Ralph Banks
Network Engineer / Technical Instructor
I currently have 15 years of experience working in the technical field. I started out working in a call center for Verizon online customers. I provided customers with support regarding internet connectivity as well as email issues. I also worked with the training department to train new employees. After three and a half years that company went out of business. I still had a hunger for learning technology so I decided to go to college. I went to Virginia College and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Network Management. I was also able to obtain the following certifications: A+, Net+, Security I have learned many skills from different roles in different technical positions. I have gotten some experience with training while working for Teletech in Birmingham.
My first hands on jobs was with a company called Ebryt. There I travelled to different cities working with a team to several banking computer systems to Wells Fargo. I have worked with the following firewalls Cisco 5510 / 5505, Fortinet 110C, Watch Guard 535XTM, and Sonic Walls. I worked at TYCO in Birmingham, Alabama I assisted field technicians with setting up commercial alarm systems, access control, and camera systems. All of these systems worked over the internet. I was responsible for assisting technicians for new installations as well as service calls for these technologies. I also worked for Adcom in Norcross. At Adcom was responsible for assisting field technicians as they went out into the field and installed Cisco solutions for various companies. Technicians would reports to sites and connect their PCs to networking equipment and remote us into their PCs. We would then program the network equipment so that it would communicate locally and over the WAN.
In my role at Inhealth I was the primary networking engineer and I am task with various duties including but not limited to VPNs, ACLs, firewall policies, and troubleshooting WAN circuit issues. I also work with a Mitel VOIP phone system, various applications, Microsoft Exchange, DHCP, Domain Controllers, Active Directory ect. I worked part time at Interactive College of Technology preparing students for technical certifications. This training prepares students for the A+, Net+, Security+, and Windows 10 certifications. I have also done some online certification prep classes where students would receive their training by using an online portal. I have also worked for Delta Community Credit Union as a Network Engineer. I am currently enrolled at WGU studying for a MBA with a concentration on IT. I really love what I do. I get a lot of gratification when I am able to reach a student and help them understand the principles of technology and how things work together. The field of technology is for ever growing and changing so we must stay up to speed when it comes to learning this craft.