E137 - Jacob Wiese at South Central Indiana REMC

On today’s episode of The Route to Networking podcast, we’re joined by our host Josh Pauley and special guest Jacob Wiese, Chief Network Architect & Deployment Strategist at South Central Indiana REMC. During today’s episode, Jacob shares his background in the Telecoms industry and the transitional period between the military to South Central Indian REMC. Jacob also shares some valuable advice to anyone interested in getting into the networking industry and the tools available to get you started.

From the Military to Networking

Jacob’s story starts with wanting to return home to Indiana after serving in the military. His expertise in the realm of IP networking and MPLS during his time in the military laid a foundation for his career. Although he had done well at a high level within the military’s IP sector, he was looking to transition his skills to a new environment.

In searching for the right company to apply his expertise, he came across an opportunity at South Central Indiana REMC. Their mission was to bring fibre internet to remote areas in southern Indiana which is something he resonated with. So, from there, he jumped at the position and embraced the role. He recalls the role in his early days as being overwhelming, given the level of work he undertook by himself. Putting that aside, he loved the job, nonetheless.

Balancing Depth and Breadth

Jacob shares how he manages to get a balance between deepening his existing skills and broadening his knowledge across the huge landscape of networking. He established the balance through a combination of perseverance and adaptability. He describes the introduction to the world of networking as like drinking from a fire hose. The amount of information and technologies in the networking field can be overwhelming, especially for those just starting. He remembers how the start of his journey was all about learning.

A Day in the Life

Jacob’s mornings are marked by diving into his inbox. It’s followed by taking initiates of communications with his teams. This is to clarify their current progress and see where they’re going moving forward. His attention turns toward operational sports systems. This is to identify opportunities for change. Into the afternoon, his attention focuses on higher-level meetings, where discussions take centre stage. These are revolved around what avenues they can take to interconnect with other businesses.

Advice?

Jacob offers advice from his own experiences for those seeking to get into the world of networking. He says to begin with a firm foundation. Certifications such as CCNA and NetPlus are a great entry point. These certifications equip aspiring networking professionals with a strong grasp of fundamental skills. For those who prefer a self-taught approach, he suggests looking at YouTube as a tool for self-guided learning.

The Future

For Jacob, working within an ISP and being part of a process that aims to bridge digital divides and bring the Internet to underserved communities is more than just a career—it’s a dream come true so will continue to do this for the foreseeable.

Tune in on the 29/08/2023 to hear the full episode!