About
Bob Mixon
Digital Platforms Manager & IT Solutions Architect
I’ve spent 35 years designing and building enterprise technology — from early SharePoint deployments to the cloud-native Azure architectures I work with today. My focus has always been the same: build things that actually work, that scale, and that teams can maintain long after the project closes.
Good architecture isn’t just technically correct — it’s explainable, maintainable, and aligned with the people and processes it serves. That principle has shaped my work across architecture, platform strategy, delivery, and team leadership.
What I do
My work sits at the intersection of architecture, platform strategy, and hands-on development. I spend most of my time in the Microsoft stack — Azure, Microsoft 365, Power Platform, SharePoint Online — designing systems that connect people, automate processes, and handle the complexity that enterprise environments demand.
Currently, I lead the Digital Platforms team at Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms in the country, where I serve as both Digital Platforms Manager and IT Solutions Architect. I’m responsible for the full lifecycle of enterprise collaboration, automation, and digital transformation initiatives — from architectural design through delivery, governance, and team mentorship.
Background
Over the course of my career I’ve worked across legal, healthcare, education, government, and private sector organizations — architecting large-scale SharePoint migrations, hybrid infrastructure rollouts, Azure integrations, and custom Power Platform solutions. Notable engagements include Perkins Coie, Cancer Research and Biostatistics, Elon University, Metropolitan Water District, Santa Clara County, and many others.
I’m a five-time Microsoft SharePoint MVP — a recognition I’m proud of not just for what it represents technically, but for the community involvement it reflects. I’ve also held a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, and I take a delivery-focused, governance-minded approach to everything I build.
What this blog is about
This site is where I think out loud about Azure architecture, design, and development. The writing here comes directly from decisions I’ve made in the field — not from documentation walkthroughs or theoretical frameworks. You’ll find deep dives into Azure services, Microsoft 365 platform architecture, identity and security patterns, Power Platform governance, and automation strategy.
Some posts will be grounded in the legal industry, where I work day-to-day. Others will be broadly applicable to anyone building on the Microsoft cloud. The common thread is practical, experience-backed thinking from someone who has been doing this work for a long time.
How I approach the work
I’ve spent years leading development teams, conducting code reviews, and mentoring architects and developers at all experience levels. That perspective shapes how I write here: I try to explain not just what to build, but why — and where the real tradeoffs live.
- Explainable architecture
- Maintainable systems
- Governance-minded delivery
- Practical tradeoff analysis
- Team growth and mentorship
Areas of focus
- Azure Architecture
- Microsoft 365
- SharePoint Online
- Power Platform
- Identity & Security
- Automation & Integration
- Legal Technology
- Team Leadership & Mentorship