The CCIE Journey

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Scott Morris, CCIEx4, CCDE, JNCIEx2, CISSP to Launch Nova Datacom Education Services Offering

Scott Morris, CCIEx4, CCDE, JNCIEx2, CISSP to Launch Nova Datacom Education Services Offering

Complementary Open House to Include Training Sessions by Morris and other Noted Instructors

Chantilly, VA – February 1, 2011: Nova Datacom, LLC, a provider of information technology services to the public and private sectors and a CompTIA Authorized Partner, a Cisco Learning Partner and a Cisco360 (CCIE) Learning Partner, today announced the upcoming launch of their Education Services offering, spearheaded by Scott Morris, Nova Datacom’s Chief Technologist, and partner Learning Tree International. Scheduled for February 16^th, in Chantilly, VA, this one day event will allow attendees to meet with Morris and his team, attend sample training sessions, and familiarize themselves with the offered curriculum.

A well-known figure in the IT industry for over 25 years, Scott Morris, CCIEx4, CCDE, JNCIEx2, CISSP and Cisco Designated VIP, has fulfilled a number of roles within both the public and private sectors. As a Certified Cisco Systems Instructor (CCSI) and Juniper Networks Certified Instructor (JNCI), Scott has provided world-renowned CCIE training since 2002. He has delivered courses to a wide variety of audiences including internal training at Cisco Systems.

Offering formal classroom instruction with full lab and NOC, or on-site worldwide, Nova Datacom, under the direction of Morris, will offer a variety of training curriculums to satisfy a broad range of requirements. Additionally, Morris concentrated on recruiting top level instructors to provide unparalleled course delivery.

“I’ve selected instructors who maintain a wide area of consulting and training experience to best present information as it relates to specific customer environments,” noted Morris. “Combining this deep knowledge with the ability to operate in both classified and unclassified environments allows our team to be even more effective at conducting training sessions that address specific security concerns, current vulnerability gaps, and pressing mission critical requirements- conveniently located where our customers need it most.”

Additional instructors include Marvin Greenlee (CCIEx3, CCDP, JNCISx3, CISSP) and Keith Barker (CCIEx2, CISSP, and Cisco Designated VIP).

With 15+ years experience in the IT industry, Greenlee has been instrumental in the development and delivery of high-level technical training courses for live and online classes. Likewise, Barker, with 25+ years in the IT industry, has been involved with the creation and delivery of training in classroom and large audiences since 1995.

Sample training courses to be presented at the Open House were designed by Morris and his team specifically to showcase their ability to target courseware to specific topics of interest. Sessions include:

Subnetting and Binary Math for IPv4 and IPv6: A review of subnetting techniques and how to best identify appropriate configurations in both IPv4 and IPv6 networks. Practical and designed examples given.

Multifactor Authentication: Maintaining confidentiality is critical for a secure network. In this lesson we will learn about multi-factor authentication, as well the strengths, weaknesses and best practice for each.

BGP Attributes and Path Selection: When using BGP for Inter-Autonomous System routing, it is important to know the features and attributes that allow for manipulation of path selection. If studying for certifications, this will also help in choosing the right solution for abstract problems given to you in practical labs.

Understanding MPLS for the Routing & Switching Engineer (CCIE Focus): A new method of thinking and moving information around the network, as largely adopted by service providers around the world. Session breaks down the concepts and demonstrates network effects. Includes demonstrating how a CCIE candidate identify, implement and work through any scenario in a short period of time.

If you would like to attend the Open House, please register at http://www.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=44cafd86-3e34-4bab-963a-3fc35c7a77f3

Or click the link to register for the Open House from www.novadatacom.com ‘s homepage.

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About Nova Datacom:

Nova Datacom (NDC) M/WBE 8(a) provides solutions that expand, improve, and strengthen client capabilities to satisfy mission assurance objectives. Focused on four practice areas, Business Continuity (BCEP); Information Assurance; Governance, Risk, and Compliance; and Enterprise Networking, NDC provides expert-level expertise and proven past performance across multiple technology segments to the public and private sectors.

NDC’s approach combines operational planning, budget optimization and cutting-edge security measures to provide a solid framework for daily operations that withstand disruption. We accomplish this through continual training and vendor agnostic technology expertise resulting in a team of the best minds in the IT community.

