At NordHero, we’re passionate about building cloud-native services that scale, serve, and stand the test of time. That passion shines brightest through the people behind the work. Today, we’re taking a moment to celebrate one of our own: Teemu Niiranen, our Lead Cloud Architect, who’s just returned from an unforgettable trip to Amazon’s HQ2 in Arlington, Virginia.
Yes, that HQ2.
From Helsinki to Amazon HQ2
Teemu isn’t your average cloud architect. He’s a powerhouse of AWS knowledge who has quietly—and consistently—racked up every single AWS technical certification out there. From foundational to specialty, he holds them all. But Teemu’s AWS journey didn’t stop at taking exams. He’s now helping shape them.
Over the past few months, Teemu dedicated countless late nights to remote AWS workshops—logging in after hours to contribute his deep expertise to the ongoing development of professional-level certification content. His input didn’t go unnoticed. This summer, AWS extended a rare invitation for Teemu to join an exclusive, in-person exam writing week at Amazon’s HQ2 in Arlington, Virginia. The group was small — just a handful of the most renowned AWS experts, each bringing their unique cloud perspectives to the table. Of the participants, only two came from Europe: one from France and Teemu representing Finland.
AWS flew Teemu from Finland to Virginia and covered all travel and accommodation. A nod, if there ever was one, to the level of trust they place in his technical insight and practical experience.
AWS Certification Experts in Arlington, Virginia, July 2025
A New Title to Wear Proudly
As if that wasn’t enough, AWS just awarded Teemu with a brand-new recognition: AWS Certification Subject Matter Expert (SME) – Professional. It’s an exclusive badge reserved for top-tier experts who’ve demonstrated both deep technical knowledge and a willingness to contribute to the AWS community.
This recognition reflects countless hours of study, hands-on building, late-night architecture debates, and a love for what cloud tech can achieve when done right.
Teemu’s new recognition: AWS Certification Subject Matter Expert - Professional
What This Means for NordHero
We’ve always believed that expertise is meant to be shared. Teemu’s involvement in shaping AWS certification content means that when you work with NordHero, you’re getting cloud architecture that aligns with the cutting edge — not last year’s best practices.
It also means that we’re actively contributing to the global cloud ecosystem, not just consuming from it. And for a company that builds with long-term impact in mind, that’s exactly where we want to be.
Teemu, We’re Cheering for You
We’re thrilled (but not surprised) by this milestone. From Helsinki to Arlington and back again, Teemu is bringing world-class AWS thinking into everything we build at NordHero. Congratulations on the recognition, and thank you for representing us — and the Finnish cloud community — on the global stage.
And Teemu wanted also to cheer the AWS Certification team: “I also want to give a big thanks to the AWS Certification team. I’m especially grateful to Jacqueline Carpenito, CJ Taylor, Tania Domenech, and everyone else involved for choosing me. And to my fellow Certification Subject Matter Experts — it’s been an honor to learn so much from you.”
Now, back to shipping.
Want to know more about what Teemu’s been working on lately? Or just curious what a professional-level AWS exam question looks like (no, he can’t share them)? Drop us a line — we’re always happy to talk cloud.