About
I'm Ryan Dugdale, a Microsoft application specialist in Ontario, Canada. For more than 20 years I've kept enterprise applications secure and reliable, and moved legacy systems into the cloud.
What I do
I govern and administer Microsoft 365 and the Power Platform for a multi-site organization with users around the world. That means setting environment strategy and security standards, running projects from intake to support, and guiding the contractors who build with us.
Recently my focus has been modernizing the legacy application base into a secure, cloud-based suite that's easier to run and easier to use.
Experience
Microsoft Application Specialist / Systems Analyst
Multi-site global organization- Lead governance and administration of the Microsoft Power Platform and Microsoft 365 environments, including environment strategy, security controls and application standards.
- Oversee the full application lifecycle (design, development, testing, deployment and support) and direct external development contractors.
- Cut administrative work and manual errors with structured service requests and approval workflows.
- Led international system implementations and cross-site rollouts, with documentation, training and mentoring.
- Lead Lotus Domino administrator: server upgrades, application deployments and security across North America.
Project Manager / Programmer
Tandis Inc.- Managed the software lifecycle from requirements to deployment, and automated builds to reduce errors.
Computer Analyst
Medical Laboratories of Windsor- Administered laboratory information systems and built an automated nurse scheduling system that improved route efficiency and saved cost.
- Supported Windows NT, Novell and Citrix environments with on-call enterprise support.
Skills
Certifications and education
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Copilot and Agent Administration FundamentalsMicrosoft · April 2026
- Microsoft Certified: Power Platform FundamentalsMicrosoft · January 2026
- Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)Project Management Institute · February 2023
- Information Systems Technology DiplomaSt. Clair College
Always learning
I keep my skills current through Microsoft Learn and community events such as the Power Platform Community Conference. This blog is where I write down what I learn so it's useful to the next person.