Before Parex, what is your experience with helping businesses resolve issues across the full suite of Microsoft products and services?
I worked for Microsoft for seven years and have been a consultant in the field for over 30 years. I specialize in security, active directory identity, access management, and Azure.
How does your role as a Consulting Services Manager impact client success?
I help my team become an integral part of a client’s ecosystem and help them design, implement, maintain, and forecast their systems and configurations. It’s a two-way street though. We have to communicate consistently, conduct weekly meetings with a regular cadence, then fit into their environment, possibly on their distribution lists or Teams meetings. We figure out where we fit into their scenario and how we can improve their situation.
Can you describe a memorable experience your team had while troubleshooting problems regarding Microsoft services? / Can you share a recent example of a challenging issue your team resolved for a client and how team members approached it?
My most memorable experiences come from helping customers fully realize Azure cost savings. It’s gratifying to watch them naturally save money just by going through our Azure cloud cost optimization programs.
What is your team’s top preferred strategy to support the timely and efficient resolution of client issues, especially with complex Microsoft products like Azure and Office 365?
Right now, my team’s experts engage in a lot of client education by helping customers consider how to best utilize hours for proactive services. We want everyone to be on the same page when it comes to the best use of the hours a client has paid for, because it is our goal to ensure that client hours are never wasted.
What is your best piece of advice to give to a client seeking proactive Microsoft consulting services?
Check out our proactive service catalog! There may be a lot we’re already doing for a client, but there’s typically so much more we could be doing if the client is aware of a service we offer and expresses a need for it. We’re all about maximizing the services you already pay for.