Every wonder what the digital cloud looks like or where it resides? Well for MHCC Alumnus, Jim Linkous, some digital clouds are right next to his Hillsboro office.
Linkous is the vice president/general manager for Infomart’s Western Region, a digital data center hosting clouds for such companies as LinkedIn, DELL and Pandora Internet Music.
As a leading high tech executive, Linkous has the pulse of the industry at his doorstep and says these are exciting times for Oregon.
“Google and Microsoft have just invested $350-million in submarine cables which cross the Pacific Ocean and terminate in Hillsboro. This project will change the technology landscape in Oregon for a couple of decades. Exciting times for our state and
workforce,” said Linkous.
A tour of Infomart’s 362,000 square foot Hillsboro facility reveals hundreds of servers all tied into the Internet and owned by a variety of companies. The facility is a giant cloud.
So how did this former MHCC student body president become such a successful leader in the field of high tech?
“Moving from the role of construction labor to high tech executive would never have occurred without encouragement and support from my educational mentors,” said Linkous
“I owe much of my success to Lyle LaPray, MHCC Student Government Advisor, Master Choi, MHCC Tae Kwon Do Instructor and Dr. Ha from Lewis and Clark College who I met on a City of Gresham Sister City Mission where I represented MHCC. As educators you
all make a huge positive impact to those you mentor.”
Linkous is now becoming a mentor as well, working with MHCC in introducing students to the field of high tech and the future of the cloud.