Paul Willard - Systems and Network Manager
About Paul
- At heart, I'm a geek.
- I've also studied management:-
- Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at Waikato University.
- I've driven some trucks.
- But at heart, I'm a geek.
I've been a constant users of Debian since 2005, and prior to that Ubuntu, Gentoo, Mandriva, Mandrake, all sorts. But y'know, I've installed Windows™ when I've wanted to play some non-Linux games, or configure some Checkpoint™ firewalls.
I can code in bash (although Google™ helps), and can code in PHP™ pretty easy, although I've never done any OOP.
I was fully emersed in the ISP environment first as Senior Network Engineer, then as the Rural Network Operations Manager at Lightwire, so I can do some networking.
Occasionally I get bugged by something, then start a project to solve my problem.
I ran a TiVo™ project in New Zealand for a while, where I was hacking TiVos™ to work in NZ, before they were officially launched.
I ran the largest XMPP / Jabber server in New Zealand for many years, until spammers ruined it for me.
I ride motorbikes, and as a result help out with some clubs ( like Ulysses ).
Testimonials
Working both alongside and for Paul in the IT and telecommunications industry, he has proven to be great colleague, leader and manager. His wide ranging knowledge and skills are a conclusive asset to any employer.
Paul designed and implemented key technical systems that enabled the business to operate in a more efficient way and better maintain relations and make improvements with the company’s customer engagements.
Velocity has used Paul and his team at NetValue to provide a number of web based solutions for us. Including a secured wiki and interactive, database driven web pages. The projects have always been delivered on time, on budget and often exceed our required performance criteria.
Paul has worked on a number of projects with us and has always delivered a great service and on time. He definitely knows his stuff when it comes to IT and sysadmin.
Paul would have to be one of the most ethical people I know. In his time on the Fraser High School Board of Trustees he made good governance and integrity a priority and in doing so showed true grit in a challenging situation.
Paul is effective, efficient and very capable. He has in depth technical knowledge and experience, and can get things done. He is organised and in control of his team. I like the way he thinks through the angles of a particular change or system, to understand the downstream impacts and consequences.
We have been using Paul from Central Communications for years now, and the experience has been great. Their state-of-the-art technology and seamless integration have significantly enhanced our communication capabilities. The reliability and clarity of his service has ensured that our team stays connected and productive, even during peak times. The customer support is always responsive, knowledgeable, and ready to assist with any queries. We highly recommend Paul to any business looking for a top-tier VOIP phone system solution.
Paul and the Central Communications team have been great to deal with regarding our communications requirements. They are only ever a phone call away if we need assistance, and consistently provide excellent service and advice. Being rural-based, a reliable phone system is critical for us to connect with our clients, and the Central Communications team doesn’t disappoint.
We have found Paul especially approachable, and operates in a “can do” spirit. Nothing is too much of a bother when it comes to problem solving. We highly recommend Paul and Central Communications.
We have worked with Paul and Central Communications for numerous years, starting with basic IT assistance and now running our full phone services [internet, and managed Wifi, and structured data cabling in the new building] with them. Paul and the Central Communications team are incredibly friendly and always there to assist any time of day. It is important to have partnerships with companies that allow you to focus on your own business and Central Communications gives me and my team the confidence that we can trust our phone services and IT systems are always going to be working.
Paul from Central Communications Limited was contracted by Greenlea Premier to supply, install and maintain security camera systems on our two Waikato Beef Processing Plants. Paul displayed excellent product and technical experience in camera and network server deployment. We would have no hesitation in allowing Paul access to any of our site areas and equipment.
I have been dealing with Paul Willard who has been managing and installing our security cameras here at Matamata College since he took over Central Communications in 2021. During this time Paul has always acted in a professional manner, keeping our cameras functioning well and ensuring security of our camera feed. Paul has provide expert advice and guidance.