Grid Archives | Industrial Talk

Ben Lanz with Osmose

Industrial Talk is onsite at DistribuTech 2025 and talking to Ben Lanz, Sr. Director, Industry & External Affairs at Osmose about “Power reliability and resiliency”.

Scott Mackenzie interviews Ben Lanz from Osmose, discussing the challenges and innovations in the utility industry. They highlight the aging infrastructure in Texas, with ERCOT needing gigawatts for data centers. Osmose has expanded from wood pole diagnostics to underground assessments, including vaults, transformers, and cables. Ben explains the use of AI and machine learning to improve efficiency, particularly in detecting defects in underground cables. They also discuss the importance of human intervention alongside AI for accurate assessments. Ben provides his contact information for further inquiries.

Adile Ajaja with EVLO Energy Storage

Industrial Talk is onsite at DistribuTech 2025 and talking to Adile Ajaja, Director of Digital Technology at EVLO Energy about “Securing Energy Storage”.

Scott MacKenzie hosts an industrial podcast featuring Adile, an electrical engineer and expert in grid-scale energy storage systems. Adil discusses his background with Hydro Quebec and the evolution of his company, EVLO, which focuses on innovative and cost-efficient energy solutions. They delve into the importance of cybersecurity in energy systems, emphasizing a life-cycle approach to protect against attacks and failures. Adile highlights the challenges of integrating legacy systems with modern cybersecurity measures, as well as the increasing demand for power due to data centers and AI processing. He also touches on Hydro Quebec’s strategies to manage this demand through efficiency and renewable energy sources.

Paul Bernard with ARCOS

Industrial Talk is onsite at DistribuTech 2025 and talking to Paul Bernard, President/CEO at ARCOS about “Scaling technology companies for long-term success”.

Scott MacKenzie hosts the Industrial Talk podcast, featuring Paul Bernard, President and CEO of ARCOS, a company that helps utilities manage call-outs, crew management, and damage assessment. Arcos’ solutions integrate with various systems like asset management and GIS to provide linemen with real-time, situational awareness, enhancing safety and efficiency. The company, backed by Vista, has grown significantly, integrating acquisitions like Clearion for vegetation management. Arcos’ platform is configurable and user-friendly, crucial for adoption by linemen. The company aims to expand beyond utilities into other industries with similar needs.

Arthur Jen and Carlos Gamarra PowerGen

Industrial Talk is onsite at PowerGen and talking to Carlos Gamarra and Arthur Jen about “Power Generation Technical Assistants”.

Scott MacKenzie hosts an industrial talk podcast at PowerGen in Dallas, Texas, featuring Carlos Gamarra and Arthur Jen. Carlos, Vice President of the Houston Advanced Research Center, and Arthur, Program Coordinator for the Western Region of the DOE-funded On-Site Energy Technical Assistance Partnership (On-Site Energy TAP), discuss their roles in promoting distributed generation technologies and energy storage. They provide no-cost technical assistance, educational webinars, and case studies to help end users adopt these technologies. The program is technology-agnostic and region-specific, addressing the unique energy needs of different states. They emphasize the importance of a balanced energy portfolio and the challenges of finding the right mix of technologies for each location.

Matt Burton with Siemens

Industrial Talk is onsite at DistribuTech 2025 and talking to Matt Burton, Vice President at Siemens Grid Software about “Grid solutions that improves resiliency and reliability”.

Scott MacKenzie hosts an industrial podcast featuring Matt Burton, VP of Software Sales for Siemens’ US and Mexico grid software. They discuss the shift from linear to non-linear power systems due to distributed energy resources (DER). Burton highlights the need for technology and change management to adapt to this new landscape. He emphasizes the importance of data management for efficiency and the role of regulatory bodies in facilitating these changes. Burton also notes the global nature of these challenges, with similar issues in Europe, Australia, and Asia. He concludes by discussing the potential for small modular reactors and the future of load growth and power conditioning.

The world is changing fast! Industrial businesses are juggling every facet of business maintenance and growth, ranging from technological/digital media adaptations to cash flow management and operational efficiency challenges. How do industrial business leaders stay current while managing growth and casting vision for the future? The answers could be found in a learning environment, but never before has there been a place for continuing education in the industrial business arena. UNTIL NOW…

The INDUSTRIAL ACADEMY IS HERE. Finally there is a clearinghouse for all things industrial to assist the business leader. Course offerings provide up-to-date applicable information in business development, technology, finance, operations and leadership presented in an engaging, movement-oriented manner by those in the know. These professionals don’t just talk the talk. They walk the walk with purpose and passion for building not just the industrial business but also the people who make things happen.

The Industrial Talk Podcast family looks forward to learning and growing with you!

When I was in elementary school, our teacher would show us films of industrial professionals making our lives better. For me, these films instilled the passion for industry.

Today, industry has come along way from when I was a boy. It is innovative and focused on solving problems. In short, it’s really cool and exciting.

We need to teach children, around the world, and bring back the “Cool” and “Exciting” and why industry is a wonderful profession. That means we need industrial professionals to re-instill this industrial passion.

This is the Purpose of Industrial Pop. It is an online learning management platform (LMP) dedicated to educating our youth in the ever expanding and innovative world of industry. We also provide this LMP for our teachers to share with their class.

These are very exciting times for industry and we must begin educating our future and it starts with you. If you are interested, please contact me at: https://industrialtalk.com/contact/ and just let me know that you are interested in positively impacting our future industry leaders.