News

Staff Sergeant Lauches Telecoms Career

MSPs
A former Army Staff Sergeant is firing up a new career with voice and data comms specialist Avandda. Steve Goddard spent 22 years in the army, deployed to areas such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Cyprus and Northern Ireland, most recently flying Unmanned Air Systems (UAS).

“It’s the end of my military career which I have enjoyed and I am now transitioning into civilian life. For my resettlement I am going in to the telecommunications sector. I’ve done military telecommunications such as satellite comms and Wide Area Data Networks, so this is a natural fit now,” said Steve who is working for Warrington-based reseller Avandda.

Steve was part of a group of resellers who took part in in-depth training courses at Nimans’ Manchester headquarters to boost his Samsung technical knowledge. A three-day OfficeServ Foundation course was followed by a two-day programme about Samsung’s sophisticated SVMI voice messaging solution.

“I’ve just started a job as a Project Co-ordinator with Avandda, which I’m grateful for,” Steve continued. “It’s been a bit of a learning curve as I’m only just starting off and I need to get some hands-on experience. But I’m a lot more knowledgeable now. The course has been a massive stepping stone. I’m still at first base but I will get there.

“Samsung equipment is easy to work with once you know the menu programmes and I’m looking forward to a new chapter in my working life.”

The two courses were some of the first technical training events to be held in the north, as opposed to Harlow in the South, explained Nimans’ Head of Systems Sales, John Mckindland who emphasised that ‘plenty more will follow’.

He explained how the entry-level OfficeServ course forms the foundation of all engineer training. Hardware, end points, configuration and programming feature in the comprehensive content. SVMI voice messaging placed particular importance on how to deter toll fraud, as well as focusing on menus, modes and installation techniques.

Steve’s positive feedback was shared by a Falkirk-based reseller who remarked afterwards: “I’ve been installing Samsung for the last 15 years but I don’t have the correct accreditation to get any further. This course will put me on the right road to success.

“I think it’s fair to say I’ve picked up a few bad habits in the past, such as the way I’ve been programming systems, but they can now be ironed out. They’ve been highlighted and I need to get rid of them.

“I’ve learned a tremendous amount. Because I’ve been self-taught I know how to do something but not why I do it, but that’s changed now. The knowledge I’ve gained will be invaluable in my day-to-day business.”