This month, graduates from NOVA IET’s Career & Leadership Readiness Institute (CLRI) attended the capstone event of the program: The Executive Mentoring and Networking Session. This event connects CLRI students, who have been trained to develop and refine professional skills, with tech industry professionals.
By M. Andy Chaves and Sedrick Settle.
Why it matters: The event connects CLRI students with professionals from the Information & Engineering Technologies (IET) sector. Through structured mentoring roundtables and a celebratory networking session, students gain insight, ask questions, and build real-world connections. Networking is key—some estimates say more than half of all jobs are filled through personal referrals before they're posted. A big thank-you to the following executives and companies for generously sharing their time, knowledge, and experience with our CLRI graduates as they prepare to launch their careers.
Stephen Jolly, Data Center Cluster Manager at Amazon Web Services
Miguel Ramos, Senior Data Center Operations Manager at CoreSite
Drue Rozier, Data Center Manager at CoreSite
Michael Cardaci, Founder & CEO at FedHIVE
Christopher Haigh, CEO at Meerkat Cyber
Marc Westenberg, Director of the NOVA Foundation
Jennifer Andos, CEO at Paperfish Creative
Wade Tetsuka, President and Founder of U.S. Transactions Corporation
Niki Zoli, Marketing, Communications, and Community Lead at Casa Millie
Jerry Rickers, Client Executive at Ensono
NOVA students interested in joining the 2025 CLRI sessions can learn more at: https://bit.ly/CLRI24
More about the program: CLRI
Insights from Industry Professionals:
Miguel Ramos, Senior Data Center Operations Manager, and Drue Rozier, Data Center Manager at CoreSite—an American Tower Company—shared their experiences during a Q&A with CLRI students.
Q: What is the most challenging project or initiative you’ve worked on in the past year?
Drue: “We just launched a $23 million chiller plant project—replacing seven old chillers with two larger ones, all while keeping an active data center fully operational. No downtime, full redundancy. It impacts the entire building and involves our whole team, contractors, and more.
“There’s constant foot traffic, but the result will simplify operations for my team. The challenge is part of the fun—thinking outside the box and putting our problem-solving skills to the test.”
Miguel: “My site is also under active construction, replacing switchgear without disrupting service. That takes serious coordination and communication.
“While my building is newer, Drue’s has aging AOL infrastructure. Regardless, our job is to solve problems—and the best part is doing that as a team, bouncing around ideas and finding smart solutions together.”
Q: How big of a component is communication?
Miguel: “Communication is critical. Every action—down to turning a bolt—must be communicated internally and with clients in sectors like social media, finance, government, and healthcare.”
Drue: “Some clients want to review everything before we even start—schedules, procedures, the works. As operations managers, we collaborate constantly with general contractors and other partners.”
Miguel: “Coordination is a juggling act. A procedure goes through approvals, then we notify the client. If a contractor’s involved, we have to align with both them and the customer.”
Q: Can you trace your customer service skills to personal experience?
Drue: “Customer service is all about communication. We use tickets, calls, texts, emails—you name it. The key is streamlining those channels and ensuring consistent follow-through, especially across shifts.”
Miguel: “With three shifts, handoffs are crucial. If one shift starts a ticket and another finishes it, communication has to be seamless.”
Wade Tetsuka, President and Founder of U.S. Transactions Corporation—a fintech company operating in the Microsoft space—shared valuable insights with CLRI students.
Q: What skill do you wish you had focused on earlier in your career?
“I wish I had focused on IT earlier. At Ernst & Young, they began using computer-assisted audit techniques, but I avoided it—it sounded boring and less people-focused. In hindsight, I should’ve jumped in.
“AI today feels like IT did back then—full of opportunity and innovation.
“I also underestimated networking. I used to think what you know mattered most, but I’ve learned that who you know can be just as important—sometimes more.”
Q: What does your company do?
“I started the company as a credit card processing business, helping companies accept payments. Over time, we expanded into building software that integrates credit card acceptance into accounting systems, with help from Microsoft engineers.
“Today, we serve B2B clients—manufacturers, distributors, medical device firms, office supply wholesalers, and more.”
Q: What soft skills have been most helpful in your journey?
“I started as an accountant, focused on numbers—not soft skills. But when I launched my business, I quickly realized I had to learn how to sell. I went to presentations and read extensively.
“One of the most impactful books I read was Neuromarketing by Patrick Renvoise. It explains that people don’t decide with logic (the neocortex), but with emotion and instinct (the primal brain). To communicate effectively, you have to connect emotionally—not just rely on logic.”
Marc Westenburg, Director of Development for the NOVA Foundation, added: “In networking, focus on quality over quantity. People want to feel seen, understood, and valued—not just like another name on a list.
“Aim to make one memorable connection per conversation. Reference it when you follow up—that’s what makes you stand out.”
Michael Cardaci, Founder and CEO of FedHive—a secure cloud platform for hosting sensitive government and defense data—offered practical advice to students interested in entering the cybersecurity and cloud industries.
Q: What advice would you give a student trying to enter your industry?
“Get into any internship you can. You need hands-on experience and certifications like Security+. Small companies with limited budgets may be more open to help—just find a way to get that first year of experience. Ask friends and family how you can support their IT needs. Move from classroom knowledge to real-world application.
“Networking is just as important. I hired five people last month—all through personal connections. Don’t say ‘I’ll do anything’—be specific. Say you want to learn security or build systems, and ask if they know anyone in IT looking for an intern.
Make your boss your hero. Help them succeed, and they’ll advocate for you. Show up early, stay late, and let them see your effort.
“When job hunting, research the company. Find common ground to build rapport, show how you can add value, and ask at least three thoughtful questions to show your interest.”
Q: What opportunities does your company offer recent college graduates?
“We offer internships across multiple areas—accounting, finance, marketing, IT, cloud, and security. Interns typically start at the ‘first to three year’ level, and from there, advancement depends on the value you bring and your level of engagement with the organization.”
Q: What are some of the qualities you look for in a potential hire, and did you observe those qualities this evening?
Jennifer Andos, CEO of Paperfish Creative:
“Soft skills are really important—and the students tonight seem to have truly mastered them. Every one of them stood up to shake my hand, maintained great eye contact, spoke clearly, and made sure to ask thoughtful questions.”
Stephen Jolly, Data Center Cluster Manager at Amazon Web Services:
“The qualities I look for include a positive attitude, a desire to learn, curiosity, and a commitment to Amazon’s leadership principles—striving to be the best you can be. Have I seen those qualities tonight? Absolutely. This is my sixth time participating in this event, and I love seeing the students’ energy. It’s absolutely fantastic.”
Miguel Ramos, Senior Data Center Operations Manager, and Drue Rozier, Data Center Manager at CoreSite, an American Tower Company:
Miguel: “The qualities we look for depend on a person’s background. Since everyone here tonight is entry-level, we’re especially looking for a positive attitude, eagerness to learn, and the ability to ask good questions. That kind of interaction reveals both aptitude and attitude—qualities we value on-site.”
Drue: “I would add curiosity. The best technicians are the ones who constantly ask questions and work hard to find the answers. That drive to understand things makes them stronger in their roles.”
Miguel: “Strong communication is also essential. Our technicians need to be very verbal—communicating regularly through chat, in person, and on Zoom with customers.”
Michael Cardaci, Founder & CEO of FedHive, a secure cloud platform for hosting sensitive government and defense data:
“I’m looking for energy, curiosity, and people who come with a sense of purpose. I want individuals who are eager to grow with the company and who are genuinely interested in our mission. I’ve seen a lot of curiosity tonight—students have been asking some really thoughtful questions.”