EMC Proven Professional Spotlight: Christopher Kusek

Title: Deputy Technical Director, Storage & Virtualization Lead for Combined Joint Operations Area - Afghanistan

Certifications:

• Cloud Architect, Virtualized Infrastructure Specialist
• Technology Architect, EMC Storage & Information Infrastructure Specialist
• Information Storage Associate

ECN: cxi

Facebook: facebook.com/atcxi

Blog: www.pkguild.com

Twitter: @cxi

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How long have you been working in the industry?

I've been in this industry since 1991, very active in Storage and Virtualization in '96 to present

What certifications do you hold, including non-EMC certifications?

Wow that's a list... Let's see... I'll mention only a few, as examples. I hold over 50 Microsoft Certifications including being an MCT and over 30 Cisco Certifications. In regard to EMC, the most relevant EMC certifications are: EMCPA, EMCTA, and EMCCA; I was part of the development of the EMC Cloud Expert certification (Course and Test), Cisco CCNA (Route/Switch, Security, Data Center) CCNP DC and CCIE DC, Brocade Distinguished Architect, CISSP, and albeit not 'certifications', I'm a member of EMC Elect and the VMware vExpert Program. I also have every NetApp certification, for some storage diversity.

Why did you choose to achieve the Cloud Architect certification? 

I was part of the program and I lead EMC's Cloud and Virtualization division in consulting, so I figured it was useful

How do you believe the certification has transformed your skills?

My skills tended to happen, and then a certification acquired, I'm not skilled in things because a certification called for it.

Has your certification helped you in your role? How?

As I'm working with Government rules and the like, there are a number of certifications required for 8570 compliance, so some certifications like CISSP and the like have been useful there.

Can you describe some of the positive impacts of your certification?

I've written about Certification *many* times before, I'll cite some examples, as I find education and personal development to be very important in peoples careers. From my blog:

Certifications do the work for you to help validate your capabilities and grow your potential salary.   Without them you may be fine, but if you are like me (and so many others) who do not do their job because it pays the bills, but because you enjoy it greatly and it takes you to the next level of your career and life evolution; well, certification should be PART of that transition.  Note: Part of that transition and not the only vehicle. There comes a time when you don’t want to certify anymore and you need to find other ways to differentiate yourself.

How did you take training (VILT, ILT, etc.)?

I seldom take training, to be honest. As a trainer myself I rarely have the time nor interest in learning something at a slow pace. To put it in the best terms... I'm usually so involved in things before they become 'real'. By the time training comes around, I'd already been working with something for a few years.

What do you think of the Proven Professional Program overall?

I think the Proven Professional Program is great. The mere fact that you're asking gives me great faith in the program.

What projects/technology are you planning on for the future?

Oh, I'm working on and with everything.  As generally I'm heavily vested in virtualization, storage, and cloud, that likely will continue, especially with further investment in OpenStack and Software-defined everything.

If someone asked you what this course was like, what would you tell them?

Well, if we're discussing the EMC Cloud Architect for example, I wrote this up in 2011:

First Industry Cloud Certification: EMC Cloud Architect class and E20-018 EXPOSED!!!

Is there anything else you’d like to share about yourself?

My background speaks for itself.

Read other EMC Proven Professional Spotlight articles in the Proven Professional Spotlight Archive