Hands-On Heroes with Valerie Crafton

The future of construction starts here at the advancing data center construction conference on Ep 15 of Hands-On Heroes. Learn more about Hands-On Heroes and their mission: https://handsonheroes.net/In this special multi-guest episode of Hands On Heroes, we’re live from Advancing Data Center Construction West, diving into the future of data centers, skilled trades, AI infrastructure, and the women...

Have you ever watched a giant machine move mountains and wondered — who's behind the controls? In Episode 2 of the Hands-On Heroes Day In The Life Series, we go inside the world of Heavy Equipment Operation — a career that literally shapes the ground beneath our feet. We get to meet a real woman working in the field as a Heavy Equipment Operator, and follow along on an adventure that is equal part...

What does it mean to be more than what people expect you to be? In this episode, host Valerie Crafton sits down with Grace Vanderhei — Nuclear Fuels Engineer and Clean Energy Advocate at Constellation, Miss America 2023, Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and one of four women named by CNET as leading America's energy transition — for a conversation that is equal parts inspiring, grounding, and refre...

What’s behind the workforce shortage and when should we start talking about it? Thank you to 7x24 for having a golf scramble that Hands-On Heroes benefited from! In this episode of Hands On Heroes, we took the conversation somewhere unexpected… the golf course. We asked everyday people what they think is really causing the workforce shortage, and their answers might surprise you. From shifting pri...

In this special multi-guest episode of Hands-On Heroes, we explore engineering and data center careers through conversations with both students and instructors across the Valley. Filmed at Mesa Community College, Estrella Mountain Community College, and West-MEC, this episode brings together a range of perspectives from the classroom to the field. Hear directly from students pursuing technical pat...

What does it take to turn a complex clean energy idea into something that actually gets built? In this episode, host Valerie Crafton sits down with Julia Weigel — Founder and Principal of Plexura Advisory to find out. Julia is a clean energy strategist and climate policy navigator with a background in engineering. She's spent her career doing the rare and difficult work of translating between...

In this episode of Hands On Heroes, Valerie sits down with Donya Ziraksari, a mechanical engineer and senior technical program manager at Microsoft, whose life story is anything but ordinary. Donya shares her remarkable journey from arriving in the United States as a refugee from Iran in 2007 to building a thriving career in data center construction and engineering leadership — a path shaped by re...

What does it take to build a better future for children in foster care — and what role can the skilled trades play in getting them there? In this episode of Hands-On Heroes , host Valerie Crafton welcomes Bronwyn Beabeau and Maureen Noe , President & CEO of The Foster Alliance — one of the largest foster care organizations in Arizona and New Mexico, supporting more than 8,000 children each yea...

In this episode of Hands-On Heroes, A Day In The Life Of An Electrician, creator and host Valerie Crafton introduces kids to the exciting world of skilled trades and STEM through storytelling, animation, and real-world exploration. The episode begins with a storybook reading from That Construction Worker is My Mom – The Electrician, showing young viewers that women can thrive in careers like elect...

Renae Sams has built her career on the foundations of hard work, integrity, and vision. With experience spanning every phase of construction, she’s supported design teams through complex deliverables, led field operations under general contracting environments, and delivered high-impact projects across the country and abroad. Her portfolio includes infrastructure and transportation work in Souther...

From Juvenile Detention to Data Center Leadership: A Story of Redemption and Resilience 💪 The construction and technology industries are filled with unconventional success stories, but few are as powerful as Mike Hastings' journey. At 15, Mike found himself in the juvenile detention system—far from the traditional path to success. But his story didn't end there. It was just beginning. In...

Thinking about a career in crane operation? Professional Crane Operator, Tiffany Eckard shares why starting as an oiler apprentice might be your best move. An oiler apprenticeship isn't just an entry point—it's a strategic foundation for a long-term career in heavy equipment operation. While you're maintaining and servicing cranes, you're actually getting paid to learn from experie...

iMasons Climate Accord is a coalition of companies united on carbon reductions in digital infrastructure. Host Valerie Crafton of Hands On Heroes had the pleasure to interview attendees from the most recent iMasons Climate Accord Summit. This episode connects with leaders in the industry. People you'll hear from in this episode include: Alison Tyndall, Director of Industrial Innovations at Cli...

