10/07/24 | EverOps
In this exclusive Q&A, we sit down with Joe Angeja, a seasoned technology leader at EverOps, whose journey from the Marine Corps to the cutting edge of cloud infrastructure offers a unique and valuable perspective. With deep expertise in network engineering and a talent for guiding businesses through complex tech challenges, Joe shares critical insights into the world of DevOps today.
Read on to learn how his experiences have shaped EverOps’ innovative approach to client solutions, including their pioneering work in cloud infrastructure, tech, and DevOps as a whole while gaining fresh insights into overcoming today’s most substantial business challenges.
My name is Joe Angeja, and I’m from the Bay Area, California. My journey into tech began when I joined the Marine Corps at age 18. My job in the Marines was data primarily communications, which set me on the technology track in the mid-1990s.
Initially, I was more interested in RF or radio frequency technologies, and crypto radios. However, as networks started to emerge in the nineties, the Marines had a shortage of computer engineers. I volunteered to work on the computer side, which was my entry point into IT. From there, I started working on legacy networks, DARPA, Banyan vines, Windows NT, and similar technologies. It quickly became a passion of mine, and I’ve been in the tech industry ever since.
Joining the Marine Corps was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It not only launched my tech career but also taught me invaluable life lessons. I started a family early on, and I’ve now been married for 30 years. I have three grown children, four grandchildren, and two more on the way. Being a grandpa is something I’m incredibly excited about!
I try to be. When you’re young, you want to absorb as much technology as possible, and I initially thought I could become an expert in everything. But I quickly realized I had to make a decision about where to focus my skills early in my career. That’s when I shifted my attention away from the operating systems side and concentrated more on networking, ultimately becoming a network engineer. This became my core expertise, and I got really good at it.
What fascinated me most was how we could connect networks and bring things together, starting from the old Microsoft days of NetBEUI. I learned TCP/IP in the Marine Corps in the early ’90s, before the internet became what it is today, which was really exciting. That foundation in networking has been crucial throughout my career.
As I’ve advanced, I’ve expanded my skill set beyond just networking. Today, I consider myself particularly strong in areas like cloud infrastructure, DevOps practices, and bridging the gap between technical solutions and business needs. My background in networking has definitely provided me with a solid foundation to understand and work with modern cloud technologies and distributed systems.
I’ve been with EverOps since we started it in 2012, and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, with joining the Marine Corps being the first. At EverOps, we saw gaps in the industry, particularly within consulting and managed services, and we believed we could bridge those gaps by providing a seamless blend of technology and consulting for our clients.
Over the years, I’ve worn many hats at EverOps. I’ve been involved in everything from designing and building complex network infrastructures to deploying cloud-based systems. As the company grew, my role shifted from hands-on technical work to focusing more on quality and customer delivery.
Today, my primary focus is on ensuring successful delivery at EverOps. I make sure our clients are happy with the technology stacks we provide and that the solutions meet their business needs. A key part of my role is bridging the gap between technology and business requirements so that we deliver the right outcomes for each client.
What I love most about my role is the variety of clients and technologies I get to work with. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities to learn and grow, which keeps the work exciting and fulfilling.
What are some of the biggest challenges you face and solve for your customers?
We’re constantly tackling a wide range of challenges for our clients at EverOps. One of the biggest issues we help our clients with is bridging the gap between technology and business requirements. IT leaders often know what they need from a business perspective but can feel overwhelmed when it comes to picking the right technology stacks that will get them from point A to point B. That’s where we come in, guiding them through those decisions and helping them navigate the available solutions.
We also focus on the big picture, working with clients to develop comprehensive IT roadmaps that align with their long-term business goals. With our experience across various industries, we’ve seen a wide range of architectures, so we can apply best practices to ensure clients get the best outcomes and avoid common mistakes.
Ultimately, it’s about helping clients make informed decisions that set them up for success, both now and for the future.
One project that stands out was working for a smart grid provider. The challenge was to solve networking issues for a system with around 10 million nodes. This scale presented unique problems, particularly with routing protocols and memory constraints in off-the-shelf routers and network devices.
We ended up developing an internal solution using open BGP and some BSD services that allowed us to scale effectively. It was a major breakthrough, and I had a great team of smart network engineers working on it. I think the smart grid providers out there definitely recognized that we were engineering and technology leaders at that time.
