Men in Tech:  Ken Jones’s Journey

Ken Jones’ path to tech leadership is anything but conventional. With a background that started under the hood of diesel mechanics, Ken’s evolution from hands-on repair work to overseeing Klik Solutions’ centralized services is a story of relentless curiosity and determination. His journey, enriched by early mentorship and a passion for innovation, sets the stage perfectly for exploring how his technical roots laid the foundation for mastering modern digital challenges.

From Diesel Mechanics to Digital Mastery

Ken Jones began his career at 19 as a diesel technician, where he honed his knack for solving mechanical puzzles. He was always good with his hands and figuring out mechanical problems. For the next 9 years, he worked as a diesel technician, having been trained through Cummins and Freightliner training. In this role, he primarily worked on school buses and tractor-trailer trucks. 

Transportation technology grew very quickly becoming very technical over time. “It started to require the use of a laptop to do just about any repairs electrical. So, I became the one technician out of 20 who knew the laptop and electrical systems really well. My full-time job became troubleshooting electrical.” 

At the time, his best friend Mike Cleary was already working in IT. He saw the potential Ken had. “Mike took me under his wing and helped me shift my focus to IT.”  

During that time, the dealership I worked for had a major computer outage and no MSSP. They asked him to see if he could fix their infrastructure, and was successful in that endeavor. “After that, I slowly worked my way into a position as a full-time IT tech for that dealership.”

A Pivotal Shift

Early influences played a big role in Ken’s transformation. Inspired by childhood memories of his mom’s small computer shop and nudged by his best friend Mike Cleary.  At the time, his best friend Mike Cleary was already working in IT. He saw the potential Ken had. “Mike took me under his wing and helped me shift my focus to IT.”  

During that time, a major computer outage at his dealership required immediate attention—and there was no MSSP on hand. So, Ken stepped up, proving his ability to tackle modern challenges head-on. 

“After that, I slowly worked my way into a position as a full-time IT tech for that dealership.”

Leading at Klik Solutions

This year, Ken joined the Klik Team.  As the Director of Centralized Services at Klik Solutions, Ken orchestrates a seamless collaboration across multiple departments—including Support, Field Services, Network Operations, Engineering, and Security Operations—to ensure that every part of the organization works in unison to keep our clients and their technical infrastructures secure and running smoothly while providing outstanding customer service.

Ken blends his experiences with innovation, employing data-driven insights to monitor performance and refine operations, ensuring that every team is aligned with Klik’s overall objectives.

“The only tool I see as indispensable is the team around me and the ability to work with them closely,” Ken emphasizes.

Looking Ahead

The bonus of joining the Klik team? He gets to work and collaborate with Mike Cleary, his longtime friend and mentor, who now also contributes his expertise at Klik. Ken’s current excitement lies in partnering with Mike and his team in Enterprise Services to build a Klik-specific technology stack and streamline business operation workflows, gearing the company for both present needs and future growth. 

Ken’s story is a blend of grit and forward-thinking—a fusion of hands-on expertise and innovative data-driven strategies that keeps Klik Solutions at the forefront of tech. His transition from diesel mechanics to digital leadership isn’t just about evolving skills. Ken reminds us that true progress is forged at the intersection of tradition and transformation. He advises, “While you need to know all the different fields in technology, find the tech stack you enjoy the most and be the best at it.”