Perspectives -- Featuring David Borrego, Director Network Engineering Systems, Verizon

David lives and breathes OSP engineering. He is so well respected that his neighbors call him to solve all types of troubles they have in their home -- telecom related or not! Read David’s approach to this and more.
OSP: Explain what you do for a living in 20 words or fewer.
David: My primary responsibility is to make the everyday lives of our global engineering, planning, and construction teams easier by delivering world-class system solutions and tools.
OSP: What is the favorite part of your job?
David: Implementing system solutions that enable Verizon to deliver best-in-class services and solutions to our customers.
OSP: When do you feel the most frustrated professionally?
David: I am most frustrated when I miss on a commitment that impacts my user community or a Verizon customer.
OSP: Fiber or Copper for the future?
David: If those are my only choices, fiber -- there is no question! But, I believe it’s going to be a combination of fiber and wireless solutions.
OSP: What are the qualities you like most in a colleague?
David: Integrity and commitment -- because they are at the core of who we are.
OSP: What treat do you keep hidden in your office/desk/truck that helps you through an OSP day?
David: Spare change -- that allows for a quick visit to the vending machine to pick up some chocolate when needed.
OSP: Where would you vacation if money were no object?
David: If money and time are no objects, I’d visit as many South American countries as possible.
OSP: What is the trait you deplore most in yourself?
David: Procrastination.
OSP: What is the trait you deplore most in others?
David: Lack of accountability for actions.
OSP: If you had only one OSP tool, what would it be?
David: A geospatial system with ubiquitous access to all the data I will ever need.
OSP: If you could change one thing about the OSP, what would it be?
David: Always improving the accuracy of OSP records and information.
OSP: What’s your favorite quote?
David: “The only limits are, as always, those of vision.” (James Broughton)
OSP: Tell us the funniest customer experience you’ve experienced, or seen, in the field.
David: All my neighbors know that I’m a Verizon employee. I have become the Verizon “answer man” for all questions or troubles with Verizon service to the point that I once had to break the bad news to a neighbor: When there is a commercial power outage in their home, neither the TV nor the PC will work very well, and it’s not their FiOS connection or service that is the issue.
OSP: Tell us how you got into telecommunications. By chance or plan?
David: It was by chance. Many years ago I was employed at a firm that developed software solutions and called on Verizon as a prospective client. I found the telecom industry fascinating and was fortunate to find employment at Verizon.
OSP: If you could ask your CEO one question, what would it be?
David: How can we best keep our competitive edge and develop the next-generation products and services that our customers find that they cannot live without?
OSP: If you could have your perfect job in telecom, what would it be?
David: Chief Systems Architect.
What’s your take on this subject? Leave a comment and get the conversation going.
