Shows
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonHow to Hire for the Future: AI's Impact on Engineering Talent ~ Hands-On Heroes Ep1 w/ Robert StyHands-On Heroes with Robert Sty focuses on how to hire for the future; AI's impact on engineering talent. To learn more about the Hands-On Heroes mission & support visit: https://handsonheroes.net/Episode one had special guest Robert Sty. As Vice President and Semiconductor & Data Center Practice Lead at HDR Engineering, Inc., Robert spearheads innovation and strategic expansion across advanced manufacturing and mission-critical infrastructure. He brings deep expertise in developing transformative programs and leading the design of next-generation data center, semiconductor, and advanced technology facilities—driving performance, resilience, and scalability for clients operating at th...
2025-11-1353 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonHands-On Heroes TrailerWelcome to Hands-On Heroes - a certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to empowering children through early exposure to careers in the skilled trades.As the Voice for the people who build, innovate, and sustain mission-critical infrastructure, Hands-On Heroes introduces the Podcast Host, Val Crafton who is The Voice of Grit — a trailblazer at the intersection of technology, trades, and transformation. With over two decades in mission-critical construction, she’s made it her purpose to amplify the people behind the progress — the builders, engineers, and innovators shaping our digital world.Through Val’s 21+ years of industry experienc...
2025-11-1000 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonClosing a Chapter, Opening a Mission: Hands-On Heroes and the Workforce GapThis is it. The final episode of Beyond the Megawatt—but not the end of the mission.
Since launching in May, Mara and Valerie set out to amplify the voices that weren't being heard at conferences, to dig into the issues that were being talked about but not truly addressed. And over 25 episodes, one theme kept surfacing no matter who they spoke with: the workforce crisis. It became impossible to ignore—and even more impossible to accept inaction as a response.
In this bittersweet episode, Valerie and Mara announce the...
2025-10-3110 min
Beyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationClosing a Chapter, Opening a Mission: Hands-On Heroes and the Workforce GapThis is it. The final episode of Beyond the Megawatt—but not the end of the mission.
Since launching in May, Mara and Valerie set out to amplify the voices that weren't being heard at conferences, to dig into the issues that were being talked about but not truly addressed. And over 25 episodes, one theme kept surfacing no matter who they spoke with: the workforce crisis. It became impossible to ignore—and even more impossible to accept inaction as a response.
In this bittersweet episode, Valerie and Mara announce the...
2025-10-3112 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonRedefining What’s Possible in Data Center DevelopmentLuke Kipfer's career path reads like a blueprint for the future of infrastructure leadership—starting at 18 cleaning condenser coils on Liebert units, pivoting through operations, retail colo, and hyperscale development, and now shaping strategy in one of the industry's fastest-growing platforms. His story isn't just about climbing the ladder. It's about understanding every rung—and knowing when to step off and build something better.
In this conversation, Luke opens up about the power of non-traditional pathways, the underrated skill of grit, and why the biggest constraint facing the industry today—workforce development—might actually be the t...
2025-10-3057 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationRedefining What’s Possible in Data Center DevelopmentLuke Kipfer's career path reads like a blueprint for the future of infrastructure leadership—starting at 18 cleaning condenser coils on Liebert units, pivoting through operations, retail colo, and hyperscale development, and now shaping strategy in one of the industry's fastest-growing platforms. His story isn't just about climbing the ladder. It's about understanding every rung—and knowing when to step off and build something better.
In this conversation, Luke opens up about the power of non-traditional pathways, the underrated skill of grit, and why the biggest constraint facing the industry today—workforce development—might actually be the t...
2025-10-3059 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonStraight from Data Cloud: Live InsightsBeyond the Megawatt took over DataCloud USA 2025, capturing the energy, innovation, and bold conversations happening on the show floor and behind the scenes. This episode is a highlight reel featuring rapid-fire insights from industry leaders solving some of the biggest challenges in mission-critical infrastructure—from behind-the-meter power solutions and fiber connectivity to sustainable energy and workforce development.
We also sit down with Lottie and Joe from the DataCloud team to talk about what makes this event essential, how the industry is evolving, and what themes they're forecasting for 2026. Spoiler: investment strategies, quantum computing, energy in...
