In this episode of 10,000 Feet, Mollie Hill and Robin Kleinjans‑McKee take listeners inside Vervint’s internship program—an experience designed not just to shape future consultants but to uplift teams, clients, and the wider community. They explore how the program’s combination of real client work, intentional mentorship, hands‑on learning, and community involvement creates impact that echoes far beyond a single summer.

• The Heart Behind the Program
Mollie and Robin break down why intern season is one of Vervint’s favorite times of the year, sharing how the program advances both Vervint’s mission and the growth of young professionals. They discuss the company’s commitment to developing local talent and strengthening community ties.

• Mentorship & Leadership Development
Listeners get an inside look at Vervint’s mentor‑manager model, which provides interns with daily support while also developing leadership skills in current employees. It’s a win‑win: interns build confidence, and mentors grow as leaders.

• Training That Builds Real‑World Skills
From consulting fundamentals and business 101 to agile workflows, human‑centered design, and even AI in business—executives and consultants guide interns through meaningful learning sessions. StrengthsFinder workshops help interns understand how they naturally show up on teams.

• Real Client Work, Real Impact
The interns aren’t getting coffee—they’re contributing to real client projects that make a difference. Mollie and Robin share stories of how interns’ fresh perspectives spark new ideas and innovation within the teams they join.

• Community, Culture & Connection
The program extends beyond project work. Game lunches, group check‑ins, the Hello West Michigan Intern Connect conference, and volunteering days all help interns build meaningful relationships and become part of Vervint’s culture.

• The Final Presentations & What Comes Next
The episode highlights the powerful moment when interns present their summer work to the entire company—and the pride that comes with seeing their growth. Mollie and Robin also touch on the various post‑internship paths, from joining Vervint full time to receiving support as they pursue other opportunities.

• Why It Matters
Across the episode, one theme stands out: investing in people leads to growth for everyone—interns, employees, clients, and the communities Vervint serves. The program doesn't just prepare future consultants; it strengthens Vervint’s culture year after year.

In this episode of 10,000 Feet, Nate Sherman and Matt Glenn dive into the recent wave of major cloud outages impacting AWS, Azure, and Cloudflare, exploring what went wrong and why these failures are so disruptive. They discuss the growing risks of globally applied changes, the importance of error budgets, and strategies for building resilience in modern infrastructure. The conversation also covers best practices in site reliability engineering, monitoring, and alerting, as well as the role of AI and automation in change management. Packed with insights for architects, SREs, and IT leaders, this episode offers practical guidance on balancing speed, reliability, and risk in today’s cloud-driven world.

In this episode of 10,000 Feet, we sit down with Azure experts Dan Haussler and Peter Rhodes to tackle one of the biggest challenges in cloud computing: managing costs. They share practical strategies and insider tips to help businesses avoid overspending, from setting up smart budgets to leveraging Azure’s built-in tools and cost-saving programs. Whether you’re new to Azure or managing a complex environment, this conversation is packed with actionable advice and real-world examples that can save you thousands.

• Why cost optimization matters and how it fits into Microsoft’s Well-Architected Framework.
• Strategic foundations: Writing down a plan, setting cadence, and using tagging for accountability.
• Azure tools you should know: Cost Analysis, Advisor, and Workbooks for quick wins.
• Common pitfalls: Orphaned resources, unmanaged disks, and legacy SKUs.
• Budgeting basics: How to set alerts and guardrails to prevent surprise bills.
• Reserved Instances vs. Savings Plans: Key differences, pros/cons, and flexibility options.
• Right-sizing workloads: Avoiding over-allocation after lift-and-shift migrations.
• Cadence is king: Why regular reviews save money and prevent underutilization.
• CSP advantages: Discounts, advocacy, and faster support for your cloud environment.

Get to know Chuck Tsocanos, President and Chief Consulting Officer at Vervint, as he sits down with Ethan Wyant to discuss his career journey and Vervint’s future. Chuck shares insights on leadership, company transformation, and the impact of AI on the tech industry.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Chuck’s background, career path, and move to Vervint
• Lessons learned from consulting and IBM
• Vervint’s ongoing transformation and company culture
• The role of AI and innovation in shaping business strategy
• Leadership philosophy and building trust within teams
• Recent challenges and how the team overcame them
• Advice for newcomers in consulting and tech
• Reflections on personal values, growth, and work-life balance

Tune in for practical advice, leadership insights, and a look at how Vervint is embracing change and technology!

In this episode of 10,000 Feet, host Richelle Lentz is joined by Rick Krause from Vervint and Daniel Gross from AWS to explore the evolving landscape of connected products and IoT platforms. Together, they unpack the journey from early, DIY-style IoT implementations to today’s scalable, secure, and cloud-native solutions powered by AWS. The conversation dives deep into the triggers that signal it’s time to migrate—like cost inefficiencies, security vulnerabilities, and limited access to data—and outlines practical strategies for replatforming, including phased rollouts, OTA updates, chaos testing, and blue/green deployments.

Listeners will also hear about modernization as a stepping stone for organizations not yet ready for full migration, with tips on optimizing device messaging, leveraging edge processing, and enhancing user experience. Real-world anecdotes, like hacked crosswalks and connected coffee makers, bring the discussion to life while emphasizing the importance of security, interoperability, and customer value. Whether you're managing a growing IoT fleet or just beginning to rethink your platform strategy, this episode offers actionable insights to help future-proof your connected product ecosystem.

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of generative AI, exploring its hype, history, and real-world implications. Guests, Abby Breyer, Director of Experience Delivery, and Brian Partin, Enterprise Director, discuss how AI isn't as new as the recent media frenzy suggests—it’s been evolving for thousands of years. They dissect the excitement surrounding AI, asking the pivotal question: what problem is AI looking to solve? Join us as we examine how AI, when applied thoughtfully, can be a powerful ally in solving complex human challenges when we keep people at the heart of the solution.

Tune in now to hear their insightful and comical conversation.

In this episode, we sit down with Vervint's CIO, Jim VanderMey, and VP of Sales and Marketing, Kyle Nelson, as they evaluate the IT industry during the first half of 2024. Together, they analyze industry predictions and discuss feedback reported by clients and other stakeholders, including trends in cloud, AI, and data.

Podcast host, Danielle Haskins, asks curious questions including: Is AI the villain or hero? Why isn't cloud living up to its promises? What risks are organizations facing following the Crowd Strike failure?

Jim and Kyle dive further into these topics and give their predictions for the second half of the year.

Tune in now to hear their responses.