There's More to IT

In the most recent episode of “There's More to IT,” host Jason Claybrook discussed the widespread exposure of Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, better known as PFAS, in various aspects of everyday life. His guest was Yuran Li, the director of MS Commercial Strategies at Alternative Biomedical Solutions — a Texas based laboratory. The two talked about just what PFAS is, and why the molecules' existence is harmful. PFAS is a manmade chemical that repels water and oil, which also makes it a highly preferable component for some commonly-used products. This can include cookware, food wrappings, and paint, according to Li. The first use of PFAS began in the 1940s, and it evidently found its way into various products due to its resistant qualities. And due to that fact, the initial inference of the safety of PFAS was misleading, per Li.“There is no natural occurrence of this type of molecule, and because everything gets repelled from it, there was always this assumption early on when it was invented, that it's harmless,” said Li. But decades later and after many studies, even by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it has been concluded the concerns regarding PFAS are major harm to the environment and living beings. PFAS does not break down into the environment the way other molecules can, which means it presents a different type of danger for the environment. And just based on bioaccumulation, PFAS' has found its way into every living organism, said Li. Current studies are still in the early stages of determining just how toxic PFAS can be to the human body, and what levels would be considered a cause for immediate concern. But there is a connection between it and other health issues, said Li. “Some of the early links were cancers, thyroid issues is one of the biggest ones being investigated at the moment, and pregnancy issues,” said Li.People with major thyroid problems and hormonal imbalances were shown to have a lot of exposure to PFAS, added Li. But he stated that the studies between PFAS and infertility is a growing concern that is taking precedence.Even more daunting is the formidablilty of PFAS. Being that it cannot break down environmentally, that also means it doesn't break down in the body either. Subsequently, the response for health issues or symptoms related to PFAS is basic treatment. But even treatment like chemotherapy or cancer medications can't break down the substance. Li joked that even diamonds aren't as long-lasting, and stated that PFAS is expected to be around for a long time due to the weight of effort that even needs to be made just to fully eliminate it. For example, if PFAS ends up in wildlife, it is expected to be there practically forever.“It will take millions of years before they would even begin to start breaking down — that's how strong that molecules' bonds are,” said Li. “Right now the only method really of getting rid of PFAS is really high heat incineration.”Only extremely high heat can destroy PFAS, but even if that method was widely utilized, it would create another domino effect of environmental issues such as harming the natural water supply.

In this episode of Theres More to IT, host, Jason Claybrook, sat down with David McLaughlin, President & CEO, Columbia Advisory Group. The two discuss McLaughlin's journey in the field, the importance of the advisory component in CAG's work, and CAG's role in higher education.McLaughlin co-founded Columbia Advisory Group a little over 10 years ago in March of 2012. “CAG is a technology company,” McLaughlin explains, “but first, we are an advisory. So what to do and how to do it are most important.”A lot of CAG's focus in the background is executing what the strategy is and then providing a roadmap for a company.This is especially true for some of the larger public sector organizations that CAG works with. McLaughlin explains that specifically, higher education organizations like to have more input and control over how quickly they change things. As a result CAG has learned to give these organizations a plan, allowing them to control how fast they want to go. “You know your mechanism and your institution more than anyone.”The two go on to discuss the role of security in higher education systems, the difference between public and private sectors, and much more.

In the latest episode of the podcast “There's More to IT,” host Jason Claybrook brings on his wife Niki, and diverges from technology to discuss maintaining healthy-eating habits, as more and more people return to work traveling as pandemic restrictions ease. As a holistic nutrition consultant based in Texas, Claybrook consults clients that have a variety of nutritional needs.She clarified that general nutrition and holistic nutrition greatly differ, with the latter specifically being a more targeted and all-encompassing method of nutritional wellness.Claybrook stated “holistic is looking at the whole person. So I am not just looking at your nutrition level, I am looking at your stress level, your sleep, and how you manage both — that go into your diet,” said Claybrook. Though food in general is important in managing day-to-day vitals, there are other important factors that come into play in its management. In fact, these factors often have as much, if not more priority in one's diet because they have to work in conjunction for overall success. "It matters because if you don't take care of stress and your sleep, your nutrition doesn't do its job. So the more you can manage your stress levels, the more you can manage your sleep, that will make your nutrition journey a little bit more effective,” said Claybrook.Claybrook stated that with all the processed foods and mass production, it is an uphill challenge to maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, with proper education and understanding of what your body needs, a suitable nutrition plan that will keep you physically and mentally nourished is ideal. But for those who have to travel for work, maintaining a standard can be difficult. But Claybroook recommends what she describes as 80/20 – a ratio of healthy and not-so-healthy foods. By having mostly healthy eating habits, and incorporating a small part of your diet to unhealthy foods, it won't have a major effect that could set someone off course.Eating out isn't as much a problem as it is the portion sizes given. She advised that getting ahead of how much you consume is key to staying on track to the typical recommended portion sizes. Her solution is reserving a portion of your meal for another time.“I tell a lot of clients … to basically ask immediately for a to-go container, and basically take half of what's on their plate, put it in a to-go immediately, and then set it off to the side. So you're not tempted to eat it,” said Claybrook.Claybrook advocates for prioritizing whole foods over everything. She found success in helping one of the couple's daughters discover the source of her constant migraines and anxiety concerns. By effectively eliminating gluten, foods with certain dye colors, and other ingredients, their daughter's migraines reduced and she was anxiety-free. She described that a lot of health issues correlate with someone's personal nutrition, but the holistic view is the direction for efficiency.

