True to my interest in green tech, I took a job as a Logistics Project Coordinator at Global Energy Concepts, a consultancy that provided meteorological assessment and wind tower installation services. Wind energy seemed like a great place to take my career at the time; there was no shortage of stuff to learn when it came to sensing equipment and the reliable transmission of data for feasibility analysis.
I worked on project specs with clients, engineers, government agents and scientists, requested proposals and negotiated project scopes, budgets and schedules with subcontractors, and kept clients in the loop on installation status.
I procured parts and remotely managed contractors to install over 50 NRG Systems towers, ranging from 60m to 120m, and equipping them with anemometry equipment. I learned the difference between NAD 27, NAD 83 and WGS 84 map datums (call before you dig, use the right datum or you might bust someone’s underground pipes). Since I already had basic troubleshooting skills from working on janky cars most of my life, I could help the contractors figure out why stuff wasn’t working. I activated and re-activated a lot of SIM cards and tinkered with data loggers, then-called iPacks to troubleshoot issues with firmware, data connectivity, and device programming.
The 120 meter towers required observation of FAA rules for antenna, lighting and marking requirements. On a few occasions, I ran into environmental regulation roadblocks for some proposed installations, having to schedule them in certain locations and dates so as not to disturb local wildlife population mating season. I totally understood – I don’t think anyone would like their mating season disrupted.
Little did I know that cell tech would revisit my life again much later. When I left GEC, I remember not wanting to close that chapter in my life. This happened when I reached Berlin almost 10 years later, and I’m glad it did.