Don Holstrom – 703.585.1345 - Don@Holstrom.com
3132 Hannahs Pond Lane, Oak Hill, VA 20171
Systems Administrator, July, 2002 – April, 2011
The National Building Museum, Washington, DC
In charge of all hardware/software/technology. Administered mixed Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, & Windows 7, 32- & 64-bit; Windows Server 2003, 2008, and 2008R2, 32- & 64-bit; and Apple Macintosh OSX (10.4, 10.5, & 10.6) network. Provide technical (hardware & software & update) support for 8 servers, over 120 workstations, 16 laptops, six scanners, and three dozen printers. Maintain dual T-1 high speed Internet access. Utilized hardware & software firewalls. Kept nine databases (SQL, FoxPro, dBase) up and running. Administer Exchange Server 2007, WINS, DHCP, DNS, FTP, Project 2003 server, SharePoint Services 3.0, Terminal Services for VPN, and Outlook Web Access via IIS7. Would have moved to Exchange 10. Used Traverse for accounting, DonorPerfect 8.0 for membership, PastPerfect 5.0 for collections, VISTA/TM 4.1 for educational programs, FileMaker Pro 9 for Exhibitions, Visio for organizational charts, Office 2010 for all workstations, BackUp Exec 11d & 12 as well as Windows disk-based backup software for file tridundancy to other servers and other internal and external hard drives. Used Symantec Corporate Anti-virus (10.2) for some server & workstation protection, Vipre for e-mail (spam & anti-virus) protection with Microsoft Intelligent Message Filtering and Outlook junk e-mail filtration for further spam weeding. Used Vipre & Trend Micro for viral protection on over 2 terabytes of data. Worked daily with all Adobe products (CS2 & CS3 & CS4, and CS5 - Mac & Windows), Quark 6, 7, & 8, and many other software programs. Familiar with most PDAs. Personally used iPhone attached to Exchange Server. Used latest software releases with all service packs applied. This was, after all, a one-man-shop, with all services performed in-house, with exception of hosting our website, which for bandwidth purposes, is housed offsite. Use Dreamweaver 5 for designing and maintaining several other websites. Designed and constructed computers for Museum exhibits. The National Building Museum is a private, non-profit 501c(3) organization. Made all buying decisions, administered budget. Conducted regular training sessions. Prepared training aids. Constantly reading about and administering all sorts of things technical.
Director of Information Technology, Systems, and Services, 1998-2001
Widmeyer Communications, formerly the Widmeyer-Baker Group, a public relations firm, Washington, DC
Totally hands-on and in charge of anything having to do with computer technology. Other than a “bare T1” delivered to the door, no services were contracted out. This included: overseeing a network with nine servers [Microsoft Windows 2000 (SP2), NT4 (SP6a), & Linux (RedHat & SUSE)], 100 workstations/laptops (Windows NT4/95/98/ME/2000/XP, Apple OS 8.5/8.6/9.0/9.1/10.0/10.1, and Linux), and 18 printers from $40,000 Xerox color laser to small dot-matrix for UPS reporting. Utilized Exchange 5.5 - SP3 for e-mail; Outlook 2000/2002 for e-mail client; Blackberry for wireless e-mail; Symantec Anti Virus programs; Backup Exec 8.5 to backup data to Quantum DLT tape unit; SQL Server 6.5 for database engine under Access; Internet Information Server 4.0 & 5.0 for several hosted web sites (main: www.widmeyer.com and www.kidsintheknow.org ); WINS; DHCP to handle full (Class C) TCP/IP addressing (including primary DNS) off Allegiance Telecom/ WorldCom T1 connection; and analog modems, cable modems, ISDN modems, xDSL, and PPTP for VPN and RAS connections through Cisco routers and H-P and 3Com switches and hubs to satellite offices in Los Angeles (now closed), New York City, and the homes of senior officers of the firm. Two years ago totally designed and oversaw network move to other offices. Used Premiere phone system. Switched company from AT&T to XO Communications for phone service. Oversaw Timeslips 10.0 to keep track of employee hours. Used PAS 2.5 printer accounting software package to keep running tally of printing. Held regular Microsoft Office training sessions for employees. Basically Office 97 Pro/2000/XP and IE 5.5 & 6 but also WordPerfect 8 & 2002, StarOffice 5.2, and a tiny smattering of Netscape. Made all buying decisions. Trained assistants through their MCSE certification and then let them fly from the nest.
