Michael Plank

About Michael Plank

Strategic Technology Leader with extensive expertise in global network infrastructure, cloud transformation, and operational excellence. Adept at leading high-performing, customer-focused teams, managing multi-million-dollar initiatives, and aligning IT solutions with business objectives to deliver scalable, secure, and resilient networks.Known for fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement, with a proven ability to lead cross-functional teams through large-scale initiatives, ensuring seamless execution and measurable business impact.Extensive leadership experience across vendor and operator environments, bringing a unique perspective to complex challenges and driving strategic outcomes. Skilled in identifying and implementing operational efficiencies, optimizing costs, and enhancing service delivery across hybrid and cloud environments (AWS, Azure).Committed to building and nurturing strategic partnerships to maximize ROI, ensure business continuity, and maintain regulatory compliance while empowering organizations through cutting-edge technology and operational efficiency.

Experience

1. Sr Director Network Engineering

   Starry, Inc

   Jan 2021 — Present · US

   Led a global network engineering team, driving a 15x increase in network capacity and footprint, enabling expanded service reach and improved customer satisfaction.Oversaw the development and execution of a multi-year network infrastructure roadmap, aligning technical strategies with business objectives and regulatory requirements.Directed cross-functional teams in the implementation of network automation solutions, reducing manual processes by 35% and enhancing operational efficiency.Managed strategic vendor relationships, negotiating contracts, optimizing service-level agreements (SLAs), and ensuring alignment with organizational goals.Directed cloud operations across AWS and Azure environments, driving cost optimization and ensuring high availability and scalability.Spearheaded a full restructuring of network operations during Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, maintaining uninterrupted service delivery and positioning the organization for recovery and growth.Provided strategic leadership in the identification and deployment of global peering points, fiber hubs, and points-of-presence, enhancing overall network performance.Led financial planning and resource allocation for network operations, managing budgets exceeding $XX million and achieving significant cost savings through optimized resource utilization.Collaborated with executive leadership to define the organization\'s technology vision, driving innovation and continuous improvement across all network services.Key AchievementsDeveloped and implemented new governance policies and performance metrics, improving network resilience and increasing uptime from 99.98% to 99.998%.Secured a $268.9 million federal grant (RDOF) to expand network coverage to over locations across nine states, significantly enhancing the company’s market presence.Led a successful upgrade of the wireless infrastructure to 802.11ax and TDMA, resulting in a 25% increase in network speed and efficiency.

Education

• Franklin University

  Bachelor’s Degree

  2008 — 2010

Skills

• Network Administration
• Routers
• Network Engineering
• Information Technology
• Leadership
• Social Media
• Wireless Technologies
• Data Center
• Optical Fiber
• Microsoft Office
• Routing
• Networking
• Multiprotocol Label Switching (Mpls)
• Wireless Networking