On the Lookout for Problems to Solve – Spotlight on Al Y.

Al Y. is a Senior Strategic Advisor at VC3. What he loves best about his role is finding ways to use technology to solve problems. There’s no such thing as a typical day for him—whether he’s meeting with clients and internal teams to guide new initiatives, researching new technology, or scanning support tickets and emails for potential issues, Al is always on the lookout for opportunities to improve the IT experience for clients, who are primarily government organizations. 

Al’s approach to working with clients has a lot to do with his more than 20 years as an IT Director for municipalities and state agencies. He understands the business of government. But it was his time as a freelance IT consultant that provided a bridge to the job that he does now. 

“Being a freelancer gave me a different mindset,” said Al. “I look for the business problem to solve. I try to position solutions and answer questions before clients ask them, rather than present them with the latest, greatest product and telling them what it does from a technical standpoint.” 

Collaborative Support and Resources for Client Solutions 

When Al came to VC3, it was his first experience working at a managed services provider (MSP). He’s noticed there’s a different way of thinking compared to the other organizations where he’s worked. It’s far from a top-down, “this is how we’re going to do it” approach. Instead, he feels like his input is taken seriously and used. At the same time, he is held accountable to use the resources he’s given to work with clients to bring their IT systems in line with best practices and find ways to use technology for improvement. 

While there are a variety of resources available to Al to help him determine what solution to present to a client, he often prefers a phone call to get the information he needs.

“When I want to get the nitty gritty on how things work, I can pick up the phone and call anybody in engineering or service delivery, and they make the time to flesh out my answer to a client,” explained Al. “I’ll pose a question, and we’ll go through all the business justifications and answers I should give. Then we talk about how the technology works so I can take the client to the next level of understanding.” 

That means that when Al is in front of a client, he can explain why the solution is best, how it fits in with their other technology, and what it will do for them; plus he relays information about when the solution can be implemented, the potential problems they might encounter, and the way to address those problems if they arise. 

Team Camaraderie and Mentoring 

“I brag about the teams in both service delivery and engineering all the time,” said Al. “The whole workforce is willing to support each other, and the camaraderie is absolutely essential.” 

The camaraderie is due to the rapport that has been built between the different VC3 departments. This open channel of communication extends to Al and his manager, Barclay G. Al is open to Barclay’s feedback on things he can improve or different perspectives that she wants him to consider. While Al is receptive to input, he’s also generous when it comes to sharing what he knows to help others. 

“Al is a tremendous asset to our team – not just for his expertise, but also for the way he mentors younger teammates and supports their growth,” said Barclay, Strategic Advisor Manager. “He brings extensive knowledge in municipal IT management, and his calm, thoughtful approach to challenging situations has built strong partnerships with both clients and the VC3 team.” 

Success Means Clients Can Better Serve Their Communities 

Al doesn’t seek recognition, but he knows clients appreciate his efforts. Rather than relying on praise, he measures success by how clients implement his recommendations and the positive outcomes they achieve. It’s even more rewarding when they share how his guidance has helped them improve services. 

With a proactive mindset and a focus on continuous improvement, Al looks for ways to help clients overcome IT challenges and adopt new technology. Whether he’s uncovering ways to align IT systems with best practices, advising clients on next steps, or driving new initiatives, he’s always looking ahead. For municipalities and government organizations, this means finding better ways to use technology to serve their communities. 

Check out our current opportunities and see how you can help organizations find better ways to use technology too!