Sometimes, the best career move isn’t the one you originally planned. It’s the one that reveals a new way to put your experience to work. 

After three years on the road as a Class A over-the-road truck driver, Gunner Rubay was ready for a new challenge. He wanted a career that would push him to learn, give him room to grow, and keep him thinking. 

In February 2025, he joined DataBank as a Data Center Operations Technician. As he gained experience and advanced to Technician II, he began exploring what might come next. He initially had his sights set on becoming a Data Center Manager (DCM), drawn in part to the opportunity to work closely with customers.  

Through DataBank’s Corporate Mentorship Program, Gunner connected with Steve Callahan, Executive Vice President of Sales. Their conversations introduced him to another side of the business — and helped him see how his operational experience and interest in solving customer problems could translate into account management. 

Today, Gunner is beginning a new chapter as an account manager supporting the eastern region, bringing firsthand data center experience to his work with customers. 

His path offers a look at how mentorship and connections across the business can help employees discover new opportunities while bringing valuable perspective to customer relationships. 

Here’s Gunner’s story, in his own words. 

A Plan, a Mentor, and an Unexpected Detour

“After visiting 42 states in three years of over-the-road trucking, I decided it was time to find a career that would challenge me, help me grow, and, most importantly, keep my brain fueled. So, I traded the open road for a different kind of journey. 

“When I walked into my first mentorship meeting, I had one goal: Find the fastest route to becoming a DCM. I had applied for the position just six months after joining the company, so I was ready to understand what it would take to get there. 

“What I didn’t expect was to take a few detours along the way. 

“Steve, an amazing human and mentor, introduced me to a side of the business that was heavily focused on the customer. Ironically, that was exactly what had attracted me to the DCM role in the first place. I knew I had the technical skills but I quickly discovered that what I really enjoyed was solving customer problems, working through challenges, and figuring out how to make things happen.”  

Discovering a Different Side of the Business

For Gunner, exploring account management meant stepping into unfamiliar territory. 

“Then came sales, a world I knew almost nothing about. In fact, when I started, I barely knew what an account manager was. My entire sales career consisted of a little over a month selling cars in 2019, where I sold exactly one car and then left because the business model wasn’t for me. 

“Steve helped me see B2B sales in a completely different way. It wasn’t just about making a sale; it was about building relationships, earning trust, understanding customers, and creating long-term value. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed it.” 

That shift in perspective helped Gunner see how the experience he had already built in logistics and data center operations could serve him in a customer-facing role — bringing an operational perspective to his work with customers.  

Rather than following the career path he originally envisioned, he found an opportunity to apply his skills in a new way. 

The Value of Staying Open to What’s Next

Looking back, Gunner sees his mentorship experience as an opportunity to learn more about DataBank, explore his strengths, and rethink what his future could look like. 

“Looking back, I started this mentorship trying to find the fastest route to one specific position. Instead, I ended up learning more about the business, discovering what kind of work energizes me, and realizing that sometimes the best part of the journey is the detour. 

“My advice: Know what you want to accomplish, find a mentor who can help you get there, and then stay open to where the journey takes you. Show up ready to learn, ask questions, and build a genuine connection. You might just discover a path you didn’t expect.” 

Building Careers Through Connection

Gunner’s experience with DataBank’s Corporate Mentorship Program shows how connections across the business can help employees recognize new ways to apply their skills. 

The program supports professional growth through mentor-mentee partnerships, with an emphasis on learning, confidence, skill development, and taking ownership of one’s career. 

Gunner began with a specific career goal. Conversations with a leader outside his own function helped him explore another possibility — one that connected his operational experience with his interest in working with customers. 

As Gunner moves into account management, he brings firsthand familiarity with the data center environment his customers rely on. His role is changing, but the experience he gained in operations remains part of what he brings to the relationship. 

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