Director of Communications/Information Systems & Technology, 1997
Foundation for Biomedical Research, Washington, DC
Oversaw entire office computer network (migrated organization to Windows 95, Office 97, and Internet Explorer 4.0) in addition to usual communications duties. Brought in shared T1 for high-speed Internet access. Created and maintained databases for informational directories; served as Webmeister: http://www.fbresearch.org and http://www.nabr.org; wrote, desktop designed, laid out, and printed bimonthly newsletter and other publications; scanned AP, Reuters, and UPI wires as well as LexisNexis for information and stories; and scanned Internet mail lists for pertinent threads. Left for fulltime network administration position.
Director of Communications/Network Administrator, 1996
Marine Engineers Beneficial Association, Washington, DC
Handled all press inquiries. Wrote, desktop designed, laid out, and printed bimonthly newsletter and other publications. Scanned AP, Reuters, and UPI wires for information and stories. Scanned Internet mail lists for pertinent threads. Developed and implemented press and public relations strategies and wrote editorials, op-eds, speeches, and intros. Oversaw entire office computer network (migrated organization to Windows 3.11 and Office 95) in addition to usual communications duties. All officers were defeated in election. Top staff (me) dismissed as well.
Technical Liaison/Writer/Editor/Speechwriter/Photographer, 1984-1995
AFSCME, Washington, DC
Originally contracted as consultant to upgrade organization from sporadic b&w tabloid newspaper to monthly four-color magazine mailed to 1.3 million members. Stayed on as photojournalist for magazine. Traveled extensively. After six years, wife became pregnant, no longer wished to travel as much, so became managing editor of weekly newsletter to leadership, with over 50,000 circulation. Saw need for and personally implemented AFSCME’s first and only electronic bulletin board system (BBS) for local editors. Edited and “desktop” designed on-site daily newsletter at AFSCME national conventions. Wrote many speeches. Set up broadcast fax system for national political elections. Acted as on-site press contact for major local political campaigns. Oversaw $6 million budget for several other programs, including monthly clip art/text service to over 2,000 local editors. Was first employee begging organization to put up a web site: http://www.afscme.org, which still has flavor of the initial design. Was floor administrator for the Novell network. Always acted as info tech liaison between departments. Left for major new managerial position.
Owner, 1981-1984
Washington Football Weekly and LocalSports in Northern Virginia, Fairfax, VA
Two separate, weekly newspapers. Washington Football Weekly was the first newspaper devoted to the Washington Redskins. LocalSports in Northern Virginia was the first of the two newspapers and consisted of local amateur sports, covering every high school and college in Northern Virginia as well as Little League, men's and women's softball, running, and even dart tournaments. Supervised almost 100 employees at peak. Made and lost a fortune.
Assistant Press Secretary, 1977-1980
U.S. Reps. Stewart McKinney & Stanford Parris in Washington, DC
Filled in many areas for both Congressmen. Worked political campaigns for Stew McKinney. Also did freelance work for other Senators and Congressmen.
EDUCATION
Three years at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA. Semesters at the College of the Albemarle, Elizabeth City, NC; Georgetown University, Washington, DC; and George Mason University, Fairfax, VA. Definitely earned B.S., M.S., and even Ph.D. degrees from the School of H. K., Washington, DC. Published first two Washington, DC, area golf course directories (The Duffer), mid '80s. Designed and constantly feed two websites: http://www.DanisDuds.com (for wife) & http://www.Holstrom.com (for immediate family). Other interests include motorcycling, music, golf, and the NFL.