Go Beyond The Connection

Most IT teams are proud when they reach a proactive posture. Juliano Giannerini says that is not the finish line. In this episode, the Director of Information and Systems Security at Baker Construction explains what it actually takes to move from reactive firefighting to a predictive IT operation -- and why the difference is not just operational, but strategic. Giannerini brings more than two deca...

Most CIOs are still fighting to be seen as more than a support function. Erich Gazaui, Chief Information Officer at Papa, has a different frame entirely. For him, the role is not about keeping systems running. It is about architecting how information moves through an organization, who has access to it, whether it can be trusted, and how it ultimately shapes the decisions a business makes. In this...

ChaChi Gallo, Vice President of Information Technology at Michels Corporation, joins host Steve MacDonald to explain what it actually takes to build a digital job site -- and why most organizations get the sequence wrong. Michels is a Wisconsin-based infrastructure contractor building the foundational systems that power modern construction: fiber networks, energy infrastructure, and some of the la...

Jim Basar, VP of Enterprise Business Group at Intwine Connect, LLC, explains how restaurants now rely on internet connectivity for point-of-sale systems, digital menu boards, guest Wi-Fi, delivery platforms, and connected kitchen systems. He shows how reliable connectivity supports revenue, customer experience, labor efficiency, food safety, and data-driven operations across locations. He also out...

Most businesses treat internet connectivity like a utility — something that is simply there until it is not. BJ Olson and Ryan Bowden have spent their careers watching what happens when that assumption meets reality, and the cost is almost always higher than anyone expected. BJ Olson is the Founder of twenty7 Technology Group, a technology solutions firm helping businesses design and deploy reliab...

Healthcare modernization sounds straightforward until you look at what teams are actually working with. Faxes. CDs in the mail. Record sharing that is supposed to happen but often does not. Pricing that no one can explain upfront. Falko Buttler, Chief Technology Officer at Lantern, has spent more than 20 years building technology inside that reality. In this episode, he explains why big system ove...

When construction leaders talk about productivity, forecasting, and growth, the conversation often centers on tools and applications. But behind every digital jobsite is a network that determines whether those systems deliver real-time visibility or break down under pressure. In this episode of Go Beyond the Connection , we sit down with Thomas Berrington , Chief Information Officer at French Brot...

The Digital Kitchen: Powering the Future of Dining When restaurant leaders talk about speed, reliability, and guest experience, the conversation often stops at applications and devices. But behind every digital kitchen is a network that determines whether those systems deliver or break down under pressure. In this episode of Go Beyond the Connection , we sit down with Chris Demery , Chief Technolo...

Restaurant operations have changed. Data has replaced cash, technology touches every step of service, and disconnected systems now create more friction than progress. In this episode of Go Beyond the Connection , Tom Seeker , Chief Technology Officer at Ziggi’s Coffee , explains why the connected kitchen has become the operational heartbeat of the modern restaurant. Tom brings a rare perspective s...

Companies mentioned in this episode: Long John Silver's Papa John's Wendy's Chili's

When everything is running smoothly, customers rarely think about their network. But behind every seamless experience is the work, care, and visibility that make reliability possible. In this episode of Go Beyond the Connection , Bjørn Jensen , CEO and Founder of WhyReboot , explains why service excellence has become the defining advantage for technology leaders — and why the human connection stil...

Takeaways: The podcast illuminates the significance of managed connectivity services in today's network landscape, illustrating how they enhance customer experiences. Julian Jaquez emphasizes that wireless connections are increasingly viable and can match the reliability of wired counterparts in modern infrastructure. Dave Idle discusses the competitive landscape among wireless carriers, highlight...

What if you stopped optimizing for today and started building from 2040 backward? That’s the challenge Claus Torp Jensen, Chief Technology Officer at the University of Texas Medical Center and Dell Medical School, brings to this conversation with host Steve MacDonald. A technologist turned storyteller, Claus has served as a Chief Innovation Officer and advisor across industries. He believes the be...

