I am Tukayote Helianthus ❤
THE THINGS I DO, I KNOW, AND I GIVE:
Professional Summary
Experienced IT Specialist with over 22 years in high-stakes, large-scale environments, including the U.S. Department of Defense, financial institutions, and government agencies. Known for a proactive approach to system optimization, I specialize in streamlining complex IT operations through automation, security, and policy standardization. As a certified ITIL v3 practitioner, I bring a proven track record of leading cross-functional teams, enhancing security posture, and driving continuous improvement in client support and end-user environments. Highly adaptable and a quick learner, I am committed to delivering resilient, scalable IT solutions that align with organizational goals and industry best practices.
Technological Expertise
Data Center: Active Directory; System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM); Windows Server (all versions); Windows Server Update Services, Palo Alto Firewalls, VMWare
Client: Windows (all-versions); Desktop/Application Virtualization; GPO; Software Distribution
Software Packaging: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Adobe Flash Player, Java, Microsoft Office 2010/2013/2016/365
IT Security: Active Directory Password Polices, Security GPO Deployment, NESSUS Vulnerability Scanning, DUO, YubiKey
Public Cloud: Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Windows Intune, DigitalOcean CentOS
Ticketing Software: Jira, ServiceNow, Spiceworks, ConnectWise, BMC Remedy; TrackIt!; System Center Service Manager (SCSM)
Tooling: Jenkins, Foreman, Puppet, Elastic Search, Kibana, Logstash, CheckMK
Query Building/Coding: SQL Queries for SCCM Reporting; HTML/CSS; PowerShell; Visual Basic
Professional Experience
Lead mutil-factor authentication (MFA) project for large financial institution. Over 600 employees were trained and MFA was enabled for their use on their workstations in a record 6-week implementation timeframe. Project was extended to provide MFA protection on over 1000 servers utilizing Windows, Linux, and UNIX operating systems. The financial institution was able to have MFA protection on 100% of all systems and user accounts. Project was implemented using YubiKey and DUO technologies.
Engineered and implemented Role Based Access Control with Active Directory. 375 employee accounts were modified and standardized. 256 unneeded security groups removed. 156 security groups role-based, enabling full automation. New account creation time was reduced 97% from 60 minutes down to 2 minutes.
Managed data centers for midsized and enterprise organizations with Windows Server 2008/2012 R2, Active Directory, and System Center Configuration Manager 2007/2012; leveraged these tools to standardize, and automate the networks to reduce costs and improve performance
Architected and deployed multiple SCCM installations to local and interstate organizations with environments up to 20000 systems; provided training to new administrators
Forged new print management solution for Bernalillo County with two print servers and Group Policy Objects; system processes over 2 million jobs per year with minimal downtime
Distributed software and updates with SCCM and System Center Updates Publisher (SCUP)
Established first standardized desktop configuration, building hardened image for all Bernalillo County and WECU workstations, using Hyper-V, SCCM, and Group Policy Objects
Rapidly identified security vulnerabilities pertaining to configuration of local administrator accounts/groups on workstations; created Group Policy Objects to mitigate concerns using Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS)
Responded to rapidly emerging security threat by engineering, testing and implementing Active Directory Fine Grained Password Policy on over 2500 users at Bernalillo County; solution was available for testing in under 24 hours
Deployed Active Directory Sites and Services to build the groundwork for site-based GPOs. Created 22 sites based on location (determined by subnet). Imported 100+ subnets.
Documented 19 processes in the ServiceNow knowledge base to aid teammates with performing specific tasks.
Eliminated the use of problematic and continually troubling roaming profiles. Reduced the number of profile related tickets to zero.
Standardized and deployed new fleet of Windows Server 2016 domain controllers. Migrated domain functional level from 2008R2 to 2016.