2025-10-1613 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationStraight from Data Cloud: Live InsightsBeyond the Megawatt took over DataCloud USA 2025, capturing the energy, innovation, and bold conversations happening on the show floor and behind the scenes. This episode is a highlight reel featuring rapid-fire insights from industry leaders solving some of the biggest challenges in mission-critical infrastructure—from behind-the-meter power solutions and fiber connectivity to sustainable energy and workforce development.
We also sit down with Lottie and Joe from the DataCloud team to talk about what makes this event essential, how the industry is evolving, and what themes they're forecasting for 2026. Spoiler: investment strategies, quantum computing, energy in...
2025-10-1615 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie Crafton400MW, Half the Time: MOD42’s Modular RealityThe data center industry is racing against the clock, and traditional construction timelines can't keep up. Enter modular data centers: purpose-built, repeatable, and designed to deploy infrastructure at a speed that would make legacy builds look outdated.
Chris Abramo and Meg Tock from Mod42 join Mara and Val to myth-bust the misconceptions around modular construction, explain how they're deploying 400-megawatt sites faster than anyone thought possible, and challenge engineers to rethink what "over-engineering" is really costing the industry.
Chris, a licensed engineer with 20 years of experience—eight of those in...
2025-10-0948 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure Innovation400MW, Half the Time: MOD42’s Modular RealityThe data center industry is racing against the clock, and traditional construction timelines can't keep up. Enter modular data centers: purpose-built, repeatable, and designed to deploy infrastructure at a speed that would make legacy builds look outdated.
Chris Abramo and Meg Tock from Mod42 join Mara and Val to myth-bust the misconceptions around modular construction, explain how they're deploying 400-megawatt sites faster than anyone thought possible, and challenge engineers to rethink what "over-engineering" is really costing the industry.
Chris, a licensed engineer with 20 years of experience—eight of those in...
2025-10-0949 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonWhy Non-Destructive Excavation Is Non-Negotiable in Mission-Critical ConstructionStarting a construction business with zero industry experience? Kristy Black did exactly that—and built Black Hydrovac into a critical player in mission-critical infrastructure. But this isn't just a startup story. It's about partnership, risk, resilience, and redefining what it means to support each other in a fast-paced industry.
Kristy spent nearly 20 years in education before COVID shifted everything. When that door closed, she didn't wait for another to open—she kicked her way through. With encouragement from her husband Adam (a data center construction veteran) and mentorship from someone who believed in her visi...
2025-10-0254 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationWhy Non-Destructive Excavation Is Non-Negotiable in Mission-Critical ConstructionStarting a construction business with zero industry experience? Kristy Black did exactly that—and built Black Hydrovac into a critical player in mission-critical infrastructure. But this isn't just a startup story. It's about partnership, risk, resilience, and redefining what it means to support each other in a fast-paced industry.
Kristy spent nearly 20 years in education before COVID shifted everything. When that door closed, she didn't wait for another to open—she kicked her way through. With encouragement from her husband Adam (a data center construction veteran) and mentorship from someone who believed in her visi...
2025-10-0256 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonClimate Optimism: Innovation > GreenwashingWhat happens when two self-proclaimed sustainability "experts" sit down to challenge everything we think we know about greenwashing, carbon accounting, and the future of sustainable construction? This conversation cuts through the noise to reveal why sustainability has finally grown up—and why that's the most exciting thing happening in infrastructure right now.
Charlie and Catherine bring decades of hard-won experience from both inside and outside the corporate sustainability machine. They're not here to shame anyone or preach perfection. Instead, they're making the case for why imperfect progress beats paralyzed perfectionism every single time.
...
2025-09-2559 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationClimate Optimism: Innovation > GreenwashingWhat happens when two self-proclaimed sustainability "experts" sit down to challenge everything we think we know about greenwashing, carbon accounting, and the future of sustainable construction? This conversation cuts through the noise to reveal why sustainability has finally grown up—and why that's the most exciting thing happening in infrastructure right now.
Charlie and Catherine bring decades of hard-won experience from both inside and outside the corporate sustainability machine. They're not here to shame anyone or preach perfection. Instead, they're making the case for why imperfect progress beats paralyzed perfectionism every single time.
