In this episode of Next-Gen Insights, part of the EC&M On Air podcast series, Editor-in-Chief Ellen Parson passes the torch to Managing Editor Ellie Coggins, who will be taking over as host for the Next-Gen series, and shares what to expect from the upcoming class of 30 Under 30 All Stars. 

As AI demand accelerates, many data center operators are turning to brownfield upgrades to deploy capacity faster than greenfield construction allows. This conversation looks at how data center teams are unlocking AI performance from existing facilities—navigating electrical, cooling, and operational constraints while phasing upgrades to protect uptime and reliability.

For electrical engineers and electrical contractors, these projects represent both opportunity and risk. This episode explores where they fit into brownfield AI upgrades, how to get involved early, what makes these projects different from traditional data center work, and whether they’re worth the time, effort, and complexity.

Rather than focusing on “winning projects,” the discussion centers on how the industry is extracting AI capacity from existing facilities—managing constraints, executing phased upgrades, and integrating power, cooling, and monitoring systems in live environments.

In this episode of EC&M On Air, Trevor Ottmann, owner of 3/0 Electric in Bennet, Neb., joins Ellen Parson of EC&M to discuss the Everyday Electrician! In case you haven't heard of Trevor, he is the face behind the Everyday Electrician video series, which we publish on our Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube channel, where he shares tips/tricks and what a day in the life looks like as an electrical contractor. In this conversation, we learn more about his work running his own business and take a deep dive into a few of his most viral videos. 

In this special edition of EC&M On Air, Nada Adelfattah joins the podcast to share insights and advice on how to grow your career as an electrical engineer and young electrical professional! She is an electrical engineer III with Mott MacDonald in Iselin, N.J. 

ICYMI, this is an audio-only version of a popular past article that ran online! Narrated by EC&M Editor-in-Chief Ellen Parson, this article was originally written by Mark Lamendola, electrical consultant, and covers the five types of boundaries required by NFPA 70E. 

ICYMI, this episode features an audio-only version of a popular online article we recently ran on the EC&M website. This article, read by Editor-in-Chief Ellen Parson, was originally written by Electrical Consultant Mark Lamendola. It is Part 2 of his series on key terms all electricians should know from NFPA 70E. This episode covers the key terms "accessible" and "approved." 

In part two of this EC&M On Air podcast, host Ellen Parson, Editor-in-Chief of EC&M, presents powerful insights from industry experts at Henderson Engineers, CannonDesign, and Augmenta on the state of AI in the electrical industry today. The conversation centers on the importance of understanding a company’s own workflows, data, and business goals before layering in AI tools — with guests emphasizing there is no one-size-fits-all playbook. Looking ahead, emerging advancements in AI as well as tips on how electrical firms can stay competitive in the future are discussed.

Our experts include:

ICYMI: Check out Part 1 of this AI discussion in last month’s featured episode.

In this Next-Gen Insights, Ellen Parson is joined by Hannah Shasserre, Project Engineer at ArchKey Solutions, to discuss what led her to succeed in the electrical industry and to become a 2025 EC&M 30 Under 30 All Star honoree. She discusses how she got started in the industry, challenges she's faced on the job and how she overcame them, her favorite projects, and tips for other young professionals. 

In this episode of EC&M On Air podcast, host Ellen Parson, Editor-in-Chief of EC&M, speaks with industry experts from Henderson Engineers, CannonDesign, and Augmenta about how artificial intelligence is reshaping design and construction workflows in the electrical industry. The discussion explores how AI tools are being used to accelerate early-stage design decisions, automate tasks like electrical conduit routing and model coordination, and analyze past project data to improve planning and benchmarking.

Our experts include:

Look for part 2 of this discussion coming next month.

In this Next-Gen Insights, Ellen Parson is joined by Carlie Cook, Director of semiconductor operations at Rosendin, to discuss what led her to succeed in the electrical industry and to become a 2025 EC&M 30 Under 30 All Star honoree. They discuss what it’s like to work on semiconductor projects, tips for success, and thoughts on the future of the industry.