Employment History
IT Systems Administrator – 2023 – Present – Washington State Dept. of Ecology
President and Facilitator – 2022 – Present – Tukayote Enterprises
MECM/Active Directory Support Engineer – 2021 – Insight Global for Microsoft
Systems Engineer – 2015 – 2021 – Whatcom Educational Credit Union (WECU)
Lead Help Desk Technician / Desktop Management Engineer – 2015 – Altair Advanced Industries
IT Service Desk Manager – 2014 – 2015 – Northwest Technology
Systems Administrator IV / Lead SCCM 2012 Engineer – 2012 – 2014 – Bernalillo County Government
Lead Microsoft Engineer – 2011 – New Signature
Lead SCCM 2007 Engineer and Administrator (Contractor) – 2007 – 2011 – Sandia National Laboratories
Lead SCCM 2007 Architect and Project Implementation Consultant 2010 – UNM Hospital
Systems Administrator / Active Duty Non-Commissioned Officer (E-5) – 2001 – 2007 – United States Air Force
Volunteer Work
Road2Home Ally Volunteer – 2024 – Present – Road2Home
Neighborhood Association Representative – 2024 – Bellingham Mayor’s Neighborhood Association Commission
Member of the Board of Directors – 2024 – Lettered Streets Neighborhood Association
Certified Peer Supporter – 2022 – Present
Director and Logistics Volunteer – 2023 – Present – Operation Water Drop
Homeless Outreach and Shelter Volunteer – 2022 – Present – Bridge2Services
Meal Server Volunteer – 2023 – Present – CAST (Interfaith Coalition)
Web Dev / Founder / Logistics Volunteer – 2023 – 2024 – I Carry Narcan
Web Dev and Creator – 2023 – Whatcom Shelter Status
Founder and Lead Philanthropist – 2022 – Present – Helianthus Foundation
Social Media Marketing – 2022 – 2023 – Team Alex (Medical Charity)
Volunteer – 2015-2021 – Team WECU Volunteer Events, Bellingham, WA
Event Help/Photography – 2014-2017 – Girl Scouts of Western Washington
Cleanup / Trash Removal on Locust Beach – 2014 – Surfrider Foundation, Bellingham, WA
Youth Mentor / Recruiting Event Helper – 2005-2006/2009-2014 – Big Brothers Big Sisters of NV & NM
Fundraising / Web Development / Social Media Marketing – 2012 – Brandy’s Brassiere Brigade (Cancer Charity)
Fundraising / Web Development / Social Media Marketing – 2012 – HelpCrystal.org (Cancer Charity)
Continuing Education
Introduction to Agile/Scrum/Kanban (20 hours) – 2024
Homelessness 201: A Deeper Understanding (Ryan Dowd) – 2024
Homeless De-Escalation 501: Verbal Tools for Conflict (Ryan Dowd) – 2024
Homeless De-Escalation 401: Managing Your Own Emotions During Conflict (Ryan Dowd) – 2024
Homeless De-Escalation 301: Preventing Conflict (Ryan Dowd) – 2024
Homeless De-Escalation 201: Nonverbal Tools to Eliminate Conflict (Ryan Dowd) – 2024
Homeless De-Escalation 101: Trauma Basics (Ryan Dowd) – 2024
NOAA Facilitation Basics for Managers – 2024
Advanced Resolution Therapy Self Study – 2024-Present
Mind Shifting Academy – Problem Shifting for Coaches – 2024
Internal Family Systems Self-Study – 2023-Present
Mental Health First Aid – 2023
Understanding People Through Strengths – 2024
Conflict De-escalation: How to Respond when Emotions Run High – 2023
Writing Documents in Plain Talk – 2023
Trauma Informed Deescalation Training – 2022/2023
Violence in the Workplace – 2023
Stress Less: How to Minimize Stress and Maximize Potential – 2023
Defensive Driving – 2023
Mitigating Implicit Bias in the Hiring Process – 2023
Team Trust: How to Build, Mend, and Maintain It – 2023
Improv 300 (Solid Scenes) – 2023
Microsoft Azure AZ-104 (Microsoft Azure Administrator) – 2023
Improv 200 (Advanced Spontaneity) – 2023
Improv 100 (Improvisational Comedy Basics) – 2015/2022
Certified Peer Supporter Training – 2022
Bernalillo County Extraordinary Leadership Course – 2013
System Center 2012 Operations Manager – 2013
VMWare vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage (v5.1) – 2013
Enterprise Linux System Administration – 2013
PowerShell for Administrators – 2012
Degrees and Certifications
Touro University International, B.S. IT Management Degree – 2009
Community College of the Air Force, AAS IT Systems Degree – 2007
Mental Health First Aid Certification – 2023
Certified Peer Supporter (Western Washington University / Growing Veterans) – 2022
CompTIA Network+/A+ Certification – 2009/2020
ITIL v3 Intermediate Certification in Release Control and Validation – 2013
ITIL v3 Foundation Certification in I.T. Service Management – 2012
MCTS Certification, System Center 2007 Configuration Manager – 2011
Awards
Extraordinary Performance Award, WECU – 2018
Employee of the Quarter, Bernalillo County IT Department – 2Q 2014
Two Time Recipient of Air Force Commendation Medal – 2006/2007
Eagle Scout – Boy Scouts of America – 2001