SBA-Certified 8(a), SBD, Minority Woman-Owned | Nova Datacom: Security is in our DNA

About Learning Tree International

Learning Tree International sets the world standard for hands-on management and IT training. Since 1974, over 2 million Learning Tree Course participants from over 65,000 organizations around the world have enhanced their skills through intensive hands-on exercises under the guidance of expert instructors with real-world experience.

Monday, January 24, 2011

A CCIE’s Last Will and Testament

I Scott Morris, a resident of Wayward, Virginia, being of sound mind and memory and being at least eighteen (18) years of age, do hereby make, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking all prior Wills and Codicils at any time heretofore made by me.

I am currently married to Mrs. Morris who will be referred to herein as “my spouse”. I currently have two children. All references to “my children” shall include any biological children born to me before or after the execution of this Last Will or children legally adopted by me after the date of execution of this Last Will.

Article I

Personal Representative

I hereby name, constitute and appoint Eman Conde as Personal Representative to administer my estate. The term “Personal Representative” has the same meaning as the term “executor” herein.

Should the laws of the state in which my Last Will and Testament is probate allow it, then my Personal Representative shall not require to furnish a bond for the faithful performance of his or her duties as Personal Representative.

In the event the laws of the state in which my Last Will and Testament is probate allow it, I authorize my Personal Representative to administer my estate independently without adjunction, order or direction of any court. The decision to administer my estate independently or under court supervision shall rest solely with my Personal Representative.

My Personal Representative shall be paid reasonable compensation for serving in this office.

Article II

Burial/Payment of Debts

A. I direct my Personal Representative to pay all of the expenses of my last illness, burial and funeral expenses as soon as practicable after my death. Should I fail to dispose of my body by anatomical gift, such funeral expenses shall include the cost of any casket, burial marker and funeral service. My Personal Representative is further authorized to pay honorarium to any clergymen in conjunction with my funeral and the travel costs of any beneficiaries of this Will who have traveled from their residence to attend my funeral.

B. As soon as practical after my death, I direct my Personal Representative to pay any debt or claim which he/she or a court determines to be legally enforceable against my estate. In the absence of a court order, my Personal Representative shall have absolute discretion to determine that a debt is legally enforceable against my estate. However, if at the time of my death any of the real property herein devised is subject to a mortgage, I direct that the devisee taking said mortgage property shall take it subject to such mortgage and that the devisee shall not be entitled to have the mortgage paid of my general estate.

C. All expenses of administration of my estate shall first be paid out of the residuary of my estate until exhausted.

Article III

Specific Bequest

I hereby give and bequeath the following below-described sums of money or items of personal or real property, as the case may be, to the following:

NAME	Description of Gift
Mrs. Morris	Bank Account contents both US and Swiss
Darby Weaver	Cisco Equipment from my home lab
John Chambers	Four CCIE Medallions
Eman Conde	My CCIE Number

What? I get a CCIE Number! WoooHoo!!!

Yes even stranger than Scott leaving his lab to Darby or his legendary four CCIE medallions to John Chambers, is putting his CCIE number in his will. It might not be as farfetched as some might think. The use of a CCIE number after the CCIE’s death has been tried. In a recent discussion with one of the folks in my network I was made aware of a rumor that recently a pair of CCIEs had very tragically and suddenly passed away. Their company was faced with closing their doors when the company was purchased by another aspiring Gold partner. The CCIE numbers associated with that company were now part of the new company’s assets, or so the buyer thought. The addition of the two CCIE numbers to the existing company’s previous associations was used in an attempt to pass their audit.

How Morbid!

The audit might have gone through if not for Cisco’s thorough scrutiny. So even over the claims of the company in question’s representatives, that the CCIEs were actually on the payroll the truth was brought out. The value of the CCIE number in this case reached out from the grave enticing one creative thinking organization to try something new. I have heard some stories about creative ways companies try to pass audits, but this one takes the cake.

Monday, November 29, 2010

CCIE Recruitment and Placement

The CCIE community for years before the beginning of the CCIE Agent’s efforts was treated with little regards or respect. In fact back in 2007 and 2008 the salary surveys were underreporting CCIE salaries because little contact was actually being made with most of them. There was a demand for them which had been building, yet wages, quality of life, training and incentives were treated as if the CCIE was no different than a Microsoft professional.

