Fernando Mino is a Systems Support Engineer who joined SPK and Associates in 2022. Before joining SPK, Fernando had worked in various fields, including teaching English in Ecuador and serving as an airport engineer in various parts of Europe. In his current role, he is much more technology-focused, ensuring issues get resolved for clients.
My Role at SPK
Even after 3 years, I’m still learning every day at SPK. I’m grateful this role allows me to discover new things. In my day-to-day work, I do a lot of troubleshooting for customers. A typical day consists of viewing my Jira tickets and dividing them by priority. I also receive critical items from Slack, Teams, or email and ensure they align with Jira. This helps me ensure a single view of priorities. Most of my day involves resolving issues and working with colleagues who may have helpful information. Sometimes I will meet with the technical teams from our clients on a Zoom or Teams call to help communicate and resolve technology questions.
I commonly work with clients who need help with Azure or AWS technologies. For example, if the customer said, “My VPN is not connected”, I would troubleshoot the problems with the cloud services involved, certificates issued, and error messages to resolve the issue. In some instances, I need to collaborate more closely with clients where we meet on Zoom, so I can see exactly what they’re doing on a screen share.
I enjoy this type of work because I have always been interested in computers. Since I was about 10 years old, I really liked playing games. I think that drove me to want my first computer, and then I started to learn how to fix them. I ended up getting my degree in data analysis, which led me to my current career.
Career Advice
My advice for others in this field is to enjoy what you do and to allow yourself to be challenged. I’ve learned a lot in this role, and my managers have allowed me to grow. Although English is not my first language, I love getting to use my English-speaking skills, and I enjoy working with computers, which makes this job challenging yet fulfilling for me. The most consistent advice I’ve received is to do everything with discipline, consistency, and perseverance.
Extracurriculars
After work, I enjoy reading, playing video games, staying active at the gym or by riding my bike, and I really enjoy music. I have a DJ program on my computer where I’ve created my own list of music. I also have a love for learning new languages, so I listen to all kinds of music from across the globe. Currently, I speak Italian, English, and Spanish, and I am learning Portuguese. I also have a love for coffee and cooking, specifically Italian food, as I lived in Italy for a while.
Looking To The Future
Fernando’s wide range of skills, from spoken language to resolving technical issues, has made him an invaluable member of the SPK team. We are grateful for all the work he has done, and look forward to the new skills he will continue to develop over the years. Our team is fortunate to have such a well-rounded individual working with us.
