Commissioning From Every Side of The Table with Priya Velamakanni
About this episode
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 career • What commissioning really involves and why testing, validation, and attention to detail matter • How data center projects have evolved from megawatts to gigawatt-scale developments • Why commissioning has moved from an afterthought to a key driver of project success • The biggest challenges that cause commissioning issues on site • What makes a great commissioning professional and the transferable skills from other industries • The growing talent shortage and how companies can build stronger commissioning teams • Why flexibility and adaptability are essential for engineers entering the industry • How modular construction and factory-based testing could shape the future of commissioning • The importance of maintaining culture, teamwork, and connection while scaling globally • How the industry can become more collaborative as demand continues to accelerate • The rise of women in mission-critical environments and how the industry is changing Priya 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-40a7453 Links and Resources Website: www.baselinecx.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cal-blair-talent -
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