Luis M. Alvarez
President & CEO

"I'm impressed daily by the hard work our team does on behalf of our clients. It's not a vendor and customer relationship, we see it as a partnership where we integrate ourselves as closely as we can into their organization."

In less than a decade, Luis Alvarez has grown the Alvarez Technology Group, Inc. (ATG) from a small two-person consultancy to the premier information technology (IT) solutions provider on the California Central Coast, delivering IT services to more than 200 companies throughout the state. A visionary who never shies away from exploring exciting new technologies that might give his clients a competitive advantage, Luis specializes in working with executives and managers of small- and mid-sized businesses, sharing his expertise by advising them on trends, analyzing their systems for improved performance and planning how IT can help achieve their business goals.

Luis is considered an expert in business process flow and the integration of IT for maximum profitability. He lead the industry towards a managed services model, an operational strategy that allows ATG to offer continuous monitoring and management of client IT infrastructure at an affordable price point. Luis designed the iTeam service delivery system based on this managed services model.

Luis has lived and worked in the Monterey Bay area since 1986, after 21 years of combined active and reserve duty with the United States Air Force. While in the Air Force, he served in various command positions including the Air Force Information Warfare Center/Air Force Computer Emergency Response Team (AFIWC/AFCERT) and the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Luis has been received numerous accolades and awards, most notably landing on the MSPMentor 250 list every year since its inception as well as leading the company to an appearance on the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies list in 2011. He also recognized as a community leader, serving on the board of numerous non-profits, including the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Rotary Club of Salinas and the Monterey Bay Area Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Degrees and Certifications:
MBA, University of Phoenix
UCLA Anderson School of Management, Management Development for Entrepreneurs
Microsoft Certified Information Technology Professional in Windows 7
Microsoft Certified Network Product Specialist
Microsoft Certified Product Specialists
Master Certified Novell Engineer
CompTIA A+
CompTA Project+
Certified SonicWALL Security Administrator

Brad Griffin
Business Development Manager

"Helping our clients eliminate their technology frustrations and make their work lives easier and more productive is the best part of my job."

Brad Griffin, Business Development Manager, keeps ATG's clients and prospects informed about the services and products available to improve business proficiency, security and collaboration through technology. Brad is responsible for helping find the best solution by listening to the needs of ATG's clients and prospects, and advising them on the full range of services and products available, including network management, hardware and software solutions, security and backup programs, VoIP and hosted PBX telephone systems and more.

Brad earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing Management from East Carolina University. Brad lives in Salinas with his wife, Karen Nardozza and enjoys being active in the community. Brad is a member of Rotary Club of Salinas and is heavily involved with the new Salinas Valley Half Marathon as the 2010 Sponsorship Chair and 2011 Logistics Manager. He is also a Leadership Salinas Valley Class XXVIII graduate. Brad enjoys riding his mountain bike in Toro Park and Fort Ord Recreation Area, and hiking at Garland Ranch and Carmel Beach.

Certifications:
gloStream Certified Sales Professional
Microsoft Gold Desktop Sales and Marketing

Curtis Thomas
Director of Managed Services

"I love working with clients and figuring out ways to make their day to day operations more efficient. When a client calls me with a difficult problem, it feels good to be able to resolve their issue."

Curtis Thomas, Director of Managed Services, helps the company improve service delivery to its clients while streamlining operations. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the service department, including the field service engineers and the technicians in the company's network operations center, the OpsCenter.

Curtis is a graduate of Heald Business College and lives in Salinas with his two dogs, Sugar and Chaos. He enjoys boxing and is a die-hard San Diego Chargers fan. In his spare time you can find him vacationing on tropical islands with white sand and blue water sipping mai tais.

