Behind the Data Center: The People Powering America’s Digital Infrastructure

When people think about data centers, they often picture massive buildings, advanced technology and the digital infrastructure powering everything from banking and healthcare to streaming and artificial intelligence. What often gets overlooked are the people behind those operations and the life-changing career opportunities these facilities create in local communities.

For many workers, careers in data centers offer something increasingly difficult to find: stable, higher-paying, predictable work that does not require a four-year degree or formal specialized training. Many employees come from industries where work can be seasonal, physically demanding, high-stress or inconsistent, including construction, automotive repair, aviation maintenance, military service and other hands-on technical trades.

At Oppidan Connect Data Centers, these careers are creating new pathways for skilled workers to apply their mechanical aptitude, discipline and problem-solving abilities in a rapidly growing industry. The work is steady, highly technical and offers long-term career potential in communities like Memphis and Des Moines, where these opportunities can have a meaningful local economic impact.

Professionals like Ian Montoya, Anthony Conte and Patrick Sawyer represent a growing workforce helping power America’s digital future.

From Service to Skilled Infrastructure: Ian Montoya

Before stepping into the data center industry, Ian Montoya served in the United States Air Force, working as a technician on AC-130 aircraft. His role required precision, discipline and the ability to perform under pressure, all skills that translate seamlessly into data center operations.

His military experience took him around the world, exposing him to different cultures and environments, while also shaping his technical expertise. Today, Ian applies that same level of focus and responsibility in his work at the Memphis data center.

Outside of work, Ian enjoys woodworking, cooking and exploring downtown Memphis, rooted in the very community his work now supports.

A Hands-On Career Path: Anthony Conte

Anthony Conte’s path reflects the kind of real-world, hands-on experience that defines many data center professionals.

Growing up, he worked alongside his grandfather in landscaping and construction, and spent time in the garage working on drag cars. That early exposure to mechanical systems evolved into a career when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Structural Mechanic.

Anthony worked on F-35 aircraft, eventually stepping into a supervisory role at a young age. After transitioning out of the military, he explored different industries, from automotive to mental health, before finding his place in data center operations in Memphis.

Today, Anthony’s technical background and leadership experience play a critical role in maintaining complex systems that power digital infrastructure.

A New Chapter in a High-Growth Industry: Patrick Sawyer

Patrick Sawyer’s journey into the data center field highlights the accessibility of this growing industry for skilled workers.

With an Associate’s Degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology, Patrick began his career working on aircraft systems before transitioning to a charter jet operation. After stepping away from that high-pressure environment, he explored other options, eventually taking a chance on a role in a Des Moines data center.

That decision opened the door to a new career path, one that still utilizes his technical skills but in a different, more sustainable environment.

Patrick’s experience reflects a broader trend: data centers are creating opportunities for workers with technical training to pivot into stable, well-paying roles without leaving their communities.

More Than Infrastructure: Economic Impact in Action

These individual stories reflect a larger reality: data centers are critical infrastructure and they are economic engines.

Data centers:

• Create high-skilled, well-paying jobs
• Provide career pathways for veterans and technical workers
• Support local economies through long-term employment
• Keep talent rooted in communities like Memphis and Des Moines

For many workers, these roles offer something increasingly rare: the ability to build a meaningful, stable career without relocating or changing industries entirely.

As demand for digital infrastructure continues to grow, so does the need for skilled professionals who can operate and maintain these facilities.

Because behind every server, system and connection is someone like Ian, Anthony or Patrick, bringing skill, experience and dedication to work that keeps our digital world running.