Object First Aces
The Object First Aces Program recognizes our community leaders and showcases their expertise and contributions to data backup protection.
About the Aces Program
Object First Aces are a distinguished group of expert and Veeam Backup and Replication software admins who are committed to advancing the industry, sharing candid points of view, and helping the wider community to succeed in their pursuit of data protection.
These individuals have been selected based on their remarkable accomplishments, extensive Object First and Veeam product knowledge, and commitment to engaging with the community both in person and online.
Values
Our community thrives on collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and mutual support. The Aces embody the values we cherish:
Helping peers and newcomers alike.
Collaborating to solve problems and innovate.
Sharing expertise and insights to benefit the entire community.
Benefits
Join Object First Aces and connect with a network of professionals dedicated to data protection. Members benefit from:
Early insights into new product features and updates.
Connections with industry leaders and fellow experts.
Access to webinars, tutorials, and hands-on training sessions.
Meet the Object First Aces
The Aces are not just experts but pioneers who lead by example. Meet our distinguished Aces below and learn what makes them invaluable members of the Object First community.
CCChris ChilderhoseCanadaChris works for ThinkOn as the Principal Cloud Architect. He has a passion for technology & stays on top of the ever-evolving IT realm. He’s a Veeam Vanguard 7*, Veeam Legend 3*, vExpert 5*, and VMCA/VMCE certified. He is also the author of Mastering Veeam Backup & Replication 10/11/12 by Packt Publishing.
DLDerek LosekeUSASenior Systems Engineer at Kidwell Technologies in Omaha, Nebraska focusing on SMB’s after spending several years at a private cloud service provider. With over 20 years of IT experience, Derek is VCP6-DCV and CCNA certified with a focus on Data Protection and Business Continuity, Virtualization, Infrastructure and Cloud Services.
JJJim JonesUSAJim Jones is a Senior Product Infrastructure Architect at 11:11 SYSTEMS. Jim has over 20 years of experience both as a Systems Administrator in SMB and Enterprise organizations as well as an architect for service providers, specializing in virtualization and disaster recovery capabilities. Holding technical certification from vendors such as Cisco Systems, Veeam and VMware. Jim also holds degrees from Marshall University and University of Maryland. He can be found most places online @k00laidit and blogs at https://koolaid.info.
KBKarinne BessetteUSAWith expertise in network and security, she has held certifications in Microsoft 365, Azure, and Veeam Software since 2017. As a Technical Storyteller at Veeam Software’s Office of the CTO, she focuses on Microsoft 365 and backup technologies, collaborating with peers and providing valuable product feedback. Karinne is also an instructor at Knox County Career Center, a certified MCT, and an Object First ACE, teaching CompTIA and Microsoft Azure courses with a hands-on approach. (See badges on Credly: Karinne Diamond Bessette's profile on Credly ).
LALuis Alberto Freixas ReyesSpainWorking as Global Infrastructure Business Analyst, passionate about virtualization, data protection and technology, With more that 20 years of experience in the IT world. Now focused on helping others and share knowledge and experiences. vExpert, VMUG Leader, VUG Leader, Blogger, Father, Friend.
MKMaurice KevenaarNetherlandsMaurice Kevenaar is a System Engineer at INFO located in Amsterdam, NL, Package maintainer and moderator for the Chocolatey Community Repository (CCR), and contributor to OSS projects. Creator of Veeam Chocolatey packages and BoxStarter scripts. Veeam Vanguard 2020-2024, Veeam Legend 2023-2024, Leader of the Automation Desk, Leader of Veeam Usergroup Netherlands and Co-founder of the Veeam Community Hackathon.
MPMichael PaulUnited KingdomMichael Paul is a Data Protection Consultant from the United Kingdom. Specialising in all things Veeam and with an interest in Microsoft Cloud & SaaS, and infrastructure. Michael can be frequently found blogging over at Michael Paul | @micoolpaul or delivering talks on data protection best practices!
SMStijn MarivoetBelgiumStijn is a Veeam system engineer based in Belgium, covering Belgium-Luxembourg. He has a strong focus on end-user based problems and therefore also solutions. He loves having an audience and is fan of events. For assisting more partners then he could handle he started to promote his www.veeamclick.be website.
