John S.

About John S.

I didn’t set out to become an IT leader—I set out to solve problems.Early in my career, that meant climbing under desks, configuring routers, and getting my hands dirty to make things work. I was drawn to the challenge of connecting systems—and more importantly, people—in ways that made businesses stronger. Over time, I discovered a talent for building high-performing teams, simplifying complex technology, and driving outcomes that matter to both customers and the business.Today, I lead infrastructure, networking, and transformation efforts at scale. I’ve had the privilege of guiding organizations through modernization, automation, and operational improvement—partnering closely with sales, engineering, and services to deliver integrated solutions that drive long-term value. My work spans presales leadership, managed services development, OEM partnerships, and go-to-market strategy, all anchored in a deep technical foundation.My approach is grounded in three core principles:Lead with clarity. I translate vision into actionable strategy.Deliver with integrity. I do what I say I will—and expect the same from my teams.Keep learning. Technology evolves, and so do I. That’s why I hold dual CCIE certifications and continually explore emerging areas like AI-driven infrastructure and cybersecurity.I believe trust is built through consistency, transparency, and delivering real value—whether I’m working with a customer, a partner, or a team member looking for guidance.If you’re solving complex IT problems, transforming your network, or building a future-ready infrastructure practice, I’d be glad to connect.

Experience

1. Vice President, Infrastructure Services

   Encore Technologies

   Jul 2016 — Present · Cincinnati, OH, US

   I joined this organization at its earliest stage—when Infrastructure Services was just an idea waiting to be built. Since then, I’ve led its transformation into a scalable, high-impact division that drives measurable outcomes for enterprise clients.Today, I oversee a 70+ person cross-functional team spanning network, security, cloud, collaboration, and contact center domains. My role blends vision-setting, organizational design, and hands-on leadership to ensure both operational excellence and long-term growth.• Built from the ground up a professional services practice that has grown year over year, scaling to meet increasing client demand while consistently hitting profitability targets• Lead the full service lifecycle, from hiring and structure to delivery execution, P&L management, and strategic roadmap planning• Drive performance through data, using KPIs and scorecards to optimize team utilization, project margins, and service delivery efficiency• Champion innovation, developing governance models and scalable frameworks that ensure quality and consistency across projects—while keeping us nimble in a rapidly evolving tech landscape• Partner closely with sales and architecture teams, bringing technical leadership into the sales cycle and ensuring a seamless bridge from SOW to delivery• Own financial performance, regularly tracking budgets, forecasts, and project health to keep us aligned with business goals and client expectations• Build trust with customers and internal teams alike, helping clients modernize critical infrastructure while developing the next generation of engineering leadership from withinThis role has been a journey in scaling not just systems and services—but people, performance, and long-term value.

Education

• Purdue University

  B.S. in Industrial Management, Mgmt Information Systems

Skills

• Qos
• Ccnp
• Cisco Technologies
• Cisco Ios
• Unified Presence
• Lan-Wan
• Unified Communications
• Tcp/Ip
• Network Engineering
• Ccna
• Webex
• Ccie
• Unity Connection
• Data Center
• Troubleshooting
• Switching
• Cisco Asa
• Networking
• Network Architecture
• Vpn
• Routers
• Bgp
• Eigrp
• Cisco Routers
• Infrastructure
• Cisco Call Manager
• Catalyst Switches
• Network Security
• Ccie Voice
• Network Design
• Routing
• Ccie R&S
• Firewalls
• Cisco Systems Products
• Cisco Certified
• Switches
• Unity
• Wan
• Asa
• Cisco Nexus