Kevin J. Cefalu

In over eight years at Netchex (a cloud-based HR/payroll solutions firm), Kevin took on progressively senior roles, culminating in managing DevOps engineering. He was responsible for deploying and maintaining 1K+ Azure cloud resources across the organization.

Notable Responsibilities & Achievements

• Cloud Architecture & Automation

  • Authored C# applications and PowerShell modules to automate infrastructure, and implemented Infrastructure-as-Code practices (Azure DevOps pipelines) to streamline deployments. He led a comprehensive gap analysis of the production environment against the Azure Well-Architected Framework and spearheaded remediation efforts to align systems with best practices.

• Containerization Strategy

  • Designed and rolled out the company’s containerization approach using Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) and Azure Container Apps, transforming legacy applications into cloud-native services for improved scalability and consistency.

• Leadership & Mentorship

  • Progressed through roles from DevOps Engineer I up to DevOps Engineering Manager, mentoring a team of engineers. In these leadership roles, he focused on enhancing collaboration between development and operations, and championed a culture of automation and continuous improvement. He often collaborated with architects and developers to ensure reliability and performance of Netchex’s cloud solutions.

• Resilience & Problem-Solving

  • Kevin frequently navigated complex technical challenges. He played a central role in troubleshooting critical incidents (the kind that “break at 2AM”) and implemented preventative measures. His blend of software development and IT operations expertise allowed him to bridge gaps between teams and rapidly resolve issues.

• Cloud Cost Optimization

  • As part of enhancing Netchex’s infrastructure, Kevin evaluated resource utilization and identified cost-saving opportunities. For example, he applied Azure’s Well-Architected review to optimize workloads and eliminate wasteful configurations, contributing to a more efficient cloud spend.

At PoolCorp (a major distribution company in the swimming pool supply industry), Kevin served as a software engineer developing enterprise applications for both internal users and business partners. In this role, he:

Notable Responsibilities & Achievements

• Built B2B Applications
  • Developed and maintained several critical applications used by PoolCorp’s employees and B2B customers, significantly improving business processes. For instance, he overhauled legacy SOAP-based web services that supported the company’s mobile app, modernizing them for better performance and reliability. He also completed a full re-architecture of the B2B shared core platform to enhance scalability and maintainability.
• Integrated Search Technology
  • Integrated a Google Search Appliance into PoolCorp’s systems, enabling more powerful search capabilities across company data. This project replaced or upgraded old search functionality, making it easier for users to find information quickly.
• Technical Support & Training
  • Beyond development, Kevin became the nation-wide main point of contact for the B2B platform. He traveled over 1,600 miles to provide on-site training and support to regional teams and external partners. This hands-on involvement not only ensured successful adoption of the software but also demonstrated Kevin’s commitment to user success and stakeholder engagement.
• Collaboration
  • Worked closely with cross-functional teams (sales, IT support, product managers) to gather requirements and deliver solutions that met business needs. His ability to explain technical details to non-technical stakeholders proved valuable during trainings and in securing buy-in for new tools.

Kevin started his career at the University of New Orleans as a web developer for the University Computing Center while finishing his studies. In this early role, he:

Notable Responsibilities & Achievements

• Website Management

  • Maintained the university’s Computing Center website, ensuring content was up-to-date and the site remained functional for students and faculty.

• Campus Systems Integration

  • Developed web applications and scripts to support existing university systems, integrating platforms like DotNetNuke (a content management system), PeopleSoft (campus ERP), and Microsoft Exchange. These integrations helped streamline campus operations (e.g. single sign-on portals, data syncing between systems).

• Foundation Building

  • This role provided Kevin a strong foundation in programming and system administration. He learned to work in a professional IT environment and collaborated with university staff on technology solutions. It also sparked his interest in automation and managing infrastructure – interests that he would expand significantly in his later cloud/DevOps roles.

Southern Oaks Plantation is a historic venue providing event and hospitality services.

Ferrara Fire Apparatus is a leading manufacturer of fire trucks and emergency vehicles.

Macaroni Grill is an Italian-American restaurant chain known for its brick oven cooking.

Lowe’s is a leading home improvement retailer providing products and services for home improvement projects.

Directech Southwest provides DirectTV satellite television installation and service solutions.

Giles Nissan is an automotive dealership providing sales and service.

Magellan Construction specializes in residential and commercial construction projects.

Advanced Radiographics provides medical imaging and radiographic services with digital records management.