Welcome back to another installment of our “Thrive Spotlight” blog series.

Our featured employee is Janet Salvo, Service Delivery Manager. Working in Event Management, Janet and her team are responsible for the monitoring of networks for all our clients and troubleshooting all alerts that come through. Her responsibility in the department is to manage the amazing team that she works with. She tries to make sure that she is always keeping her team, our clients, and the company happy by working on updating our processes and procedures.

Janet lives in Westbook, Maine, just outside of Portland, and works out of our Cumberland, Maine office. Janet loves to spend time with her friends and family. She has a kayak and loves to bring it out on the river, since it is such a peaceful place. Janet also likes live music and is eagerly waiting to go an upcoming country festival in Portland, Maine. She is a Dog Mom to her two beloved Italian Greyhounds, Biscotti and Whisper, and a Bunny Mom to Luna, who all bring her so much joy and laughter.

Hi Janet!  Can you tell us about your background and how you came to Thrive?

I was a bit of a “Jack of All Trades” before going to school for IT and coming to Thrive. I had many hats: real estate, dog grooming, dog training, and a massage therapist. Each of the positions presented challenges that lead me forward to the next one.

IT has always fascinated me. I started out with an Apple 11e when I was younger and as I grew older, people always came to me to resolve their computer issues. One time, when I was living in California, I was working at the Comedy Store in LA as one of the overnight managers. I took a four-day weekend to Palm Springs and the computer system at “The Store” went down. I had to walk them through getting it back up and running over the phone.

Ultimately, my decision to pursue IT became clear. I enrolled in school, and from there my journey led me to Thrive. This path has aligned perfectly with my long-term career goals, although, once I hit retirement, I think I will get back into dog training!

Where did you go to school or get training?

I attended the Northeast Technical Institute and graduated from the Network Administration and Design Program.

What do you most enjoy about working for Thrive?

Hands down, the people, my teams, the people I work with outside of my team, and our clients. I am a people person, so I love being able to work with so many.  It is also a pleasure to help my team grow. I recently had the chance to help some of my team members move into new departments they dreamed of being in and it was incredibly rewarding.

Are there any recent exciting projects at Thrive you can tell us about?

We do have an upcoming project coming up that will greatly impact my team and I am super excited about it. This is in the final stages of being created and as of now, there is no set go live date, so I don’t want to share too much yet. Aside from that, my team is constantly changing processes to make the workload more efficient.

Are you interested in learning more about Thrive? Click here!

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for the latest news, and continue checking our blog for more in our “Thrive Employee Spotlight” series. Until next time…

The post Thrive Spotlight: Janet Salvo – Service Delivery Manager appeared first on Thrive.

Our featured employee is George Seybolt, Director, Strategic Operations. George’s role is split into two parts, both relating to strategic operations.  The first part is focused on integrating acquired companies and making sure they are correctly and smoothly cutover into ServiceNow (SNOW). This includes several different pieces including completing due diligence on the business operation functions, reviewing contracts, invoices, and any ongoing operation functions that the acquired business may still have, as well as mapping all their existing data into SNOW for their cutover.

The second half to George’s role is managing strategic operations related to Thrive, as well as a small team within Business Operations focused on strategic projects. Some of these initiatives include rolling out new products through campaigns like SaaS Alerts, sunsetting legacy products, as well as advising on new processes within SNOW that are related to the business operations function.

When George first started at Thrive, he lived right outside of Boston in Waltham and worked out of our Foxborough office. However, thanks to the flexibility to work remote, George now lives in Denver, CO. Outside of work, George loves exploring outside and going for a hike whenever he can. Now that he lives out West, he does a lot of hiking and backpacking in the Rockies and Wasatch ranges.

Hi George!  Can you tell us about your background and how you came to Thrive?

I started my career with three years working at State Street Bank in various roles including regulatory research, audit, and finance. I found Thrive through Zach DesMarais as he had been working with the previous integration team before moving into a new role, so he recommended me for this roll since they were looking to fill his previous position.

Where did you go to school or get training?

I attended the University of Vermont and majored in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and a minor in Statistics.

What do you most enjoy about working for Thrive?

