Celebrating Our Team for National IT Professionals Day!
If you ask anyone working at ICAN who the most fun, helpful and energetic department is at the agency, they just might say our IT team! This crew is always ready to help others and NOT just with technical needs – you can catch them volunteering at our golf tournament, working creatively building a pinwheel together for Child Abuse Prevention Month, diving into competitive challenges at our employee picnics or humoring the marketing department by jumping in for any number of photo and video shoots at a moment’s notice!
The IT team keeps our daily operations running smoothly and their expertise is crucial for maintaining and optimizing our systems and allowing our computers to operate seamlessly. Helping over 300 staff members in multiple locations from Herkimer to Rome, and from Utica to Amsterdam, they help keep us all connected.
In 2015, National IT Professionals Day was initiated to honor and appreciate these technical wizards who uphold our infrastructure, ensuring every employee stays connected and productive.
We’d like to introduce you to and celebrate our good friends in our IT Department!
Macaul Zuk, Director of Strategic Initiatives
Attended Utica University
Majored in Criminal Justice
7 Years at ICAN
Tell us how you got into the IT field!
The innovative nature of ICAN has brought together the world of data and analytics with technology. This ensures we are producing the highest quality services delivered to our communities. Continuing to enhance how services can be delivered and keeping up with new technologies makes us stand out. I learn the technical parts from my amazing team daily, which makes the days interesting.
If you could have one superpower to enhance your IT skills, what would it be and why?
Teleportation for sure! I would love to be where I want to be when I want or need to be there. To be honest I am a multitask driver, which I am working on, so if I could just teleport that would be amazing. ICAN continues to grow so being at different locations instantly would save a lot of time!
What do you like best about your work in IT here at ICAN?
My team, their willingness to do the research, adapt to changes, and listen to our users/communities/clients creating new strategies and ideas to move forward with. Creating the mindset that although they are an operational department, the work that they do affects the individuals that we serve.
What is the most used IT tip or trick you'd like to share?
The good old fashion restart question… if all else falls, shut your computer down :)
What are some of your special interests or hobbies?
I LOVE a hobby. I try to learn one new thing every year, even if I only complete it once. (Knitting, hatching chickens, sewing, pottery, cooking) Right now it is football season so you can find me coaching Pop Warner cheer or enthusiastically cheering on the sidelines of my son's football games. I love to be outside with my garden, my chickens or just enjoying friends/family.
Brian Keeler, IT Network Engineer
Attended Herkimer College
Majored in Micro-Computers for Business
27 years in IT
Tell us how you got into the IT field!
After a “foreign competition” layoff, I enrolled at Herkimer College. I understood the thinking of computers and enjoyed helping people. Not many people can fix their computers, but I can help.
If you could have one superpower to enhance your IT skills, what would it be and why?
It wouldn’t be a superpower; it would be a supertool. I'd love to have Wonder Woman’s Golden Lasso to know what happened before the screen turned blue.
What do you like best about your work in IT here at ICAN?
I became aware of ICAN through their ARCHES program. I was amazed by their community work and staff culture, which motivated me to join their team. A friend encouraged me to apply.
Working at ICAN allows me to help others indirectly. I work with the staff and empower them through technology to do their work to the best of their ability. ICAN’s vision of Keeping Families Together is important to me.
What is the most used IT tip or trick you'd like to share?
Always be cautious. There are people online trying to gather information about you. Not everything you see online is safe. Stay alert, take a deep breath, and think before clicking!
What are some of your special interests or hobbies?
I love making maple syrup - it's become a spring tradition. I'm passionate about beekeeping, although I've had my share of challenges, such as bears getting into my hives! I'm always looking to challenge myself physically and prove that I am limitless. Gardening and cooking are also on my list.
I'm a proud husband to my wife, JoAnna, and a father to two amazing sons, Cody and Jason. My family is incredibly important to me, and we enjoy spending quality time together exploring new activities.
Robert Trzcinski, IT Network Engineer
Attended Herkimer College
Majored in Networking
Certified in VMWare, A+
26 years in IT
Tell us how you got into the IT Field!
I got into IT because I have always loved electronics and technology. My experience in customer service allows me to help others do their jobs more efficiently.
If you could have one superpower to enhance your IT skills, what would it be and why?
Pixie dust from the IBM commercials! Sprinkle on some pixie dust and fix all of the problems magically!
What do you like best about your work in IT here at ICAN?
What I like best about working at ICAN is the drive for excellence and innovation.
What is the most used IT tip or trick you'd like to share?
Reboot first! Also, those right-click functions!
What are some of your special interests or hobbies?
I am a huge baseball fan and love to collect baseball cards and memorabilia. In my free time, I like to woodwork and fish.
La-Meek White, IT Support Specialist
Attended SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Majored in Computer Science
Certified in CompTIA Network+
6 years in IT
Tell us how you got into the IT Field!
Funny story actually: I originally wanted to be a civil engineer like my pastor, but I took an AP Computer Science class in high school, fell in love with coding, and the rest was history.
If you could have one superpower to enhance your IT skills, what would it be and why?
IT guys can already fix things by just being there, haha. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard the phrase, “I swear it wasn’t working before you got here,” I would be rich!!
But if I had to choose, I would like a photographic memory. I’ve only been doing this for a fraction of the time my teammates have, and I can only imagine the things I’ve forgotten to make room for new information.
What do you like best about your work in IT here at ICAN?
There are two main reasons I love working at ICAN:
1) I love to help people. I’ve been this way my whole life. The fact that I get to help people who help people is what makes the job that much sweeter.
2) I genuinely have a lot of love for the people on my team. I have two guys who are veterans in the IT game and are always passing down knowledge. Brian and Bob are willing to offer help and recommendations and are cool with me pestering them with questions, haha. Not to mention the best supervisor at ICAN!
What is the most used IT tip or trick you'd like to share?
RESTART YOUR COMPUTER!!!!!!!!! I know people joke about it but a quick restart can solve sooooo many simpler problems. And yes, we can tell when the last time your computer was last restarted!
What are some of your special interests or hobbies?
Outside of work, I’m pretty much a really cool nerd. I watch anime, NBA Basketball, NFL and college football, and I’m a hugeeee gamer. I may or may not have an Overwatch obsession haha. I’m an avid Harry Potter fan (currently rereading the series for the 7th time) and I love to play basketball. I’m also a part time Twitch streamer. Most people collect things like stamps and coins but I am an avid sock collector. They’re the highlight of my outfits and a way for me to express myself with the constraints of a dress code.