Learner Spotlight: Previous Recipients
October 2024: Amber Arellano
Where do you currently work, what is your role, and how long have you been in the industry?
Currently I am employed with Zito Media. I am a Fiber Splicer. Zito is the only company in the industry I have been with, I just reached a year and 7 Months.
How did you first become involved in SCTE training?
At the time, Zito was offering a bonus raise for those who could complete the courses. I already had 3 certifications in the Industry, and I wanted to build on that and gain any knowledge or training that I could. So, with that as my goal, I successfully completed the 9 courses offered and now I have 12 certifications total!
How has the SCTE training helped you in your job and career?
Well of course on paper it has made me look good, but most importantly I am able to recognize equipment in the field, have a clear path of thought when it comes to troubleshooting, and have a solid understanding of the ins and outs of a coax and/or fiber system.
September 2024: Caylie Charlton
Where do you currently work, what is your role, and how long have you been in the industry?
I am currently a contractor through Brooksource working at Charter Communications in Colorado. I am a network engineer, and I work on a team that focuses on DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) devices. We are a support team for a lab, so I work with troubleshooting, updates, configuration changes for testing, and anything else required to maintain our devices. I have been in the industry just under a year.
How did you first become involved in SCTE training?
I became involved with SCTE training through Brooksource. They really want to foster learning for their employees, so they facilitated the DOCSIS training I completed.
How has the SCTE training helped you in your job and career?
The SCTE training has been helpful because DOCSIS is very dense and hard to learn on your own. It was amazing to have a training that condensed all of that information and made it digestible and understandable. The cabling industry is one that really benefits from trainings and certifications because it’s a field that requires a lot of background information before you can address any challenges. It’s been great to have access to trainings and quizzes to see where I need to learn more.
August 2024: Weston Paulson
Where do you currently work, what is your role, and how long have you been in the industry?
I currently work at Mediacom in the maintenance department focusing on main line troubleshooting and repair covering the Mid Missouri area. I have been with Mediacom for almost 7 years, the last 2 being the maintenance department. Before transferring to the maintenance department, I was a service technician doing inhouse trouble calls.
How did you first become involved in SCTE training?
My first experience with SCTE was when I transferred to the maintenance department, as the service department focused on NCTI course.
How has the SCTE training helped you in your job and career?
The SCTE courses are an amazing resource of knowledge to my career. As a hands on learner, being able to see things done correctly in the network sims on the courses instead of just reading a book has helped me learn and set my self apart from my peers becoming one of the go-to employees.
July 2024: Dave Kline
Where do you currently work, what is your role, and how long have you been in the industry?
I work for GCI, one of the largest telecommunications providers in Alaska. My role is Senior Implementations Technician, I am part of GCI’s Statewide Construction and Implementations Team. This team covers the majority of GCI’s Core, Government, Education, Healthcare, and Enterprise level business installation deliverables.
I started in this industry in 2011 as a residential cable installer. As I advanced in my career to new roles over the course of time my eyes have been opened to the endless technology around me. Some of the roles I have participated in are Business Services Installation Technician, Senior Field Services Technician, Wireless RF Technician and now Senior Implementations Technician. For roughly the past 8 years I have specialized in the complex business and core equipment installation for the company, covering the Southeast Alaska region and occasionally in other areas of the great State of Alaska.
How did you first become involved in SCTE training?
At the beginning, working as a residential installer, I was encouraged to complete my Broadband Premise Installer certification and I accomplished that back in 2013. Growing as a technician, I have continued to earn a long list of certifications provided by SCTE, NCTI, Light Brigade, FIS, Telcordia, etc. Over the years, through the SCTE – Alaska Chapter, they have hosted several training events that I’ve had the privilege of being involved in.
How has the SCTE training helped you in your job and career?
The SCTE training courses are well put together and challenging in their own respect. Each course has provided me with the knowledge and skills to further my understanding, efficiency, and professionalism to successfully complete the work I am tasked with.
May 2024: Montez Garnett
Where do you currently work, what is your role, and how long have you been in the industry?