...
2025-09-251h 00
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonDid YOTTA 2025 Deliver? Voices from Across the EcosystemThis episode captures the raw energy and honest conversations from the event floor, featuring voices from across the data center, energy, and infrastructure communities. From modular data center builders to energy innovators, from seasoned industry veterans to newcomers finding their footing, everyone had something to say about whether YOTTA succeeded in bridging the tribes of digital infrastructure.
In the second half, we sit down with George Rockett, the visionary behind YOTTA, for an unfiltered conversation about the challenges of scaling an industry event, the anthropological nature of industry silos, and why bringing manufacturing mindsets...
2025-09-1849 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationDid YOTTA 2025 Deliver? Voices from Across the EcosystemThis episode captures the raw energy and honest conversations from the event floor, featuring voices from across the data center, energy, and infrastructure communities. From modular data center builders to energy innovators, from seasoned industry veterans to newcomers finding their footing, everyone had something to say about whether YOTTA succeeded in bridging the tribes of digital infrastructure.
In the second half, we sit down with George Rockett, the visionary behind YOTTA, for an unfiltered conversation about the challenges of scaling an industry event, the anthropological nature of industry silos, and why bringing manufacturing mindsets...
2025-09-1850 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonBeing your Authentic Self on Stage - You know more than you think you do!The data center industry desperately needs more diverse voices on stage, but too often, women are backing down from speaking opportunities at the last minute. Why are qualified professionals declining panels and presentations? And more importantly, how do we change that?
In this conversation, we dig into the real barriers keeping women from stepping up to the microphone, from imposter syndrome to perfectionism to the fear of being judged. Our guests share hard-won wisdom about finding your authentic voice, preparing powerful stories, and using vulnerability as a strength rather than a weakness.
2025-09-1148 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationBeing your Authentic Self on Stage - You know more than you think you do!The data center industry desperately needs more diverse voices on stage, but too often, women are backing down from speaking opportunities at the last minute. Why are qualified professionals declining panels and presentations? And more importantly, how do we change that?
In this conversation, we dig into the real barriers keeping women from stepping up to the microphone, from imposter syndrome to perfectionism to the fear of being judged. Our guests share hard-won wisdom about finding your authentic voice, preparing powerful stories, and using vulnerability as a strength rather than a weakness.
2025-09-1149 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationNo Victims, Just Builders: Carrie Goetz on Agency, Trades & AccountabilityIn this powerful episode, we sit down with trailblazer Carrie Goetz — author, educator, and industry pioneer. We’ll explore her human story: how she broke into the industry, the challenges she’s overcome, and how she’s helped shape the evolution of the digital infrastructure space. From sparking curiosity in young minds to educating adults across the globe, Carrie’s impact spans generations. Now, as she begins to pass the torch, her legacy continues to inspire the next wave of leaders. Don’t miss this conversation with a true industry icon.
Connect with our guest:
...
2025-09-0445 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonNo Victims, Just Builders: Carrie Goetz on Agency, Trades & AccountabilityIn this powerful episode, we sit down with trailblazer Carrie Goetz — author, educator, and industry pioneer. We’ll explore her human story: how she broke into the industry, the challenges she’s overcome, and how she’s helped shape the evolution of the digital infrastructure space. From sparking curiosity in young minds to educating adults across the globe, Carrie’s impact spans generations. Now, as she begins to pass the torch, her legacy continues to inspire the next wave of leaders. Don’t miss this conversation with a true industry icon.
Connect with our guest:
...
2025-09-0443 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationQuantum to Kilowatts: What’s New at DataCloud USAThe data center industry is shifting from fiber-first to power-first strategy, and DataCloud USA is bringing all the right players to the table. Joe Howarth and Lottie Westerling share what makes their Austin event different—from quantum computing keynotes to bold predictions about infrastructure's next frontier.
Key Themes:
• Power-first strategy replacing traditional fiber-first thinking
• Quantum computing's impact on data center design requirements
• Industry talent pipeline challenges and solutions
• Cross-industry collaboration between power, fiber, and investment
• Workforce development through direct C-suite connections
• The audacious possibili...
