Mike Gaal

Current

• Senior Windows Systems Administrator, Windows Server Deployment at Pacific Gas & Electric

Past

• Senior Systems Analyst, IT R&D Applications at Elan
• Business Systems Analyst at BioMarin
• Desktop Support Technician 2 at BioMarin

• Desktop Support Technician 1 at BioMarin
• Information Technology Consultant at Sonoma State University
• Student Assistant, IT Helpdesk at Sonoma State University

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3 more...

Recommended

18 people have recommended Mike

Connections

251 connections

Industry

Pharmaceuticals

Websites

• My Resume

Mike Gaal’s Summary

Mike Gaal’s Specialties:

FDA 21 CFR Part 11 Compliance, Computer Systems Validation, Quality Assurance, Documentation, Business Systems, System Development, Citrix, CCA, MCP, MCSA MCSE, Security+, A+, Apple, Mac OS X,System Imaging, Scientific Systems, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Software, Scientific Software, SDLC, SQL 2005, SMS, SCCM, SUS, WSUS, Application Packaging, Login Scripts, VBScripts, VMWare, Virtual Servers, Virtual Workstations, SharePoint 2007, Exchange 2003/2007, Software Rollouts, GXP, GMP, GLP, GCP

Mike Gaal’s Experience

• Senior Windows Systems Administrator, Windows Server Deployment

  Pacific Gas & Electric

  (Public Company; PCG; Utilities industry)

  August 2009 — Present (4 months)

• Senior Systems Analyst, IT R&D Applications

  Elan

  (Public Company; ELN; Pharmaceuticals industry)

  November 2008 — August 2009 (10 months)

   Denied band-aid fixes of a legacy Access 2003 application used for tracking education grant requests via a complicated and overly engineered process, instead spearheaded the effort as project manager with stakeholder approval to completely re-design the system on the SharePoint technology platform. Managed vendor resources and developed all project documentation.
   Performed all technical analysis and implementation for the organization’s Citrix Presentation Server 4.0 to XenApp 4.5 upgrade entirely on a VMWare infrastructure with no downtime for legacy production applications. Reduced login times from 3+ minutes to a 13 second average globally. Created and performed all load testing and developed a performance management plan fine-tuned to monitor the performance of the farm down to exact user session metrics.
   Quickly assumed SME role on dozens of disparate pharmaceutical industry COTS and custom-developed applications.
   Analyzed and designed solutions to allow for custom vendor and in-house applications to be integrated and utilized in Citrix. Developed ad-hoc batch files, VBScript files, and custom group policy ADM templates to achieve program compatibility.
   Proactively volunteered to aid Technical Services staff in packaging applications, learning the DSM software distribution suite and providing training on how to best deploy packages. Aided in the distribution of several enterprise-wide software packages.

• Business Systems Analyst

  BioMarin

  (Public Company; BMRN; Biotechnology industry)

  January 2007 — November 2008 (1 year 11 months)

   Rapidly promoted from Desktop Support Technician 2, previously rapidly promoted from Desktop Support Technician 1 due to exceptional performance in analyzing and improving existing processes outside of immediate job scope.
   Managed an “IT Intern” with a 12 week curriculum touching upon all aspects of IT’s role in the enterprise.
   Project managed a custom coded solution for the Corporate Compliance department to track regulatory agency inspections and increase the efficiency of the organization’s response to inspections. System directly impacted the entire organization’s presentation to the FDA and other regulatory bodies.
   Project managed a completely in-house custom web-based system with a SQL backend utilizing external consultants to track software assets used during computer systems validation activities.
   Project managed the organization’s 700 client migration from SMS 2003 to Configuration Manager 2007. Standardized organization’s desktop patching process, streamlined the desktop imaging process, and packaged all standardized applications eliminating the need for technicians to touch workstations for software deployments.
   Project managed and implemented a complete migration of all field-based commercial operations staff computer systems to a standardized multilingual Windows XP image utilizing the MozyPro backup service to reduce recovery time of all remote workstations to < 1 day.
   Implemented the company’s first validated client/server implementation of the Empower 2 Enterprise software with a $100,000 budget. Developed system architecture, hardware procurement and all associated quality deliverables.
   Developed a “System Design Description” template and set of guidelines utilized department-wide governing all computerized system design.
   Coded VBScripts and batch files, packaged software, and unified the organization’s system deployment procedure with in-place technologies to allow for increased efficiency among Desktop Support staff.

• Desktop Support Technician 2

  BioMarin

  (Public Company; BMRN; Biotechnology industry)

  January 2007 — December 2007 (1 year )

  Refer to Business Systems Analyst position above.

• Desktop Support Technician 1

  BioMarin

  (Public Company; BMRN; Biotechnology industry)

  May 2006 — December 2006 (8 months)

  Refer to Business Systems Analyst position above.

• Information Technology Consultant

  Sonoma State University

  (Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)

  September 2005 — May 2006 (9 months)

   Offered unique conversion from Helpdesk Student Assistant to full-time Information Technology Consultant due to exceptional ability to document processes, create tools for troubleshooting, and act as a mentor for peer students.
   Mentored student staff with best-practice customer service concepts, explanation of technology, and involvement in complex troubleshooting.
   Developed process and created utilities to cleanse all models of laptops and desktops of spyware, viruses, and slow performance issues. Process became primary method of cleansing ~5-10 student systems per day of infection for years.
   Developed standard and secure operating system images for both Windows XP/2000 and Mac OS X.

• Student Assistant, IT Helpdesk

  Sonoma State University

  (Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)

  August 2004 — September 2005 (1 year 2 months)

  See Information Technology Consultant position above.

Additional Information

Mike Gaal’s Websites:

• My Resume

Mike Gaal’s Groups:

•    Official DeVry University Alumni Network
•    Lifesciences Opportunities in US
•    Computerized Systems Validation (1000+)
•    Biotech & Pharma Professionals Network
•    Sonoma State University
•    Life Science Information Technology Global Institute
•    Elan Corporation Alumni Group
•    BioMarin Alumni
•    Chaotic Change

Mike Gaal’s Honors:

MCITP Enterprise Administrator, Server 2008
MCTS Windows Server 2008 Active Directory
MCTS Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure
MCTS Windows Server 2008 Application Platform
MCSE 2003: Security
MCSA 2003: Security
MCTS System Center Configuration Manager 2007
MCTS Windows SharePoint Services 3.0
MCTS Windows SharePoint Server 2007
Citrix Certified Administrator for XenApp 5
Security+
A+
Dell Certified Systems Expert
Apple Certified Mac OS X Service and Support Technician
Apple Certified Portable Technician
Apple Certified Desktop Technician

Mike Gaal’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• career opportunities
• new ventures
• job inquiries
• expertise requests
• business deals
• reference requests
• getting back in touch