Here is a short Q & A with Systems Administrator, Tony Segero. Tony joined the GEO Jobe team in August of 2021 and works remotely out of the state of Georgia.
Q: What is your job at GEO Jobe, and what does it entail?
A: I am a Sysadmin at GEO Jobe. In this position, I support and manage some aspects of deployments, system permission, user accounts and configuration of apps and hardware on linux and windows systems in our cloud environments: GPC – Azure – AWS. I assist with the integration of other Enterprise software utilized by GEO Jobe and our clients.
Q: What has your career path at GEO Jobe looked like and what attracted you to join the team?
A: My career path at GEO Jobe has been based on a commitment to immersing myself into the company, the cloud, and the world of geospatial technology. Before joining GEO Jobe, I had limited knowledge of GIS – apart from general geography since geography had been one of my favorite subjects in high school. GEO Jobe’s approach of creating a great, flexible working environment for its employees and being competitive in the world of IT were my main attractions to pursuing a career with GEO Jobe. Coming from a Linux background, I believe the cloud and OpenSource technology are the future of IT. When these technologies were brought up during my interview, I realized that I had an opportunity to work for a company and work with a great team that shared a vision similar to my own. We also talked about the future of computing in the cloud, specifically Azure, AWS, and GPC. Additionally, we discussed containers[Kubernetes] and many more technologies.
Q: What jobs and experiences have led you to your present position?
A:In previous experiences with Linux administration, all administrative work was done through the command line, working on tasks, and troubleshooting issues. The environment was very static. Because Linux is an OpenSource operating system, I knew more dynamic roles were available, and I wanted to pursue a new challenge. GEO Jobe provided an opportunity to learn, test, and deploy new technologies like Kubernetes.
Q: What particular skills or talents are most essential to be effective in your job?
A: The most essential skill needed to be effective in my job is being comfortable using both shell (CLI) and console(GUI). This job also requires good communication skills, time management skills, organizational skills, and a commitment to learning new technology.
Q: Any advice for recent graduates entering into the job market and aspiring to a similar role?
A: After you graduate from school, never stop learning. Keep up with advances in technology and maintain continuous learning through your work, internships, and certifications. You could also join IT groups, where you can learn from veterans in the industry.
Q: What technologies and strategies do you use in your day-to-day work that are key to success?
A: I can’t function without remote access tech, specifically the Windows subsystem for Linux. This is a feature of Windows that allows me to run a Linux file system, Linux command-line tools, and GUI apps directly on Windows. MobaXterm and mRemoteNG are other great tools I use for remote computing.
Q: What would you like to learn more about or incorporate into your daily work?
A: I need to keep working on expanding my GIS knowledge through Esri training, work experience, and personal development.
Q: On a more personal side, do you have a favorite newspaper, magazine, blog, or sources of inspiration?
A: I enjoy reading about world news. I also enjoy reading the OpenSource blog. I love to read autobiographies about the pioneers of various industries, such as technology, science, aviation, and other historical contributions.
Q: What kind of technology do you prefer and why? (Mac or PC, iOS or Android, and other cool tech)
A: I prefer Android because it is Linux-based. I also like working with OpenSource technology.
Q: What do you enjoy doing outside of the office?
A: I enjoy various outdoor activities such as running and rock jumping. I also love to train my kids and other youth soccer players.