2025-08-2817 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonQuantum to Kilowatts: What’s New at DataCloud USAThe data center industry is shifting from fiber-first to power-first strategy, and DataCloud USA is bringing all the right players to the table. Joe Howarth and Lottie Westerling share what makes their Austin event different—from quantum computing keynotes to bold predictions about infrastructure's next frontier.
Key Themes:
• Power-first strategy replacing traditional fiber-first thinking
• Quantum computing's impact on data center design requirements
• Industry talent pipeline challenges and solutions
• Cross-industry collaboration between power, fiber, and investment
• Workforce development through direct C-suite connections
• The audacious possibili...
2025-08-2815 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationLabor Crisis as a National EmergencyWhen you flip a light switch, there's no David Copperfield hiding behind the sheetrock. That's science at work, not magic. But what happens when we can't find the people who understand that science? Greg Crumpton, a 30-year veteran of the mechanical contracting industry, calls it what it is: a national emergency. In this unfiltered conversation, Greg pulls zero punches about SMEs who hoard knowledge, the generational divide that's costing us innovation, and why AI is a tool, not a threat. From liquid cooling in 1988 IBM mainframes to today's data center boom, this episode tackles the workforce pipeline crisis head-on...
2025-08-2156 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonLabor Crisis as a National EmergencyWhen you flip a light switch, there's no David Copperfield hiding behind the sheetrock. That's science at work, not magic. But what happens when we can't find the people who understand that science? Greg Crumpton, a 30-year veteran of the mechanical contracting industry, calls it what it is: a national emergency. In this unfiltered conversation, Greg pulls zero punches about SMEs who hoard knowledge, the generational divide that's costing us innovation, and why AI is a tool, not a threat. From liquid cooling in 1988 IBM mainframes to today's data center boom, this episode tackles the workforce pipeline crisis head-on...
2025-08-2154 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationFrom Tribes to Transformation: George Rockett on Uniting Digital Infrastructure at YOTTA in Las VegasThis isn't just another industry event—it's a movement. 🚀 In this episode of Beyond the Megawatt, George Rockett shares how his vision to unite the "tribes" of digital infrastructure is transforming the way our industry collaborates, innovates, and tackles its toughest challenges.
From energy as the new front line to partnerships over competition, discover why the second year of this event is set to double in size and change the game for data centers worldwide.
🎙️ Plus—hear what's coming in the Innovate Arena and why George says we're in a "jet engin...
2025-08-1437 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonFrom Tribes to Transformation: George Rockett on Uniting Digital Infrastructure at YOTTA in Las VegasThis isn't just another industry event—it's a movement. 🚀 In this episode of Beyond the Megawatt, George Rockett shares how his vision to unite the "tribes" of digital infrastructure is transforming the way our industry collaborates, innovates, and tackles its toughest challenges.
From energy as the new front line to partnerships over competition, discover why the second year of this event is set to double in size and change the game for data centers worldwide.
🎙️ Plus—hear what's coming in the Innovate Arena and why George says we're in a "jet engin...
2025-08-1435 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationFuture-Ready Starts Early: Inspiring Kids to Discover Computer Science and the TradesWhat if the workforce crisis isn't about lazy kids or entitled generations—but about a complete failure to show young people the pathways that actually exist? Michael Wilson from GenTech is proving that early exposure changes everything, from elementary students programming Amazon warehouse robots to former farm workers' kids seeing automation as opportunity instead of threat.
This conversation cuts through the usual workforce development rhetoric to reveal what's actually working: turnkey programs that bring expertise directly to underserved schools, real-world projects that make learning relevant, and pathways that don't require families to go into de...
2025-08-0747 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonFuture-Ready Starts Early: Inspiring Kids to Discover Computer Science and the TradesWhat if the workforce crisis isn't about lazy kids or entitled generations—but about a complete failure to show young people the pathways that actually exist? Michael Wilson from GenTech is proving that early exposure changes everything, from elementary students programming Amazon warehouse robots to former farm workers' kids seeing automation as opportunity instead of threat.
This conversation cuts through the usual workforce development rhetoric to reveal what's actually working: turnkey programs that bring expertise directly to underserved schools, real-world projects that make learning relevant, and pathways that don't require families to go into de...
