Karl Peña

Karl Peña has extensive work experience in various roles and positions.

In 1999, they worked as a Reporter for NOVALUG, and later in 2001, they served as a Systems Administrator for ARIN.

From 2001 to 2004, Karl worked as a Photographer for both the Bowie Blade Newspaper and the Greenbelt News Review.

In 2004, they joined Rackspace Managed Hosting as a Data Center Analyst, where they managed projects, analyzed workflows, and improved procedures and communication. Karl also served as a Level II Data Center Operations Technician and a Data Center Operations Shift Leader.

In 2008, Karl joined Rackspace, the Open Cloud Company, as the Data Center Operations Team Lead. Karl then became the Data-Center Operations Manager from 2011 to 2014.

From 2014 to 2015, they worked at CustomInk as a Linux Systems Administrator.

In 2017, Karl became an Organizer for the NoVa DevOps Meetup Group.

In 2019, they also took on the role of Organizer for DevOpsDays DC.

Finally, in 2015, Karl joined ScientiaMobile as the Director of Global Operations and Support. Their responsibilities included expanding the local data center, enhancing resources, scaling the products, and growing the customer support team. In 2022, they were promoted to Vice President of Support.

Karl Peña has a diverse education history, covering various fields of study. In 2021, they obtained an Executive Education Certificate in Business Analytics from Wharton Executive Education. In 1999, they completed their Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities from Sarah Lawrence College. Prior to that, from 1990 to 1994, they earned their High School Diploma from The Loyola School in NYC, where they followed the Jesuit Academic Curriculum.

Karl Peña also took several courses and participated in study abroad programs during their education. In 2002, they undertook a Photojournalism Course under Susan Meiselas at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design. In 1998, they went abroad and spent a year studying at both the Universidade Federal da Bahia and USP - Universidade de São Paulo, focusing on Brazilian Portuguese, Cultural Anthropology, Writing, Capoeira, and Photography.

Aside from formal education, Karl Peña has acquired additional certifications throughout their career. Notably, in 2022, they obtained a certification in Social Media Marketing for Small Business from LinkedIn. In 2021, they completed the Business Analytics: From Data to Insights Online Certificate Program offered by Wharton Online, along with several other certifications related to customer service, problem-solving, troubleshooting, design thinking, and writing from LinkedIn. Karl also attained various certifications in the past, such as Docker Administration and Operations from Docker, Inc in 2015, and GCFA, Globally Certified Forensic Analyst from the SANS Institute in 2007. Moreover, they obtained certifications in conflict management, priority setting, cloud computing, and first aid/cardiopulmonary resuscitation from reputable institutions and organizations.