An early fascination with severe weather can lead to unexpected places. In the latest edition of UAA Newsline, Zak Hermans, Director of Business Development at XKIG, shares how that interest — along with experiences in theater, professional baseball, military contracting, and manufacturing — helped shape the skills and perspective he brings to the utility infrastructure industry today.
In his article, “A Career Shaped by Stages, Stadiums, and Storms,” Zak reflects on growing up in Tornado Alley and later experiencing hurricane seasons in coastal Virginia. Those experiences gave him an appreciation for the power of severe weather and the critical role infrastructure plays when communities are affected. His experiences in theater, professional baseball, military contracting, and manufacturing added another layer to that perspective, reinforcing the value of communication, teamwork, preparation, and problem-solving when navigating complex and unpredictable situations.
Those principles are reflected in our approach to helping utilities better understand and manage infrastructure challenges. Through storm-damage assessment, technology-enabled field support, consulting, and operational visibility, Canopy helps utility partners make informed decisions, improve preparedness, and build greater resilience into their programs.