2025-08-0746 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationVoices That Move Markets: Live From the WiMCO Tech SummitWhat happens when you really listen to the conversations happening in the margins? Four years ago, Jackie Pasierbowicz overheard women talking about professional isolation right after a networking event designed to support them. That moment of recognition sparked the 7x24 Exchange WiMCO Tech Summit – now a sold-out annual gathering that's redefining how we think about professional development in mission-critical industries.
This episode takes you behind the scenes of building something the industry said it didn't need, why "love farming" (recruiting without adjusting culture) sets everyone up to fail, and how balancing technical excellence with em...
2025-07-3147 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonVoices That Move Markets: Live From the WiMCO Tech SummitWhat happens when you really listen to the conversations happening in the margins? Four years ago, Jackie Pasierbowicz overheard women talking about professional isolation right after a networking event designed to support them. That moment of recognition sparked the 7x24 Exchange WiMCO Tech Summit – now a sold-out annual gathering that's redefining how we think about professional development in mission-critical industries.
This episode takes you behind the scenes of building something the industry said it didn't need, why "love farming" (recruiting without adjusting culture) sets everyone up to fail, and how balancing technical excellence with em...
2025-07-3145 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonDisrupting the Grid: Veterans, Energy Innovation, and the Future of Modular PowerWhat happens when a Navy submarine veteran challenges everything the data center industry thinks it knows? You get a conversation that's equal parts uncomfortable and essential. Tony Grayson doesn't just question industry assumptions, he dismantles them with the precision of someone who's managed 14-megawatt floating data centers under conditions most of us can't imagine.
Key Insights:
• Why veterans managing submarine IT infrastructure are the data center operators we desperately need but consistently overlook
• The uncomfortable truth about SMR timelines and why most nuclear promises won't deliver until it's too late
•...
2025-07-2447 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationDisrupting the Grid: Veterans, Energy Innovation, and the Future of Modular PowerWhat happens when a Navy submarine veteran challenges everything the data center industry thinks it knows? You get a conversation that's equal parts uncomfortable and essential. Tony Grayson doesn't just question industry assumptions, he dismantles them with the precision of someone who's managed 14-megawatt floating data centers under conditions most of us can't imagine.
Key Insights:
• Why veterans managing submarine IT infrastructure are the data center operators we desperately need but consistently overlook
• The uncomfortable truth about SMR timelines and why most nuclear promises won't deliver until it's too late
•...
2025-07-2449 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonNuclear Power by 2026? The Data Center Energy CrisisThe energy conversation in data centers just got real. In this episode, we dive deep with Alison Krager Hahn from the Department of Energy and Rhea Williams from E3 Energy Partners on the hybrid strategies reshaping how we power digital infrastructure. From nuclear timelines that will surprise you to the natural gas bridges we need today, this conversation cuts through the noise to deliver the hard truths about America's power crisis.
Key Insights from This Episode:
• Nuclear deployment is accelerating faster than expected - with concrete 2026 timelines and construction already underway for commercial advanced reactors
• Natural gas represents the crit...
2025-07-1738 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationNuclear Power by 2026? The Data Center Energy CrisisThe energy conversation in data centers just got real. In this episode, we dive deep with Alison Krager Hahn from the Department of Energy and Rhea Williams from E3 Energy Partners on the hybrid strategies reshaping how we power digital infrastructure. From nuclear timelines that will surprise you to the natural gas bridges we need today, this conversation cuts through the noise to deliver the hard truths about America's power crisis.
Key Insights from This Episode:
• Nuclear deployment is accelerating faster than expected - with concrete 2026 timelines and construction already underway for commercial advanced reactors
• Natural gas represents the crit...
2025-07-1739 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonThe Eight-Week Mark: What We’ve Learned, and What Comes NextEight weeks into Beyond the Megawatt, Mara and Val pause to reflect on what they've learned about starting a podcast, challenging industry norms, and amplifying voices that typically don't get heard. This honest conversation reveals the real motivations behind their platform and why non-traditional career paths might be exactly what the data center industry needs.
Key Insights:
• The shame of non-traditional paths - Why many successful professionals hide their unconventional routes into infrastructure and construction
• Breaking conference barriers - How arbitrary rules keep fresh voices off industry panels and what need...
