Keepin' The Lights On

In this episode, Rob Conrad, Director of Pricing and Channel Marketing at Legrand North America, shares insights on the challenges and innovations in data center development, including size, complexity, and sustainability. Discover how industry trends are shaping the future of data infrastructure and what manufacturers and contractors are doing to keep pace.

Here’s where I ask a huge favor from you, I’m creating a newsletter as a way for you to share your thoughts on the episodes, share guest ideas and for me to give you insight into future episodes, and of course share great restaurants with you, please subscribe at  https://www.graybar.com/podcast#subscribe.

Thank you for listening and please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review our show on your favorite app.

To reach Rob Conrad on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-conrad-9234352/

Learn more about Legrand (episode and show sponsor – thank you) and they’re work with Data Centers: https://www.legrand.us/markets/data-center?utm_source=show_notes&utm_medium=show_link&utm_campaign=2026-2027_sponsorship&utm_content=rob_conrad

SADO in St Louis: https://www.sado-stl.com/

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/z7pR8AAqWQc

Unlock the secret to transforming the construction industry—where communication silos and outdated workflows are holding everyone back. Melissa Dixon, shares her grounded insights on how digital workflows are reshaping project efficiency from the field to the office—and why adapting now matters more than ever. Construction projects often still rely on scribbles, phone calls, and guesswork, which creates delays, rework, and frustration.

Melissa explains why digitization has been slow to catch on, and what’s finally helping teams move toward smarter, more connected ways of working. From field-to-office collaboration to AI-assisted invoice matching and site mapping, she breaks down the practical tools that are making a difference. You’ll discover:
How systems thinking is changing the way construction teams approach the full project lifecycle
Why digital tools need to fit existing workflows to actually get adopted
How better content, metadata, and data quality strengthen AI and connected workflows
Real examples of AI helping with search, matching, and documentation
Why construction leaders need both top-down support and field-level buy-in to drive change
Melissa also shares her perspective on BIM, model-based procurement, labor data, pre-construction planning, and the importance of balancing detailed data with simplicity for the people using it every day. If you work in construction, project management, or any role touched by workflow efficiency, this conversation offers a clear, practical look at how digital transformation is unfolding in the real world. It’s not about hype — it’s about making work easier, faster, and more accurate across the entire supply chain.

Here’s where I ask a huge favor from you, I’m creating a newsletter as a way for you to share your thoughts on the episodes, share guest ideas and for me to give you insight into future episodes, and of course share great restaurants with you, please subscribe at  https://www.graybar.com/podcast#subscribe.

Thank you for listening and please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review our show on your favorite app.

Learn more about Trimble: https://www.trimble.com/en/industries/construction

Gino’s On the Point: https://ginosrestaurants.co/gino-at-the-point/

YouTube Version: https://youtu.be/6fPk92sTLks

Thank you to this episode’s sponsor: Panduit

In this episode, guest Chris Sokoll, president of DISC Corp, a leading provider of electrical wholesale industry economic forecasting discusses the critical role of electrical distribution in the US economy.

He also covers the importance of data integrity, and future trends like clean energy and infrastructure upgrades.

Here’s where I ask a huge favor from you, I’m creating a newsletter as a way for you to share your thoughts on the episodes, share guest ideas and for me to give you insight into future episodes, and of course share great restaurants with you, please subscribe at https://www.graybar.com/podcast#subscribe.

To reach Chris Sokoll on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiansokoll/
Learn more about DISC Corp: https://disccorp.com
El Tiempo Cantina: https://eltiempocantina.com/
Ninfa’s: https://ninfas.com/
Truth BBQ Houston: https://truthbbq.com/

Here’s where I ask a huge favor from you, I’m creating a newsletter as a way for you to share your thoughts on the episodes, share guest ideas and for me to give you insight into future episodes, and of course share great restaurants with you, please subscribe at  https://www.graybar.com/podcast#subscribe.

In this episode, Walt Donovan, VP of Strategic Partnerships at DYCOM Industries, explains the concept of the middle mile in data infrastructure, its challenges, and future prospects. Discover how this critical component impacts data flow across the country and what the industry is doing to overcome current obstacles. Thank you for listening and please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review our show on your favorite app.

To reach Walt Donovan on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/walt-donovan-36a9063/

DYCOM Industries: https://dycomind.com/

The Sicilian Butcher: https://thesicilianbutcher.com/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/z6H8MwCkGig

Here’s where I ask a huge favor from you, I’m creating a newsletter as a way for you to share your thoughts on the episodes, share guest ideas and for me to give you insight into future episodes, and of course share great restaurants with you, please subscribe at  https://www.graybar.com/podcast#subscribe.

We talk about how retiring talent, supply chain chaos, and digital transformation create opportunities for innovation. We also discuss strategies to adapt workforce gaps, optimize automation, and maintain customer service without sacrificing profitability.
Take a listen on your favorite podcast player or right here on YouTube.

Thank you for listening and please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review our show on your favorite app.

To reach Anne Vranicic on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/annevranicic/

Learn more about Valin: https://www.valin.com/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/Lh-TK_U7zOU

To learn more about the sponsor, nVent, please visit here: https://www.graybar.com/manufacturers/nvent-group/c/sup-nvent-group?utm_source=sponsor link&utm_medium=sponsor_link&utm_campaign=keepin-the-lights-on-2026&utm_content=anne v