Looking back, I’m incredibly proud of that engineering feat. It wasn’t just me, though. It was the team I had helping to develop the solution. Being part of that project and overcoming such a massive scale challenge is one of the things I’m most proud of in my career.
This project really highlighted the importance of thinking outside the box and not being constrained by off-the-shelf solutions. It also demonstrated the value of having a diverse team with different areas of expertise. We were able to combine our knowledge of networking protocols, distributed systems, and software development to create a truly innovative solution.
EverOps has a team of incredibly smart people, but what sets us apart is our humility and collaborative culture. It’s amazing to watch the team share knowledge and engage with each other internally.
Our team is constantly looking for newer technologies and ways to improve situations, automate processes, simplify workflows, and save costs. This culture of continuous improvement and knowledge sharing directly benefits our customers because we’re always applying these ideas and principles to solve their problems.
We also focus on understanding the ‘why’ behind our clients’ needs. We don’t just implement technologies, but we take the time to truly understand our client’s business goals and challenges. This helps us deliver solutions that not only fix immediate issues but also drive long-term success.
Overall, flexibility and adaptability are always part of what we do. The tech world is constantly changing, and we make it a point to stay ahead of the curve. Whether it’s adopting new cloud technologies, implementing cutting-edge DevOps practices, or exploring the potential of AI and machine learning, we’re always looking for ways to bring the latest and most effective solutions to our clients.
What excites me most is that we’re really just scratching the surface of what’s possible, especially in cloud infrastructure and services. Whether it’s SaaS, infrastructure as code within AWS, GCP, or Azure, the technology is still in its infancy.
AI services are also coming into play, as well as machine learning. It feels like the sky’s the limit, and we’re just getting started. I’m looking forward to seeing how technology evolves and moves forward, and how that can help our customers.
When I think about the future of EverOps and what I’m looking forward to most, a few key things come to mind.
First and foremost, there’s a lot of buzz around AI and how it’s going to shape businesses. But let’s be honest, there’s also a lot of “artificial marketing” around AI. I see a big opportunity for EverOps to help our customers navigate these technologies and truly add value. We’re in a unique position to cut through some of the noise and guide our clients toward solutions that will make a real difference in their operations.
But beyond the specific technologies, what really drives me is the impact we can have on our clients’ success. I want to be able to look back at some point and know that our customers feel they couldn’t have achieved their goals without EverOps. I want them to say, “Thank goodness EverOps came in and really helped us. They were the ones that got us to where we are now.”
That’s the kind of legacy I want to build for EverOps. When I look back on my career, I want to be able to say that our customers were always happy about their decision to work with us, and I was a part of making that happen.
Not really, just that I’m just super happy to be here! I love everything about what we’re doing at EverOps, and I am excited about the potential that exists.
I feel like we’ve successfully navigated through what I’d call the “first version” of EverOps, and now we’re on the cusp of something even greater. We’re starting to evolve into the next version of EverOps, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us.
I often say that the sky’s the limit for EverOps, and I genuinely believe that. We’ve built a fantastic team and a strong foundation, and I’m confident that we’re poised for even more success in the future.
Looking ahead, I’m filled with anticipation for what’s next. While I can’t predict exactly what the future holds, I know it’s going to be exciting. We’re constantly evolving and adapting to new technologies and client needs, and I’m eager to see how we’ll continue to innovate and excel in the coming years.
As we conclude this insightful Q&A with Joe Angeja, it’s clear that his journey from the Marine Corps to his leadership role at EverOps has shaped a unique approach to technology consulting. Joe’s emphasis on bridging the gap between complex technical solutions and tangible business outcomes highlights EverOps’ commitment to client success. His pride in the company’s collaborative culture, where intelligent, humble professionals continually share knowledge and embrace new technologies, underscores the value they bring to their clients.
Joe’s excitement about the future of cloud infrastructure, AI, and machine learning is evident, reflecting his forward-thinking perspective. However, what truly stands out is his desire to leave a lasting, positive impact. Joe wants EverOps to be remembered as the company that genuinely helped its clients achieve their goals, demonstrating a commitment to meaningful, long-term partnerships. This client-centric approach, combined with technical expertise and a holistic view of IT infrastructure, positions EverOps as a valuable ally for businesses navigating technological challenges and opportunities in the future.