Networking is Brandon’s Expertise

Paladin clients who get the chance to talk to Network Technician Brandon Hays should come away with at least two impressions. First, Brandon knows his stuff. He’s been helping stores improve their network performance since he joined Paladin in 2016. Second, he’s truly invested in helping his stores succeed. 

Brandon’s circuitous route to Paladin actually began in Santa Catalina Island, the only inhabited island in California’s Channel Islands. Not born, but raised there, there aren’t many residents of the Golden State that can claim island residency. 

“K through 12 there. Graduating class had 50 people. The whole high school had maybe 250,” he says, explaining his small-town upbringing which is unusual in Los Angeles County.  

Tourism is Catalina’s reason for being. In the summer and on many weekends throughout the year, the population of just over 4,000 doubles. So, while he was in school he worked in the hospitality industry – restaurants, hotels, banquets. 

“On my feet talking to people, moving around all the time. Now, I sit for eight hours a day talking to people, helping them out,” he says with an easy smile. 

From the tiny island, Brandon moved to the expansive Midwest, attending Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business and psychology.  

“I came to Bend to get my MBA,” he says, adding his father and grandmother had been living there for several years and he liked the area when he visited. “Life happened. I didn’t get an MBA, but I needed a job and found Paladin in a newspaper ad in the Bend Bulletin.” 

After landing the job, Brandon stepped directly into the Managed Services department. Also, since joining the company, life continued happening. He married Jenefer and they now have two children, 5-year-old Landyn and 1-year-old Alena. 

In his position for the past six years, Brandon Hays has grown to know his profession inside out and works with clients seeking to improve their business’s performance through network upgrades and management. Managed Services™ and Managed Network™ helps stores improve the reliability, performance and security of their business networks. He says he likes the challenges his job provides. 

“It’s worked well. I’ve definitely progressed and grown. CJ (June) and Dave (Winkler) have been great mentors. Very seasoned. Very knowledgeable. Very wise,” he explains. “That’s the cool thing about Paladin. There’s a great culture of information gathering and exchange and it benefits the stores we work with.”