2025-07-1048 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationThe Eight-Week Mark: What We’ve Learned, and What Comes NextEight weeks into Beyond the Megawatt, Mara and Val pause to reflect on what they've learned about starting a podcast, challenging industry norms, and amplifying voices that typically don't get heard. This honest conversation reveals the real motivations behind their platform and why non-traditional career paths might be exactly what the data center industry needs.
Key Insights:
• The shame of non-traditional paths - Why many successful professionals hide their unconventional routes into infrastructure and construction
• Breaking conference barriers - How arbitrary rules keep fresh voices off industry panels and what need...
2025-07-1050 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonTalent That Scales: Redefining People Strategy in Mission Critical InfrastructureHalf of all data center talent will retire within the next decade. At the same time, we need to double our workforce to meet exploding infrastructure demand. This isn't just another workforce challenge—it's an existential threat to the mission-critical systems that power our digital economy.
Dr. Tracy Brown (Chief of Staff) and Lisa Stevens (Head of HR at CleanArc Data Centers) join Valerie Crafton to tackle the hard truths about talent development in mission-critical infrastructure. From the cultural disconnect veterans face transitioning to corporate environments to the performance review theater that wastes everyone's ti...
2025-07-0336 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationTalent That Scales: Redefining People Strategy in Mission Critical InfrastructureHalf of all data center talent will retire within the next decade. At the same time, we need to double our workforce to meet exploding infrastructure demand. This isn't just another workforce challenge—it's an existential threat to the mission-critical systems that power our digital economy.
Dr. Tracy Brown (Chief of Staff) and Lisa Stevens (Head of HR at CleanArc Data Centers) join Valerie Crafton to tackle the hard truths about talent development in mission-critical infrastructure. From the cultural disconnect veterans face transitioning to corporate environments to the performance review theater that wastes everyone's ti...
2025-07-0338 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonCan Data Centers Ever Be Sustainable? These Women Say Yes!What happens when you put three sustainability leaders in one room and ask them to call BS on industry practices? You get the most honest conversation about data center sustainability we've had yet.
Karen Cooper (DLR Group), Jenna Middaugh (Green Building Initiative), and Patricia Leyva (Equinix) didn't hold back. From fear-based pricing to parallel study failures, this episode tackles why sustainability initiatives keep getting blamed for project problems—and what to do about it.
Key Insights From This Episode:
• Sustainability should be code-required, not optional — No one argues...
2025-06-2638 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationCan Data Centers Ever Be Sustainable? These Women Say Yes!What happens when you put three sustainability leaders in one room and ask them to call BS on industry practices? You get the most honest conversation about data center sustainability we've had yet.
Karen Cooper (DLR Group), Jenna Middaugh (Green Building Initiative), and Patricia Leyva (Equinix) didn't hold back. From fear-based pricing to parallel study failures, this episode tackles why sustainability initiatives keep getting blamed for project problems—and what to do about it.
Key Insights From This Episode:
• Sustainability should be code-required, not optional — No one argues...
2025-06-2641 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonRedefining Power: Transformational Leadership in a Transactional IndustryLeadership in mission-critical industries isn't broken—it's being measured all wrong. This conversation with executive coach Lori Severson and leadership expert Andrea Janzen exposes the invisible barriers keeping transformational leaders stuck and offers a bold roadmap for change.
Key Revelations:
• Why women's leadership journey feels like "dying by a thousand cuts"—and how those small moments add up to systemic exclusion
• The missing metrics that keep our most effective leaders overlooked while rewarding outdated transactional behaviors
• How to handle "you're too aggressive" criticism in real-time without losing your authentic...
2025-06-1945 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationRedefining Power: Transformational Leadership in a Transactional IndustryLeadership in mission-critical industries isn't broken—it's being measured all wrong. This conversation with executive coach Lori Severson and leadership expert Andrea Janzen exposes the invisible barriers keeping transformational leaders stuck and offers a bold roadmap for change.
Key Revelations:
• Why women's leadership journey feels like "dying by a thousand cuts"—and how those small moments add up to systemic exclusion
• The missing metrics that keep our most effective leaders overlooked while rewarding outdated transactional behaviors
• How to handle "you're too aggressive" criticism in real-time without losing your authentic...