Why?

There was a healthier economy for one thing and recruiters could focus on harvesting whatever low hanging fruit was out there. So they chose to recruit what was easiest to place in IT, developers, database and server admins and any flavor the client asked for in any given week. Like some lowland gorillas lulling in the sun they got lazy. Then the economy started to change and the job of recruitment became hard work. The IT jobs began to dry up and with this change came the knowledge that some companies like Cisco were still making a profit. As many of the small and large shops began to die CCIE Agent™, Ltd experienced a time of growth.

Sourcing and recruiting CCIEs seems to have become a fad these days and with that fad comes a string of companies trying to shift their focus to the requirement that existed all along right under their noses. Yet knowing how to spell CCIE and knowing CCIEs are two very different things. The need for help in educating the highest demand sector for networking professionals became a priority for the CCIE Agent™ team. This is why the journey began for Eman the CCIE Agent™.

The history is fun and has been quite a ride for the best known recruiter in the world.

Back in 2007 when the first CCIE Agent™ initiatives began they followed on the heels of the single minded focus Eman brought to his newly found profession, recruiting. Recruiting was an incidental need in previous management roles so he had learned the ins and outs of IT recruiting as the demand fluctuated from season to season. But there was a reoccurring discussion coming from his clients about network engineers and the need to provide these professionals to them for projects and to join their staffs. As the TAC manager for Bell Atlantic Eman had helped develop and hire one of the largest pools of CCIEs in the early days of the program. Since there was no organized training easily available he helped his team develop a lab and a mentoring program. This became a very successful program within the organization and many of the company’s network and telecomm engineers were lining up to use the lab and to connect with a mentor.

It was no stretch to return to that CCIE focus.

With a history that started with the Top Gun program and the new CCIE program back in the 1990s it was a simple task to see that the CCIE community was under-represented and poorly regarded. So Eman began to help the CCIE community with the first CCIE salary survey that was responded to directly by CCIEs from around the world. His suspicion was that wages were under reported and might be depressing the offers CCIEs were receiving. Previous surveys at the time claimed $108k as the average salary. Yet offers in the Eastern USA were commonly much higher. So after the CCIE Agent™ survey was completed Eman published the figures and discovered that in the USA the average was $120k, a vast difference from the surveys that used hiring managers and HR representatives for the details.

The CCIE Flyer was launched in 2008 and grew to become the largest single effort to provide CCIE information to the community and those interested in retaining CCIEs. The new focus and announcement that an agent was available to the CCIE, one who did not function as a recruiter stirred interest from many sectors. It was about this time that Cisco started an effort to provide the Channel Partner resellers with sources for hiring talent to assist in their growth. There are many companies that do recruitment and the typical tactics included poaching and bait-and-switch techniques which left many resellers in need of help. The Strategic Recruitment Program (SRS) was developed by a new team at Cisco.

The SRS program rules were simple; provide the best in-class recruiting firms to the Channel Partners while ensuring quality and integrity. The highest demand for CCIEs come from the Cisco Channel Partners so it was logical to try and secure the services of the best known and only recruiter solely focused on CCIE staffing. The CCIE Agent™ was asked to consider the new initiative. Eman was asked to do two things to begin with;

1-start recruiting CCIEs for the Cisco reseller community only

2-no more poaching CCIEs from one channel to another

What this meant was Eman had to give up clients that were not supporting the sales of Cisco solutions and that he would not Actively Recruit out of the channels.

No Brainer!

The salary survey taught the CCIE Agent™ a couple of things and the most significant was that the Channel Partners paid the best average wages of all companies interested in hiring CCIEs. It was not a hard decision and the CCIE Agent™ became one of the first to be inducted into the SRS program. It became evident that the Channels also needed help to understand the unique requirements of CCIEs professionally and educationally. The CCIE Agent™ presentations began in locations such as Atlanta, Dubai, Cape Town, London, San Jose, Zurich, Brussels, Cairo, Athens, NYC, Johannesburg and Toronto. The Channel Partners needed help and it soon became apparent that CCIEs also needed support beyond the typical body shop mentality. The fact that anyone would risk focusing so keenly on the careers of CCIEs was registered as a bold step and accepted broadly by the reseller community. The CCIE now had a voice to help them by educating the highest demand sector seeking them out.

