 This is JSA TV and JSA podcast the newsroom for telecom and data center professionals I'm Dean Perine executive vice president at JSA and we are coming at you on location in beautiful, Miami, Florida at Metro Connect 2020 and I am here Tim. I'm going to say old friend for many many years mr. Tim Kaiser the former CEO founder of Colo ATL who is now serving as a consultant for Colo ATL and mr. John Ghirardelli. I got it right John Ghirardelli. He's the general manager of Colo ATL and director of us innovation for American tower Gentlemen, welcome to JSA TV. Thanks for having us. Yeah, you got it. Welcome again. You bet. You bet so Tim We mentioned that you former founder and CEO or I guess the current founder still former CEO of Colo ATL but serving more in a Consulting capacity. Why don't you tell our viewers a little bit about what that transition has been like for you? Well, the transition has been really well. Thank you for asking John and the guys at American tower were great and they Kind of mandated they wanted me to stay for six months as we all know American tower This is those first foray into buying a data center So they said if I would stay and help them and after six months. I said, I think you guys need a little more help And they said love to have you so It's been about It'll be a year now correct John. Yeah about a year and it's been really wonderful They the transition couldn't be smoother. They kept all my guys but Scott Nick. They love him to death They're doing great hired him on his employees and We've grown the company the employees are happy. It's been a wonderful transition We came down here to this wonderful event as well. No, I love this event I do You know, I've introduced John to you know, a multitude of people and our tenants. So transition I'd have to ask John if he's happy. I think the transition has been nothing but extremely smooth. Well, let's ask John John How's the transition been? No, so John you are a number of hats Currently, why don't you talk to our viewers a little bit about that transition? How things are going and a little bit more about what it is that you do Sure. Yeah, so the transition has been great. I mean Tim's a one of a kind world-class guy one of a kind Exactly. Yes And so it was uh, you know part of the reason why we looked at Kolo ATL was because of Tim, you know, he has the background experience knowledge From all facets of the business that we really thought would help us understand that asset You know, you mentioned a little bit about the two hats, right? So I I sit in our innovation and strategy team Focusing to try to identify new asset services solutions across the u.s An American tower with our global innovation platform. We're trying to do that Um, we kind of came into this opportunity with Kolo ATL. So now I'm also serving as the GM trying to fill Tim's shoes Yes, he's got some he's got some big shoes to fill Um, but it's been an amazing experience. We've learned a tremendous amount of that business You know, we come from more of the passive infrastructure world and this is our first foray into a little bit more of active management So, um, I couldn't have asked for a better teacher and and you know, we've been able to keep Tim engaged And uh, he continues to teach and learn every day. So let's talk about that from your perspective. This is your first foray into A data center co-location Why don't you tell our viewers a little bit about what kind of separates kolo atl apart from the competition? I'm going to ask you first and then we'll ask this guy over here I mean, I think a lot of it is what tim set up in the foundation that we have I mean the customer service the responsiveness the flexibility Is I think core right? Um, we put the customer first and always first and um That hasn't let tim down in the past and that's not let us down currently and I think the The location obviously the the design of the facility The reliability of the systems that tim put in place Um, and then also just the connectivity um that exists within those four walls I think you know all those attributes together Um really drive home a pretty interesting value proposition for our customers great tim Competitive differentiator for kolo atl go well for one I've always taught john and all the folks and um, I've said many times here. I don't have competition We don't have competitors always said, you know, if you can find a facility that doesn't charge you monthly We're occurring cross connects. We've never been out of power in almost 19 years since our existence not once We're great to our people. We don't charge remote hands. I said you name someone like that I have a competitor So I've always spoke to john and he had all the key points. I won't have to reiterate them all but Good customer service, you know, basically, um simply to sum it up treat them like family And uh, whether they're small a little or you know in the middle We treat them all the same treat them like family treat them like you care and don't forget about them And um, it's been a successful model. It's always been your motto since I've met you from from day one from day one So tim um from your seat your new seat now as a consultant Uh in the organization, why don't you tell our viewers a little bit about how, uh, you know Where do you see colorway t going over the next six months? Well in the next six months, I kind of wear a three hats form You know, I'm a professional engineer by trade So I still help them with the engineering when that's needed and then also I help bring new tenants So I'm kind of like a real estate agent. I try to bring folks in so You know, I'm helping them with the marketing and then the third will call the consulting And in the beginning, you know, it's probably 90 percent really needed help 10 percent and john's a quick learner in his crew Now it's more like I only have to spend 10 or 90 You know, the questions are getting less and less. They're learning very quickly So I see in the future that if they wanted to go in other endeavors that you know, I would and I could do this I still have my Kaiser consulting company. I will help them and evaluate other facilities it's just like a word for anyone else and um, hopefully just be a good spokesman and and let them know A product of what they had since they're looking to me for the expertise Great and john same question. What's next man? Yeah, I mean, I think we're going to continue to invest in a facility We've done a lot of stuff the past nine months. We've learned we haven't touched much We've continued to invest in the facility. We just opened up data center room four So I've got some new inventory to come online We're going to redo our website this year with you guys. So I think that's going to be exciting It's a good decision. Yeah, good decision, right? And um, I think we're going to just try to continue to carry on What tim did grow the business we'd like to you know, turn kolo etl and 55 marietta and uh Something that we can all look back over many years from now and be proud of I love it gentlemen. Thank you very much for being here tim. Uh, always great to see you john I'm pleasure to meet you. Absolutely. You bet you bet and one last word. Yeah, yeah Um, I just wanted to tell you all thank you jamie jsn a Thank you for all the support through all years with me. I'm not sure I'll get to do this often I just want to tell you from bottom of heart you guys are the best and I'm really happy that american tower Us thinks highly of you too and do doing good job You hear you heard it here first folks Um, thank you very much guys again and thank you viewers for watching jsa tv and listening to jsa podcast We will see you soon and happy networking