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Speakers and Panels

Data Center Operations for Today and Tomorrow: Challenges, Innovations & Leadership

Dan Ephraim

Dan Ephraim

VP

PointOne Data Centers

Jack Funchion

Jack Funchion

VP

Digital Realty

Patty Anderson
Moderator

Patty Anderson

VP, Data Center Solutions

BGIS

Jack Funchion

VP

Digital Realty

Jack Funchion is the Vice President of Sales, Global Financial Services at Digital Realty. Jack and his team support the data center and interconnection needs of the largest US and European banks throughout the Digital Realty global property portfolio. Over the past 18 years Jack has worked with every major financial institution including investment, commercial and consumer banks, brokerage firms, asset managers, hedge funds, financial exchanges and market data providers. These companies rely on Digital Realty to supply enterprise-grade data center capacity in all major financial marketplaces around the world: New York/New Jersey, Chicago, London, Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Sydney.

Jack is a frequent speaker and/or panelist at financial industry technology conferences, webinars, and podcasts.

Jack began his career many years ago working for former Wall Street titan EF Hutton and over the years has filled many roles in data center operations, management and consulting. Jack is a Philadelphia native but has been based in New York City for his entire multi-decade career. He has, of course, always remained a loyal fan of the Eagles and Phillies.

Patty Anderson

Moderator

BGIS

Patty Anderson is a seasoned business development leader with over 25 years of experience in technology solutions, energy optimization, and smart building systems. Currently Vice President of Business Development at BGIS, she specializes in leveraging AI, machine learning, and energy-saving technologies to drive operational efficiency. Patty's career includes leadership roles focused on cooling management systems for data centers and driving energy optimization for industrial and healthcare facilities. She has provided high-performance technology solutions and implemented smart building strategies throughout her career. With a passion for improving operational performance, Patty is committed to advancing technology solutions in critical environments.

Operability at Scale: Engineering Resilient Data Centers with Next-Generation Cooling

Vishnu Anasoori

Vishnu Anasoori

Electrical Field Engineer

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Tamara Budec

Tamara Budec

SVP, Implementation Services

Digital Realty Trust

Dave Meadows

Dave Meadows

Director, Technology

STULZ Air Technology Systems

Jacob Paugh

Jacob Paugh

Director

ChemTreat

Terry Rodgers

Terry Rodgers

VP, Design & Engineering

T5 Data Centers

Frank LeBlanc
Moderator

Frank LeBlanc

Account Executive

HVAC - NoVA | DC Metro Market, Johnson Controls

Tamara Budec

SVP, Implementation Services

Digital Realty Trust

Tamara Budec joined Digital Realty in April 2013 as VP Portfolio Operations. Since then, Tamara has held various roles in Operations, Design & Construction and Colocation Interconnection Service Delivery, with her current role as VP of Implementation Services. Prior to Digital Realty, Ms. Budec was VP Critical Systems and Engineering with Goldman Sachs & Co where she was responsible for risk management of the firm’s business critical environments and held various roles supporting service fulfilment including provisioning of compute and network infrastructure. Tamara has received BS (Dipl. Eng. Arch) degree from Zagreb University, Croatia and Masters from Cornell University.

Dave Meadows

Director, Technology

STULZ Air Technology Systems

David C. Meadows II has worked in data center cooling since 1999.  He is currently the Director of Technology with STULZ USA, a manufacturer of precision air conditioning, humidification, and dehumidification products specifically designed for the data center.  Previously David has served as both the Design Engineering Manager and the Applications Engineering Manager at Stulz.  David holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.  David is also a graduate of the United States Navy Nuclear Power School.

Terry Rodgers

VP, Design & Engineering

T5 Data Centers

Terry has over 40 years of progressive experience in Critical Facilities operations and management including strategic planning, critical infrastructure design, operations, and commissioning; business protection and recovery; preventive and predictive maintenance; technical training and professional training development.

Terry is an ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer and a voting member of ASHRAE TC9.9 "Mission Critical Facilities, Data Centers, Technology Spaces, & Electronic Equipment", ASHRAE SSPC 90.4 "Energy Standard for Data Centers”, ASHRAE SPC-127 "Method of Testing for Rating Computer Room Air Conditioners”, and GPC-1.6P “Commissioning Process for Data Centers”. He is on the Board of Directors of the 7x24 Exchange Carolinas Chapter. He is on the Board of Directors of the Building Commissioning Association’s Southeast Region and has authored or co-authored books, whitepapers, and presentations on Critical Facilities, facilities management, and formal commissioning. He has developed and taught multiple training classes in the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of critical facilities including commercial nuclear power plants, aerospace facilities, and large data centers.

