Distilled Buildings Tech Podcast

In this special crossover episode, Distilled Buildings Tech joins forces with Sip'N'Security for a candid conversation that blends smart buildings, cybersecurity, OT/IT convergence, and exceptional whiskey . What begins as a bottle share quickly evolves into a deep, practical discussion on identity, segmentation, and how emerging technologies are reshaping the built environment. 🥃 What’s in the G...

Jason and AK wrap up an action-packed year of travel, customer workshops, and real estate events with a relaxed, guest-free conversation—and a couple pours of Penelope whiskey to stay on brand. 🥃 Whiskey to Start The episode opens with AK’s Penelope Cigar Series old fashioned (torched orange + maple syrup), and Jason uncorks a Penelope “F-Cancer” collaboration bottle—smooth, complex, and freezer-...

🥃 Dealer’s Choice Hosts Jason Shearer and AK kick off Distilled Building Tech with their cocktail ritual. Guest David Robinson , Director of Automation at MECHO , goes classic with an Old Fashioned (Maker’s Mark or Knob Creek). Jason pours Sweetens Cove bourbon aged in sugar-maple barrels, and AK enjoys a Penelope Four Grain. 💡 Guest Spotlight With over 30 years in lighting and daylight control...

In this episode, hosts Jason Shearer and AK sit down with Adriaan , CTO of Chardan Capital Markets , to explore how a boutique investment firm reinvented its Manhattan office into a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) –driven smart workspace. From low-voltage lighting to AI-assisted investment strategies, Adriaan shares how converging IT and real estate creates smarter, more efficient environments. 🥃 Episo...

🧊 Overview: In this episode of Distilled Building Tech , Jason and AK welcome Giovanni Frezza, Head of Smart Building at Molex. What starts with a tasting and history of grappa quickly evolves into a compelling discussion on the future of smart buildings, AI-driven optimization, IT/OT convergence, and the changing role of facilities management. From physics labs in Rome to the forefront of digita...

🔥 Episode Summary In this energy-rich episode, hosts Jason Shearer and Akram “AK” Khalis welcome Olivier Corradi , the founder and CEO of Electricity Maps , to explore how real-time data , open APIs , and machine learning are transforming the energy grid. From wind forecasting in Denmark to predictive emissions data for global grids, Olivier walks us through his journey from math and ML at IBM an...

🔥 Episode Summary In this dynamic episode, hosts Jason Shearer and Akram “AK” Khalis sit down with Scott Panzer , founder of Digital Building Solutions (DBS) and Vice Chairman at JLL , to explore how low voltage, power over Ethernet (PoE), and smart systems are revolutionizing real estate. With a bold background in M&A, real estate, and decades of industry leadership, Scott offers an unfilter...

🔥 Episode Summary In this episode, hosts Jason Shearer and Akram “AK” Khalis talk with Erin McDannald , multi-time CEO and founder of Elevated , about the intersection of human health, smart building design, and measurable environmental wellness. Erin shares her personal journey from interior design to lighting to smart building technology—and how her experience as a mother navigating her daughte...

🔥 Episode Summary In this episode, hosts Jason Shearer and Akram “AK” Khalis sit down with Jeff Beavers , Executive Director of Network Integration at NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association), to discuss the evolving landscape of smart buildings, skilled trades, and the electrification of everything. From climbing poles in the Air Force to defining future-ready standards for fault-manag...

🔥 Episode Summary In this flavorful episode, hosts Jason Shearer and Akram “AK” Khalis sit down with Jonathan Lumley-Sapanski , owner of Lum’s Cellars, to explore the intersection of whiskey, entrepreneurship, storytelling, and community. Jonathan walks us through his journey from the high-paced restaurant grind to launching his own bottle shop in Maplewood, New Jersey. With an eye for craft, a r...

🔥 Episode Summary In this episode, Jason and AK sit down with Mahmoud Ibrahim , Senior Product Director at Panduit, to explore how Fault Managed Power (FMP) is transforming power delivery in smart buildings. With a background in mechanical engineering and a passion for business, Mahmoud shares his journey from R&D to leading FMP at Panduit—making “dumb power smart” by enabling higher voltage...

🔥 Episode Summary In this episode, hosts Jason Shearer and Akram “AK” Khalis sit down with Ronna Davis , Chief Revenue Officer at VoltServer, to explore how Fault Managed Power (FMP) is revolutionizing the way we design, build, and power modern spaces. Ronna shares her career journey from voice systems and network infrastructure to becoming a leader in digital electricity, and explains why she be...

🔥 Episode Summary In this electrifying episode, hosts Jason Shearer and Akram “AK” Khalis sit down with Andrew Lu , a Cisco Systems leader and innovator, to dive into the convergence of Power over Ethernet (PoE) and Fault Managed Power (FMP) — and how these technologies are reshaping the modern smart building landscape. From his license plate to his Cybertruck, Andrew lives and breathes this revo...

🔥 Episode Summary In this inaugural episode, hosts Jason Shearer and Akram “AK” Khalis introduce themselves, share their journeys into smart building technology, and lay out the vision for the Distilled Buildings Tech Podcast . From humble beginnings in engineering, real estate, and IT, to pioneering innovations in Power over Ethernet (PoE) lighting and infrastructure, Jason and AK discuss how th...