In the latest episode of the podcast “There's More to IT,” host Jason Claybrook brings on his wife Niki, and diverges from technology to discuss maintaining healthy-eating habits, as more and more people return to work traveling as pandemic restrictions ease. As a holistic nutrition consultant based in Texas, Claybrook consults clients that have a variety of nutritional needs. She clarified that general nutrition and holistic nutrition greatly differ, with the latter specifically being a more targeted and all-encompassing method of nutritional wellness.Claybrook stated “holistic is looking at the whole person. So I am not just looking at your nutrition level, I am looking at your stress level, your sleep, and how you manage both — that go into your diet,” said Claybrook. Though food in general is important in managing day-to-day vitals, there are other important factors that come into play in its management. In fact, these factors often have as much, if not more priority in one's diet because they have to work in conjunction for overall success."It matters because if you don't take care of stress and your sleep, your nutrition doesn't do its job. So the more you can manage your stress levels, the more you can manage your sleep, that will make your nutrition journey a little bit more effective,” said Claybrook.Claybrook stated that with all the processed foods and mass production, it is an uphill challenge to maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, with proper education and understanding of what your body needs, a suitable nutrition plan that will keep you physically and mentally nourished is ideal. But for those who have to travel for work, maintaining a standard can be difficult. But Claybroook recommends what she describes as 80/20 – a ratio of healthy and not-so-healthy foods. By having mostly healthy eating habits, and incorporating a small part of your diet to unhealthy foods, it won't have a major effect that could set someone off course.Eating out isn't as much a problem as it is the portion sizes given. She advised that getting ahead of how much you consume is key to staying on track to the typical recommended portion sizes. Her solution is reserving a portion of your meal for another time.“I tell a lot of clients … to basically ask immediately for a to-go container, and basically take half of what's on their plate, put it in a to-go immediately, and then set it off to the side. So you're not tempted to eat it,” said Claybrook.Claybrook advocates for prioritizing whole foods over everything. She found success in helping one of the couple's daughters discover the source of her constant migraines and anxiety concerns. By effectively eliminating gluten, foods with certain dye colors, and other ingredients, their daughter's migraines reduced and she was anxiety-free. She described that a lot of health issues correlate with someone's personal nutrition, but the holistic view is the direction for efficiency.

Toby Buckalew, Interim CIO, Columbia Advisory Group, is a leading technology strategist with over thirty years of industry experience. Jason Claybrook sat down with Buckalew for an in-depth discussion on his career and insights into the current state of IT management.Buckalew witnessed plenty of technology evolution and innovation during his lengthy career in IT. And he feels lucky that he's been able to implement those technology changes as they've occurred. It keeps life exciting and fresh, and it's one of many reasons he loves what he does.“Where I've been successful is helping a company understand technology's not just a service center,” Buckalew said. “It's a valuable strategic asset for you if you leverage it correctly.”To achieve that success, Buckalew said organizations needed to have the right people on the technology bus who understand the importance of technology's role. The head of technology for an organization is no longer someone behind the scenes; they are an integral voice inside the company that drives strategy.As a consultant, Buckalew is often called upon to get companies into alignment. To do that, he incorporates what he calls his seven pillars of technology. “It's looking at everything based upon seven core elements. It's a framework that's been successful for me.”Some of those elements include people, which Buckalew said often gets overlooked at organizations. It's essential to look at the people's skills within the organizations and recognize the talent lurking beneath the shadows. And once established, the organization needs to put the proper processes in place for their people to be successful and give them the tools they need to do the job.