My favorite thing about working for Thrive is seeing how it has grown and evolved over the years.  It was a relatively small 250 person MSP when I first started in 2019, and seeing the rapid growth since then has been exciting. Since I started, I have been heavily involved on the integration side of the business and have seen almost all 21 acquisitions, and the unique perspectives each acquisition team brings to Thrive is incredible.

Are there any recent exciting projects at Thrive you can tell us about?

Now that our newest acquisition has officially closed, I am excited to learn more about their business and understand how they operate. I always enjoy the beginning part of acquisitions because we get to meet new team members and see how other MSPs operate. Although I have been through the process nearly two dozen times, we learn something new and get a different perspective every time.

Are you interested in learning more about Thrive? Click here!

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for the latest news, and continue checking our blog for more in our “Thrive Employee Spotlight” series. Until next time…

The post Thrive Spotlight: George Seybolt – Director, Strategic Operations appeared first on Thrive.

Our featured employee is Channing Smith, Junior Developer, Digital Platform.  Channing works on the Digital Platform Development team working on a variety of internal projects and integrations with ServiceNow.  He lives in Charleston, South Carolina near our new office.

Outside of work, Channing leads a local run club in Charleston, he maps out weekly runs and social events.  In addition to running, Channing also enjoys cooking, playing Rummikub, and hanging out with his 3-year-old labradoodle Archie, and his girlfriend Elsie.

Hi Channing!  Can you tell us about your background and how you came to Thrive?

I came to Thrive as an intern on the Digital Platform Development team during my last semester of college at College of Charleston, then transitioned to a full-time position post-graduation.  Throughout college, I was in the Honors College, and primarily involved in researching Ethics in Artificial Intelligence Software.  I served as co-president of Upsilon Pi Epsilon, an honor society of computing, and completed internships with RedHat as a full-stack developer and Northstar Travel Group as a cybersecurity architect intern.

Where did you go to school or get training?

I attended the College of Charleston and graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science with minors in Philosophy and Data Science in May of 2024.

What do you most enjoy about working for Thrive?

The most enjoyable part of my day-to-day is the people I work with.  The entire Digital Platform team has been super welcoming to me, and I really admire how much I learn from everyone on the team every day.  I also really like how involved I am in the business process behind the integrations I work on.

Are there any recent exciting projects at Thrive you can tell us about?

I have recently been working on the N-Able/N-Central integration alongside Jon Bruce and Brian MacMillan which reduces the Logic Apps cost. Before this integration, the Event Management team was logging into N-Central and creating tickets manually, but we are now automatically creating tickets. This will improve our response time and accuracy when monitoring a client’s environment.

I have also been working on a project related to invoicing with Business Operations and Finance that involves migrating to a new invoice recipient field to reduce errors and typos in the current String field.

Are you interested in learning more about Thrive? Click here!

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for the latest news, and continue checking our blog for more in our “Thrive Employee Spotlight” series. Until next time…

The post Thrive Spotlight: Channing Smith – Junior Developer, Digital Platform appeared first on Thrive.

Our featured employee is Rose Payano, Director, Project Delivery.  In Rose’s position as a Director within the PMO team, she plays a critical role leading Managers on the Project Delivery team and their respective Project Managers. Rose believes in empowering teams to excel, encouraging innovative thinking, and sharing knowledge that elevates everyone’s skills. She actively contributes to team-wide initiative and collaborates cross functionally to enhance our operational processes.  She also oversees a select number of projects, stepping in whenever necessary to assist the team whenever possible.

Rose lives in the Sunshine State and is based out of Miami, FL. Outside of work, Rose enjoys reading, running, and spending time with her fiancé, Charlie.  She also enjoys being with family, finding new places to eat and new places to explore.  Rose recently started traveling, which she really enjoys as a new hobby.

Hi Rose!  Can you tell us about your background and how you came to Thrive?

I joined Thrive five and a half years ago, crazy to think it’s been almost six years now. I initially started in the procurement team based out of the NY office. Around a year and a half later I then transitioned to the PMO and have since dedicated myself to this field. Project Management and process improvement is what I am most passionate about.

Where did you go to school or get training?

After serving four years in the Marine Corps, I pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems Security in college where I grew my passion for IT.  I started at a helpdesk in Michigan, and I progressed to become a Team Lead Manager with an average of 20 direct reports.

What do you most enjoy about working for Thrive?