Certifications:
ACE - Axcient Certified Expert - "Disaster recovery"
MSPU - Service Delivery Professional - "2011 Boot Camp completion"
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer + Internet in Windows Server
Microsoft Certified Information Technology Professional in Windows 7
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist in Server 2008 Administration
CompTIA A+
CompTIA Network+
CompTIA Internet+

Anil Melwani
Director of Special Projects

"I love to work in the field of technology because of the challenges. The pace at which the industry moves is incredible and I learn new things every day. There's never a dull moment!"

Anil Melwani, Director of Special Projects, is responsible for managing and implementing complex technical projects for ATG clients. Anil is the single point-of-contact for ATG throughout the project lifecycle, including server installations, network migrations, firewall upgrades as well as other major projects.

Anil has experience with a variety of technologies and systems, including Windows NT 3.51/NT 4.0/Server 2000/2003/2008/R2, Exchange Server 5.5/2000/20003/2007/2010, Windows 9x/NT/2000/XP/Vista/7, MS office 9x/2000/XP/2003/2007/2010, Mac OS 8.x/9.x/OS X, Citrix, Linux, SQL, HTML, ASP, IIS, DNS, WINS, DHCP, TCP/IP, Firewall policies, VPN, NAT, Ethernet standards and cabling. Anil regularly attends training to stay current with the latest technologies.

Anil graduated with honors from the University of Brighton, England with a B.S. degree in Computer Science. He lives in Marina and is active in the community, serving on the board for the Lyceum of Monterey County and providing IT services to them on a volunteer basis. He also serves as President on the board for his Homeowners' Association. He is an avid tennis player, and when not in front of a computer you can usually find him on the courts.

Certifications:
Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Administrator - Windows 7
Certified SonicWALL Security Administrator
VMWare Technical Professional - ESX 4
VMWare Technical Professional - View 4
CompTIA A+
CompTIA Network+

Michael Traven
Desktop Engineer

"I like working in the Information Technology Industry because the field is always evolving, and then working with our clients to introduce to them these evolving technologies. Seeing how they improve the quality of their business is always satisfying."

Michael Traven, Desktop Engineer, joined ATG in 2006, bringing exceptional experience and skill to the team. Michael works with ATG clients on-site, focusing on technology architectural development and integration, new equipment installations, software and hardware configuration, and other special projects.

Michael's knowledge-base includes experience with Sonicwall, Windows Server 2003 and 2008, Microsoft Exchange Server 2003/2010, VOIP networking and industry specific applications related to the Legal, Accounting and Medical fields.

Michael earned his B.S. in Telecommunications Management from DeVry University in 1996. A native of the Monterey Bay area, he currently lives in Salinas. Michael is a competitive trap shooter, enjoys snowboarding and is a skydiving enthusiast.

Certifications:
Trend Micro Certified
Microsoft Certified Information Technology Professional
CompTIA A+

Sarah Stephens
Customer Service Coordinator

"I really enjoy working with our clients and providing them with the best customer service I can. It's a great feeling when I know we help turn frustration into relief when they have an IT problem we resolve for them."

As Customer Service Coordinator, Sarah Stephens makes sure ATG clients receive fast, efficient IT support by keeping the OpsCenter Technicians and Systems Engineers on schedule. Sarah is the friendly, chipper voice clients hear if they need to call for additional help or to arrange for an on-site service call.

Proud Army brat, Sarah has lived everywhere from Germany to Fort Ord. Sarah is the first one to admit she has a fondness for animals and chocolate, but separately. She lives in Salinas with her husband, Vinny, and their three cats, Maggie, Homer and Duff.

Jason Cordoba
Customer Care Specialist

"I help our clients tackle projects big and small. Collaborating each day on a variety of issues, overcoming hurdles and providing value give me a great sense of accomplishment."

As a Customer Care Specialist, Jason Cordoba focuses on helping clients get the right products for their users and their networks. He works to get the best value for their money and maximize the value of the IT investment by identifying their needs, finding the best fit for the client and recommending solutions that might enhance their business operations.

Jason was born and raised in Salinas and is a proud graduate of Palma High School. His college years were spent at Cal State Fullerton where he threw the javelin for the Titan track team. He currently lives in Carmel Valley with his wife, Sunny, their new son Henry Hayden and mutt-rescue-puppy, Dottie.

