Portrait
Asset Management Group – The Team with the Hook-Up!
By Albert Rodriguez
Every day, LADWP employees need varying levels of support to accomplish their duties to keep the water flowing and the lights turned on. Whether it’s setting up a workstation, upgrading a computer monitor, or getting a new Department smartphone, there is one group that is continuously relied upon for timely, expert support. Meet the Asset Management Group within the IT Service Desk, part of the Information Technology Services (ITS) Division’s Network Engineering, Telecommunications, Enterprise Systems and Operations Section.
Led by Senior Systems Analyst I Renaud Ewoussoua, aka “E”, the Asset Management Group provides computers, printers, smartphones, and related software packages and upgrade services to a very busy workforce. Very much in high demand, they provide services and installations to employees all across the Department, including areas such as Bishop, Victorville, and Delta, Utah. Previously known as the Deployment Group, their roles and responsibilities have increased as technologies and employee needs evolve.
"In the last two years, we’ve considerably expanded our responsibilities to include managing Department smartphone lifecycles, establishing service requests to meet customers’ needs, and establishing an IT equipment replenishment process. I am very proud of our group’s professionalism and the work they perform as they carry out their assignments to help LADWP employees."
Renaud Ewoussoua, Senior Systems Analyst I
One of their most recent and notable accomplishments was supporting the redeployment of 900 employees to the Pacific Stock Exchange Building. According to Annie Ramos, Senior Systems analyst II who helps oversee the team, the setup of office space and IT infrastructure required meticulous planning and organization. At the end of the day, the payoff is a more adaptable and agile Department able to accomplish its goals no matter the situation or the location, but it’s no easy task. This is especially so for a workforce that is geographically dispersed.
"Because of our large service territory, we’ve had to increase our team’s office and equipment storage space. We have to divide and conquer by splitting up our team into two operating locations, with one located at JFB and another at Main Street. This presents certain challenges, but our staff is still able to work and coordinate using creative solutions and perseverance."
Annie Ramos, Senior Systems Analyst II
Alexander Alfred – Systems Analyst loading multiple computers with the necessary work-related application before deployment to employees.
If software installation and configurations had to be performed manually, each computer would take up to six hours to complete. However, the group has two “Imaging Labs” that help the team prepare computers through an imaging process, which allows multiple computers to receive all the software and configurations within a fraction of the time. Yet another challenge for the Asset Management Group is working with two different systems that are not integrated. The IT Service Management System, known to employees as ITSR, and the Asset Management System (AMS) are independent of one another, making it difficult to determine stock levels when fulfilling computer equipment requests. In addition, both systems require updates based on the type of work and service provided. Despite challenges, the Asset Management Group continues to find ways to improve its services to all employees.
They’re a can-do type of organization that goes out of their way to provide excellent customer support without asking for much in return, except maybe a little BBQ now and then. Management enjoys providing a home-cooked BBQ lunch from time to time. This allows the team to get together in one location, and share a meal and a little camaraderie. Everyone supports each other and this is what makes this team so successful!
Systems Analyst Williams Michele removes a hard drive from a laptop as part of Asset Management’s salvaging process.
Systems Analyst Edwin Marin remotely backs up data from an employee’s old computer in preparation for computer replacement.
Systems Analyst Aaron Cun configures software before computer deployment.
Careers Within the Asset Management Group
If you’re interested in joining this dynamic, problem-solving group, job classifications within the Asset Management Group include Systems Aides, Systems Analysts, Senior Systems Analysts, IT Specialists, and Student Professional Workers. Job requirements consist of but are not limited to education, knowledge, and training in the area of Computer Information Systems, including the System Development Lifecycle (SDLC). Some of the positions also require knowledge of various programming languages.
You can find more information at JoinLADWP.com
Asset Management Group Team Members
- Aaron Cun – Systems Analyst
- Alfred Alexander – Systems Analyst
- Alvin Chong – Systems Analyst
- Bill Luong – Student Professional Worker
- Bryan Shintani – Systems Analyst
- Dennis Wong – Systems Analyst
- Dion Woo – IT Specialist
- Edwin Marin – Systems Analyst
- Edwin Rauda – Systems Aide
- Faraz Akbari – Student Professional Worker
- Frank Nguyen – Student Professional Worker
- Kenneth Hua – IT Specialist
- Kyle Penera – Systems Analyst
- Rey Pineda – Systems Aide
- Thang Tran – Student Professional Worker
- William Jeon – IT Specialist
- Williams Michele – Systems Analyst
- Renaud Ewoussoua Sr. Systems Analyst I (1st Level Supervisor)
- Annie Ramos – Sr. Systems Analyst II (2nd Level Supervisor)
- Victor Villagomez – Information Systems Manager II
- Alex Valdez – Assistant Director, Network Engineering, Telecommunications, Enterprise Systems and Operations
Asset Management Group – By the Numbers
- Set up 900 workstations at the Pacific Stock Exchange Building.
- Upgraded over 2000 monitors Department-wide.
- Developed automation of bulk salvage and reservation processes in the current Asset Management System.
- Implemented a 3–5 day standard lead time for new employee deployments. Requestors are no longer required to submit requests more than 2 weeks in advance for new employees.
- Laptop docking stations were eliminated for most new workstation setups since new monitors include docking capabilities. During one month alone, 200 docks were reduced to 30 docks, resulting in savings of $46,750 during that deployment period. This also reduces the environmental impact of having to dispose of e-waste.
- Upgraded 388 Verizon iPhones. As part of the upgrade process, 400 inactive lines were disconnected or re-purposed, resulting in a savings of $15,996 a month.
- Negotiated a free iPhone case with every order from T-Mobile, resulting in a savings of $14,400 excluding labor costs for processing procurement requests for cases.
- Implemented standardization and automation of iPhone upgrades as a year-round process.