I find fulfillment in contributing to internal projects, collaborating with colleagues, and championing transformative initiatives.  It’s been inspiring to witness Thrive’s remarkable growth over the years.  I cherish the people the most – their dedication, collaborative spirit, and hard work truly make Thrive a special place.

Are there any recent exciting projects at Thrive you can tell us about?

Recently, I have been focused on developing a comprehensive training program for new hires within the PMO, alongside developing and continuously revising Thrive’s master project plan for our teams use.  It has been incredibly rewarding to train and empower our new team members for success, while also ensuring our Project Managers are well-equipped for their roles.

“My time at Thrive has been incredibly transformative, playing a pivotal role in my professional growth.  I have a genuine appreciation for the collaboration and camaraderie among colleagues, and it’s inspiring to witness the company’s remarkable journey of growth and evolution.”

Are you interested in learning more about Thrive? Click here!

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for the latest news, and continue checking our blog for more in our “Thrive Employee Spotlight” series. Until next time…

The post Thrive Spotlight: Rose Payano – Director, Project Delivery appeared first on Thrive.

Our featured employee is Nicholas Vizzini, Technical Advisor.  Nicholas plays a key role in supporting his team by providing strategic solutions and ensuring the Advisory Team is equipped with the necessary technical training, product knowledge, and compliance updates. He also collaborates with vCIOs to assist with Technical Business Reviews, helping to drive success for our clients.

Nicholas lives in New York, NY, and works out of our Lexington Avenue office in New York City. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, reading, and going for bike rides.

Hi Nicholas!  Can you tell us about your background and how you came to Thrive?

I began my career working at S7 Technology Group, where I worked for three years before the company was acquired by Thrive. Since joining Thrive, I’ve held roles as a TSE, SE, SA, and now Technical Advisor. This October will mark four years with Thrive.

Where did you go to school or get training?

I earned my bachelor’s degree in computer systems Networking and Telecommunications from Farmingdale State College, with a focus on Computer Networking and Systems Management.

What do you most enjoy about working for Thrive?

I enjoy solving complex problems and watching our team grow. We play a significant role in Thrive’s success and, most importantly, in the success of our clients.

Are there any recent exciting projects at Thrive you can tell us about?

Over the past year, we successfully migrated several of our clients from their legacy NetApp DaaS environment to our ThriveCloud solution. This rewarding project was challenging but we were able to collaborate with several departments to complete the projects on time.

Are you interested in learning more about Thrive? Click here!

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for the latest news, and continue checking our blog for more in our “Thrive Employee Spotlight” series. Until next time…

The post Thrive Spotlight: Nicholas Vizzini – Technical Advisor appeared first on Thrive.

Our featured employee is Catie Kueppers, newly promoted to vCIO.  Catie, former Thrive System Administrator, oversaw the Mid 3 POD and was an acting Senior System Administrator for the Texas 01 POD.  She is mostly involved with Microsoft Azure and various Windows networks.

Catie lives in Palm Bay, Florida but is based out of the Maryland office since that is where Ease Technologies was located prior to being acquired by Thrive.  Outside of work, she loves going boating and exploring different islands around Sebastian Inlet with her husband who is a Veteran and 4 kids, 2 sons and 2 daughters.

Hi Catie!  Can you tell us about your background and how you came to Thrive?

I have been working within the IT industry for over 25 years.  I started in 1997, purchasing electronic components in bulk for computers and reselling them to electronics brokers.  Within this position, I was able to gain customer service experience and started working the Help Desk at Lance Inc. in 1998.  Since, I have worked for larger companies like IBM, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Computers Sciences Corporation, Cessna Aircraft, and Bell Helicopter.  I worked my way up to various titles of Network Administrator in various areas of technology.

After working for such large companies, I wanted something smaller and more personal.  I landed at Ease Technologies in 2013 which then got acquired by Thrive in 2019.  Although Thrive is a much larger company, it still has a personal feel, while still getting to work with some of the same people from before we were acquired.

Where did you go to school or get training?

I have been a certified Microsoft Azure Administrator for 2 years as well as other Microsoft certifications. I also attended Kaplan University for a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Human Resources Management.

What do you most enjoy about working for Thrive?

I enjoy engaging with different people and teams every day.  Also, our customers, they keep me busy and challenged.  Thrive also offers a lot of learning opportunities which I love.