Certifications:
AT&T Small Business Telephony Certification
Microsoft Gold Desktop Sales and Marketing Certification
Microsoft Volume Licensing Certification
HP Small Business Hardware Specialist
SonicWall Unified Threat Management Certification
FortiGate Silver Partner Certification
Microsoft Cloud Champion
Cisco Small Business Professional - Account Manager

Bill Oldfield
Senior Systems Engineer

"Nothing gives me more professional satisfaction than having a customer express their gratitude for the level of service they have received. This is one of the reasons I always try to go the extra mile to make the customer happy."

Bill Oldfield joined the IT support team at Alvarez Technology Group, Inc. April of 2010. As a Senior Systems Engineer, Bill works primarily from our OpsCenter, remotely supporting clients with escalated, tier two and three issues. Bill has extensive experience deploying, administering, and resolving issues with Microsoft Exchange, Windows, Active Directory, Cisco firewalls and wide variety of other products.

Bill currently holds an Associate of Science in Information Technology and is halfway thru obtaining his Bachelors of Science Degree in Information Systems Security from ITT Technical Institute. Bill is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, currently living in Morgan Hill with his wife and three children. He enjoys spending time with his family, alpine skiing, white water rafting, camping, hiking, mixed martial arts, watching movies, and playing computer games. Bill is also co-leader of his son's Cub Scout den and a docent at Gilroy Gardens.

Certifications:
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist Windows 7 Configuration
Microsoft Certified IT Professional Enterprise Desktop Administrator on Windows 7
Microsoft Certified System Administrator on Windows XP
Microsoft Technical Help Desk
CompTIA A+

Matt Lampi
Customer Care Specialist

"I enjoy working with our clients to find the right solution to suit their needs."

Matt is a Customer Care Specialist at ATG. He supports his clients by helping them make informed decisions when it comes to technology for their business. He helps his clients find the best product to fit their needs.

Originally from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, he has lived in Monterey County since 1982. He now lives in Prunedale with his wife, Lisa, and their two teenage daughters. Matt is a graduate of North Monterey County High School. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends, watching movies, playing video games and cooking.

Certifications:
Cisco Small Business Professional - Account Manager

Cristel Andersen
Director of Customer Care and Operations

"I love the challenges that working in project management brings. Every day is something new and exciting."

As Director of Customer Care and Operations, Cristel Andersen manages projects from beginning to end including procurement, scheduling, billing and working with system engineers and customer care specialists to ensure projects are completed and implemented efficiently and effectively, ensuring a positive experience.

A Carmel native, she currently resides in Carmel Valley with her husband, Thomas, and four of their six children. Cristel recently passed the Monterey County Sheriff's POST and physical test. She also launched the Music for Young Artists program which aims to provide music scholarship and/or music equipment to artists in need and currently serves as the committee President.

Matthew Warren
Project Engineer

"I love working with local businesses and helping to provide them with tools they need to succeed. When our customers realize that they can truly count on us to provide them with the support and services they need, it makes me proud to be working in the IT industry."

Matthew works primarily in the field supporting clients with escalated, tier two and three issues, system maintenance and repairs, software and hardware upgrades, with new equipment installations and other special projects.

He is experienced in Windows NT4/95/98/ME/XP/VISTA/7, Windows Server 2000/2003/2008, Mac OS 9/10.1-10.6, Exchange 2003/2007, Office 2000/2003/2007/2010, SQL Server 2000/2005/2008 and IIS 6/7. He attended CSUMB studying Computer Science and Technology.

A Los Angeles native, Matthew now lives in Salinas with fiancée, Meaghan, and her 3 ½ year old daughter. He enjoys numerous activities including golf, sailing, soccer, basketball, and online gaming.

Certifications:
Microsoft Certified IT Professional Enterprise Desktop Administrator on Windows