Yuran Li, Director, MS Commercial Strategies, Alternative Biomedical Solutions (ABS), is a biochemist by training. Still, his fascinations with physics, math, and probability have led him down some interesting paths, including some stints in the professional poker world. Lucky for ABS, he chose the science route.Cannabis is a schedule 1 drug classification by the U.S. Federal government. As more and more states legalize it, there is a growing need for reliable testing to ensure the safety and potency of cannabis products. ABS is one of the pioneers in cannabis method development and testing. Li spoke with Jason Claybrook on some of ABS's activities surrounding Cannabis.Any product that people consume goes through testing to ensure their safety. “Cannabis is unique in that it's ultimately a weed,” Li said. And it can prove quite a challenge to cultivate because the plant can soak up a lot of pesticides and other elements used for pest control. “Additionally, the Cannabis plant itself also uptakes quite a lot of heavy metals, things like arsenic and lead.” Accumulation of these pollutants can harm humans, so accurate testing is essential.Some of the testing ABS does on Cannabis is to look for micro toxins, like mold and soil pollutants. And from a marketing and regulatory standpoint, they test for potency. In some cases, testing can help ensure that a strain grown for CBD does not contain THC. One challenge Li cautioned is every state has different guidelines, and it is essential to understand the laws governing each state where Cannabis sales are allowed.Another aspect of lab testing that is becoming more and more important for Cannabis is label testing. As with craft beers and whiskey, labels need to back up their product's claims. Testing ensures the strain offered on the label is the strain received by the consumer.

Yuran Li, Director, MS Commercial Strategies, Alternative Biomedical Solutions (ABS), is a biochemist by training. Still, his fascinations with physics, math, and probability have led him down some interesting paths, including some stints in the professional poker world. Lucky for ABS, he chose the science route.Cannabis is a schedule 1 drug classification by the U.S. Federal government. As more and more states legalize it, there is a growing need for reliable testing to ensure the safety and potency of cannabis products. ABS is one of the pioneers in cannabis method development and testing. Li spoke with Jason Claybrook on some of ABS's activities surrounding Cannabis.Any product that people consume goes through testing to ensure their safety. “Cannabis is unique in that it's ultimately a weed,” Li said. And it can prove quite a challenge to cultivate because the plant can soak up a lot of pesticides and other elements used for pest control. “Additionally, the Cannabis plant itself also uptakes quite a lot of heavy metals, things like arsenic and lead.” Accumulation of these pollutants can harm humans, so accurate testing is essential.Some of the testing ABS does on Cannabis is to look for micro toxins, like mold and soil pollutants. And from a marketing and regulatory standpoint, they test for potency. In some cases, testing can help ensure that a strain grown for CBD does not contain THC. One challenge Li cautioned is every state has different guidelines, and it is essential to understand the laws governing each state where Cannabis sales are allowed.Another aspect of lab testing that is becoming more and more important for Cannabis is label testing. As with craft beers and whiskey, labels need to back up their product's claims. Testing ensures the strain offered on the label is the strain received by the consumer.

The pandemic has had a major impact on the oil industry, from competitors flooding the market to changes in consumer behavior that led to drilling companies cutting rigs and employees. With the industry slowly returning to normal attention is shifting to security concerns for this critical infrastructure. To discuss trends in the industry and the importance of security, Rob Bartley, Exploration and Product Support for Matador Resources Company joined hosts Jason Claybrook and Simon Lok.The recent ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline, one of the largest US fuel pipelines, has brought energy infrastructure security to the forefront of conversations in the energy industry. “The fact that a gigantic multi-state oil pipeline could get hit that easily, clearly shows that there was no interior design architecture or defense against attack in that entire system,” Lok said.Companies must look for real solutions that aren't just ‘security theater' such as firewalls which can make a system feel more secure when in fact it still has multiple vulnerabilities. According to Lok, the answer is starting with a better network design and architecture that is tailored to a company's goals for its systems. This evaluation of security requires risk assessment and thinking about how things can go wrong. “Those aren't nice thoughts and people don't like to have them, and yet, at the same time, the entire Eastern seaboard found out that one pipeline carries 45% of their fuel,” Bartley said.Knowing the risks and evaluating the vulnerabilities in network architecture are the first steps in making systems more secure even if updating comes with increased costs. Claybrook, Lok, and Barley share their insights into security and what companies can be doing to strengthen their networks as cyberattacks become a more real threat than ever before.