Terry has performed site reliability assessments for more than 50 sites in over 20 countries and 5 continents. Terry writes a bi-monthly column in Mission Critical magazine called Sustainable

Operations.

Energizing Expansion: Meeting Data Center Power Demands in a Growing Market

Evan Pierce

Evan Pierce

VP, Site Development - Americas

EdgeConneX

Jim McDonald

Jim McDonald

Founder & Director, ENP Consultants, A Miratech Group

MIRATECH Corporation

Steven Mathews

Steven Mathews

Engineer

E-Finity

Andrew Vesey

Andrew Vesey

CEO

EdgePrimePower

Michael Mindell
Moderator

Michael Mindell

Senior National Account Executive

CPower Energy Management

Jim McDonald

Founder & Director, ENP Consultants, A Miratech Group

MIRATECH Corporation

As a Co-founder in 1992, and currently the Director of Environmental Impact at MIRATECH Corporation, Jim provides leadership, strategy and product design expertise for their Power Generation division. Jim rejoined Miratech Corporation in 2019 heading up the ENP Concepts consulting arm after management positions at Rypos Corporation and leading the environmental department at PowerSecure’s microgrid group. In charge of tracking all Federal, State and Local emissions regulations as they pertain to backup generators located at Datacenters in North America and Europe, he ensures MIRATECH’s products and services offer ongoing compliance. Mr. McDonald has testified before the Federal EPA numerous times and is considered a valuable stakeholder on several rulemaking teams at the State Level. For 15 years he has been an instructor for the Advanced School of the Electrical Generating Systems Association on the subject of Emissions from Diesel engines and has authored the textbook chapter on the same. He has a Patent Pending on the use of wire mesh DPF substrates in the pre-heating of SCR catalyst blocks. As the originator of the ‘GVU’ measurement parameter, Jim performs analyses to show the relative comparison on Ultraclean diesel generators versus grid supplied power. As such he advocates for the environmentally justifiable use of stationary generators until emerging renewable technologies are proven and cost effective. Jim holds a B.S in mechanical Engineering from the University of Delaware.

Andrew Vesey

CEO

EdgePrimePower

Andy Vesey is the CEO of EdgePrimePower, where he drives its Energy-as-a-Service

offering to provide reliable power solutions for data centers. He brings over 30 years

of leadership experience in utilities, power markets, and renewable energy to

EdgePrimePower. His proven track record of navigating complex operational,

regulatory, and technological challenges informs the company’s approach to

reliability and performance.

Before founding EdgePrimePower, Andy served as president and CEO of North

America for Fortescue Future Industries, focusing on green hydrogen. Earlier, he led

PG&E Company as president and CEO, steering it through bankruptcy while

implementing major safety, reliability, and technology improvements. As managing

director and CEO of AGL, he spearheaded the world’s largest residential virtual

power plant, deployed grid-scale battery farms, and launched a $3 billion renewables

fund.

Prior to that, Andy rose through the ranks at AES to become COO, overseeing

operations in 21 countries. He led initiatives to optimize portfolio performance and

integrate distributed energy and storage systems, efforts recognized with four

Edison Electric Institute awards.

Andy holds degrees in mechanical engineering and economics from Union College

and an MS in applied science from New York University. He co-authored Unlocking

the Benefits of Restructuring and contributed to The Virtual Utility: Accounting,

Technology & Competitive Aspects of the Emerging Industry. He has received the

S&P Global Platts CEO of the Year and Climate Alliance Business Leader of the Year

awards.

Why You Can't Miss This Conference

What You'll Learn: 

  • How operations leaders are addressing rapid technology changes, evolving customer needs, and workforce challenges.

  • Which innovations are improving day-to-day efficiency and resiliency in data center operations?

  • Best practices for managing high-density workloads and scaling infrastructure for AI.

  • Decision Points and Trade-offs in Selecting Air, Liquid, or Immersion Cooling for Modern Facilities.

  • Advanced automation, controls, and digital twins: their role in reliable, scalable data centers.

  • Strategies for ensuring uptime, risk mitigation, and optimizing operational performance.

  • Ways operators reduce cost and maximize energy efficiency in legacy and new centers.

  • Key approaches to securing reliable power amid grid constraints and market competition.

  • How utility partnerships and energy sourcing strategies are changing for expansion.

