Getting to know datacenter employees: Jason Kinchelow
Microsoft’s success depends on our people. We are proud to introduce some of the talented folks in your community who work in our global datacenters. Discover what inspired them to pursue a career in the tech industry, the different pathways they pursued, and what a day in the life of a datacenter employee looks like.
Introducing Jason Kinchelow
Datacenter Technician
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Employee since 2020
Early days
Jason Kinchelow was born in Denver, Colorado, and raised mainly in the San Francisco Bay Area, living there for 30 years before returning to Denver. He was very interested in music, playing saxophone and any other instrument he could get his hands on, and also enjoyed martial arts. Jason also played a lot of video games, which opened up his fascination with technology.
The path to technology
Jason had a strong role model in pursuing a career in technology; his mother pursued her degree in computer information systems when she was in her mid-40s. After eight years as an oilfield worker, Jason decided to go back to school at Laramie County Community College, soon learning about a scholarship available through Microsoft.
Jason received the scholarship, which turned into an internship and ultimately full-time employment at the Cheyenne datacenter. He says, “I call myself the luckiest man because I decided to get into IT. I took some classes, and six months later, I work for Microsoft!”
Superpowers
Jason likes the challenge of keeping up with service level agreements and loves tackling a to-do list. “I keep a handwritten list of sometimes 30 things on it. I really enjoy crossing those things off and at the end of the day, I can see my contribution. It’s measurable.” He knows the importance of meeting and exceeding customer expectations through hard work.
Jason’s biggest recommendation to those considering a career in technology is to just get started and to work hard. He’s looking forward to the opportunity to mentor other folks in the future since he’s been in their shoes.
A day in the life
Each workday is different for Jason. “I will be whatever Microsoft needs me to be. Some days it’s networking tasks. Some days it’s changing a component inside 30 different servers. Every day is something new and I appreciate that.”
Favorite Childhood Food
Barbecue.
Jason fondly remembers his mom’s barbecue—the best he’s ever had. Barbecue also meant family gatherings. Now Jason’s using his smoker to hone his own skills.
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