Ali Yassine is a Lead Technical Manager at KLA Laboratories and a key member of the IT Solutions group. With certifications from Cisco and Aruba, Ali is an expert in his field, but what really sets him apart is his passion for learning and helping others.

Ali’s journey into the world of technology took a unique path. He started out studying math at the American University of Beirut, then worked in Paraguay for nearly a year before making the move to the United States to explore new opportunities. 

When he arrived in the U.S., things weren’t easy. He spent five years waiting on his green card and worked as a pizza delivery driver in the meantime. But once he received his green card, he faced a big decision: finish his master’s degree in math and become a teacher or follow a new path. 

That’s when he discovered the Cisco Networking Academy at Henry Ford College and found a new passion.

“The more I indulged in Cisco and did more, I realized that this domain suited my personality, character, education, and background.”

Ali’s internship with KLA during his time at the Cisco Networking Academy was just the beginning. Today, he’s been with the company for 15 years. For him, it’s more than a workplace, it’s a second home. 

“I’ve worked here for 15 years, and I wouldn’t go anywhere besides KLA because it feels like home. I’m not stressed or under a microscope, and I am given the opportunity to explore different areas and broaden my knowledge in IT. Because of this freedom and flexibility, I am motivated to provide for KLA and do the best that I can.”

Ali plays a key role in mentoring new engineers, helping them grow their skills and confidence just like he did. He’s a strong believer in learning by doing and making sure no one gets left behind. His guidance has played a key role in the success of multiple projects and team members at KLA. He mentored engineers when migrating a large automotive customer’s VOIP network to an IPTel solution. One of those engineers has gone on to lead KLA’s collaboration team and earned his Cisco CCIE Collaboration certification. Most recently, he has been helping KLA engineers on the West Coast to assist with KLA’s growing customer-base in the region. 

Ali is a leader in the office and at home. He and his family take taekwondo together and are all black belts, in hopes of raising his daughters to be responsible and independent. These goals for his daughters also translates to his goals in mentoring new engineers, making them responsible and independent. 

Ali also stays sharp by keeping up with the latest advancements in technology. He regularly attends conferences by industry leaders like Cisco and Aruba, knowing that staying informed is essential in the fast-changing IT world.

His knowledge came in handy when KLA partnered with Michigan Central to build their network. Ali and his team handled everything from design to installation to ongoing support. His familiarity with software-defined access, something he had taken the time to learn years earlier, made all the difference. When he learned this two years before, he documented everything he had learned, so he could use it when needed and brush up on it from time to time. 

“This shows: if you don’t use it, you lose it. I stayed up to date on software- defined access to ensure I could use it effectively when needed.”

Looking ahead, Ali sees artificial intelligence as the next big shift in the industry.

“What I saw at Cisco Live 2025 was incredible. We need to learn more about coding to keep up with AI. We need to be up-to-speed and ready for new opportunities because this will be pertinent.”

Ali’s curiosity, dedication, and leadership are just a few of the reasons he’s such an asset to KLA, and why the future of KLA’s IT Solutions group is in good hands.