Kade P. Cole

Email: kcole@yahoo.com

Professional Summary

Experienced Network Engineer with over 25 years of expertise in IT and experience designing, implementing, and managing large-scale network systems. Proficient in network hardware, software, and security solutions, including Cisco technologies, VLANs, and cloud-based voice solutions. Adept at troubleshooting complex network issues, optimizing performance, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. Committed to continuous learning and contributing to a dynamic, growth-oriented organization.

Professional Experience

Network Engineer with Information Technology Services
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL
Feb 2005 - Present

• Managed over 300 network switches and 15,000 network ports across four campuses, including routine maintenance, software updates, and hardware replacement.
• Configured and installed new network switches and designed and maintained a campus-wide wireless network with over 1800 access points supporting 10,000+ clients daily.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to data jacks, wiring infrastructure, and switch configurations; configured new VLANs and routing information as required.
• Collaborated with IT teams to plan, implement, and monitor network solutions ensuring high performance and reliability.
• Provided technical support and expertise in network infrastructure, contributing to seamless campus network operations.

Manager with Academic Computing
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL
May 2003 - Feb 2005

• Oversaw installation, maintenance, and updates of Windows computers for Founders Hall Computer Labs.
• Managed Novell, Windows 2000/2003 servers, Norton Ghost servers/clients, and Sun Solaris server for Real Audio/Video streaming.
• Consulted with the networking department to ensure effective integration and support for academic computing environments.

Assistant Manager with Server Administration
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL
Dec 2000 - May 2003

• Managed installation, maintenance, and updates of Servers and Distributed Directory services.
• Worked on integrating directories and ensuring the free flow of information across various server platforms including Novell Netware, Windows NT/2000/XP, Red Hat Linux, and Sun Solaris.

Assistant Coordinator with Academic Computing
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL
Apr 1999 - Jun 2001

• Coordinated installation, maintenance, and updates of Macintosh and Windows compatible computers for Alumni Hall Computer Lab.
• Managed servers and provided Audio/Video streaming server support.

Systems Manager
Edwardsville Publishing Company, Edwardsville, IL
Jun 1996 - Apr 1999

• Managed technical support services for an Internet Service Provider and provided support for Macintosh, IBM-compatible computers, and servers.
• Oversaw the hiring and training of new employees for technical support and ISP services.

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL
June 2003

Skills

• Networking Technologies: Cisco routers/switches, Fortinet Firewalls, Aruba Wireless, Shortest Path Bridging (SPB), SD-WAN, BGP, EIGRP, OSPF, VLAN, MPLS, IS-IS, QoS, GRE, STP, IPSEC VPN
• Network Solutions: Cloud-based voice solutions, firewall technologies, SSL VPN, WAN optimizers
• Operating Systems: Advanced Linux, Windows, and MacOS knowledge
• Project Management: Time management, project implementation planning, cost estimation, project completion
• Communication: Effective communication, customer service, technical documentation

Professional Development

• Regular participant in network engineering workshops and training sessions on emerging technologies.
• Engaged in continuous learning to stay current with industry best practices and advancements.

References

Available upon request.