Inside Commissioning

In this episode of Inside Commissioning, host Cal Blair sits down with Priya Velamakanni, Vice President of Commissioning and Construction Services at CPG, to explore her 20+ year journey through the mission-critical and data center industry.Priya shares how she accidentally discovered commissioning after graduating as a mechanical engineer and stepping into the world of data centers without even knowing what they were. From her early days as a project coordinator to leading large-scale commissioning teams, she reflects on how the industry has evolved from small megawatt facilities to today’s massive hyperscale developments.Together, Cal and Priya discuss the changing role of commissioning, the increasing complexity of data center projects, and why commissioning professionals are now becoming a critical voice earlier in the construction process.They also discuss:How Priya unexpectedly entered the mission-critical industry and built a long-term commissioning careerWhat commissioning really involves and why testing, validation, and attention to detail matterHow data center projects have evolved from megawatts to gigawatt-scale developmentsWhy commissioning has moved from an afterthought to a key driver of project successThe biggest challenges that cause commissioning issues on siteWhat makes a great commissioning professional and the transferable skills from other industriesThe growing talent shortage and how companies can build stronger commissioning teamsWhy flexibility and adaptability are essential for engineers entering the industryHow modular construction and factory-based testing could shape the future of commissioningThe importance of maintaining culture, teamwork, and connection while scaling globallyHow the industry can become more collaborative as demand continues to accelerateThe rise of women in mission-critical environments and how the industry is changingPriya also shares lessons from challenging projects, her approach to leadership, and why the best part of commissioning is that no two days or problems are ever the same.Connect with Priya Velamakanni: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priya-velamakanni-40a7453Links and ResourcesWebsite: www.baselinecx.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cal-blair-talent-

In the very first episode of Inside Commissioning, host Cal Blair sits down with Jeremy Curtis — commissioning leader, industry educator, and founder of ConstructandCommission.com for a deep dive into the world of commissioning and the rapidly evolving data center industry. Jeremy shares his journey from working as a mechanical engineer in the UK to building a successful commissioning career across Hong Kong and the APAC region. Along the way, the conversation explores the realities of modern commissioning, leadership, training the next generation of engineers, and how AI and automation could reshape the industry over the next decade. They also discuss:How Jeremy accidentally discovered commissioning through a conversation over lunchThe transition from construction into mission-critical data center projectsWhy data centers are putting more focus on commissioning than ever beforeThe inspiration behind ConstructandCommission.com and how it became a global resource for engineersThe growing talent shortage in commissioning and why experienced engineers are becoming harder to findThe importance of mentorship, self-learning, and soft skills for young engineersHow AI and automation may improve project delivery — and the risks of overreliance on AI-generated workWhy smaller firms have a huge opportunity to innovate and scale using technologyAdvice for engineers looking to build a long-term career in commissioningJeremy also shares personal stories from his early career, lessons learned from difficult projects, and his perspective on what truly makes a great commissioning professional.