I currently work as a contract Planning and Design Engineer for Comcast. I work within the Beltway region. I have been in the industry for more than seven years, with previous inside plant (ISP) and outside plant (OSP) project management experience.
How did you first become involved in SCTE training?
I became a SCTE member in 2022 when I received my first contract assignment for Comcast as a Construction Coordinator II. My previous supervisors really encouraged the team to take advantage of SCTE membership, and I encourage everyone to do the same.
How has the SCTE training helped you in your job and career?
SCTE training has been instrumental in my career growth. As a member, I have taken various micro-lessons, earned numerous certificates, and participated in SCTE-specific activities. It has enabled me to enhance my technical skills, safety awareness, and compliance with industry regulations and standards.
I've had the chance to enhance my professional confidence through SCTE, both in my professional and academic pursuits. I noticed that I was becoming more confident in my skills as I continued to complete courses independently. Since then, SCTE has motivated me to continue my studies.
I'm happy to announce that I'm currently pursuing my M.S. in Information Technology Management. The two credentials I was able to transfer in were Construction Engineering Professional and CompTIA Network+ certifications, most notably. This has allowed me to shave off a semester of my courses and save on tuition!
I am extremely thankful for the SCTE platform, as it has changed the trajectory of my career. I am empowered to perform my job duties more effectively, efficiently, and safely. Positioned as a valued asset in the industry. This has been a great journey, and there is more to come. Thank you, SCTE!
April 2024: Patrick Coulter
Where do you currently work, what is your role, and how long have you been in the industry?
I am currently employed by Comcast Cable in the Big South Region, Central Division as a Headend Technician 2 Certified. For the past decade, I have served the Savannah, Georgia market. I have had a diverse career journey within Comcast, starting as a residential technician, later transitioning to business class services, and then Headend Technician. For the past four years, my primary responsibility as Headend Technician has been managing and maintaining critical infrastructure. In this capacity, I oversee the operation and optimization of key systems that form the backbone of our telecommunications network. This includes ensuring the proper functioning of headend equipment, such as satellite dishes, antennas, switches, routers, and related signal processing devices, to guarantee uninterrupted video and internet service delivery to our customers. I am also tasked with ensuring the reliability of our facilities by monitoring and troubleshooting HVAC systems, DC Plants, and Backup Generators.
Prior to my time in Comcast, I served for ten years in the United States Army as a Battalion Fire Direction Center Section Chief. I was responsible for all field communications in the Battalion. This included both analog and digital radio communications, satellite links, and wired and radio-based ethernet communications for all field network devices. I was also responsible for the maintenance and reliability of various radio systems, antenna systems, generators and vehicles ranging in size from 1 ¼ ton to 15 tons. I directly supervised six soldiers in the Battalion Fire Direction Center and oversaw the training and readiness of the six Platoon level Fire Direction Centers in the Battalion. My service in the Army instilled in me a strong sense of discipline, teamwork, and adaptability, as well as giving me a foundation in all the varied systems that I would later need to master in the Headend setting.
How did you first become involved in SCTE training?
When I first began working at Comcast, the emphasis for external training was on coursework provided by NCTI. I jumped in headlong and earned their highest honor of Senior Master Technician. Shortly after that, Comcast began transitioning to an SCTE training partnership. As such, I took my first SCTE course in 2017. Just after completing that first SCTE course, I was selected to participate in Comcast's CommTech Jeopardy competition. Throughout our months of study and preparation, SCTE courses formed the backbone of my study material and proved to be an invaluable resource. In the end our team placed third in the National Competition.
How has the SCTE training helped you in your job and career?