PEP, not just talk but results!

What has evolved from this growth for the CCIE Agent, LTD team is a new concept to further enhance the integration and CCIE hiring efforts for Eman and his team? Partner Enablement Program (PEP) has become the product for CCIE Agent, LTD. It is now being rolled out in countries like India, Africa and the Middle East. PEP is composed of several aspects which are targeted to help emerging markets and Channel Partners that are focused on growing.

Training – Not just Network Engineer certifications but CSM and specialized training required for reseller certifications. Eman has worked to support the Cisco Authorized training providers as they distinguish themselves from the Grey Market. Now he is organizing those same training companies to offer reduced rate and specialized offerings specific to the needs of Channel Partners. While Grey Market training companies are trying to offer recruiting as they poach from the ranks of their students and clients, authorized support for channels is growing.

White Label – Not just contractors but dedicated resources that can support the Channel Partner as an integral part of their team. These dedicated resources will help the Channels achieve success in delivering solutions to clients and in supporting their efforts to gain Silver and Gold certification. Available as Consultants, Contract-to-Perm or Temp-to-Perm these CCIEs will soften the blow to the bottom line while earning their place on the team.

Staffing – Not just CCIE anymore! While Eman remains focused on the CCIE demand his team is now helping the Channel Partners with the growing demand behind the need for CCIEs. Sales, Presales, Telecomm professionals, Virtualization, Storage, Data Center, IT Professionals and the rest of the Channel Partner’s unique requirements that equip them for success.

New Offices

CCIE Agent, Ltd now has offices and representatives in the USA, UAE, India and UK with more coming soon. The virtual nature of recruitment has caused it to lose the personal touch many organizations and candidates need. Eman has traveled the world and held CCIE mixers, attends Cisco Live and GITEX as methods for remaining a real person in the lives of many of his clients and the CCIE community. The fact is many people do not trust the social media alone to support their careers. So the demand for real people to help them as they grow is now being satisfied by a real presence.

What’s next?

What do CCIEs need? You can count on Eman to grow not just with the demand but with the CCIE community’s changes. The demand of Channel Partners is driven by solutions and their changes. The demand for the CCIE Agent™ is driven by his advocacy for CCIE careers!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Narbik Kocharians Boot Camp 2.0 Workbooks Nearing Release

Narbik is about to finish his Boot Camp 2.0 Workbook, which is BY FAR the BEST according to him that he has ever done till todate.

This week he and his team have just finished their CCIE Security 3.0 workbooks, once again using the same method and on the same philosophy.

Narbik told me that he has NEVER been this EXCITED about books which of course refers to the Boot Camp 2.0 workbooks that he is on the verge of completing.

So what's the price for these great books? USD $ 450 for new students and USD $ 175 for old students. The Security workbooks are USD $ 350.00.

Tune in for more updates as they come ...

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Narbik and Scott CIERS-12 Day Boot Camp Dates

Narbik and Scott CIERS-12 Day Boot Camp Dates

As we have been reviewing the dates and our abilities to travel to these locations we have arrived at a semi-final agreement on locations. Scott and Narbik will be traveling as follows;

Bangalore India – January 17 – 28, 2011

Milton Keynes, UK – April 11 – 22, 2011

Wilmington, DE USA – July 18 – 29, 2011

Dubai, UAE – October 17 – 28, 2011

Sydney, Australia - January 2012

What you can expect is the best CCIE R&S boot camp offered anywhere for any price. You pay $4,500 for 12 days of lectures, training, labs and mentoring from the two TOP GUNS of CCIE training. For details on the classes please send an email to promotions@ccieflyer.com

COME JOIN US AND LET’S MAKE HISTORY TOGETHER!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Narbik, Scott and Eman

A CCIE Flyer Exclusive

Today was a real busy day for me. I drove to visit with Narbik at one of his CCIE Boot Camps he was teaching in Herndon, VA. Since I was driving so far to see him I asked our mutual friend Scott Morris to join us for lunch. I am amazed at how the fifteen students in Narbik’s class responded to Scott dropping by to say hello. He is still held in awe by many neophyte CCIEs and some well established CCIEs around the world. Both Scott and Narbik have paid their dues as CCIE trainers and mentors. Both have made their mark on the CCIE community by giving freely of their time to motivate, mentor and improve the arena as a whole. For me sitting with the two of them was a treat because I have known them both for so long and only at the CCIE party this past Cisco Live have I had the pleasure of their company together.