2025-06-1948 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationAI, Audacity & the Education Reboot We’re Too Scared to StartWhat if the solution to the data center workforce crisis starts in kindergarten?
Dr. Sharon Jones, founder of the Dottie Rose Foundation, joins us for a conversation that challenges everything you think you know about AI education, workforce development, and the future of technical careers. From her unexpected journey from DJ dreams to computer science advocacy, Sharon reveals why "the power of the blend" - human creativity combined with AI capabilities - is the key to thriving in our rapidly evolving industry.
Key Insights:
• Start AI literacy ea...
2025-06-1245 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonAI, Audacity & the Education Reboot We’re Too Scared to StartWhat if the solution to the data center workforce crisis starts in kindergarten?
Dr. Sharon Jones, founder of the Dottie Rose Foundation, joins us for a conversation that challenges everything you think you know about AI education, workforce development, and the future of technical careers. From her unexpected journey from DJ dreams to computer science advocacy, Sharon reveals why "the power of the blend" - human creativity combined with AI capabilities - is the key to thriving in our rapidly evolving industry.
Key Insights:
• Start AI literacy ea...
2025-06-1242 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationDigging Differently: The Hidden Innovation Transforming Data Center ConstructionSometimes the most transformative technology comes from the most unexpected places. In this episode, we go below the surface—literally—to explore how hydro excavation is changing data center construction, winter operations, and workplace culture in ways that extend far beyond digging.
Kristy Black didn't start Black Hydrovac because she discovered a passion for construction equipment. She started it because she wanted to build teams of people who could think, solve problems, and grow in an industry that too often treats skilled workers as interchangeable parts. What emerged is a company that's revolutionizing both exca...
2025-06-0540 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonDigging Differently: The Hidden Innovation Transforming Data Center ConstructionSometimes the most transformative technology comes from the most unexpected places. In this episode, we go below the surface—literally—to explore how hydro excavation is changing data center construction, winter operations, and workplace culture in ways that extend far beyond digging.
Kristy Black didn't start Black Hydrovac because she discovered a passion for construction equipment. She started it because she wanted to build teams of people who could think, solve problems, and grow in an industry that too often treats skilled workers as interchangeable parts. What emerged is a company that's revolutionizing both exca...
2025-06-0538 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonFiber, Foresight, & The future: Solving for scale in the age of AIWhat happens when AI meets data center infrastructure? Dan Molloy—known throughout the industry as "Fiber Dan"—brings decades of networking expertise and bold predictions about the future of mission-critical systems. From his early days discovering the internet in high school to his current role as a fiber infrastructure expert, Dan offers a unique perspective on how artificial intelligence will reshape everything from workforce training to blockchain applications in hyperscale environments.
Key Insights & Bold Takes
• AI isn't coming for technical jobs first—it's targeting middle management decision-making while making hands-on expertise more valuable...
2025-05-2927 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationFiber, Foresight, & The future: Solving for scale in the age of AIWhat happens when AI meets data center infrastructure? Dan Molloy—known throughout the industry as "Fiber Dan"—brings decades of networking expertise and bold predictions about the future of mission-critical systems. From his early days discovering the internet in high school to his current role as a fiber infrastructure expert, Dan offers a unique perspective on how artificial intelligence will reshape everything from workforce training to blockchain applications in hyperscale environments.
Key Insights & Bold Takes
• AI isn't coming for technical jobs first—it's targeting middle management decision-making while making hands-on expertise more valuable...
2025-05-2930 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationDesign to Handover: Closing the Gap on Commissioning, Workforce, and the Future of OpsWhat happens when you combine decades of commissioning expertise with a vision for transforming how we develop the next generation of infrastructure talent? You get a conversation that challenges everything from when commissioning should start to how we can solve the workforce crisis while building better facilities.
Lillian Rivera and Jim McEnteggart are launching 21st Century Ops with a bold approach that flips traditional commissioning on its head. Instead of bringing operational expertise in at the end of projects, they're advocating for "operationally directed design" that considers the humans who'll operate these systems for...