  • New tools and workforce training methods for maintaining top-performing teams.
     

How You’ll Do More Business From Attending This Conference:

  • Explore Emerging Tech in Action – Discover the tools and strategies—from advanced observability to cutting-edge cooling and energy management—that are driving operational transformation.

  • Engage with Real-World Case Studies – Learn how peers are deploying autonomous ops, sustainable cooling, and grid-aligned infrastructure in AI-heavy environments.

  • Compare Solutions Efficiently – See and evaluate the latest offerings from vendors under one roof, to identify the best fit for your evolving challenges.

  • Forge Strategic Collaborations – Cultivate valuable relationships with thought leaders, suppliers, and peers—building your network and uncovering new professional pathways.

  • Get Ahead of Regulatory and Sustainability Trends – Gain actionable insights to future-proof operations and position your organization competitively.

Who You’ll Network With:

  • Operations and Engineering Leaders – Connect with peer professionals leading the charge in AIOps integration, observability, and infrastructure resilience.

  • Cooling Innovators and Facility Managers – Engage with experts designing and optimizing the latest thermal solutions—from liquid systems to heat reuse ecosystems.

  • Power & Energy Strategy Specialists – Meet individuals shaping grid-responsive strategies and advancing sustainability in data center operations.

  • AI Infrastructure and Capacity Planners – Collaborate with those orchestrating high-density, AI-first data center environments and managing their unique operational demands.

  • Technology Vendors and Solution Providers – Browse the expo to meet service providers and vendors offering the tools and systems pivotal to modernizing data center reliability and efficiency.

Relevant News and Developments:

Are you an end user*?

Click here to be considered for a complimentary pass. *Hyperscaler, colocation provider (non-sales), investor, private equity, or enterprise tenant.

Why You Should Attend:

  • Data center operators now navigate challenges uniquely shaped by AI workloads, grid strain, sustainability mandates, and high-density cooling needs.

  • This is one of the few conferences where operations, engineering, cooling innovation, and energy strategy come together in a practical, integrated agenda.

  • The format combines hands-on technical insights with real-world solutions—offering both strategic vision and execution-ready guidance.

  • You’ll walk away not just informed, but empowered—with fresh ideas, industry context, and meaningful connections to elevate your data center operations into the future.

For questions or interests in becoming a speaker or sponsor, please email our global director, data centers, Adam Knobloch, at adam.knobloch@bisnow.com 

To request disability-related accommodations, please contact ally.araco@bisnow.com no later than seven business days prior to the event.

Agenda

Time Activity
1:00 PM
1:55 PM
Registration, Networking and Breakfast!
1:55 PM
2:00 PM
Opening Remarks
2:00 PM
2:40 PM
Data Center Operations for Today and Tomorrow: Challenges, Innovations & Leadership

As data centers take center stage in powering the digital economy, operations teams face an expanding array of demands and expectations. From rapid technology advances and sustainability targets to shifting workforce dynamics and customer priorities, the landscape is complex and constantly evolving. Leaders are responding with new strategies—embracing innovation, optimizing processes, and building resilient, high-performing teams. What are the key challenges operations teams must overcome, and how can they unlock the full potential of next-generation tools, talent, and practices to drive success now and into the future?

2:40 PM
3:10 PM
Networking Break!
3:10 PM
3:50 PM
Operability at Scale: Engineering Resilient Data Centers with Next-Generation Cooling

With construction timelines stretching up to 18 months and technology cycles evolving even faster, data center operators must build for flexibility and agility to keep pace with continual shifts in hardware and AI-driven workloads. Industry leaders are meeting these challenges by designing resilient, scalable infrastructures that can adapt to multiple generations of technology—leveraging advanced controls, automation, and integrating next-generation cooling solutions alongside other innovative strategies. As investment cycles tighten and operational demands intensify, what bold strategies will enable today’s facilities to stay future-ready, no matter how the landscape evolves?

3:50 PM
4:30 PM
Energizing Expansion: Meeting Data Center Power Demands in a Growing Market

As data centers accelerate their growth, reliable energy access is becoming a critical challenge and strategic differentiator, pushing operators to navigate grid limitations, strengthen utility relationships, and adopt innovative power sourcing strategies. With competition for electricity rising and new technologies reshaping the market, how are industry leaders securing the energy needed to fuel the next wave of digital infrastructure projects?

4:30 PM
5:00 PM
Post Event Networking!

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Media Partners

Impact Partner

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