Big Plans

As we chatted we finalized some of the preliminary planning for a series of quarterly training events. Beginning in January I am proud to announce that the CCIE Flyer has brought both Narbik and Scott together for twelve day CCIE R&S Boot Camps. It’s true they will both conduct the same classes together splitting time on the podium. Both of these guys are responsible for motivating, training and guiding so many CCIEs along their journeys and careers that this partnering of giants is big news. Twelve days of career building, life changing, inspiring CCIE training like none ever offered before is being made available to you through the CCIE Flyer.

Where?

Bangalore is our first stop for the dynamic duo. January 2011 Narbik and Scott will hold the first of these historic twelve day sessions. This will be followed by Sydney, Australia in April, Milton Keynes, UK in July and finally Wilmington, Delaware in October. These twelve day comprehensive classes will equip aspiring CCIEs for success.

How Much?

You pay only, $4,500 for both Narbik and Scott, for twelve days of learning unavailable from any other source, anywhere in the world. There may be other twelve day or longer classes offered but none have these two dynamos taking the lead. You might pay more and you might now find lower priced venues, but the CCIE Flyer has both Narbik and Scott.

More!

You want more? Well how about the chance to pay nothing for the second attempt at the lab if you fail the first attempt after taking this class? Yup, both are Cisco 360 Learning trainers. So you get the added insurance of knowing you are joined on your journey by Cisco Systems approved trainers. The two weeks of training will also have a few surprises after class activities and career networking opportunities.
COME JOIN EMAN, NARBIK AND SCOTT FOR TWELVE DAYS OF LIFE ALTERING CAREER ENHANCING TRAINING!
For more information send an email to me eman@ccieflyer.com and I will be happy to share more details as the planning is finalized!

Friday, June 18, 2010

Cisco Live – Viva Las Vegas

Cisco Live – Viva Las Vegas

On Wednesday June 30^,2010 the Elvis Presley commemorative Epiphone J-200 guitar will be given away at the MicroTech booth #2234. The great folks at MicroTech have invited Eman to join them at Cisco Live on the Expo floor to award the Elvis Presley guitar to one lucky CCIE. The guitar is featured in this album cover for Viva Las Vegas. This is going to be a great souvenir for one lucky CCIE. To hear the guitar click on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2RmSbrmT70 ,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk3z_uKWvsc

We are going to have some fun giving this instrument away and it is a piece of history given the significance of the legend it honors!

See you in Vegas!

Saturday, June 12, 2010

USA Job Online Scam!!!

USAJOBONLINE.COM

There is a scam on the internet perpetrated by USAJOBONLINE a company that is claiming to represent Emmanuel Conde in searching for CCIEs for his clients. This is a scam of the worst order and I am posting this to inform you all the USAJOBONLINE.COM is an unscrupulous organization that misrepresents itself as a means for people to find work in the USA. They are liars and identity thieves. If you do send them your resume you will have your identity stolen and your hopes hung on the worst kind of scam that is taking advantage of people during their most vulnerable time, when they are in need of a job! So if you really do want to contact Emmanuel Conde the CCIE Agent his email address is eman@ccieflyer.com!

BEWARE OF WWW.USAJOBONLINE.COM THEY ARE PERVEYORS OF JOB AND IDENTITY SCAMS!

BEWARE!

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Dhaka CCIE Expo

Dhaka CCIE Expo

Oct 25 – 29 2010

Along the banks of the Buriganga River Dhaka is a bustling hive of technology and business in Bangladesh. Described as a MegaCity it is one of the major cities of South Asia. Dhaka is the location of the CCIE Flyer’s first Asian CCIE Expo. On October 25^th – 29^th 2010 the Fantastic Four of CCIE training will arrive in Bangladesh brining three simultaneous CCIE boot camp tracks for the first Asian CCIE Expo.