On this episode of Hands-On Heroes, special guest Hiba Agha discusses her role in iMasons and her career in nonprofit organizations. Infrastructure Masons (iMasons) is a global, nonprofit, professional association of individuals  connected and empowered  to build a greater digital future for all. Hiba shares how her role is focused on building awareness, education, and workforce development by con...

Shannon Tymosko is a 4th year Electrical Apprentice and proud sister of the IBEW Local 105, Hamilton. She is also a Skilled Trades Ambassador, Speaker, and an Advocate. She originally completed a Child and Youth work diploma and upon completion she worked at a homeless shelter for youth. Here she found compassion, empathy, hope and a better understanding of people and the challenges life can for M...

Kate Glantz co-founder and CEO of Move Over Bob shares how, as a woman, you can dominate in a male dominated field. Her and host Valerie Crafton discuss what "Allyship in Action" really looks like. Kate is a social entrepreneur and brand builder on a mission to reshape what’s possible for women in the trades. She is the co-founder of Move Over Bob, a media and lifestyle company positioni...

Discover how to get more women involved in engineering, tech and construction by giving them exposure early and often. Learn more on this episode of Hands-On Heroes - Ep2 AIDC25. Learn more about Hands-On Heroes: https://handsonheroes.net/Discover powerful insights on breaking gender barriers in STEM! In this episode of Hands-On Heroes from AIDC25 (Arizona Infrastructure & Data Center Summit 2...

Hands-On Heroes with Robert Sty focuses on how to hire for the future; AI's impact on engineering talent. To learn more about the Hands-On Heroes mission & support visit: https://handsonheroes.net/ Episode one had special guest Robert Sty. As Vice President and Semiconductor & Data Center Practice Lead at HDR Engineering, Inc., Robert spearheads innovation and strategic expansion acros...

Welcome to Hands-On Heroes - a certified  501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to empowering children through early exposure to careers in the skilled trades. As the Voice for the people who build, innovate, and sustain mission-critical infrastructure, Hands-On Heroes introduces the Podcast Host, Val Crafton who is The Voice of Grit — a trailblazer at the intersection of technology, trades,...

This is it. The final episode of Beyond the Megawatt—but not the end of the mission. Since launching in May, Mara and Valerie set out to amplify the voices that weren't being heard at conferences, to dig into the issues that were being talked about but not truly addressed. And over 25 episodes, one theme kept surfacing no matter who they spoke with: the workforce crisis. It became impossible to ig...

Luke Kipfer's career path reads like a blueprint for the future of infrastructure leadership—starting at 18 cleaning condenser coils on Liebert units, pivoting through operations, retail colo, and hyperscale development, and now shaping strategy in one of the industry's fastest-growing platforms. His story isn't just about climbing the ladder. It's about understanding every rung—and knowing when t...

Beyond the Megawatt took over DataCloud USA 2025, capturing the energy, innovation, and bold conversations happening on the show floor and behind the scenes. This episode is a highlight reel featuring rapid-fire insights from industry leaders solving some of the biggest challenges in mission-critical infrastructure—from behind-the-meter power solutions and fiber connectivity to sustainable energy...

The data center industry is racing against the clock, and traditional construction timelines can't keep up. Enter modular data centers: purpose-built, repeatable, and designed to deploy infrastructure at a speed that would make legacy builds look outdated. Chris Abramo and Meg Tock from Mod42 join Mara and Val to myth-bust the misconceptions around modular construction, explain how they're deployi...

Starting a construction business with zero industry experience? Kristy Black did exactly that—and built Black Hydrovac into a critical player in mission-critical infrastructure. But this isn't just a startup story. It's about partnership, risk, resilience, and redefining what it means to support each other in a fast-paced industry. Kristy spent nearly 20 years in education before COVID shifted eve...

What happens when two self-proclaimed sustainability "experts" sit down to challenge everything we think we know about greenwashing, carbon accounting, and the future of sustainable construction? This conversation cuts through the noise to reveal why sustainability has finally grown up—and why that's the most exciting thing happening in infrastructure right now. Charlie and Catherine bring decades...