Editor’s note: This is part five of a five-part series profiling a handful of INAP’s talented NOC employees who are responsible for delivering “Better Engineered Support”. At the bottom of the profile, find links to explore more interviews.
Name: Brian Jones
Title: Customer Care Associate
When did you start at INAP? Early December in 2015.
I heard you recently won an award? Yes! September of 2016, I was “NOCster” of the month. The NOC is about 60 employees, so it meant a lot to me. To be able to get that within the first year of being at INAP was a real accomplishment — as far as I’ve heard that’s not been done before—or at least in a long time.
What made you win the award do you think? Being a team player, always willing to move our team forward if that means changing shifts…just doing whatever needs to be done. I try my best to treat everyone with respect and equally regardless of if they’ve been here a week or a decade.
Which office do you work in / where do you live? I work in the Atlanta NOC, and live downtown near the Hartsfield-Jackson airport.
Did you go to school around there? Yes, I went to West Lake High and graduated from Savannah State University.
What is the most challenging thing about your job? I work third shift, so being here when some of the team isn’t. I sometimes have to dig deeper into situations on my own, but I like doing that.
You mentioned third shift. When is third shift? 9PM ET to 8AM ET.
Was it tough transitioning to a night schedule?? It was definitely something I had to get used to. But, it was what the team needed and I wanted to make an impact so I stepped up and took on the challenge. Once you get past the sleep part of it, it gets pretty easy.
Who contributed to your success here at INAP? The whole CCA team. Rebecca Barnes was my trainer when I started and had such a great impact on me.
If you could do anything at INAP outside of your current job, what would it be and why? I think I would like to be an implementation manager at the company. I have wanted to do project management and implementation as I have a background in that.
Favorite movie: Harlem Nights
Favorite musician: Outkast! They were trailblazers for the South. Being from Atlanta, they just narrated the story of the South. Growing up here, mainly in Atlanta, they told it in such a unique manner that it really connected with me.
Hobbies: I love sports. I’m a huge sports fan – love watching live games. Like to travel. Love food.
Ok, tell us more. Favorite sports? Basketball and football…. Lakers for Hoops, Falcons for football.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? I have an obsession with Spain. I have no idea where it comes from, I’ve always just been so intrigued by Spain.
Would you consider yourself a “Foodie”? YES! – I love trying new foods…I’ll try anything once.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve tried? I once ate raccoon. I was in Jacksonville in the backwoods and was offered barbequed raccoon. Don’t ask me how they found it. It was so gamey. I think my subconscious is trying to get me to forget what it tasted like. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.
So why should someone do business with INAP? Honestly, we just have some of the best individuals both leading our support team and on our support team. The people in the NOC are diligent, caring, and above all just knowledgeable about what we do.
Outside of INAP, what is important to you? I’m just an easy-going guy who stands on his principles. I believe in living by principles, they give you a path, a guided path to go on. When you always have something to lean on, like a set of principles, you have a foundation for handling any situation. Just an easy-going guy who stands on his principles.
What are those principles, for you? My principles are honesty and integrity. I was raised blue-collar. My father always said “If they pay you a nickel, you give them a dime’s worth of effort.” Those are the principles I live by.
Any family in the area? My immediate family is all still in Atlanta. I have two older brothers Shawn (43) and Damien (36), my mother Cynthia and father James.
What do you like most about your job here at INAP? At INAP I like both the individual challenge and team aspects. We resolve the customer requests on our own, but we’re still a part of a team if we need help or information. I feel integrated in the team even though I usually only see the Atlanta NOC team, but I talk to the Seattle team a lot. I don’t feel like “Brian on the third shift”, I feel like a part of the team.
Want to explore other “Our NOC Rocks!” interviews?
Click a name below to learn more.
Mike Palladino (part one) – Jeffry Bass (part two) – Lisa McClellan (part three) – Terryn Moser (part four) – Brian Jones (part five)
