Future Leaders Project: Johnny’s Marketing Internship at Edge

future leaders project

Workforce Southwest Washington’s Future Leaders Project

The Future Leaders Project is an initiative of Workforce Southwest Washington, Columbia River Economic Development Council and WSU Vancouver that seeks to connect students from historically marginalized communities with regional employers and provide them with tools to thrive as they prepare to enter the workforce. This initiative also ensures students are paid, gain experience, and receive additional mentorship, network, and professional development opportunities.

Edge Networks has had the privilege of participating in the Future Leaders Project numerous times since 2019. Past participants also include local businesses such as Columbia Bank, Port of Vancouver USA, Point North, YWCA Clark County, CREDC Economic Development, TwinStar Credit Union, and more.

 

Future Leaders Project | Johnny’s Marketing Internship

We interviewed Johnny to ask him about his marketing internship experience with Edge Networks; here’s how it went:

 

Tell us about yourself! Who are you, and what fun things did you work on during your internship?

My name is Jonathan Zacarias, but everyone knows me as Johnny. I am a WSU Vancouver student working towards a bachelor’s degree in marketing. I have an associate degree in machine tool technology but decided to return to school to pursue a new career.

This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at Edge Networks, where I learned various new skills. During my internship at Edge, I learned to navigate Google Analytics, became knowledgeable in Google Search Ads, edit webpages on WordPress, keep track of leads with HubSpot, and find potential leads with ZoomInfo.

During my internship at Edge, I learned many helpful marketing tools, including GA4, WordPress, HubSpot, and ZoomInfo. I even got my certification in Google Search Ads.

Looking back, I am grateful for all the valuable experiences I gained this summer. The opportunity to get real-world experience has also helped me understand some fundamental marketing principles more clearly. I am now looking forward to returning to school and taking classes that will help me with my career in the future.

 

What helped you decide on Edge Networks?

What ultimately made me choose Edge Networks was the office feeling. It is a completely different work environment from what I’m used to. I was debating between Edge and another small family-owned business. However, when I visited the other internship, they were still in the building stage, working from the shop where they made their products. There was no marketing or sales team and no one to learn from. Coming from a manufacturing background, I wanted to experience something different and broaden my experience.

With Edge Networks, I knew I would have the ability to work as a team and be mentored by someone. Being able to join in on meetings was also something I wanted to experience. Since the pandemic, many virtual meetings have become standard in the workplace. And with my past jobs being more hands-on and in-person, I needed to gain this skill. The internship has exceeded my expectations in this regard. By attending a meeting with the whole staff or a smaller one with a more focused agenda, each gave me the experience I sought, leaving me with the sensation that I made the right choice choosing Edge Networks to do my internship.

 

What unexpected thing did you learn from your Future Leaders Project internship?

I didn’t realize all the different resources that are used in marketing. Within the first few weeks of the internship, I got real-life experience of how the marketing funnel works, from prospecting to remarketing and then, inevitably, converting.

 

Tell us about the skills you’ve learned and how they can help you in your career.

I learned to adapt to various scenarios, the importance of communication in a teamwork environment, which they do well here at Edge, and that I enjoy the freedom to be creative. These newly acquired skills will help me tremendously as I head back to school, and I look forward to applying them.

 

What’s next?

As I finish my internship here with Edge, I’ll continue my studies at WSU Vancouver, for which I’m on track to finish by Winter of 2024. Upon graduation, I’ll explore my options and potentially return to Edge Networks! I truly enjoyed working here, and knowing that many WSUV graduates are already working here shows that it’s a great place to be.

 

future leaders project
Photo of Johnny (Left), Whit (Right), and team volunteering at a local non-profit organization.

Future Leaders Project | Whit’s Experience Leading the Marketing Internship

Whit Maley, our Marketing Manager at Edge Networks, managed Johnny directly during his marketing internship. We interviewed Whit about the experience; here’s how it went:

 

How was your experience managing the internship?

