Educating Customers & Employees on IT: Meet Troy McDermott

March 19, 2020

When Troy McDermott joined CEC as a network engineer in 2002, he brought with him several years of IT experience in the K-12 world.

With his knowledge and know-how, he quickly became our go-to resource for customers and employees. If you’ve got a network or IT-related question or challenge, he’ll find a way to address it!

A few years ago, he decided to leave the field to spend his time educating clients and colleagues about the everchanging world of IT. Because he stays on the forefront of network technology and design, he’s called on to lead education seminars at industry events, troubleshoot ideas with customers, and help coworkers find a way to do something they’ve never done before.

Meet Networking Solutions Architect Troy McDermott!

Q: What makes you most excited about working at CEC? What do you enjoy most?
A: I like solving hard problems for customers. That is hands-down the most fun for me: Addressing a challenge that’s difficult to figure out – or a challenge that no one else has figured out – and trying to find a way to move forward. I appreciate that the lines of communication here are open. If someone has a problem tying AV or security systems into their network, for example, we can talk to each other and work through it together. 

Over the years, I have helped create plans for connecting systems like wind turbines, traffic lights, water towers, sewer manholes, and more to networks. Things like this haven’t always been commonly done, but I love approaching new concepts.

Q: Is there a CEC initiative you’ve been involved with that you’re especially proud of?
A: Being involved with the Technical Steering Committee, where we bring CEC team members from a variety of divisions together each month to talk about new technology, new business challenges, and potential solutions. It keeps us on the cutting edge of what’s possible and puts everyone on the same page in terms of what our product partners are offering. 

Q: What’s a fun/interesting fact about you that most people don’t know?
A: When I was about 20 years old, I won the Iowa State Fair Antique & Classic Tractor Pull in the 8,000-pound class (for tractors that are 60 years old or older). The tractor I drove was manufactured in 1939. It’s not the most exciting form of motorsports because there’s a speed limit of 3 miles per hour. You could literally finish a sandwich in the time it took to watch one pull. It was a hobby I shared with my dad, though, so it was always a lot of fun for me. 

Q: How do you spend your free time?
A: Outside of work, I like to ride my mountain bike. I also play guitar (badly). I play with my kids. I’m no longer into antique tractor pulling; I can’t take that level of excitement these days. 

Q: If you could do one other job at CEC for a day, what would it be?
A: I actually wouldn’t trade with anyone. I really enjoy what I do. I would go back and do my old job of working in the field for a day. Only for a day, though; that job had way too many nights mixed with the days.

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