Data Networks Welcomes Nelson Chicas-Rivas as New Service Desk Engineer

Hunt Valley, MD – September 8, 2026 – Data Networks, a premier provider of enterprise IT solutions for education, government, and mid-market commercial customers, is pleased to announce that Nelson Chicas-Rivas has joined the company as a Service Desk Engineer II on the Managed IT Services team. In his new role, Nelson will provide technical support across client environments, applying his experience in systems administration, networking, endpoint management, and automation to help clients maintain reliable and efficient day-to-day IT operations.

Nelson is already a familiar face to Data Networks through his previous work with Living Classrooms Foundation, a Data Networks Managed IT Services client. As an IT Operations & Automation Specialist, Nelson served as a primary internal IT resource for more than 200 users across multiple departments and locations. Working closely with end users, organizational leadership, vendors, and MSP partners, he provided both remote and onsite support while helping maintain reliable technology operations across the organization.

During his time with Living Classrooms Foundation, Nelson supported a broad range of technologies, including Microsoft 365, Windows Server environments, Cisco and Ubiquiti networking infrastructure, Microsoft NAV, and endpoint monitoring and management tools. His responsibilities included troubleshooting user and connectivity issues, supporting Microsoft 365 and identity workflows, managing user access, monitoring endpoint health, and assisting with switches, firewalls, wireless access points, VLANs, and other network infrastructure. He also helped lead a three-site network infrastructure refresh involving new switches, firewalls, wireless access points, cutover planning, installation, testing, and documentation.

In addition to his service desk and IT operations experience, Nelson brings a software engineering and automation background that enables him to approach technical challenges from a unique perspective. He has experience developing solutions with PowerShell, Python, Microsoft Graph API, Azure Functions, and other automation technologies to streamline repetitive tasks and improve business processes. At Living Classrooms Foundation, Nelson automated Microsoft 365 distribution list synchronization for more than 200 users, reducing manual administrative updates by 75%. He also developed an internal invoice automation platform that reduced manual processing time by 85% for more than 30 daily users.

Nelson holds a Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering & Security from the University of Maryland Global Campus, where he also earned a certificate in Vulnerability Assessment. He has continued expanding his technical expertise through CodePath’s AI Engineer coursework, gaining additional experience with AI applications, retrieval-augmented generation, tool-calling agents, and AI-assisted workflow automation. Nelson is also fluent in both English and Spanish.

“We are excited to officially welcome Nelson to the Data Networks team. Having already worked alongside Nelson through our partnership with Living Classrooms Foundation, we have seen firsthand his technical capabilities, professionalism, and commitment to supporting end users. His combination of service desk experience and automation expertise will make him a valuable addition to our Managed IT Services team, and we look forward to seeing him continue to grow with Data Networks”

TJ Rashid, Director of Managed Services Delivery

As Service Desk Engineer II, Nelson will bring his combination of hands-on IT support, infrastructure knowledge, and automation expertise to Data Networks’ Managed IT Services team, helping clients resolve technical challenges while identifying opportunities to make IT operations more efficient, consistent, and reliable.

About Data Networks

Data Networks is a premier provider of IT solutions focused on simplifying enterprise IT for education, government, healthcare, and mid-market commercial customers. For over 40 years, we have developed unique competencies, proven processes, and strong manufacturer relationships that ensure project success. Our capabilities include Managed IT Services and Compliance, plus complete enterprise solutions for Client Computing, Data Center, Networking, Microsoft, Cloud Services, and Cybersecurity. Visit www.datanetworks.com or call 800-283-6387 to learn more. Follow us on X at x.com/data_networks or connect with us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/data-networks.