What is EdgeConneX Salutes 2022?
As part of our continuing mission of honoring and recognizing our amazing veteran employees, EdgeConneX, in partnership with Salute Mission Critical, launched EdgeConneX Salutes 2022. As a longtime partner of EdgeConneX, Salute uniquely addresses our critical infrastructure facility management needs. Salute’s skilled veteran labor force works alongside our EdgeConneX teams, which include dedicated and hard-working veterans like Marco Escobar. We are proud to share Marco’s experience with you. Please read his Q&A below to learn more.
Marco Escobar, Regional Manager – Service Delivery-LATAM at EdgeConneX and a US Marine veteran, was interviewed to learn more about his background and his experience transitioning into a civilian role within the data center industry. Marco also shared his hobbies and interests with us.
What are your job responsibilities now?
I work hand-in-hand with EdgeConneX clients and our construction team. Large enterprises trust me with their data hall construction plans. I guess you could call me the middle man between our EdgeConneX customers and the construction team working to ensure that the space is built exactly how the customer requires it and meet their expectations. One of the things I love about my job is that every customer is different and therefore each project is unique.
What geo are you in now?
I am based in Orlando, Florida, and travel to Santiago, Chile; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Bogota, Colombia to support our customer builds.
Tell me about your background/why did you enter the military?
I was very young when I entered the military just after starting college. I was only 23 years old. I chose the Marine Corps as I wanted more direction and discipline and I knew that I could get a great education while serving my country. As a young man, I wanted to be a part of the best – so, I chose the Marines.
What was your role/responsibility in the military?
My title in the Marines was Electric Equipment Repair Specialist and I served for four years. I was responsible for wiring up tents out in the field and working on the generators to support the field/bases. Whenever we went out to the field, I maintained and/or repaired the generators as needed and wired up all the tents for electricity. While no wars were going on at the time, I completed desert training for three months but wasn’t deployed.
Tell me a story from your military service. What did you learn from that experience?
I completed desert training at Twentynine Palms, California, which is a military base. We conducted a variety of war games using a simulator. I had to make sure all of the generators were ready. My team was in charge of making sure our Marines’ unit was prepared if there was a war or if they had to get deployed. I also experienced my first sandstorm while there. It was like a hurricane of sand!
What would you like to tell others thinking about a career in the data center industry?
I would encourage others to choose electrical, telecom, and/or electronics as their Military Operational Speciality (MOS) – as all of those are highly transferable skills into the data center industry. I would also tell everyone to be prepared for a great adventure! The data center world is always changing.
What would you like to tell people that are thinking about working for EdgeConneX?
Overall, there are a lot of opportunities to work for EdgeConneX. I started working in Minneapolis and was given the opportunity to move to Miami. There is also a lot of growth potential at EdgeConneX if you are willing to learn and give 100%. I have grown so much with EdgeConneX over the past six years since I’ve been a part of this awesome team.
Was there anything that would have made that transition better or easier?
I was lucky to be aligned with electrical as my Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). A side note, there are over 10,000 occupational specialties in the military that cover a variety of skill sets and responsibilities, with electrical being one that was suggested to me based on my test scores. The test must have been right as it has proven to have worked out very well for me in my career!
How was your experience transitioning from the military to the civilian workplace?
My first job after leaving the Marines was working in electrical systems and then I transitioned to telecommunications. Although I left the military in 1998, I didn’t get involved with Salute Mission Critical until just 6 years ago. I was working for a company that was also working with Salute at the time and I began talking with a Salute contractor. He told me about the organization and the opportunities for more training and I was hired by Salute Mission Critical not too long after that. Salute Mission critical was my first experience in data center operations. My experience with Salute led me to where I am today working for EdgeConneX.
What does EdgeConneX culture of Customers, People, Planet mean to you?
Our clients are big advocates for the planet. We guide our clients on the best ways to incorporate greener measures within their deployments. For example, deploying different types of batteries can be impactful and important. We design as much as possible to match the clients’ environmental and sustainability requirements.
What are your hobbies/interests?
I love muscle cars and having them rebuilt and then showing them at car shows. I’m also involved with the American Legion and when they have a memorial walk for the World Trade Center, for example, my family and I volunteer to serve food and help out with other projects.
What inspires you the most?
As far as work, what inspires me is providing great service to our customers. We wouldn’t have been as large of a company today if it weren’t for our customers and the amazing team that supports them. Making sure my customers are happy is what I strive for every day.
How can our readers follow you online?
Readers can follow me on LinkedIn.
Keep an eye on EdgeConneX career openings HERE.
If you are a veteran or military spouse looking for an exciting career in a growing industry, please contact Salute Mission Critical. The team can help train and put you on the path to success.