Maria Erickson

Steeped in over two decades of rich experience, Maria Erickson is a vivacious Cisco Technical Solutions Architect who's been riding the wave of progress in the exciting world of unified communications. From the pioneering developments of tip and ring technologies to the complex landscape of today's unified communications, Maria has been at the heart of the industry's evolution. Currently in pre-sales engineering with the Cisco Systems' Collaboration organization, Maria shines in creating outstanding Cisco solutions for customers. Her approach is a potent blend of attentive listening, insightful understanding of unique business needs, and seamless incorporation of industry best practices for the deployment and adoption of Cisco products and services. When she steps out of her professional sphere, Maria is a passionate community volunteer and mentor. Along with her husband, John, she fuels her commitment to nurturing teenagers in local organizations and schools. This dedication has blossomed into a web of lasting connections, which began as seeds on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat, and have now grown into significant mentorship and fellowship relationships extending far beyond high school. On the academic front, Maria proudly holds an Associate in Applied Science degree in Computer Information Systems, achieved in 2000. She is currently charging toward the finish line for her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Liberty University in Virginia. Even while juggling her full-time architect role and part-time student duties, she is set to graduate in 2024. In her infectious, motivational style, she playfully challenges her teenage and young adult mentees to race her to college graduation.