Tim Kittila, director of data center practice at Parallel Technologies
Tim Kittila, promoted to director of data center practice at Eden Prairie-based Parallel Technologies, is working to sharpen the technology-and-building-infrastructure company's focus on helping companies choose data center solutions.
In his new role, Kittilla oversees consulting and services for Parallel Technologies clients considering whether to build or retrofit a data center, move to the cloud or use a colocation center, which rents servers for business services.
Kittila, previously the company's director of data center infrastructure strategy, also leads assessments of customers' data center needs, design-and-build services and data center operations.
Kittila joined Parallel Technologies in 2010 after meeting president and CEO Dale Klein, who bought the company in 2005. It was founded in 1983 in Robbinsdale as a voice and data-cabling provider, with Klein adding Internet networking and data center offerings.
Colocation recently has emerged as an option as more colocation centers open in the Twin Cities and as companies seek to avoid the cost of building a private data center, Kittila said.
Kittila previously was vice president at Hypertect, a Minnesota-based data center infrastructure company, among other industry experience. He has an MBA from the University of Delaware and a mechanical engineering degree from Virginia Tech.
Q: Why is the assessment of a customer's existing data center important?
A: We don't start with a customer until we've got the assessment done and understand their goals and objectives. It's our discovery phase, slowing down to speed up, it's working with the customers so I focus heavily on that as a key part of our process. We have clients who push back and say they don't want an assessment; then you're just throwing a whole lot of risk on the table.
Q: What does your promotion signify for Parallel Technology?
A: It says we're looking at the right solution for the customer on all aspects. So many attributes have to be reviewed before you make a decision whether to build, colocate or go to the cloud. We're adamant about finding the best solution for our client.
Q: What do you like about working in this industry?
A: I love that I can help a client that builds a medical device that goes in a person's body and saves their life and know that I worked on that data center to help that company succeed. … I love the people I work with, the dynamic nature of the data center and getting to be part of multiple companies' visions.
TODD NELSON
