 Welcome to JSA TV. We're recovering the latest stories, trends and innovations from leaders in global connectivity, real estate, the channel and the networks within. Buffy Hierarchitis of JSA and joining me today is Steve Ward. He is the CEO of Care Gen. Steve, welcome to JSA TV. Yeah, thank you for having me and thank you to all the viewers out there looking forward to the interview. Yeah, absolutely. So Care Gen is a leader in helping organizations build affordable IT networks to empower solutions, empower success, and it's your first time here on JSA TV, right? Yes. Yes, most definitely. I'm excited. So I first heard about JSA TV. I was like, yeah, I definitely wanted to be a part of that. I think it's an exciting movement for sure. Yeah, we're excited to have you. So let's chat a little bit about yourself. I know we just heard that you were from Kansas City, Missouri. Yes, I know you didn't want to talk about that, Buffy, but yes, definitely proud of the hometown, Kansas City. Born and raised in that area. You know, it's a good small, a big city, I would say. Yeah, a winning city, too. So, any grads there on your chiefs? So let's talk a little bit more about Care Gen and how it solves, you know, these different challenges that are coming about in the industry, especially when it comes to IT networks. Yeah, yeah, I will. Thank you. Yeah, so I think when I very first started the company back in 2011, you know, I worked for a cable industry for 26 years of my life. So I really understood the broadband side of the world, the margins, if you will. And so we were acquired by a company. Some people made no sudden link, Optimum Now. It's so that really kind of opened up the idea to go into this world to help companies, you know, solve solutions. You know, have solutions for them, look at the data itself and understand like there is, you're probably, because you're so big, you don't even realize that you're overpaying a lot of times. So definitely going inside the walls. I started in the hospital medical field side. I found that was kind of a niche. I got to go and meet some wonderful CIOs and help them save, you know, a lot of money on their data side. And then we then we got into the C-CAS and we got into the U-CAS. And then also we're doing the Wi-Fi networks and we're talking cybersecurity. So all of it just kind of the moment of built. And you really got to understand that you're really helping solve problems and solutions that they never even knew that there was existed at the time. Yeah. Yeah. And now you are here today as your company is continuing to thrive and grow, especially in this world of AI, right? So it's a hot topic. It's a hot trend. I mean, you just were telling me a few minutes ago that you're not already implementing it, you're way behind the curve. So I want to give viewers a little bit more information about how your company is embracing AI and how you can support other organizations in their efforts to integrate AI into their networks. Yeah. The AI topic to me is one of those where if you're not embracing it already, you know, you definitely need to get on, you know, the train for sure. It's not like you have to like it. You don't have to really even necessarily understand it at this point, but you really need to start embracing it into how can it help me in my organization? You know, a lot of people, they think, oh, it's going to replace all these seats. I mean, it could do that, but it probably is going to also open up more opportunities for people to have jobs in an organization that are that are basing their knowledge on AI. So I basically went into AI thinking of, okay, I didn't necessarily understand it, but I really want to learn more about it because I know it can be helpful. We were already using AI, machine to machine learning has been around, you know, quite a while. So AI, to me, and again, this might not be the technical reason, but it's just machine to machine learning, you know, on steroids, if you will, and it's so quick and fast. And there's so many different avenues you can find a way that have AI help you in your day to day activities. I look as like a new hire, where you're training, you know, weeks and months at a time to try to make them a subject matter expert. AI is able to do that like within minutes, because they could have a conversation already come up, have a screen dictating exactly not not what to say, but how to say what the details need to be. So I'm excited for AI. And I hope everyone gives it a chance and learn a little bit more how to let it help. Yeah, how to embrace it, right? Yes, not going anywhere. No, it's definitely not going anywhere. I mean, it's here everywhere throughout the show. I mean, just about every conference that I've been at this year, it's the number one topic. So hot topic. Yeah. So I mean, I can't believe we're already about to round out the first quarter of 2024. I mean, that went by like that, right? Yes, it did. Yeah. So what exciting things you have on the horizon for the rest of the year? Yeah, I've been really fortunate. I got into this writing feasibility studies and helping write grants into on top of everything else that was going on in the channel. Like there's so many exciting things at the channel that could do for them. But I had an opportunity to work with the Yavapai Apache Nation out in Arizona. And I'm helping them build fiber networks into the reservation. Yeah, so it really makes me feel good that I'm able to go out and help. You know, I'm pretty sure the grant is probably going to come through and we're going to go build fiber to the home in a reservation where most people wouldn't even look to go build, you know, fiber and it's going to it'll change their lives. You know, we're going to create jobs, they're going to be their own, you know, MSP, if you will, you know, the read their own internet provider for all these things. So the community itself, the Tribal Council has been great to work with. And I hope that I can do that more and more into that. So now it's kind of my passion to go out and help these reservations and the Tribal Councils build fiber networks. That's really impressive. Thank you. Yeah, I'm excited to learn more and stay up to date on all these exciting developments that you have in putting the fiber into place in the bridging that digital divide. Yeah. And of course, we'll bring all, you know, we'll bring the the channel with us, right? We're going to need a lot of services and network and data. So all that's going to play into building them, getting them whole, creating jobs, and all along supporting the channel and what we do every day. Yeah, you can bring JSATV there. That's right. Absolutely how to do that. Launch that initiative when it's ready, maybe. I would love to do that. Sounds fun to me. Is there anything else you want to add? No, just, you know, Go Chiefs, I guess is it? Go Eagles. Anyway, it was so nice to meet you here, Steve. Thanks for sharing so much great information about that initiative that you're working on and bringing the fiber to those reservations. I think it's a very important thing that you're doing. And you're bringing the channel with you and maybe even JSATV. Oh, I'd love to have them come along. Absolutely. So that's amazing. So thank you for sharing that. More information about your company, CareGen, and all the great things that you're doing there and embracing AI, of course. Yes, absolutely. Thank you very much. And thank the audience for having patience to listen to me ramble on. Of course. So where can viewers go if they want to learn more? www.caregen, and that's with a G, not a J. So CareGenGroup.com. Steve, again, absolutely a pleasure to meet you today and to speak to you about all the great initiatives that you're doing. And thank you viewers for tuning in to another episode of JSATV live from Channel Partners 2024 in fabulous Las Vegas. Stay curious, stay connected and happy networking.