2025-05-2930 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonDesign to Handover: Closing the Gap on Commissioning, Workforce, and the Future of OpsWhat happens when you combine decades of commissioning expertise with a vision for transforming how we develop the next generation of infrastructure talent? You get a conversation that challenges everything from when commissioning should start to how we can solve the workforce crisis while building better facilities.
Lillian Rivera and Jim McEnteggart are launching 21st Century Ops with a bold approach that flips traditional commissioning on its head. Instead of bringing operational expertise in at the end of projects, they're advocating for "operationally directed design" that considers the humans who'll operate these systems for...
2025-05-2928 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationMic Check: Accountability, Origins, and the Truth Behind the PodcastWelcome to our inaugural episode! Hosts Mara Ervin and Valerie Crafton sit down with psychotherapist and workplace wellbeing consultant Kate Ahl for an honest conversation about inclusion, allyship, and the hidden challenges facing professionals in mission-critical industries.
This isn't your typical diversity discussion. We dig into why women are leaving tech and construction as fast as they're entering, what neurodivergent thinking brings to complex problem-solving, and why creating inclusive workplaces benefits everyone—not just underrepresented groups.
Key Themes Explored:
• The disconnect between conference visibility and job site real...
2025-05-2943 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonMic Check: Accountability, Origins, and the Truth Behind the PodcastWelcome to our inaugural episode! Hosts Mara Ervin and Valerie Crafton sit down with psychotherapist and workplace wellbeing consultant Kate Ahl for an honest conversation about inclusion, allyship, and the hidden challenges facing professionals in mission-critical industries.
This isn't your typical diversity discussion. We dig into why women are leaving tech and construction as fast as they're entering, what neurodivergent thinking brings to complex problem-solving, and why creating inclusive workplaces benefits everyone—not just underrepresented groups.
Key Themes Explored:
• The disconnect between conference visibility and job site real...
2025-05-2941 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie Crafton🎙️ Beyond the Megawatt: Live from the Cloud Run! ☁️Your Co-Hosts Mara Ervin & Valerie Crafton MBA are thrilled to share our latest episode, recorded live at the 3rd Annual Cloud Run hosted by the 7x24 Exchange DC Chapter.
This special edition kicks off with the race start, led by the dynamic Scott Davis with HazTek Safety Management, setting the tone for a day filled with energy and community spirit.
Throughout the event, we posed a seemingly simple question:
“What is or where is the cloud?”
The answers ranged from...
2025-05-2207 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure Innovation🎙️ Beyond the Megawatt: Live from the Cloud Run! ☁️Your Co-Hosts Mara Ervin & Valerie Crafton MBA are thrilled to share our latest episode, recorded live at the 3rd Annual Cloud Run hosted by the 7x24 Exchange DC Chapter.
This special edition kicks off with the race start, led by the dynamic Scott Davis with HazTek Safety Management, setting the tone for a day filled with energy and community spirit.
Throughout the event, we posed a seemingly simple question:
“What is or where is the cloud?”
The answers ranged from...
2025-05-2208 minBeyond the Megawatt: Data Center Design, Technology Challenges, and Infrastructure InnovationComing Soon: Beyond the Megawatt - The Data Center Podcast You've Been Waiting ForHosts Mara and Val introduce their new podcast "Beyond the Megawatt" from Data Center World, created specifically to amplify the voices of tech leaders who are actually building data centers but rarely get heard at conferences. Tired of the same perspectives week after week, they're digging into the weeds to find the people tackling real pain points and asking the audacious question: "Is it actually working?"
Expect tough conversations, industry callouts, and plenty of laughter as they learn from those building infrastructure right now.
New episodes will drop every Thursday.
...
2025-05-0401 min
Hands On Heroes with Valerie CraftonComing Soon: Beyond the Megawatt - The Data Center Podcast You've Been Waiting ForHosts Mara and Val introduce their new podcast "Beyond the Megawatt" from Data Center World, created specifically to amplify the voices of tech leaders who are actually building data centers but rarely get heard at conferences. Tired of the same perspectives week after week, they're digging into the weeds to find the people tackling real pain points and asking the audacious question: "Is it actually working?"
Expect tough conversations, industry callouts, and plenty of laughter as they learn from those building infrastructure right now.
New episodes will drop every Thursday.
...
2025-05-0401 min