Meet The Technology Team
Their interview answers may not always be serious, but this group has serious skills.
Talking to James Presnell and Travis Hansen (the duo heading up the newly revamped Alamon Technology Team) is never boring, because you won’t always get serious answers to your questions.
When I ask them how things are going in the IT department, Presnell responds, “well, have you ever seen that meme where it shows a dumpster with big flames leaping out of the top of it?”
Hansen laughs and says, “what did Josh (Parker, Senior Software Developer) say the other day?”
Presnell continues, “he said we’ve moved past that, and now there are no flames. Just the sweet smell of smoldering trash.”
Hansen, whose job title is Technical Specialist, finally brings order to the proceedings. “Honestly, there’s been some turnover in the department. We’ve retained Josh, who is now focused on software development, and we’ve added the expertise and ultimate presence of James Presnell as Technology Manager.”
The “ultimate presence” remark yields a quick response from Presnell, “awww, that’s sweet.”
He’s referring to the software (called Alatrac) developed in-house by Josh Parker and former Alamon Chief Technical Officer Dennis Gesker – which the Utility Services department uses for collecting and supplying pole inspection data to customers.
The process of accelerating software development also includes retaining an outside software consulting and development firm, which Hansen supervises. Alatrac is currently under development to provide a modern interface with enhanced abilities to meet more of the utility team’s needs.
“We really do have a strong team,” Hansen adds. “Along with James and myself, there’s Josh Parker (Senior Software Developer), Anthony Barnes (IT Specialist), and Ginger Button (IT Specialist II). Between the five of us, we have a lot of experience and a broad skill set.”
“Josh’s years of software development experience, understanding of the utility process in the field and the tools used are invaluable as we develop Alatrac and make larger plans for it in the future. His attention is now solely on software, and we can leverage his skills in a focused effort.”
The Alamon Technology Team: Top Row L to R, Travis Hansen, Technical Specialist, James Presnell, Technology Manager, Josh Parker, Sr. Software Developer. Bottom Row L to R, Ginger Button, IT Specialist II, Anthony Barnes, IT Specialist.
Button is the newest team member, coming to Alamon with over 20 years of experience in IT, specifically in system administration. She’s highly knowledgeable, and a reassuring voice on the other end of the line when you need help. Barnes is stellar at system support, as everyone at Alamon will attest because he’s fixed something for everyone here at least once – and done it with enthusiasm and professionalism every time.
Presnell is a fountain of technical knowledge and specializes in hardware engineering. Like many Alamon managers, he does double duty and continues to help the ETS division with engineering tasks in addition to his new job as Technology Manager.
And finally, there’s Hansen, who may be the one Alamon employee that is involved in some way, shape, or form in every single department in the company. Along with his multiple responsibilities in the Wireless department, he built the Alamon.U training website from the ground up, became Cisco certified last year after months of study on his own time, and taught himself the ins and outs of Battery Energy Storage Systems so Alamon could take on a project in an industry we hadn’t been involved in before.
Presnell, being serious for the first time in this interview, says of Hansen, “he’s far too humble for his own good. He does everything and anything he’s asked to do at Alamon and does it all exceptionally well.” About the new IT team, Presnell adds, “We do have a really good group that I see as a peer group. Everyone has a specialization that enriches the group. And that’s what makes it work.”