Employee Spotlight - Jim Kuhns

CommScope’s global team includes thought leaders who continuously contribute to their industries and the growth of CommScope. One such CommScope employee, Jim Kuhns, senior manager in program management, recently achieved a remarkable milestone of 40 years of membership with the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE), a non-profit professional association for the advancement of technology, standards and workforce education related to cable telecommunications engineering. SCTE awarded Jim its exclusive Emeritus Membership status in recognition of his continuous involvement and dedication and commitment to the cable telecommunications industry.?

Jim joined CommScope during the acquisition of ARRIS in 2020. In addition to his regular job responsibilities as a senior manager, he also has filled the role as a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) transport subject matter expert for the last eight years. “It’s a wonderful mix that involves field work, lab work, teaching and mentoring, working with our young engineers and working with our customers,” he explains.

Jim often serves as a mentor and a resource for new engineers starting with CommScope. He was a guest lecturer on HFC technology at RMIT University on behalf of CommScope and has travelled to different countries interacting with CommScope’s customers and local teams across the world.?

As for his journey as part of the SCTE, Jim was elected to the national/international Board of Directors in 1996. He then served as the Eastern Vice Chairman in 1997 and as the Society’s Chairman in 1999. In 2002, he was inducted into the SCTE’s Hall of Fame and was elevated to Fellow Member, an honor that only eight people in the 50 years of the Society have received.

“What made it even more special was that the Society, unbeknownst to me, had flown my mom and dad into San Antonio to be there for the presentation. The people I’ve met and the opportunities I’ve had through SCTE have definitely enhanced and furthered my career. I would strongly urge someone starting out in their career to get involved even at the local level. It’s a wonderful opportunity to ‘give back’ to your industry.”

Recalling one of his most memorable projects at CommScope, Jim spoke about the time when his team was embedded in a customer site, tasked with analyzing trouble tickets and then supporting the field engineers and techs remediating the issues. “It was a highly visible, high-pressure environment that required multiple skills. The young engineers I worked with did an incredible job for the customer. I was proud to be a part of the team,” he said.

CommScope’s global presence is a crucial aspect of our diverse team. “Our technology is great, but without a doubt, when I look at what I do the biggest thing is the people I work with. The diversity of our experiences, our cultures, is incredible,” says Jim about the culture at CommScope. A team that he was part of consisted of members from China, Nepal, India, Malaysia, Zimbabwe and the US. “Even though the project has wrapped up, and we have all moved on to new things, we still stay in touch and try to get together several times a year. I’ve had the good fortune to meet and work with some fantastic people throughout my career and I consider those relationships priceless,” he mentioned.

In his professional journey, Jim has had the opportunity to work with young engineers whose energy and enthusiasm keeps him excited about the work he does. “They keep me on my toes, they challenge me and they drive me to be my best.”

“Although my dad passed away in 2015, he was, and continues to be, my inspiration and mentor, both personally and professionally.”

An advice that he has for aspiring professionals is to “buckle in and get ready for a wonderful ride.”

“The biggest constant in our industry is change. Remember analog video, VCRs, CDs, DVDs, video stores? Going to the library or the encyclopedia to look something up rather than Google it? Remember when you had to be home at a certain time to watch your favorite TV show? I’ve seen the world change in ways that I never dreamed possible when I began my career and the same will be true for those young engineers who are just starting their careers. They’ll witness and be a part of changes that I can’t even imagine. I think that’s awesome.”

Jim has also made strides outside of the professional world, and quite literally! Besides being a scuba diver, Jim is a long-distance runner who has completed 33 marathons including New York, Boston, Great Ocean Road and Seoul. He has also done over 100 half marathons.

Jim also enjoys spending time with his family, travelling with his wife and keeping up with his kids and grandkids who are spread across the world.?

Jim’s passion and dedication to his work is an inspiration for us all, and we thank him for his commitment and continued contributions to the industry and to CommScope.

Join us and work alongside experts who are changing the industry to adapt and evolve through changing times. Explore opportunities with us at https://jobs.commscope.com/.?