Having an intern was a highly valuable learning experience for me. What’s fascinating is how much it enhances your grasp of your own role as you strive to educate another person. Only when you make an effort to articulate the intricacies of the job do you truly understand the level of involvement it requires.

Moreover, guiding someone along their professional and educational journey creates a sense of fulfillment. The privilege of sharing insights that go beyond formal education and the knowledge that you’re giving someone an advantage as they enter the workforce brings about a genuinely rewarding feeling.

 

Was there anything you learned in the process?

I learned more about my managing style. When you’re responsible for another person, you have to reflect more on yourself to be able to help them.

 

Any advice for future students hoping to intern with the Future Leaders Project?

I was fortunate to work with Johnny as my intern, and what was so great about him was his work ethic and ability to communicate. Those skills sound simple, but they’re not. So that’s my biggest advice. Be a good communicator. Actually, be an over-communicator and show up to work willing to get the job done.

 

Why should students interested in Marketing choose Edge Networks for their internship?

At Edge, you will be surrounded by people who want to root for you. People who only want to see you grow and succeed. Plus, in Johnny’s words, I’m “the best boss ever.” And that’s a direct quote.

To learn more about the Future Leaders Project, we recommend visiting the WSU Vancouver website here.

3 Skills You Need to Get Hired in Cybersecurity

In light of the recent wave of layoffs, we want to provide as much information as possible to help folks interested in tech/cybersecurity land their next cybersecurity job. (By the way, we’re hiring!)

 

 

1. For Cybersecurity Jobs, You Must Understand Ports and Protocols

Ports and Protocols are important concepts that relate to how networked devices communicate with each other. Understanding how these concepts work will help you to avoid sounding like Chicken Little running around yelling, “The sky is falling!” any time you see some activity. 


Ports:
 A port is a virtual endpoint through which data is sent and received. Think of a port like a door or a gate that data passes through as it moves between devices on a network. Each port is assigned a unique number, which is used to identify the type of traffic allowed through that port. For example, port 80 is commonly used for HTTP traffic (i.e. web browsing), while port 22 is used for SSH traffic (i.e. secure shell connections).


Protocols:
 A protocol is a set of rules that dictate how data is exchanged between devices on a network. In cybersecurity, they determine how data is transmitted and secured. For example, the HTTPS protocol is used to send data securely over the web, while the SSH protocol is used to create secure connections between devices. 


Understanding different ports and protocols and how they relate to each other will enable you to determine what network activity is usual and what activity is unusual. From there, you can dive in and check for possible attacks or compromises.

 

#2: Read Cybersecurity News

One of the most common interview questions is, “What sources do you use to stay current with current cybersecurity news?” There are a lot of sites out there, but here are a few we recommend:

  1. Bleeping Computer – A casual source. But it can be a great way to stay engaged and interested in the content because it’s not jargon-heavy. They’re great at keeping their ear to the ground, so we recommend checking them out to keep updated with recent breaches, attacks, and exploits.
  2. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) – CISA is excellent at providing specific technical details to handle new exploits and vulnerabilities as they arise.
  3. Forbes Cybersecurity – Forbes is a popular source of information, especially for less technical readers. Keeping up to date with cybersecurity news in Forbes is a great way to keep tabs on what information is being circulated that non-technical clients/staff may ask you for more information about.

 

#3: Be Familiar with Common Tools Used in Cybersecurity Jobs

Interviewers will likely ask you if you’re familiar with the tools they use at their company. Being able to confidently say, “Yes, I do know a bit about that tool.” will go a long way. When looking at a company’s job description, we recommend familiarizing yourself with the tools listed if you aren’t already familiar with them.


Sometimes, an interviewer may ask you what tools you’d recommend they implement at their company. To be prepared for this question, having suggestions for the following will set you up to crush this question:

  1. Antivirus
  2. Logging
  3. SIM Solution
  4. Phishing Simulations
  5. Vulnerability Scanning

 

You Have What it Takes When Searching for Cybersecurity Jobs

We hope these tips will help you explore cybersecurity jobs and find the one you’re looking for! If you have any questions about what to expect in the cybersecurity world, feel free to reach out to us with your questions.