TMTom MayUSAThomas May is a dynamic tech expert, influencer, and disruptor specializing in Disaster Recovery and Security. He has held key roles throughout his career, notably as CIO at Global Data Vault, where he drove the company's growth as a leading Veeam Cloud and Service Provider. As the founder and CEO of Different Dev, Thomas leads a team focused on cutting-edge business continuity solutions. Recognized as a Veeam Vanguard and an inaugural member of the ObjectFirst Aces program, his visionary leadership and expertise continue to shape the future of IT, driving innovation and impactful change in Disaster Recovery and Security.
VAVince ArzagaUSAI work on many various technologies. This includes Azure, VMware, NSX, VEEAM/OOTBI and Microsoft.
Team Lead for the Datacenter team, I help team members with various issues in IT.
Also proud of a super big lab my team and others use for testing/proofing new technologies.
CEChristian EromoseleGermanyA seasoned IT Infrastructure Professional and the founder of TechDirectArchive with expertise and a strong commitment to knowledge sharing and community engagement. With a proven track record of success in technology and project delivery, operations management, and IT service management.
He is a Microsoft MVP, Veeam Legend and Cisco Champion.
EBEric BlackUSAExperienced Solutions Architect specializing in Veeam backup and recovery solutions for cloud and on-premises infrastructures. With deep expertise in VMware virtualization, Cisco UCS, and extensive experience integrating backup systems across leading storage platforms, I deliver reliable, high-performance architectures that drive efficiency and ensure robust data protection. I’m dedicated to creating solutions that prioritize data integrity and availability, empowering organizations to protect their most critical assets. I've had the privilege of working with industry giants like Microsoft, NetApp, EMC, and Avnet.
JMJos MaliepaardNetherlandsJos is a data protection consultant the Netherlands. His days are filled with giving advice, designing and implementing Data Protection, Business Continuity, and VMware solutions. VMware VCP-DCV, VMCE + VMCA, HPE ASE and NL VUG Leader.
LPLuciano PatraoGermanyWorking with Virtualization for 15+ years (mainly VMware). vExpert last 7 years, Veeam Vanguard 6 years. Specialties, Virtualization, Storage, and Backups. Working for ITQ as a Senior Consultant/Solution Architect and allocated In Germany.
LELuiz Eduardo SerranoBrazilLuiz Eduardo Serrano is a System Engineer and Cloud Architect with over 25 years of experience in the IT industry. His expertise lies in consultative sales, working with technologies such as cloud, modern applications, data protection, virtualization/HCI, storage, security, and networking. Luiz possesses numerous certifications, including Veeam VMCA 2024/VMCE, VMware VCP Security, 04 x HPE Master ASE, AWS Architect Associate, Red Hat Ansible SE, Nutanix NCA, and others. He has been recognized as a Cisco CISG and HPE Datacenter Champion and is a VMware Tanzu Vanguard, Object First Ace, HPE Certified Instructor, and AWS guest mentor. His degree is in Electronics Engineering and his hobby is reading.
MMMaximilian MaierGermanyMax is working as a Systems Engineer for Veeam in Germany and has over 15 years experience in IT with a focus on data protection & virtualization. He is active in many IT Communities and likes to share his knowledge with others.
NSNico SteinUSANico Stein is a VP of IT at Signal Financial FCU, a Maryland based Credit Union. Originally started with IBM Germany, he has over 25 years of IT experiences, managing campus networks, people, and critical systems. He is also a Veeam Vanguard, VMUG leader, Cisco Champion, and vExpert.
TGTobias GregoriusDEIn my 25 years in IT field service, I have worked on many topics and "experienced" quite a bit. I have always had a strong interest in IT security, which I consider the foundation of any design. My second "passion" is the area of backup and disaster recovery. I have been working in this field for 8 years, advising companies on defining SLA classes and building backup solutions.
TJTyler JurgensCanadaTyler Jurgens is a Cloud Infrastructure Engineer specializing in Cloud Infrastructure, Backup, and Disaster Recovery at Stage2Data Inc. He’s an Object First Ace, Veeam Legend, vExpert, Tanzu Vanguard, and has his VMCE and VCP. He has a passion for technology and community building, running the Calgary VMUG community and being a Veeam User Group leader in Canada. Family is his passion above all, so expect proud Dad conversations from him about his children.