN consisting of Windows, UNIX, and Linux servers. Installed, maintained, and developed WAN connectivity using routers, switches, and hubs from various vendors including Redback Networks, Nortel Networks, and Cisco Networks. Audited security and usage of WAN. Installed, maintained and developed WAN. Provisioned xDSL subscribers on nodes using T1/T3 ATM or fiber backbones. Installed, maintained, and developed an ATM video head end providing digital video services to VDSL/ADSL2+. Installed, maintained, and develop IT ISP services including (but not limited to) SMTP, POP3, HTTP, NNTP, SMNP, Syslog, and RADIUS/LDAP. Developed Cisco-based 802.11g WiFi hot spots and point-to-point solutions.
Senior Technician

WVT Communications

(Public Company; 51-200 employees; Telecommunications industry)

June 2001 — March 2003 (1 year 10 months)

Provided tier three customer support for escalated Call Center tickets. Provided on-site premium installation and support for data subscribers. Products supported included dial-up, ADSL, VDSL, WAN/LAN Networking, and WiFi integration. Developed technical support manual used to document department methods and procedures. Acted as liaison with Network Engineering, Repair/Installation, Engineering, and Customer Service divisions. Worked with managers to provide insight into HR development and analyzed daily employee ACD reports. Provided technical sales support to Marketing and Business Communications Sales divisions. Supervised fifteen technicians. Reviewed tickets for quality control. Performed technology training for both internal and external customers.
Online Help Desk Customer Assistant

WVT Communications

(Public Company; 51-200 employees; Telecommunications industry)

February 1999 — June 2001 (2 years 5 months)

Performed operator, tier one technical troubleshooting, and tier two technical troubleshooting in Customer Technical Assistance Call Center; which supported subscribers using voice, video, and data products. Operating systems consisted primarily of Windows 9x/2000/NT/XP PC's, as well as, Macintosh OS 9 and OS X systems. OS support extended to spyware and virus removal. Included configuration of web browser, TCP/IP, and e-mail application. Developed online database to aide both internal and externals customers (www.v90help.com).
Inventory/MIS Manager

Wadeson Home Center

(Retail industry)

July 1996 — February 1999 (2 years 8 months)

Managed/audited retail inventory stock and pricing. Analyzed daily sales reports. Developed sales campaigns and marketing strategies. Developed original advertisements for print and new media. Created marketing content for both internal and external customers. Managed a LAN consisting of seven Windows 9x PC's, one UNIX AIX server, and five UNIX AIX POS terminals. In charge of LAN maintenance, upgrades, and installations. Performed security audits on LAN. Provided WAN access to Internet via DSL and RAS dial-up. Worked closely with management and business proprietors in all business aspects and development. Managed and developed web site (www.wadeson.com) that includes e-commerce integration with third party provider (www.doitbest.com).

Christopher Welch’s Education

Orange County Community College

AS (In Progress) , Visual Communications , 1996 — 2001
Warwick Valley High School

NYS Regents , Arts/Science , 1991 — 2001

Additional Information

Christopher Welch’s Websites:

Christopher Welch’s Interests:

Journalism, baseball, computer science, multimedia art design, photography, prose, poetry, graphic art, communications, theology, philosophy, politics, history, automotive enthusiast, pool, economics, fine food and drink, spending time w/my wife & kids, social networking, technology, audio production, and music composition.