Data Center Careers for Trades, Women, Vets

Joseph Alvarez is a Navy Veteran, the director of mission critical for GBA Builders and an advocate for women and veterans in business. He serves on several boards, including a director role for the 7x24 Exchange Midwest Chapter and is the Greater Kansas City AFCOM treasurer. In this episode, Joseph and I discuss increasing the presence of veterans and women in the data center market, the significance of having a career in the trades, what’s happening in Kansas City (home of the Super Bowl Champions!) and AI’s impact on the industry.

My favorite question to ask to accomplish this task is "what will make you happy to go to work everyday?"  Casey is a VP with VIP consulting  and the author of "Awaken Your Potential."  Casey discusses how to find your "dream" job and steps people can take to unlock their employment potential.  We discuss trades, apprenticeships, and how the right way to learn is TO learn.  Casey discusses her journey to finding her dream career and how she mentors others to do the same.    

Welcome Sabine Gedeon with the SheLeads network, champion of the next generation and outside the box career development.  "It's time to reimagine how we train and educate our young women."  Sabine discusses tips for workforce develpment, mentorship, apprenticeships, and how education is changing with the growth of tech and competition for people.  

12.5.23 In this episode we welcome Sara Martin Associate Principal | Market Sector Leader at HED Design.  Sara discusses her journey and steps to success.  She discusses the learning curve realized when you jump into a new industry and how her architectural degree spurned her career in data center project management.  #womenintech #womenindatacenters #vetsintech #vetsindatacenters #tradesintech #tradesindatacenters 

10.19.23 Meet Molly Rose Speed, an advocate and champion helping #militaryspouses gain remote work with training.  Molly discusses her own journey and the programs she has created to help military spouses enter the workforce as virtual assistants creating employment opportunties regardless of location.  Her company offers a training academy fostering growth opportunties, business ownership blueprints, and others for spouses all while providing. businesses with fractional or full time virtual assistants.   We discuss #parallelskills and #skills they bring to their table with a vast variety of expertise amongst miltary spouses.  #veteranshelpingveterans #vetsintech #vetsindatacenters #womenintech #womenindatacenters #tradesintech #tradesindatacenters  #remotework

9.12.23 Celina Berglund, CEO (She-E-O) of Brogav Solutions, discusses starting her own tech business, challenges, finding her niche, and being graciously aggressive on your way to success. BROGAV provides new, surplus, and refurbished products for within the data center, along with installation and warehousing capabilities. They bring innovative and out-of-the-box solutions to their customers to improve lead times and options.   

8.8.23 Kayla Bix, OSP Engineer at Bluebird Network,  discusses fiber optic lines and how the engineering takes place along with her career so far.   She discusses routes and pathways and how that science works, as well as how she ended up in outside plant engineering at such a young age.  

6.27.23 Fabiola Bardino head of sustainability, marketing and communication with Start Campus in Sines, Portugal, talks about their sustainability efforts involving neighbors in a true outside of the box (data center) collaboration.  She discusses their community interactions and projects and the strategic position of Portugal as the gateway to Europe.  

6.8.23 Michael Morey, President and CEO of Bluebird Network discusses fiber, how they plan new fiber routes, jobs in the industry, data centers, and communications.  

5.2.23 Casey Mason - Energy and Sustainability Manager, Sabey Data Centers talks about greenhouse gas accounting and sustainability in the industry, and as a career.   She is candid about some of the hurdles we face as an industry and her career,  #womenintech #womenindatacenters #sustainability 

Co-opetition and problem-solving aficionado @Garry Connolly (A Stubborn Digital Optimist, Impatient Learner, Enthusiastic Beginner, Possibleist & Common Sense Practioner) with @Host in Ireland discusses the growth of the Irish data center industry, the exportation of talent as opposed to people, DC for Bees which brings great #biodiversity and awareness, ego-free, to our industry, and talent and learning for tomorrow.  We discuss sustainability, carbon, and environmental responsibility. 

2.28.23 Interview with  Constance Geoghan General Council and Chief Compliance Officer and Nicole Rossato, Vice President of Marketing ColoHouse discuss their careers and journey from a US company to a global role, cultural differences, OJT, and professional growth. "Eat the ugly frog first." Understanding how you land as a woman in a room full of men is important. Be authentic and modulate for maximum impact.   #womenintech #womenindatacenters #tradesintech #tradesindatacenters #vetsintech #vetsindatacenters #Give1Teach1Fund1 Nomad Futurist

2.8.23 Laura Freytag, Director of Operations, and Kara Anderson,  with Sabey Data Centers, discuss their careers and the differences between working at inception versus operations.  We discuss the value of mentors and close peers and how to overcome challenges through planning.  They cover tools they used to get where they are today.  Both have interesting career paths and amazing insight. 

1.10.23 Mara Fowler - has a great career in the data center industry.  We break down sales, skills, and what creates success in #datacenters.  Mara talks about what has worked for her and provides candid conversations about being a woman in tech and how to be heard as an expert voice in the room.  We discuss #networking and the value of creating and maintaining our connections.   #vetsintech #tradesintech #womenintech

In this episode, @Kirk Offel of @Overwatch Mission Critical outlines his work to bring more #veterans into the industry with a mission to stop suicides in the veteran community.  We discuss veteran employment in the industry, transition programs (TAP), and other ways to bridge the talent gaps in the #datacenter industry.  Kirk is candid about his own military transition from @Navy subs to civilian life and points the listener to available resources.   He discusses the anti-conference @DCAC , it's roots and mission.  

10.6 Episode featuring @Mercy Manning of @Aligned discussing sustainability, sales, and her journey into the data center industry.  In this candid episode, Mercy shares her passion for sustainability and how that works within her job in the data center industry.  #womenintech #womenindatacenters #sustainability #dataceenters #careersindatacenters

9.21 Episode featuring Jillian Bird @SaluteMissionCritical.  Jillian is a military spouse and recruiter in the mission-critical space.  Jillian discusses her role, juggling job, and kids, recruiting tips, and soft-skills to add to your resume.  If you are a military spouse or returning from service, this podcast will highlight some opportunities.  If you are a working military spouse, you will find some tips for successful remote work while juggling the duties with a spouse on TDY.

Ex Submarine Commander, Tony Grayson, in Part 2 of his candid conversation about transitioning into the #datacenter industry from the #military.  We discuss #veteran programs, #trades, #militaryspouses, and pointers for #HR and companies to help in the transition.  If you are transitioning or thinking of coming to this industry, this podcast is full of sound advice from someone that has been there, done that.  

Tony is a former nuclear submarine commander with 20 years in the @Navy and has transitioned into the mission critical space working for companies such as @Facebook, @AWS, @Oracle, and now is with @Compass Datacenters.  Tony shares his experiences converting military experiences into mission critical skills and conveys the lessons he learned along the way.  Tony gives sage advice to those looking to join this amazing industry.  Tony volunteers with @Imasons and @SaluteMissionCritical to help foster in #vetsintech.  Stay tuned for part 2.  

Today we have a great conversation with Tami Goetz (no relation) with the STEM action center and State Science Advisor.  We discuss talent shortages in the industry and how to get more children involved at an earlier age.  Tami set up the program for Utah and in her words, "STEM is when the kids really get to play."  She shares what worked and challenges along the way.