Monday, November 4, 2024
About Brenda: Brenda has been an essential part of the NGN team since the early stages, when ITS began running fiber cables and circuits in anticipation of this project. Her experience with cabling systems spans two decades during which she has developed and documented cabling infrastructure and worked to transition paper records into comprehensive digital databases and craft detailed Visio maps to illustrate Yale’s extensive cable plant.
Brenda’s NGN Journey: As a Telecom Technician, Brenda is responsible for writing orders for fiber circuits, supporting the technicians during installation, and meticulously documenting the pathways once circuits are completed. Her key contributions lie in ensuring the infrastructure is not only built but also properly mapped and maintained. Brenda is looking forward to the enhanced monitoring capabilities that NGN is bringing to Yale’s campus. The ability to respond more swiftly to network incidents will significantly improve service reliability and network security.
Exciting Challenges: Brenda thrives on the opportunity to develop infrastructure that accommodates new technologies while optimizing and maintaining existing systems. The balancing act of building a modern, reliable network while refining legacy systems is where Brenda finds the most satisfaction and challenge.
Proud Moments: Brenda takes pride in how the NGN team is migrating Yale’s buildings to the new network. The team continues to demonstrate efficiency and has proven that they can adapt to new situations quickly, even at the accelerated pace the project has adopted over the last year.
Valuable Lessons: Brenda’s key lesson learned from the NGN project is that cleanup is just as important as the migrations themselves. Properly documenting and understanding what equipment is available avoids unnecessary installations and ultimately saves resources.
Beyond the Office: Outside of work, Brenda is an avid crafter who runs a side business called Anything Custom, specializing in customized drinkware and laser engraving. Recently, she’s taken up macrame as a new creative outlet. Her products are featured in local stores such as the Bristol Bazaar and The Cottage on Main in Southbury, and she frequently participates in artisan fairs and festivals. Brenda also gives back to the community by creating gift baskets for charity raffles and benefits. While Brenda has a favorite movie - My Cousin Vinny, meal - steak and potatoes, and book - Atlas Shrugged, it’s too hard to choose just one when it comes to music. If you sneak a peek at her playlist, you’ll find music ranging from Carol King to Black Sabbath to Toby Keith to Bach.
Fun Fact: Brenda’s husband’s family owns one of the world’s largest antique tractor collections, boasting over 225 tractors. Before the pandemic, their farm hosted a popular annual show that included a tractor parade, petting zoo, vendor market, and more, attracting over 2,000 visitors each year.
Favorite Campus Spot: Sterling Memorial Library tops Brenda’s list of favorite places at Yale. The stunning architecture and vast collection of books make it a perfect combination of beauty and knowledge.
