We are excited to welcome Mike Wade as a first-time delegate at the upcoming Mobility Field Day event in July! Mike owns the wireless consultancy company Kahuna-Fi, which he started after 20+ years working as a WiFi consultant after leaving the U.S. Navy. You can see more about Mike on Twitter at @WirelessKahuna, on the Tech Field Day Website, or at his personal blog, https://www.kahuna-fi.com/blog. Without any further ado, let’s learn a little more about Mike!
How did you get into technology and IT?
When I got out of the Navy, I found out that I had to go back to school to continue to do what I was already doing, fixing airplanes. I re-assessed my options. Being in Silicon Valley at the time (’92), I decided to see what this computer thing was all about. After fifteen years of being a generalist, an opportunity presented itself to specialize in Wi-Fi. I took it and haven’t looked back.
What do you do now? Tell us a little about your current role.
I own and operate Kahuna-Fi. We are value-added resellers specializing in Wi-Fi professional services.
What are your biggest challenges currently?
Keeping up with the tech is a challenge but in a good way. Learning new things helps keep you fresh. In this business, you can’t afford to rest on what you think you know, there is always more.
Where do you see IT going in the next three to five years?
More cloud, less hardware, more coding by non-coders. Or more likely, non-coders becoming coders.
What was your first computer? What was great about it? What is your go-to computer now?
My first computer was a Macintosh Performa in ’93. Many computers later, I use a MacBook Pro. It is a great platform for wireless engineers. I hope they get packet capture using the native wireless NIC straightened out on the M1 and beyond.
How do you manage your work/life balance?
There is no work-life balance; work is a part of life, and life is a part of work. Understanding this is the key to a happy life. It really helps if you enjoy your work.
If you weren’t working in IT, what would you be doing instead?
Airframe & Powerplant mechanic. I was headed that way until I caught the IT bug. I still look up whenever I hear an airplane, which is unfortunate since I live in the approach pattern of a pretty big airport.
I suppose becoming a wireless engineer was inevitable. Now I look up whenever I go into a building to see what’s going on with the Wi-Fi.
What do you do in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies?
Not a lot of spare time, but I love to travel, kayak, hike, & SCUBA dive when there is. I was a drummer/percussionist for a few years.
What are you most excited about seeing at the event?
MFD6 will be my first Field Day. As a long-time fan, I will be most excited about what goes on behind the scenes. It will be nice to have an opportunity to interact directly with the various vendor reps and present feedback on their announcements. Meeting up with peers is always good. Being in a group of like-minded individuals will be refreshing.
What is the coolest thing you’re working on right now?
Depending on the day, an historical USN submarine, a Bio-med manufacturing facility, a winery or an MLB ballpark.
Who inspires you?
My grandfather served in WW2. Lately, I have been into the inspirational stories of selfless dedication from that time in history.
As a child, what did you want to do when you “grew up”?
I grew up in the Pacific islands, I was too busy being a kid to think about what I wanted to do when I got ‘old.’ It most certainly wasn’t going to be anything in the IT field, I had no exposure.
What is your favorite thing about what you do?
Being able to walk into a job where the ‘wireless network sucks’ and make it not suck. Sometimes you get the feeling that the customer thinks you are some sort of wizard. With the right tools and knowledge, it’s just Wi-Fi.
I get to travel to places that I might not normally get to see. I try to take some time exploring new places. I like to find a museum or go to the downtown area to see what makes these places special. I love to wander around a good aviation museum when I get a chance.
If you won the lottery and could retire, what would you do with your time?
Have deeper experiences when I travel. I want to be somewhere long enough to learn about the culture, people, and surroundings. A weekend tacked on to the end of a project isn’t nearly long enough.
Thank you for sharing, Mike! We are excited to have you on board as a delegate and hope that passion for learning will come through at Mobility Field Day!
Mike will be attending July’s Mobility Field Day as a delegate, so be sure to tune in to see him in action!
