CALWA Podcast

John chats with two of the newest board members, Tony Magro and Jennifer Winters. In less than a year, these two energetic board members have brought new ideas and energy to the CALWA Board. John chats with them about their careers and why they've decided to "give back" to the industry through vocational service on the CALWA Board.

John Koos chats with longtime CALWA supporter, Michael Gianni. Michael is the Founder/CEO of MD7, founded in 2003. John chats with Michael about his 30+ years in wireless and the 20+ history of MD7.

John Koos chats with Tripp May, Managing Partner of Telecom Law Firm, about his representation of California cities against aspects of the FCC's rulemaking with respect to Government Code Section 6409.

John Koos chats with CALWA President Rodrigo De La Rosa. Rod is beginning his second year of a two-year term as CALWA President. John and Rod talk about the successes of 2023 and discuss what's in store for CALWA in 2024.

Whalen & Company has been mentioned many times on the CALWA Podcast. John Koos interviews four, yes, FOUR, Whalen legends to talk about what made this pioneering company so special. Guests: John Beke, Patty Mejia Fugit, Rodrigo de la Rosa, and Stephanie Whitlock.

John Koos interviews T-Mobile's VP of California, Martha Ventura. They discuss her 30+ years in telecommunications, the last 15 of which has been at T-Mobile. It is a bittersweet interview because Martha has just announced her retirement. CALWA thanks Martha for all her service to the industry and congratulates her on an amazing career!

Season 3 resumes after a short Summer break with an interview with Robert (Bob) Jystad from Crown Castle. Bob has been in the industry for years and is a Co-Founder of CALWA and a previous CALWA President. Our host, John Koos, chats with Bob about the founding of CALWA and his career in wireless telecommunications. Also! Bob is a novelist! Check out his books on Amazon, here .

CALWA has a number of upcoming events: SoCal Summer Mixer: August 23. Brio Italian Grille. 774 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine, CA 92618 SoCal Charity Golf Tournament: October 26. Arroyo Trabuco Golf Course

The DSA process has often been at best a "black box" and at worst a "black hole" for the California wireless industry. John chats with a DSA process expert, Natassia Melendrez-Knutson, in this episode. Natassia is the President & CEO of Project Support Services, a firm that specializes in project management and regulatory compliance for capital projects at California public...

John Koos interviews the Founder/Principal of Lynx Consulting . After for working for years at services companies, Julei set off on her own and started Lynx in 2010. Starting with one $200 purchase order, Julei has grown Lynx to one of the most respected and sought after services firms on the west coast. John chats with Julei about her career and about why Lynx is such a special place.

John Koos interviews telecom legend Rod Hanson about his storied career ranging from wireless site acquisition company owner to CEO/Co-Founder of a fiber broadband/internet service provider.

John Koos interviews Kenny Blakeslee, Founder & CEO of Apex Site Solutions . John chats with Kenny about Apex's organic rise from 2010, bootstrapping his business to today where Apex has over 100 employees. They also discuss Kenny's passion in curbing human trafficking through his support of TATE (Telecommunications Against Trafficking & Exploitation).

John Koos interviews Co-Founder and CEO of INORSA. INORSA is a company that develops automation and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for the telecommunications, utilities, and energy industries. The company's products and services help these industries build, maintain, and upgrade their infrastructure more efficiently and effectively. Inorsa was founded in 2020 by Sean Shahini, who has o...

In our first episode live with an audience, John Koos interviews Kamal Sadarangani of SpinLaunch (formerly of T-Mobile). John chats with Kamal about telecommunications from SPACE and how artificial intelligence plays a part. This episode was recorded in front of an audience at the Wireless West Conference in Las Vegas on April 28, 2023. As you listen, there is a video the amazing work that SpinLau...

John Koos chats with T-Mobile's Umer Ahmed about the future of driverless automobiles and how 5G networks have been a game changer.

In this special episode, John Koos interviews the President & CEO of the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA). WIA is a trade association that represents the companies and organizations involved in the wireless infrastructure industry. TWIA is focused on promoting the deployment of wireless infrastructure, such as cell towers, small cells, and other wireless facilities, to support the gro...

Our host John Koos interviews industry legend Lynn Whitcher.  Lynn Whitcher (General Counsel at MD7) is a former CALWA President and just started her reign at the Women's Wireless Leadership Forum (WWLF) .  John chats with Lynn about WWLF--its mission and initiatives.  They also chat about the changing role of women in the telecommunications industry. ConnectX Conference registratio...

John Koos chats with a panel of guests in this episode about Allegiant Giving's unique programs that provide a pathway for veterans that guides them from a goal’s assessment, to next-step planning and access to a powerful network of local resources including: • Innovative career training and placement programs • Mentoring • Financial assistance • Life skills • A vibrant community of friends and su...

David Witkowski is the "Bill Nye" of radio frequency.  Our host John Koos chats with David about his career and consulting firm Oku Solutions.  Oku Solutions provides an array of services, including: Expert witness: Local government hearing support, and facilitation of council/board study sessions. Electromagnetic engineering: EME report audits, post-commission MPE testing. RF/Microwave...

In this season 3 premier, our host John Koos chats with new CALWA President Rodrigo De La Rosa and Vice President Rochelle Swanson.  CALWA is embarking on its next 15 years.  John talks with Rod and Rochelle about what's in store for CALWA in 2023 and beyond!

It's been 15 years!   CALWA is celebrating its anniversary in conjunction with its normal SoCal Holiday Party on December 6 at the Huntington Club in Huntington Beach.  

Solar Communication Inc., better known as SCI, has been an innovator in RF transparent concealment for over 20 years.  CALWA Podcast host John Koos interviews SCI's President Jennifer Smith to chat about their long history in this engaging episode.

Have you ever heard, "we need to get government affairs involved"?  What is "government affairs" or "external affairs"?  Our host, John Koos, interviews one of the best in the field, T-Mobile's Tyler Gentry.   Tyler has an impressive background in politics, advocacy and government service.  He does an exemplary job of representing T-Mobile (and the industry writ...

John Koos interviews fellow CALWA Board Member Stephanie Whitlock.   In the episode, she describes herself as a wireless "dinosaur."  Not true!  She's a California wireless site acquisition LEGEND!  John chats with Stephanie about her storied career, spanning from Whalen and Company to Kimley-Horn, where she heads up their site acquisition efforts!  

In an effort to "move up the food chain", our host, John Koos, interviews Darryl Hawkins, T-Mobile's West Region Senior Vice President. Darryl has a long history in telecom, going back to the days when he was a technician.  Rising through the ranks, he began a new phase of his career with T-Mobile in January, 2022.  Join in on this dynamic discussion with one of the industry's...