by Alex Best | February 26, 2025

Michael Helps Keep Paladin’s Network Running Smoothly

Michael, Paladin’s newest Network Administrator, has made a significant impact in less than a year. His expertise shines through in various tasks, from ensuring employees’ computers run efficiently to setting up servers for upcoming innovations like PaladinShop™.

“It involves a huge magnitude of work and information. Everything from basic network connections at your local PC to high-level switches and servers,” Michael explains. “It could be something as simple as an end user’s printer not working to configuring network servers.”

Michael goes the extra mile to ensure the security of employees and customers. He conducts near-monthly training courses to keep everyone informed about best practices for staying safe in the networking world. Overseeing Paladin’s vast frameworks, Michael ensures that offices in Mesa, Chandler, and Bend run smoothly, which is no small feat.

One of his biggest challenges is ensuring they work smarter, not harder, by creating multiple instances of failover redundancy. This way, even if something goes wrong, they can still support their customers.

Michael displays a 42-inch Northern Pike. He and Shelly visit Northern Minnesota every year to fish the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Michael is not only accomplished at many things in information technology, he’s also an Army veteran, an emergency medical technician (EMT), a certified nurse assistant (CNA), and “a course or two away” from being a registered nurse (RN). He’s an avid fisherman, a 3-handicap golfer who has won Veteran Golfers Association (VGA) titles in two states, an accomplished softball player, and he has an eidetic memory, which Merriam-Webster says is the ability to recall images, sounds, or events with uncanny accuracy.

While he was training for a career in the medical field, he discovered a talent and passion for working in the tech industry. He’s worked as a network administrator for several companies, including one that was responsible for the rollout of a POS system, and another where he also managed IT support for a health data company of 1,500 employees. He says he found a new home at Paladin.

“It’s a great company to work for. I didn’t need to come to work, but I looked at the company and did some research. When I interviewed, I told them it was more important to me who I work for and who I work with than any amount of money you could pay me. I really enjoy who I work with and work for here,” he says.

In a short time, Michael has become an invaluable member of Paladin’s IT team.

“Mr. Papin and I have similar backgrounds, experience, and work ethics,” explains Dave Winkler, Paladin’s Senior Network Administrator and Michael’s supervisor. “This has created a strong and cohesive working relationship. We’re good at brainstorming and coming up with solutions that are best for Paladin.”

Outside work, Michael and his wife, Shelley, have five children – four daughters and a son – ages 22 to 30. They both love to fish and spend lots of time outdoors.