About

Richard Applegate

Hi, I'm Richard.

IT & Network Admin IT Manager Infrastructure Builder

I build and run the systems that keep busy teams moving — from the warehouse floor to the cloud. Hands-on with networks, Linux servers, and workflow automation, I love turning messy operational problems into reliable, observable, repeatable infrastructure.

I'm also hard of hearing and fluent in American Sign Language — and I bring that same patience and adaptability to every technical challenge.

My story

This About Me page has been a long time coming — and in a way, so has everything behind it.

For years I've been working behind the scenes as the Network and Server Administrator for Anthem Coffee & Tea and Joe Coffee (Awake Labs). What started as keeping store networks stable and devices online quietly grew into something much larger — a full self-hosted infrastructure stack I designed, built, and maintain entirely on my own.

Every store location, every Android tablet on the floor, every POS terminal, every printer — if it touches a network, it's gone through my hands at some point. I've learned to be the person who shows up when something breaks, but more importantly, the person who builds systems so things don't break in the first place.

Over the years the role has evolved from reactive IT support into full infrastructure ownership. I wear a lot of hats — network admin, server admin, IT manager, help desk, automation engineer, and sometimes cable-puller — often all in the same week. I genuinely love the variety.

Where it started

Network & hardware support — keeping store Wi-Fi, POS systems, and Android device fleets stable across multiple locations for Anthem Coffee & Tea and Joe Coffee.

Growing the stack

Self-hosted infrastructure — 7 Ubuntu servers running 24/7, Docker & Portainer stacks, Omada enterprise networking, and AdGuard DNS deployed at every site.

Building for visibility

Monitoring & dashboards — Grafana dashboards connected to the Esper MDM API giving real-time visibility into the entire device fleet, backed by MariaDB and a custom event sync service.

Automating operations

n8n workflows & Slack integrations — automated label printing for BNN, shipping, and warehouse operations; Slack slash commands; alert pipelines; and Python scripts for API-driven workflows.

Where it is now

Full infrastructure ownership — mail server, VPS hosting, status pages, Nextcloud, Snipe-IT asset tracking, and my own open-source projects like CaddyUI — all running and maintained alongside daily IT operations.

I built this site — and this page — because "IT stuff" doesn't really cover it anymore. This is what years of hands-on work actually looks like.

Home Lab

7

Self-hosted Ubuntu servers running 24/7

Current Roles

2

Anthem Coffee & Tea · Joe Coffee - Awake Labs

What I build & manage

Grafana device monitoringReal-time fleet dashboards via Esper API with MariaDB backend
n8n workflow automationSelf-hosted pipelines for ops, Slack alerts, and team integrations
Snipe-IT inventoryHardware asset tracking across all locations
Label printing systemAutomated BNN, shipping, and warehouse label printing via n8n, Slack slash commands, and a Brother PT-D610BT
Docker & Portainer infrastructureMulti-stack container management — Nginx, WordPress, Omada, AdGuard, and more
Omada ControllerEnterprise wireless networking and management across every store location
AdGuard HomeNetwork-wide DNS filtering and ad blocking deployed at every site
NextcloudSelf-hosted file sync and collaboration platform for internal team use
MariaDB databasesRelational database backend powering Grafana dashboards, event sync services, and internal tooling
Mailu mail serverSelf-hosted email stack with Caddy reverse proxy and automatic TLS certificate matching
VPS on HostingerCloud-hosted VPS infrastructure for public-facing services and offsite redundancy
Status pageSelf-hosted uptime monitoring with a live public status dashboard
CaddyUIWeb-based admin UI for the Caddy server — my own open-source project

Skills & certifications

🌐Networking & Infrastructure
  • Omada Cloud Network Controller (self-hosted via Docker)
  • AdGuard DNS servers (3 on-premises deployments)
  • Firewall configuration for servers and networks
  • CAT5–CAT7a (RJ45), RJ11, and RG6 cabling
  • TP-Link Business network configuration
  • Network monitoring and administration
  • VPN server setup and management
🐧Linux & Server Administration
  • Linux server administration (SSH, OS management)
  • Docker and Portainer (Nginx Proxy, WordPress, Omada, AdGuard)
  • System and database administration
  • SSH / SFTP
  • MySQL / MariaDB
  • Cloudron server management
⚙️Automation & DevOps
  • n8n workflow automation (self-hosted)
  • Python scripting for API integrations (Esper API)
  • JavaScript scripting and automation
  • Grafana dashboard setup and monitoring
  • Snipe-IT asset and inventory management
  • Slack integrations and alert workflows
💻Software & Web Services
  • HTML, CSS, and JavaScript development
  • WordPress (website hosting and domain management)
  • Email server (Postfix, Dovecot, Roundcube / SoGo webmail)
  • Square POS and Square Site
  • Nextcloud (secure file sharing and collaboration)
  • RustDesk (remote help desk support)
  • Microsoft Office and LibreOffice
🔧Hardware & Support
  • IT management and team leadership
  • Computer hardware and software troubleshooting
  • Point-of-sale system deployment and maintenance
  • Security camera installation and monitoring
  • Help desk support (remote and on-site)
  • Warehouse inventory and fulfillment shipping
🗣️Languages & Communication
  • American Sign Language (ASL) — fluent
  • English — native
✓ Cisco Networking ✓ Server Administration ✓ Computer Help Desk Clover Park Technical College
Want to chat infrastructure, automation, or coffee? I'm always up for swapping notes on home labs and ops automation.