energy & technology

Tenorio said the data center is unique in that it offers so many pathways. Someone can start in one field and explore other options. They encourage employees to bring their whole self to the table.

“Working closely with partners across different teams naturally creates conversations and opportunities for growth or for change,” Tenorio said. “There are neat pathways which allow you to come in at that entry-level and continue to grow, and that helps to boost the community as a whole.”

Improving Community Resilience Through Tech Programs

The National Environmental Modeling & Analysis Center at UNCA is an applied tech program that has spawned a unique startup business.

Currently in its 20th year, NEMAC began as a partnership with NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center (now NCEI). NEMAC initially focused on developing tools and methods to help decision-makers in government, business, and academia access and use NCDC’s vast amounts of climate data, and over time, the program’s mission expanded to include a broader range of environmental data and decisionmaking contexts and has been self-funded by various projects during its existence.

Dave Michelson, Software Designer for NEMAC, said the program’s projects and clients can vary widely. Though they all center around the idea of resilience in some way, a lot of those resilience ideas center around environmental change.

NEMAC works with cities and counties to explore vulnerabilities and develop climate continued on next page