SCTE has played a crucial role in shaping my professional development and proficiency as a technician within the Comcast family. The course work that I completed while studying for the CommTech Jeopardy competition enhanced the knowledge I already had in many areas, added new knowledge in others, and directly contributed to my success in the competition. Shortly after the competition, I moved to the headend team. Soon after, the Headend Progression Program was updated to require SCTE training for promotions. I began doing training in earnest and completed about a dozen courses in my first year in the headend. The headend is a very diverse place to work. We work with nearly every type of equipment in the cable industry and routinely interact with technicians from every department. The comprehensive insights and knowledge provided by SCTE have significantly enhanced my understanding of advanced technical concepts and best practices in the telecommunications industry, while giving me the foundation to work effectively with teams from many different disciplines. At present, I have completed all active Learning Journeys through SCTE and am anxiously awaiting the upcoming release of the Headend and Engineering Learning Journeys. SCTE's curriculum has not only expanded my technical expertise but has also equipped me with the tools and resources necessary to stay current with emerging technologies and industry standards. I can’t wait to continue the journey. Thanks, SCTE!
March 2024: Bob Grant
Where do you currently work, what is your role, and how long have you been in the industry?
Currently I am employed by One Communications in Bermuda, One Communications is a division of ATNi out of Beverly Massachusetts. My current role is Director, Outside Plant, Service and Installs, Maintenance, Construction and the Warehouse all currently report to me. I have 4 direct reports and 29 indirect reports. I first became involved in the industry in August of 1989 with Rogers Cable in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. I left in March of 1991 to try other unsuccessful venues and then returned for good to the Cable industry in May of 1995, working for Cableworks which was purchased by Cogeco Cable, so all told I have just over 30 years in the industry. Within the industry I have worked my way up through the ranks, starting in service, then maintenance, QC inspector, supervisor, manager, back to QC inspections, then planning and project manager before becoming Director.
How did you first become involved in SCTE training?
In 2004, SCTE opened up an Ontario, Canada, Chapter and that is when I first became involved with the SCTE. The Ontario Chapter held the Cable Tech games and I did quite well at it. In 2012 I presented at one of the SCTE local chapter seminars, in 2014 I set the local chapter record for Cable Jeopardy, in 2018 I went to Atlanta for the international cable tech games. After a restructuring at Cogeco in 2016 I found myself temporarily out of work. Steve Harris reached out to me through LinkedIn and asked if I would be interested in doing some SCTE training in California. I took the BPI course and then I started teaching it for a month in California, I also became an SCTE proctor which I still maintain today. I also did some work for Pam Nobles, reviewing and updating some of the courses and also Jeopardy from the games. In 2019 the SCTE asked if I would be interested in a 2 week training session in Bermuda teaching the BPI course and that was when I decided that working in Bermuda might be a viable opportunity and I ended up being hired here in January of 2022.
How has the SCTE training helped you in your job and career?
The SCTE has helped me tremendously in my job and in my career. The training that it offers is exceptionally well, and so is the opportunity to go to the SCTE website and look up all the articles in the library. SCTE training has also helped me to gain confidence and shoot big. Public speaking was always something I shied away from, the SCTE has provided me with the confidence to stand in front of a room of total strangers and discuss cable with my peers and know what I am talking about. On a side note, SCTE also started me on my path to learning Power Point, by no means am I an expert, but when I presented at the seminar in 2012, I taught myself Power Point in order to put together my presentation. Finally, through the SCTE, my network of colleagues has grown very large. I have the confidence to reach out to colleagues and ask questions without the fear of being ridiculed. I have even had the pleasure of reaching out to Ron Hranac and getting a response, this is all through the confidence I have gotten from the SCTE.
January 2024: Sam Acoff
Where do you currently work, what is your role, and how long have you been in the industry?
Comcast Cable Greater Detroit Market, Headend Engineering Manager, 18 years in the industry.
How did you first become involved in SCTE training?
I became a member in 2012, participated in a few Cable Games competitions and attended multiple training sessions locally. In 2015, I wanted to become more involved and give back development to the cable community, so I showed interest in our local board election to successfully obtain a seat. Through 2016 board member service to current, I have strived to mentor those around me for technical exposure and leadership guidance.
How has the SCTE training helped you in your job and career?
As began to obtain certifications in 2012, those paths of learning proved to enhance my understanding of cable technology where my individual value was noticed in my daily performance. The additional tools I have acquired are definitely contributing factors to my growth as I progressed within the Comcast organization. My experiences have given me the confidence to display solutions for communication challenges and the opportunity to be familiar with emerging technologies prior to deployment.