Please join NewStream Enterprises (NSE) and its employee owners in congratulating Cole Kerby on his recent promotion to IT technician II! Originally from Kansas City, Cole earned bachelor’s degrees in computer science and mathematics from SBU before joining the NSE team in 2023 as an IT technician.
Justin Beitlich, NSE’s director of information, says, “Cole has been a key player in the success and momentum of our IT Team. Cole is continually seeking ways to refine our campus technologies and enhance the end-user experience. I’m excited to see what the future holds for him and where we can collectively take NewStream.”
Read on to learn more about Cole, including what his guilty pleasure snack is.
NSE: Describe what you do for work day-to-day.
Cole Kerby: My day starts with a morning checklist to ensure all systems are running smoothly—this includes checking servers, switches, access points, and websites. After that, my focus shifts to troubleshooting support tickets and working on a variety of IT projects. I handle tasks like managing the phone system, deploying and configuring iPads, and supporting infrastructure upgrades. No two days are exactly the same, which keeps things interesting and gives me the chance to continually learn and adapt.
NSE: Describe something you worked on recently that you’re proud of.
CK: I’ve been working closely with the engineering team to get our new auto baggers up and running. It’s still a work in progress, but it’s been a time-consuming project with plenty of challenges. That said, it’s incredibly rewarding—there’s nothing like troubleshooting for hours and finally figuring out a key piece of the puzzle. Once everything is fully operational, this system will significantly improve efficiency and bring long-term benefits to the company.
NSE: What’s your favorite part of working at NSE?
CK: Without a doubt, the people. I’m lucky to be part of an amazing IT team that makes every day enjoyable. I also really value the relationships I’ve built with the end users we support. It’s rewarding to work in an environment where collaboration and connection are encouraged.
NSE: What do you like to do in your free time?
CK: I’m really into volleyball, basketball, and pickleball—I rotate between them depending on the season and what’s available. I also love movies. I have the Alamo Season Pass, so I try to catch almost every new release that hits theaters and review it afterward.
NSE: What’s your guilty pleasure snack and dessert?
CK: My favorite snack has to be Hot Cheetos. I can go through a bag way too quickly. When it comes to dessert, anything Oreo is my kryptonite.
NSE: Do you have a nickname? If so, what’s the story behind it?
CK: People in another department started calling me “Colson” one day, totally out of the blue. They said it just had a nice ring to it, and it stuck. Now it’s kind of become my unofficial name whenever I’m around that team.
NSE: What’s a surprising fact about you?
CK: For some reason, I can say the alphabet faster backward than I can forward. I actually taught myself how to do it one day when I got really bored during a long drive to Kansas City. It started as a random challenge to pass the time, and now it’s just one of those weird skills I can’t unlearn.
NSE: What’s something you’re working on that you’re excited about, or a work goal you have?
CK: I’m currently working toward several professional development goals, including earning certifications that will help me grow in my IT career. I’m especially excited about expanding my knowledge of cybersecurity.