Check out our Careers page to learn more about working at Edge Networks and the roles we’re currently searching to fill.

Cyber and Cider Event Recap: A Happy Hour for Local Professionals

Image of Edge Networks CEO at a event.

The Event

In November, Edge Networks held a happy hour for local professionals, generously sponsored by 1Password. We had the exciting opportunity to network with IT and Cybersecurity professionals, enjoy delicious bites and beverages, hear from a conversational panel of industry experts, and come away with tips, tricks, new connections, and a few freebies!

Say Ciao! catered some incredible light bites and beverages. Say Ciao! is a local catering company in Vancouver, WA, and one of our team’s favorite places to order our weekly lunch from. Mela Brewing Co, another great, local company here in Vancouver, provided delicious hard cider for our attendees.

 

 

The Panel

Our cybersecurity panel consisted of industry professionals from Edge Networks, Intel, and Realwear, and they covered important topics like phishing, security patches, password hygiene, MFA, and more. Missed out or interested in a refresher? Check out the full Cyber and Cider Panel Recap.  We also got to hear some great personal stories, recommendations, and advice from our panel.

We want to say a big thank you to our incredible panel for taking the time to share your insight, tips, and advice. There is so much we can learn from experts like you!

 

Image of Dan

Dan Pritzlaff

Director of Cybersecurity, 

Edge Networks

Image of Shola

Shola Adegboye

Security Researcher (FIPS Program Manager), Intel

Image of Mark

Mark Needham

NetSuite Administrator,

Realwear

 
Image of Alexis

Alexis Cozart, Moderator

Cybersecurity Analyst,

Edge Networks

Full Panel Recap

If you missed the event or just want a refresher, here’s the full video of our conversational panel. Check out our YouTube channel for more event highlights.

 

Special Thanks

We want to say a great, big thank you to all of our partners. From offering useful tools and resources, opening up your event space, providing excellent catering, sponsoring our event, and more, you have all contributed a great amount and without you this event would not have been as successful.

 

 

Let’s Stay in Touch!

If you’d like to stay up-to-date with future Edge Networks events and webinars, fill out the form below! We’d love to have you. 

 

Edge Networks Ranked #1 in Cybersecurity & IT Firms in Washington

Clutch.co top IT service award for edge networks

Since 2006, Edge Networks has been providing all-things IT to our clients in order to help them be more productive and profitable. Our focus on making our clients happy has caught the attention of Clutch.co. Recently, they recognized Edge Networks as one of the top B2B companies in Washington and the #1 Cybersecurity and IT firm!

The Edge Networks team is happy to be receiving a Clutch Award. Edge Networks Founder and CEO, Mark Tishenko says: “I’m extremely proud of our team for delivering happiness to our customers, who in turn helped us earn this amazing award.”

Clutch is a B2B site that rates and reviews agencies across a variety of industries in the United States. The team helps connect businesses with the best suited service provider to solve their firm’s challenges. Based on their unique method, they rank hundreds of companies by evaluating their client feedback, market presence, and work portfolio. Our Clutch profile is #1 in their Leaders Matrix out of the top 15 Portland IT and business service providers.

Our success is not limited to Clutch. Rather, it extends to their sister sites: Visual Objects and The Manifest. Visual Objects publishes the creative and visual work of B2B companies so that prospective clients may view previous projects. Similarly, The Manifest aids potential buyers by sharing how-to guides and industry reports. Like Clutch, we are ranked on The Manifest with other leading B2B agencies.

Additionally, this year, Expertise.com listed Edge Networks among the Best Managed IT Service Providers in Vancouver. 

All the teammates at Edge Networks are happy to receive this recognition. We would like to thank our clients for taking the time to thoroughly review our services with the team at Clutch, and we look forward to the future as we continue to help our clients optimize their IT capabilities! 

