MATTHEW LAZEAR

I'm Matthew, an IT technician in the Seattle area.

I'm Matthew, an IT technician in the Seattle area.

I'm Matthew, an IT technician in the Seattle area.

Transitioning from a successful digital product design career to IT, I bring exceptional people and problem-solving skills, an ongoing focus on professional development, and a relentless commitment to driving value.

Transitioning from a successful digital product design career to IT, I bring exceptional people and problem-solving skills, an ongoing focus on professional development, and a relentless commitment to driving value.

Transitioning from a successful digital product design career to IT, I bring exceptional people and problem-solving skills, an ongoing focus on professional development, and a relentless commitment to driving value.

Certifications

Certifications

Certifications

CompTIA A+

CompTIA A+

CompTIA A+

CompTIA Network+

CompTIA Network+

CompTIA Network+

CompTIA Security+

CompTIA Security+

CompTIA Security+

Expected Early 2025

Expected Early 2025

Expected Early 2025

Homelab Projects

Homelab Projects

Homelab Projects

Aimed at advancing my general IT knowledge

Aimed at advancing my general IT knowledge

Dedicated Proxmox VM Server

Dedicated Proxmox VM Server

I repurposed an unused machine with an 6-core Ryzen 7600 and 32GB RAM to run several containers and VMs including Pi-Hole, Windows and Ubuntu Server, Windows Pro, and a variety of Linux distros. The goal here is to familiarize myself with virtualization and deploy a platform for other homelab projects.

I repurposed an unused machine with an 6-core Ryzen 7600 and 32GB RAM to run several containers and VMs including Pi-Hole, Windows and Ubuntu Server, Windows Pro, and a variety of Linux distros. The goal here is to familiarize myself with virtualization and deploy a platform for other homelab projects.

UniFi Network Configuration

UniFi Network Configuration

Recently stepped into the Unifi ecosystem in June 2024. The goal with this project is to deploy and configure more serious network capabilities that reach well beyond what my legacy hardware could support (e.g. VLANS, ACLs, PoE, etc.)

Recently stepped into the Unifi ecosystem in June 2024. The goal with this project is to deploy and configure more serious network capabilities that reach well beyond what my legacy hardware could support (e.g. VLANS, ACLs, PoE, etc.)

Virtualized AD

Virtualized AD

I've installed Windows Server 2025, Windows 10/11 Pro on my VM server and am currently learning how to set up and deploy domains and manage users, group policies, and network services.

I've installed Windows Server 2025, Windows 10/11 Pro on my VM server and am currently learning how to set up and deploy domains and manage users, group policies, and network services.

High Availability Pi-hole DNS

High Availability Pi-hole DNS

Although setup years ago, I'm striving to understand some of the platform's more advanced capabilities, such as Gravity Sync and Regex Filtering.

Although setup years ago, I'm striving to understand some of the platform's more advanced capabilities, such as Gravity Sync and Regex Filtering.

Dedicated Ubuntu Client

Dedicated Ubuntu Client

I repurposed a Thinkpad to be a dedicated Ubuntu client and using it as much as I can. I'm diving deeper into the Linux CLI with this machine.

I repurposed a Thinkpad to be a dedicated Ubuntu client and using it as much as I can. I'm diving deeper into the Linux CLI with this machine.

Synology NAS

Synology NAS

My current storage and backup setup is intentionally minimal to keep costs low, but this may change as new use cases arise. I’m using an older single-drive DS118 with cloud sync to Dropbox. Local backup involves a 3x weekly incremental backup with mirroring.

My current storage and backup setup is intentionally minimal to keep costs low, but this may change as new use cases arise. I’m using an older single-drive DS118 with cloud sync to Dropbox. Local backup to USB involves a 3x weekly incremental backup with mirroring.

Homelab Projects

Aimed at advancing my general IT knowledge

Dedicated Proxmox VM Server

I repurposed an unused machine with an 6-core Ryzen 7600 and 32GB RAM to run several containers and VMs including Pi-Hole, Windows and Ubuntu Server, Windows Pro, and a variety of Linux distros. The goal here is to familiarize myself with virtualization and deploy a platform for other homelab projects.

UniFi Network Configuration

Recently stepped into the Unifi ecosystem in June 2024. The goal with this project is to deploy and configure more serious network capabilities that reach well beyond what my legacy hardware could support (e.g. VLANS, ACLs, PoE, etc.)

Virtualized AD

I've installed Windows Server 2025, Windows 10/11 Pro on my VM server and am currently learning how to set up and deploy domains and manage users, group policies, and network services.

High Availability Pi-hole DNS

Although setup years ago, I'm striving to understand some of the platform's more advanced capabilities, such as Gravity Sync and Regex Filtering.

Dedicated Ubuntu Client

I repurposed a Thinkpad to be a dedicated Ubuntu client and using it as much as I can. I'm diving deeper into the Linux CLI with this machine.

Synology NAS

My current storage and backup setup is intentionally minimal to keep costs low, but this may change as new use cases arise. I’m using an older single-drive DS118 with cloud sync to Dropbox. Local backup involves a 3x weekly incremental backup with mirroring.

Currently Reading

Currently Reading

Currently Reading

There's always at least two loaded up on my Kindle

There's always at least two loaded up on my Kindle

Mastering Active Directory
Dishan Francis

Mastering Active Directory
Dishan Francis

Children of Ruin
Adrian Tchaikovsky

Children of Ruin
Adrian Tchaikovsky

Skill Loadout

Skill Loadout

Skill Loadout

What you can expect as of Fall 2024

What you can expect as of Fall 2024

Proficient
L1 Support
PC Build & Support
Mobile Device Support
Windows / MacOS / Linux OS Support

Proficient
L1 Support
PC Build & Support
Mobile Device Support
Windows / MacOS / Linux OS Support

Basic
Networking
Cloud Technologies
Systems Administration
Virtualization
Backup & Recovery
Cybersecurity

Basic
Networking
Systems Administration
Virtualization
Backup & Recovery
Cloud Computing
Cybersecurity

Currently Learning
Active Directory
Advanced Linux CLI
Advanced Cybersecurity

Currently Learning
Active Directory
Advanced Linux CLI
Advanced Cybersecurity

Transferrable Skills
Agile Environments
User Experience
Web Development
Team Leadership
Stakeholder Management

Transferrable Skills
Agile Environments
User Experience
Web Development
Team Leadership
Stakeholder Management

About Me

About Me

About Me

Originally from Ohio, my career journey has taken me from Indiana to Virginia, Sweden, and finally to the Pacific Northwest, where I've established permanent roots. Although I'm currently transitioning careers, my passion for computers began in my youth and shaped my early professional experiences in IT. I completed an internship with a local government IT department and subsequently spent three and a half years providing help desk support for a small ISP/MSP before eventually moving into digital product design. I'm excited to start a new career in a field that has captivated me since the first time I set eyes on a computer.

Originally from Ohio, my career journey has taken me from Indiana to Virginia, Sweden, and finally to the Pacific Northwest, where I've established permanent roots. Although I'm currently transitioning careers, my passion for computers began in my youth and shaped my early professional experiences in IT. I completed an internship with a local government IT department and subsequently spent three and a half years providing help desk support for a small ISP/MSP before eventually moving into digital product design. I'm excited to start a new career in a field that has captivated me since the first time I set eyes on a computer.

Send me an email and make my day!

Send me an email and make my day!

lazear@gmail.com

lazear@gmail.com

© 2024, Matthew Lazear. All rights reserved.