Mastermind profile: Meet HPE Master ASE Kelly Knowles

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Kelly Michael KnowlesName: Kelly Michael Knowles

Employer: PNJ Technology Partners

Title: Principal Systems Architect

Location: Albany, NY

LinkedIn Profile: Kelly Knowles

What Master ASE or Aruba Certified Expert Certifications do you hold?

Aruba Certified ClearPass Expert (ACCX)

Aruba Certified Design Expert (ACDX)

Aruba Certified Mobility Expert (ACMX)

HPE Master ASE-FlexNetwork Solutions V2

HPE Master ASE-Hybrid IT Solutions Architect V1

HPE Master ASE-Advanced Server Solutions Architect V3

HPE Master ASE-Storage Solutions Architect V3

Tell us about your day-to-day job.

"I typically work with firewalls, servers, storage, networking, and software. I have a wide range of customers, including retail, educational, legal, healthcare, and government. I enjoy designing and implementing a complete solution and supporting it through its entire lifecycle. I especially like to bring several technologies to work together seamlessly and help people get the most out of their systems."

How do you best study for HPE certifications?

"I usually prefer self-study options such as HPE Press and online self-paced learning. It’s helpful to get the official HPE versions of training because the material is accurate and consistent. At HPE Discover, I take advantage of the instructor-led training and focus on certifications and learning at that venue. I also have built a large lab of equipment so I can practice new technology without risk."

What is the earliest Compaq/HP/HPE equipment you’ve worked on?

"Compaq ProLiant 3000 and 7000 servers, and RA8000 SAN."

What have HPE certifications helped you do better?

"With my advanced HPE certifications, I’m more confident to use newer, disruptive technologies instead of just continuing the status quo. I also feel I have gained knowledge to help me implement and support the technology in more complex deployments."

What motivates you to learn more?

"Generally, I decide that I need to learn more and set a goal to complete a project or attain a certification. I like to finish what I start, so when I start learning about something, I usually learn it until I run out of questions. When I begin with an entry-level certification, I usually keep learning until I attain the highest-level version."

What HPE resources do you find most helpful?

"I typically use HPE Tech Pro Community, Yammer, PSNow, and Aruba Airheads plus other resources like Storage Assessment Foundry and Seismic. I prefer using Yammer to send and receive feedback to product specialist directly."

What would you tell someone starting out today in the industry?

"Find a technology or product that you love and make tangible uses of it in the field. Always try to find new and better ways to do the same things you do each day. It’s okay to be a perfectionist-quality over quantity."

As a Master ASE, you will be recognized as having reached the pinnacle in HPE Certifications. Customers will rely on you to bring rich technical skills to design and implement their most complex solutions. You’ll also see personal and business rewards while being able to network and share with one of the most exclusive teams in the industry.