Derek Schaaf
@derekschaaf
IT-support and AV technician transitioning into remote IT or A/V production.
What I'm looking for
I am an IT-support and AV technician with hands-on experience in medical textile manufacturing, warehouse operations, customer service, and small-business management. I hold CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+ certifications and have performed freelance video editing, AV leadership, and remote IT support, consistently delivering practical solutions and reliable service.
I have a track record of operating technical equipment, troubleshooting hardware and networks, managing schedules and finances for a small business, and supporting QA and production workflows. I seek roles that let me apply and expand my IT and A/V skills, work remotely, and contribute to a team while maintaining flexibility to support my family.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Textile Technician
BD
Mar 2023 - Sep 2025 (2 years 6 months)
Operated knitting machines in medical textile manufacturing, resolved service stoppages, maintained detailed production logs, and assisted transfers to QA to support consistent product quality.
Warehouse Laborer
Poplar Bindery
Feb 2021 - May 2022 (1 year 3 months)
Operated and set up folding and cutting machines, performing machine setup and production tasks to meet throughput and quality targets.
Dog Walker / Manager
Walk the Dog LLC
Mar 2013 - Feb 2021 (7 years 11 months)
Provided personalized in-home pet care and dog walking, managed scheduling, client acquisition and onboarding, website maintenance, and handled financial transactions to grow the business.
Customer Service Representative
Micro Center
Sep 2014 - Feb 2015 (5 months)
Operated checkout, managed returns, initiated computer repair workflows, and provided customer troubleshooting to resolve issues and support sales.
Delivery Driver
Bob's Haven Deli
Oct 2011 - Oct 2012 (1 year)
Delivered food orders and managed phone orders efficiently while occasionally preparing food to ensure timely customer service.
Sales Associate
SonShine Bookstore
Apr 2001 - Dec 2003 (2 years 8 months)
Managed checkout and register opening/closing, assisted customers with purchases and orders, executed annual inventory and set up merchandising displays for promotions.
Freelance IT Support
Self Employed
Provided occasional IT support including troubleshooting, hardware replacement, product recommendations, and network setup for clients.
Freelance Video Editor
Self Employed
Produced and edited video projects for small clients and maintained a personal YouTube channel, delivering edited content and managing post-production workflows.
Lead AV Technician
Private Church
Led AV operations including soundboard operation, transitions for lyrics/videos, stage setup/teardown, and contributed to equipment purchasing decisions for events.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
Art Institute of Philadelphia
Undergraduate coursework, Media Arts and Animation
2008 - 2010
Undergraduate studies in Media Arts and Animation focusing on 2D and 3D animation fundamentals.
Home Schooled / GED
GED, General Studies
Completed home school education and obtained a GED.
ITU Certification (CompTIA A+)
CompTIA A+, Information Technology
Completed CompTIA A+ certification through ITU-focused training.
ITU Certification (CompTIA Network+)
CompTIA Network+, Information Technology
Completed CompTIA Network+ certification through ITU-focused training.
ITU Certification (CompTIA Security+)
CompTIA Security+, Information Technology
Completed CompTIA Security+ certification through ITU-focused training.
Miles Technology Certification
Remote IT Support Certification, IT Support
Completed Miles Technology certification for Remote IT Support.
Availability
Location
Authorized to work in
Salary expectations
Social media
Job categories
Interested in hiring Derek?
You can contact Derek and 90k+ other talented remote workers on Himalayas.
Message DerekFind your dream job
Sign up now and join over 100,000 remote workers who receive personalized job alerts, curated job matches, and more for free!