The function of a city government has the most direct influence on residents and how that municipality manages budgets, revenue streams, and technology matters. To offer insights on how such a body functions, There's More to It host Jason Claybrook conversed with Greg Giessner, City Councilman, and Steve Dye, Deputy City Manager, as well as co-hosts Simon Lok and Reid Estreicher. They both serve Grand Prairie, a city in the greater DFW area and home to around 200,000 citizens.First, Giessner explained the upcoming bond vote. “It's an economic development tool we've never had before. It would allow us to issue bonds for development projects for hotels, a conference center, restaurants, and revitalize downtown. It allows us to be competitive.”“We're a city that operates more like a business, and we're always looking to generate revenue streams outside of property tax” -Greg GiessnerIt's an economic development tool we've never had before. It would allow us to issue bonds for development projects for hotels, a conference center, restaurants, and revitalize downtown. It allows us to be competitive.”Dye also spoke about the power of technology in driving a city forward. It's been a critical tool for law enforcement. “It improved efficiency and responsiveness but also offered savings. The immediate data entry is one key thing. We're working smarter with technology because you can't always throw people at the problem.”The other aspect of technology is access. Dye noted the city is exploring options with the school districts about providing broadband for underserved communities. The pandemic and pivot to remote schooling were the catalysts for these considerations. “Connectivity is necessary for basic functions.”

There's More to IT is back, and hosts Jason Claybrook and Simon Lok continued exploring the foundational questions about the technology driving us forward.This time, the hosts were once again joined byRob Bartley, Exploration and Product Support for Matador Resources Company for a discussion on a hot topic in the world of currency – crypto.The cryptocurrency industry has come a long way from the days of early Bitcoin mining, with companies and even governments around the globe accepting cryptocurrency in place of fiat currency. Though the implications of cryptocurrency, blockchain and more are exciting, there are also challenges and uncertainties surrounding its growth, from the sustainability of mining operations to the volatile nature of markets.The landscape is often difficult to navigate, with actual mining operations creating new transactions on the blockchain, apps like Robinhood making it simpler than ever to invest in the currencies as pseudo “stocks,” shifting values, “meme” currencies and more.For now, mining operations can be made from nearly anything, from the largest industrial installations to make-dos powered by solar panels and boat batteries storing energy to power graphics cards mining Ethereum.Listen to the entire episode to learn more about the hosts and Bartley's opinions on what lies ahead in cryptocurrency.

Why do we build the stuff we build? What's behind the scenes? Where are we falling short or putting revenue first?On this episode, the trio dove into the relationship between personal challenges and growth and the solutions that often present themselves to challenges companies of all sizes face.For example, Estriecher brought up the concept of “pilot purgatory,” which refers to efforts to solve a problem for the market that result in a fantastic concept, but ultimately never exit that initial planning stage.For example, consider IoT devices. There's no opposition to the idea that it's poised to change connectivity forever, but what's the best way to go about developing solutions that are scalable, repeatable and feasible?“You can always convince a few people to take a look,” Lok said. “There will always be a few people who can see the benefit over the things that are going wrong. … That's how you end up in what [Estriecher] is describing.“But if I want to go and actually turn this into a commercially viable product, those people are not enough.”

The pace of technological innovation and adoption is quicker than it's ever been. In fact, it's likely fair to call it breakneck.However, the rush of chasing the latest and greatest is no excuse to avoid the fundamentals. In fact, failing to pay attention to the little things is a recipe not only for stagnation, but for regression and wasted dollars.On this episode of There's More to IT, hosts Jason Claybrook, Simon Lok and Reid Estreicher dove into the overarching topic of new and exciting technologies – and how to ensure your organization is making the most of them.Particularly for organizational leaders, choosing which new technologies have staying power worth investing in is critical. For example, parts of the world are using 16Hz internet, which is pending approval in American – once approved, will it make sense for most businesses to adopt it?"If you talk about technology but don't understand the science behind whats going on, every decision that you make will be flawed." - Simon LokIgnoring the details of technology adoption, rollout and implementation, Claybrook said, is as good as “setting money on fire,” and that's a price no organization can afford in a global landscape shifting faster than any period in recent memory.Tune in to the entirety of this episode of There's More to IT for more front-line insights about the drivers behind solid IT investments, examples that show the perils of making a wrong turn (or, in this case, writing the wrong check), and more.