Are there any recent exciting projects at Thrive you can tell us about?

I am in the process of transitioning into my newly promoted role as vCIO, and I look forward to embracing the learning opportunities and challenges that come with this position.

Are you interested in learning more about Thrive? Click here!

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for the latest news, and continue checking our blog for more in our “Thrive Employee Spotlight” series. Until next time…

The post Thrive Spotlight: Catie Kueppers – vCIO appeared first on Thrive.

Our featured employee is Ariel Amarante, Engineer, Security Deployment – Onboarding/ Pro Services.  As a Security Deployment Engineer, Ariel’s main focus is to ensure a seamless transition to the security product implementation for our clients.  He gets to ensure clients can execute their daily roles without having to worry about potential nefarious actors impeding on their organization.

Ariel lives in Yonkers, NY and works out of our Greenwich, CT office.  Outside of work, he loves spending time with his three children.  They do all types of fun things, but their favorite is taking road trips together.  Ariel is a HUGE Yankees fan, so unless he is on a client call, you will see him in his Yankees hat.  He is also an aquarist; he has saltwater fish and coral.

Hi Ariel!  Can you tell us about your background and how you came to Thrive?

I started in IT as a Helpdesk Support Intern during high school in the MID Department for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection.  Since then, I have had the privilege of road mapping, implementing, and maintaining new technologies across various industries such as hospitality, retail, and then landing in financial services.  I joined Edge Technology which then got acquired by Thrive in 2022.

Where did you go to school or get training?

I got my AS at Queensborough Community College and started my BA in Computer Science at St. John’s University.  Due to life changes, I left St. John’s University and focused on getting certified with different technologies I was already supporting with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection.  I started with getting A+ certified which led me to getting my MSCE and CCNA.  Since then, I have gotten a few additional certifications and recently got my Mimecast certifications.

What do you most enjoy about working for Thrive?

The organizations efficiency and the comradery that we have here.  We all work together to achieve our goals.  Whenever I need assistance, I can reach out to one of my colleagues and they are always willing to help me. #OneThrive holds true.

As part of the security development team, I get to put clients’ minds at ease by ensuring the security applications hand-picked for their environments protect their organization collectively, bringing industry best practices and standards to secure them from the latest unforeseen threats.  It brings me a sense of pride to know that we can help others while doing something that I am passionate about. 

Are there any recent exciting projects at Thrive you can tell us about?

There is excitement every day!  As new products are introduced, we have a front row on learning and implementing these products for our clients.  I always tend to take on projects that I have never implemented before to keep the cogs turning in my head.  I love to learn by being in the driver seat and figuring it out if I get stuck, which leads back to #OneThrive and how the team always ready to step in and help!

Are you interested in learning more about Thrive? Click here!

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for the latest news, and continue checking our blog for more in our “Thrive Employee Spotlight” series. Until next time…

The post Thrive Spotlight: Ariel Amarante – Engineer, Security Deployment appeared first on Thrive.

Our featured employee is Wendy Davis, Corporate Accounting Supervisor.  Wendy is responsible for month end closing and assisting with the accounts payable processing as well as maintaining and submitting Government and FCC compliance reporting.

Wendy lives in Lakeland, Florida and works out of our Lakeland office.  When Wendy is not working, she loves spending time with her family and friends.  She also loves traveling any chance she gets.

Hi Wendy!  Can you tell us about your background and how you came to Thrive?

I worked as the Controller at DSM Technology Consultants for 8 years.  When DSM was acquired by Thrive nearly 2 years ago, I came on board to the finance department at Thrive.

Where did you go to school or get training?

I attended Webber International University in Florida.

What do you most enjoy about working for Thrive?

I enjoy the team I get to work with and all the new knowledge I’ve gained.

Are there any recent exciting projects at Thrive you can tell us about?

We are working on becoming more automated and less manual.

Are you interested in learning more about Thrive? Click here!

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for the latest news, and continue checking our blog for more in our “Thrive Employee Spotlight” series. Until next time…

The post Thrive Spotlight: Wendy Davis – Corporate Accounting Supervisor appeared first on Thrive.

Our featured employee is Jonathan Connolly, Director, Service Operations.  Jonathan is responsible for all service delivery PODs in Canada.  He leads technical support management and engineering groups to ensure our customers receive exceptional service and effectively address any technical concerns that may arise.

