For this month’s Smart City Spotlight, we sat down with Jomari Paguia, Operations Supervisor at the San Diego Convention Center, to hear how his lifelong passion for technology led him to Smart City Networks. A San Diego native and SDSU grad with a degree in Computer Engineering, Jomari brings both technical precision and a team-first mindset to one of our busiest and most high-profile venues. In our interview, we learned everything from how he’s played a key role in executing large-scale installations like ESRI, to how he was once invited to try out for the USA national team for the rhythm game ‘Osu!” (where he was once ranked in the top 100 in the country)!
In this interview, he shares his favorite event moments, what makes the San Diego team culture so unique, and why teamwork and learning through mistakes are key to success. Jomari Paguia, this is your Spotlight!
Hi Jomari! Thank for your time. Let’s start with your background. Have you always been passionate about Technology or did that come later?
J: I graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor’s in Computer Engineering. I’ve always been around technology and electronics, tinkering and learning ever since I was little. It all started with playing video games as a kid, like a lot of folks in IT, then eventually I branched out into software development and hardware design.
That’s neat! So what drew you to Smart City?
J: The first thing that attracted me to Smart City was the locality. I am a born and raised San Diegan, and working with a tech company in my hometown was always the goal. I had an interest in Networking and Smart City was kind enough to give me the opportunity to explore that.
What does a typical day look like for you?
J: The first thing I do when I arrive at the center is check my calendar, Aesop, and emails. I like making sure I’m ahead of things, being aware of the functions for the day. During installation days, I like to have a plan for the installation process. Since we’re a bigger center and generally have fairly large shows, I want to make sure our techs are aware of what our priority booths/rooms are, as well as any special concerns that a particular show may have. I’m not afraid to put my technician hat on, having been a tech for a year, so you’ll often find me working closely with our techs.
Do you have a favorite or rewarding part of your job? Why?
J: My absolute favorite part of the job is the people. We have a great team here in San Diego. Teamwork is a huge focus of mine, and it’s very satisfying when we execute a plan just like we drew it up. Everyone here is fun and easy to work with, they are easily a big part in why I love working at this center.
Do you have a favorite event so far? Why?
J: My favorite event is ESRI, or Environmental Systems Research Institute. It’s our most intensive show of the year, and careful planning is a requirement if we want the install and ensuing show to run smoothly. Last year, we were very successful in doing so, which was a very fulfilling and satisfying experience.
Can you share a moment where Smart City went above and beyond to support our clients?
J: It’s not a specific moment per se, but we always strive to go above and beyond for our clients. It’s very rare that we let a client know that what they need is not possible or feasible. We do our utmost to ensure that every client gets exactly what they need for their event. Beyond that, we look for ways to make it easier for them, whether it be optimizing their network setup, catching possible pitfalls, or having one of us reachable at any time for a quick response time.
How would you describe your team culture in San Diego?
J: The team culture and team dynamic here in San Diego is awesome. Everyone meshes together well; we’re always collaborating, talking, and sharing jokes. It’s super easy to tag team a task or an install because our team works so great together.
What do you like most about your convention center?
J: The types and sizes of shows we get. We’re lucky enough to host events like Comic Con, ASH, ESRI, Cisco Live!, and many other huge shows. They’re not just cool to attend and look around, but the installation process is very fun too. Seeing all the different setups and the ways they use our network infrastructure is fascinating.
Overall, are there any skills you’ve developed here that have surprised you?
J: One skill that I’m still proud to have, even though I don’t use it nearly as much these days is how well I can tape down a line. Nothing is more satisfying than stepping back and admiring a beautiful tape job of a huge booth with 30 patch cables.
Is there a specific achievement or contribution you’re particularly proud of?
J: I am super proud of not just myself, but our whole team for our work with ESRI 2024. That event is not an easy one, but we were able to install it very efficiently, with very little hiccups. Our team did an awesome job all around, and I’m proud to have been a part of that.
What advice would you give to new hires who are starting with Smart City?
J: Don’t be afraid to make mistakes! Learning is how you get further in a job like this. I was still very green to networking and event setup when I started, but I wasn’t afraid to ask questions and make mistakes.
And lastly, what’s something fun that people might not know about you?
J: This might be super niche, but I was once invited to try out for the USA national team for the rhythm game ‘Osu!’. Back in my university days I was ranked top #100 in the country. I am not quite at that level anymore, haha.
We want to thank Jomari Paguia for taking the time to reflect on his journey with our company! To read more Smart City Spotlights, check out our blog!