There's More to IT is back, and hosts Jason Claybrook and Simon Lok continued exploring the foundational questions about the technology driving us forward.This time, the hosts were once again joined byRob Bartley, Exploration and Product Support for Matador Resources Company for a discussion on a hot topic in the world of currency – crypto.The cryptocurrency industry has come a long way from the days of early Bitcoin mining, with companies and even governments around the globe accepting cryptocurrency in place of fiat currency. Though the implications of cryptocurrency, blockchain and more are exciting, there are also challenges and uncertainties surrounding its growth, from the sustainability of mining operations to the volatile nature of markets.The landscape is often difficult to navigate, with actual mining operations creating new transactions on the blockchain, apps like Robinhood making it simpler than ever to invest in the currencies as pseudo “stocks,” shifting values, “meme” currencies and more.For now, mining operations can be made from nearly anything, from the largest industrial installations to make-dos powered by solar panels and boat batteries storing energy to power graphics cards mining Ethereum.Listen to the entire episode to learn more about the hosts and Bartley's opinions on what lies ahead in cryptocurrency.

The pace of technological innovation and adoption is quicker than it's ever been. In fact, it's likely fair to call it breakneck.However, the rush of chasing the latest and greatest is no excuse to avoid the fundamentals. In fact, failing to pay attention to the little things is a recipe not only for stagnation, but for regression and wasted dollars.On this episode of There's More to IT, hosts Jason Claybrook, Simon Lok and Reid Estreicher dove into the overarching topic of new and exciting technologies – and how to ensure your organization is making the most of them.Particularly for organizational leaders, choosing which new technologies have staying power worth investing in is critical. For example, parts of the world are using 16Hz internet, which is pending approval in American – once approved, will it make sense for most businesses to adopt it?“If you talk about technology but don't understand the science behind whats going on, every decision that you make will be flawed.” – Simon LokIgnoring the details of technology adoption, rollout and implementation, Claybrook said, is as good as “setting money on fire,” and that's a price no organization can afford in a global landscape shifting faster than any period in recent memory.Tune in to the entirety of this episode of There's More to IT for more front-line insights about the drivers behind solid IT investments, examples that show the perils of making a wrong turn (or, in this case, writing the wrong check), and more.

The pandemic has had a major impact on the oil industry, from competitors flooding the market to changes in consumer behavior that led to drilling companies cutting rigs and employees. With the industry slowly returning to normal attention is shifting to security concerns for this critical infrastructure. To discuss trends in the industry and the importance of security, Rob Bartley, Exploration and Product Support for Matador Resources Company joined hosts Jason Claybrook and Simon Lok.The recent ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline, one of the largest US fuel pipelines, has brought energy infrastructure security to the forefront of conversations in the energy industry. “The fact that a gigantic multi-state oil pipeline could get hit that easily, clearly shows that there was no interior design architecture or defense against attack in that entire system,” Lok said.Companies must look for real solutions that aren't just ‘security theater' such as firewalls which can make a system feel more secure when in fact it still has multiple vulnerabilities. According to Lok, the answer is starting with a better network design and architecture that is tailored to a company's goals for its systems. This evaluation of security requires risk assessment and thinking about how things can go wrong. “Those aren't nice thoughts and people don't like to have them, and yet, at the same time, the entire Eastern seaboard found out that one pipeline carries 45% of their fuel,” Bartley said.Knowing the risks and evaluating the vulnerabilities in network architecture are the first steps in making systems more secure even if updating comes with increased costs. Claybrook, Lok, and Barley share their insights into security and what companies can be doing to strengthen their networks as cyberattacks become a more real threat than ever before.

The function of a city government has the most direct influence on residents and how that municipality manages budgets, revenue streams, and technology matters. To offer insights on how such a body functions, There's More to It host Jason Claybrook conversed with Greg Giessner, City Councilman, and Steve Dye, Deputy City Manager. They both serve Grand Prairie, a city in the greater DFW area and home to around 200,000 citizens. First, Giessner explained the upcoming bond vote. “It's an economic development tool we've never had before. It would allow us to issue bonds for development projects for hotels, a conference center, restaurants, and revitalize downtown. It allows us to be competitive.”Most city income is directly from property and sales taxes, but that's limiting, which is why the city proposed the bond. This revenue could be significant to what Dye said is the goal of any city, which is “to provide high-level daily services to citizens that allow for a good quality of life.”“We're a city that operates more like a business, and we're always looking to generate revenue streams outside of property tax,” Giessner notedDye also spoke about the power of technology in driving a city forward. It's been a critical tool for law enforcement. “It improved efficiency and responsiveness but also offered savings. The immediate data entry is one key thing. We're working smarter with technology because you can't always throw people at the problem.”The other aspect of technology is access. Dye noted the city is exploring options with the school districts about providing broadband for underserved communities. The pandemic and pivot to remote schooling were the catalysts for these considerations. “Connectivity is necessary for basic functions.”