ADVANTAGE TECHNOLOGY - Key Persons
As the Operations Director at Advantage Technology, I touch everything in the business, from customer relations to human resource management. I am responsible for ensuring high quality service to over 850 Advantage customers in West Virginia and across the eastern United States. My main role includes managing and grooming the high quality staff, overseeing the everyday business operations, and developing and growing the customer base. I have worked for Advantage over 10 years have been an integral part of its growth and success.
Before coming to Advantage Technology, I was a businessman in the commercial loan business, the real estate industry, and the publishing business.
Job Titles:
- Security Solutions Director
Job Titles:
- Network Engineer / Software Development
Job Titles:
- Senior System Administrator
Job Titles:
- Business Transformation Director Business Development
Jack Shaffer likes staying busy. And he likes to make a positive impact. So when he decided to join the Advantage Technology team, it was a match made in technology heaven.
With more than 25 years of experience in all aspects of technology, Shaffer brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in his new role as Business Transformation Director. In his previous work, Shaffer has done systems development, enterprise application integration, networking, telecommunications, data center operations, database administration, disaster recovery, security and mobile computing. He also has a long track record of successfully managing and implementing large, mission critical projects on a broad range of technology infrastructures and application architectures for both start-up ventures as well as Fortune 500 companies in multiple industries ranging from energy to healthcare.
Shaffer is always looking to the future of technology - the trends in cybersecurity, cloud-based systems and newer applications. And he wants to continue to make sure Advantage Technology and its customers are on the leading edge by capturing and using these new technologies.
With his high energy level, he proudly says he likes to move the needle forward. That makes him fit right in at Advantage Technology, where he says everyone is high-performing, engaged and really talented. Calling himself a big fan of metrics and data, Shaffer loves to use that information more efficiently and effectively, both for customers and the company.
Shaffer has decades of experience in a variety of industries making him an ideal virtual Chief Information Officer (vCIO). He says that time in leadership roles with large-scale enterprises allows him to bring a unique perspective as a virtual CIO. And, Shaffer actively working to become a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) from the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC)², the gold standard for security professionals. This would allow him to be a virtual Chief Information Security Officer as well as a vCIO.
Along with his wife and son, Shaffer lives in the eastern Panhandle. He also has a grown stepdaughter. While he said he doesn't believe in hobbies and prefers to work 24-7, he admits to doing some carpentry and remodeling because he likes to work with his hands. His family also enjoys camping.
Education
University of Charleston, Charleston, WV
Job Titles:
- Engineer
- Customer Solutions Director
Jonathan Knight is an engineer with expertise in networking, connectivity, data communications and data centers. His education and experience have positioned him at the pinnacle of transformational information technology, with a clear view of further innovations on the horizon. Having the ability to dismantle complex projects into small, manageable tasks, he leverages Advantage Technology's cross-functional teams and achieves thorough and rapid results.
Among the first to graduate with an accredited dual engineering degree from West Virginia University, Jonathan earned B.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering simultaneously. From there he entered the workforce as a lead network engineer for several Fortune 500 companies. This landed him on the cusp of the massive information technology expansion of the Internet age, and he's been on the leading-edge since.
In 2012, Jonathan joined Advantage Technology as the Customer Solutions Director where he designs information systems and network architecture, then oversees their installation and management. His expertise extends to WAN/LAN/MAN, VPN technologies, wireless LANs, remote/extranet access, internet/extranet firewalls, vendor diversity, host load balancing and cellular networks.
Job Titles:
- Communications Technician
Job Titles:
- Business Development Executive
Job Titles:
- Regional Business Development Manager, North Central
Job Titles:
- Customer Service Administrator
Job Titles:
- Senior Application Developer