Everything Alejandra Moreno and Joel Pacheco do is centered on community, collaboration, and connectivity — from routing traffic to and from the MEX-IX, to peering relations and education with networks around the world.

The two, who work together at MDC Data Centers in McAllen, Texas, first met while attending NANOG 70. We spoke with them recently about the role of empathy and a shared sense of purpose in staying connected during a pandemic; translating passion into action through one's professional work; and the importance of teamwork and mentorship in growing and evolving a career.