Links referenced in this episode: linkedin.com/in/chris-inkarvar Companies mentioned in this episode: Jack's Family Restaurants Legal Seafoods Panera

Wireless-first is no longer a provocative idea—it’s how modern enterprises move faster and stay resilient. In this episode, we unpack what changed and why treating wireless as a primary path gives you speed to value, stability under load, and freedom from construction timelines. Our guest is Arvin Singh , Founder and CEO at NextGen Technology Advisory . After nearly two decades at Verizon leading...

When AI is everywhere, the teams that win don’t start with tools. They start with clarity. In this episode, Michael Parlotto , Vice President of Emerging Technologies at InComm Payments , shares a practical way to cut through hype and ship outcomes your board and your customers can feel. Michael leads Go Studio , InComm’s innovation center. His work pairs disciplined discovery with fast, user-cent...

AI is transforming every part of business—from customer experiences to internal operations—and the networks that power it have never mattered more. In this episode, Joel Mulkey , Founder and Board Member at Bigleaf Networks, explains why resilient connectivity is now a strategic necessity for AI-driven organizations. Joel shares the story of how a failed attempt to help a local church build intern...

How do you design IT systems that survive every disruption—from leadership turnover to world-changing crises? Thomas Dewar , Chief Information Officer at Acupath Laboratories Inc. , joins host Steve MacDonald to explore what sustainable technology really looks like inside healthcare. With decades of experience spanning 9/11, digital transformation, and COVID-19, Tom reveals how clear data, empathe...

What makes a business not just grow, but thrive long-term? According to Julian Jacquez , President & COO of BCN Telecom , and Jeanne Duca , CMO at BCN, the answer is simple yet profound: high-performance teams fueled by trust, transparency, and strategic alignment. In this episode of Go Beyond the Connection , Julian and Jeanne share how they’ve built a culture that balances employees, partner...

The way we connect has changed. What was once backup-only wireless is now the backbone for business growth. In this episode of Go Beyond the Connection , Shawn Tinsley , Senior Director of IT at Dell Technologies , and Dave Idle , Chief Product Officer at Bigleaf Networks , share how wireless-first strategies are transforming enterprise IT. Shawn and Dave bring deep experience from both the enterp...

AI is everywhere right now, but most teams still ask the same question: will it actually make our networks more reliable and our customers happier—or just add cost and complexity? In this episode of Go Beyond the Connection, we get blunt about where AI helps today, what’s still hype, and how to translate AI investments into real business outcomes. Our guests bring both the innovation lens and the...

The cheapest network isn’t the smartest choice. In this episode, Michael Pittman — CEO and Founder of Connected Solutions Group (CSG) — explains how to break out of the race to the bottom and invest in connectivity that actually moves the business forward. Michael leads CSG, a Verizon co‑sell partner known for turning “just connectivity” into outcomes. His team handles the messy middle: device con...

When technology is moving faster than training programs and AI is rewriting job descriptions, how do leaders keep teams aligned, resilient, and ready for what’s next? Paul Davis, Field CTO at NetApp, has spent his career at the intersection of systems, strategy, and human problem-solving—from rebuilding the Pentagon’s infrastructure after 9/11 to guiding enterprise sales conversations today. In th...

What does it take to reposition IT as a driver of revenue—not just a responder to outages? Kurt Shriner , Vice President of IT Infrastructure Management at Capital Bank, has spent nearly two decades in technology leadership. But it’s his background in psychology and live events that shapes his leadership style today. In this episode of Go Beyond the Connection , Kurt shares how psychological safet...

What if your IT department wasn’t just a support desk—but a driver of revenue, reputation, and resilience? In this episode of Go Beyond the Connection , Jon Manes, Vice President of Information Technology at Mambo Seafood Restaurants, shares how he transformed IT into a revenue partner by building support systems that treat frontline staff like internal customers. With over 20 years of experience...