Want to work happy? Let us know . When you work with Edge, you have a cavalry of award-winning IT professionals behind you that’s dedicated to solving issues fast and recommending the right solution. 

Edge Networks Recognized as One of the Best Managed IT Service Providers in Vancouver

The Recognition

At Edge Networks, we work hard to provide our customers with an exceptional user experience. We provide Managed IT Solutions including server, network, and cloud management, cybersecurity, employee onboarding, and many other services. Because we are a people-centric company, our focus is on ensuring that IT issues are resolved quickly and that every client is happy with every interaction. We are thrilled to say that recently our incredible user experience and stellar reputation has led us to be recognized by Expertise.com as one of the Best Managed IT Service Providers in Vancouver

 

The Selection Process

Each month, Expertise.com reviews the top service professionals in over 200 industries across the U.S. They research more than 60,000 businesses in the hopes that they can help customers find the best-qualified customers for their needs. According to their website, “Our research process is always evolving to keep up with industry changes, so we’re confident that when we say a provider is one of the best, it is.” 

Expertise.com has recently graded the Managed IT providers in Vancouver on a list of variables, including availability, qualifications, reputation, experience, and professionalism. We are very proud that, after their extensive research and review, they recognized our incredible user experience. “We are humbled by this acknowledgment and grateful for our fantastic team who make this a reality,” says Edge Networks Founder and CEO, Mark Tishenko.

Our success is not limited to Expertise.com. Edge Networks has also been recognized by UpcityClutch, and TheManifest with other local B2B companies as one of the top Cybersecurity providers in this area. It is always an honor to be recognized for the work we do to keep our clients happy.

 

We look forward to continuing to impress all of our incredible clients and providing the best service the Portland/Vancouver area has to offer. 

Are you looking for Managed IT or Cybersecurity services for your company? Let’s get in contact to discuss your needs today!

Edge Networks Is Ranked A Top Oregon IT and Business Service Provider

Clutch.co top IT service award

Since 2006, Edge Networks has been providing all-things IT to our clients in order to help them be more productive and profitable. Our focus on staying ahead of IT trends and making our clients happy has caught the attention of Clutch.co. Recently, they recognized Edge Networks as one of the top IT services firms in Oregon! 

The Edge Networks team is happy to be receiving a Clutch Leaders Award:

“We are thrilled to be named a Clutch Leader,” said Edge Networks Founder and CEO, Mark Tishenko. “Big thanks to our amazing clients and partners who make this happen.”

Clutch is a B2B site that rates and reviews agencies across a variety of industries. The team helps connect businesses with the best suited service provider to solve their firm’s challenges. Based on their unique method, they rank hundreds of companies by evaluating their client feedback, market presence, and work portfolio. Our Clutch profile is #1 in their Leaders Matrix out of the top 15 Portland IT and business service providers:

 

clutch leaders matrix

 

Our success is not limited to Clutch. Rather, it extends to their sister sites: Visual Objects and The Manifest. Visual Objects publishes the creative and visual work of B2B companies so that prospective clients may view previous projects. Similarly, The Manifest aids potential buyers by sharing how-to guides and industry reports. Like Clutch, we are ranked on The Manifest with other leading B2B agencies.

All the teammates at Edge Networks are happy to receive this recognition. We would like to thank our clients for taking the time to thoroughly review our services with the team at Clutch. We look forward to the future as we continue to help our clients optimize their IT capabilities! 

Want to work happy? Let us know .

Bulk configure handheld scanners Intermec CK3 via CloneNGo

Josh McKinney, chief technology officer with Edge Networks with a tip of the week. 

What I have in my hands here is an Intermec CK3. It is a bar code scanner that one of our clients uses to scan inventory and to also process orders for customers. 

One of the cool things that Edge Networks did, is this device uses what’s called CloneNGo an application that allows you to configure a master device with certain settings like wifi connectivity applications and other configuration settings…