The Dhaka CCIE Expo will feature:
Narbik Kocharians teaching his special and very successful Routing and Switching Boot Camp

Paul Negron teaching his very highly regarded Service Provider Boot Camp

Piotr Matusiak teaching his extremely successful Security Boot Camp

Eman Conde CCIE Agent™ known to many CCIEs around the world will play ring master to an historic and memorable week of training and networking

The first people to sign up for each of these three tracks will be hosted at a private dinner with the instructor for each track to discuss your professional goals and interests. The first five to sign up for each of the tracks will be hosted by Eman for dinner one evening each during this event. So hurry and get registered to enjoy this special honor.

Networking is so important for your career and this is a great way to build your network and to prepare for the most prestigious IT certification in the world. The Fantastic Four of CCIE training will help enhance your career in many ways.

If you are interested in signing up please send an email to Eman@ccieflyer.com

Prices for early sign-ups begin at $1,700 for R&S and SP and for Security $1,999!

Saturday, May 22, 2010

CCIE Lab Fees Reduced

CCIE Lab Fees Reduced

From Eman of CCIE Flyer :-)

There are times that news is just too important to hold off on writing about it until the next release of the CCIE Flyer. Well this is one of those times! I have been monitoring some of the on-line forums and twitter etc…and I have heard that Cisco is going to lower the fee to $1,000 from $1,400 for the lab! Wow this is great and congratulations Cisco for doing this. I saw recently that the declining numbers in the CCIE population have caused the post on these numbers te be removed. This was a shock to me because I was putting together a presentation for Western European emerging markets I am delivering in two weeks. As I searched for the details from the normal site O realized it was no longer there. So I am concerned that maybe someone decided to stop posting bad news. Well the good news is that in other emerging markets the populations numbers are still slowly growing. So there American fat cats take that! (I did take a look at my scales before making that comment by BTW and sadly yes I am a fat cat here in the USA to)

I digress

The point is that I just today received an email from an aspiring dual CCIE from Africa. This engineer had to sell his TV and entertainment systems to pay for a lab. Taking this guy’s money was like stealing candy from a baby. I urge he gets it back but the system works as it does and I have no real influence, but you do. You the CCIEs and Cisco engineers out there in the world can wag the dog. You are a mighty big dog that influences the purchasing decisions of corporations that influence commerce around the world. You the lowly Cisco network engineers. It seems some of you have been heard because I hev heard it through the grapevine that Cisco is lowering the price for the CCIE labs to $1,000. This is a great next step after the Waiver and the Core Knowledge Questions (OEQs) have passed into history.

Kudos, Props and Thanks

Really. I was so excited I had a Margarita with lunch. Kudos Learning at Cisco, Props management teams that took this challenge on and Thanks to the rest of you who made this possible. I have even read that this was going to be announced at Cisco Live in June. Wow, it’s only May and we are talking about it already.

CCIE Population Numbers

At a time when the numbers are on the decline and published and unpublished efforts have been made to keep the certifications pure this is a great move. Hello, I am a recruiter and given bodies to recruit I get all pimply and excited. So getting the numbers up using an equation that includes discounts is a recipe for success.

So let’s all look forward to the announcement in June at Cisco Live – Networkers. See you there!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Nemours CCIE Expo

The price of CCIE Boot Camps is coming down and we are leading the charge with pricing that is affordable and taught by the best of the best. In Wilmington, DE just 20 minutes from the Philadelphia International Airport the CCIE Flyer CCIE Expo is drawing future CCIEs and CCIEs looking for that second or third certification. From now until June 4^th we are offering the R&S or SP course for just $1,499! If you select the Security or Voice classes they are just $1,999! Go to www.ccieagent.com and click on the training tab. We have secured incredible pricing for suites in the Nemours building for jus $70 a night. These rooms are huge and convenient to all transportation like the Amtrak just 6 blocks away. Come join us in Delaware the home of tax free shopping for an exclusive venue.

PACKET PUSHERS PODCAST

I would like to say thanks to the three tenors er CCIEs who in their first PodCast mentioned my efforts in working to push prices down. Go have a listen to Greg, Dan and Ethan as they share their views on several subjects including the price of CCIE Boot Camps.