Jonathan is a long-time resident of Ottawa and works out of our Ottawa, Canada office.  Outside of work, you can find Jonathan reading a good book.  His “to read” list tends to grow faster than he can make it through the books.  He also enjoys traveling, movies and staying active by biking, hiking, and playing pickleball or tennis with his wife.

Jonathan is also a mentor for MBA students, allowing him to meaningfully contribute to the academic community and his alma mater.  He is able to guide successful generations of business leaders, helping them navigate their educational journey and providing guidance to them along their career preparations.  Jonathan is making a tremendous impact on these young professionals’ lives.

Hi Jonathan!  Can you tell us about your background and how you came to Thrive?

I have spent nearly 2 decades within the IT and Managed Services industry while holding various technical and leadership roles.  In 2014, I began working for GridWay Computing Corp in Ottawa, Canada.  In 2019, GridWay was acquired by Storagepipe, which was then acquired by Thrive in 2023.

I successfully led the Service Delivery, Senior Engineering, and Professional Services teams as the Director of Operation at Storagepipe.  My journey continued when I seamlessly transitioned into my current role at Thrive.

Where did you go to school or get training?

As an autodidact, I have passionately pursued knowledge through independent learning and practical experience.  In 2020, I was accepted to Aston University in Birmingham, England, where I obtained my Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Entrepreneurship.  The pursuit of knowledge is a lifelong journey and one I enjoy.

Working full-time while pursuing my MBA gave me the unique opportunity to apply what I was learning in my day-to-day work life.  For example, after the acquisitions, I played a key role in leading organizational change management initiatives.  I was also involved in integrating business systems, processes, and procedures, which proved to be a rewarding experience.

What do you most enjoy about working for Thrive?

The people!  The people at Thrive are exceptional.  I have had the privilege of meeting and working alongside numerous dedicated, skilled, and like-minded professionals who genuinely care about their work and each other.  There is a collaborative spirit and willingness to help each other, which creates a strong sense of camaraderie across the company.

Are there any recent exciting projects at Thrive you can tell us about?

I am currently preparing to take on an expanded leadership role where I will be overseeing additional technical support managers and engineering groups.  I am excited to continue contributing to the success of our employees, clients, and overall business.

Shortly after the acquisition, I also helped the marketing team rebrand the Ottawa office with Thrive branding.  This was a significant step early on in the integration.

Are you interested in learning more about Thrive? Click here!

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for the latest news, and continue checking our blog for more in our “Thrive Employee Spotlight” series. Until next time…

The post Thrive Spotlight: Jonathan Connolly – Director, Service Operations appeared first on Thrive.

Our featured employee is Tori Pazda, Director, Marketing. Tori works closely with our EVP, Marketing to create and implement impactful marketing initiatives and strategies to ensure the success of our marketing program. She is also responsible for coordinating and organizing Thrive’s events, managing the sales and marketing budget, overseeing the marketing platforms we utilize, and training employees on how to use them effectively, all while successfully managing a team.

Tori is based in Lakeland, Florida and works out of our Lakeland office. On office days, she loves a midafternoon trip to Black and Brew, a nearby coffee shop, to get a chai latte. Outside of work, Tori enjoys strength training, and recently started running. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing games, traveling, and watching a good TV show or movie.

Hi Tori! Can you tell us about your background and how you came to Thrive?

After graduating from college, I started working at DSM Technology Consultants in 2014. In 2022, DSM was acquired by Thrive, and I joined the marketing team. I have been working in marketing for nearly 10 years now.

Where did you go to school or get training?

I attended the University of South Florida and got my BA in Mass Communications. I graduated from USF in 2013.

What do you most enjoy about working for Thrive?

THE PEOPLE! And if I could say that one thousand times, I would. I love what I do, but more importantly, I love who I do my job with.

Are there any recent exciting projects at Thrive you can tell us about?

We recently implemented a new virtual and in-person events platform that really levels up the way we handle events. I have done a lot of work to learn this platform and get it set up, so events run more efficiently and provide better ROI.

Are you interested in learning more about Thrive? Click here!

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for the latest news, and continue checking our blog for more in our “Thrive Employee Spotlight” series. Until next time…

The post Thrive Spotlight: Tori Pazda – Director, Marketing appeared first on Thrive.