State of Northern Virginia and Top Tier Markets: Dynamics, Challenges and Future Growth

• 

  Michael Lee

  Michael Lee is a Managing Director at GI Partners and focuses on asset management and property management within GI Partners’ Real Estate investments. Prior to joining GI Partners, Mr. Lee was with Digital Realty where he focused on development, management, and leasing of data centers. Previously, Mr. Lee led New City Corporation’s asset management team in Tokyo as the Senior Vice President. Prior to that, Mr. Lee had roles with Situs, Hines, and various hospitality groups. He served in portfolio management, asset management, and other operational capacities domestically as well as internationally for multiple types of commercial real estate, including office, multifamily, and hospitality.

  GI Partners

  Managing Director

  Michael Lee

  Managing Director

  GI Partners

• 

  Art Lickunas

  Art Lickunas is a veteran of the real estate industry, having dedicated the past two decades to the craft. His expertise spans continents, with successful land development projects across both the United States and Europe. Art’s real estate portfolio includes a diverse range of investments, including data center sites, commercial properties, office buildings, and multiunit residential developments. As Co-Founder of Gigaland, he leads the identification and delivery of shovel-ready sites near high-capacity power infrastructure, focusing on zoning, entitlements, and utility coordination. His deep market insight and hands-on experience make him a trusted partner for data center developers and hyperscalers looking to scale efficiently and at speed. Earlier in his career, Art founded and led Keller Williams Realty Dulles, a full-service real estate brokerage. Under his leadership, the firm grew into one of the region’s top- performing offices, with over 100 real estate professionals and an annual transaction volume exceeding $300 million. A graduate of Kaunas University of Technology in Lithuania, Art brings an international perspective and entrepreneurial spirit to every project.

  Gigaland

  Co-Founder

  Art Lickunas

  Co-Founder

  Gigaland

• 

  Tara Risser

  Tara Risser is the Chief Business Officer at Cologix and is responsible for leading corporate development, analyzing key markets and trends and building new partnerships to evolve our post-customer deployments. Risser also drives market expansion and strategic partnerships, focusing on key growth areas like interconnection, AI and hybrid cloud while optimizing our asset portfolio. Additionally, Risser leads our corporate strategy for expansion into new markets. With 25 years of experience in the data center, IT, telecommunications and construction industries, she has held leadership roles in go-to-market programs, strategic planning, corporate development, integrations, customer success and transformational programs. Before Cologix, Tara spent nine years at Equinix, most recently as President of the Americas, where she was responsible for management, strategy and growth throughout North and South America. She also served as the Senior Vice President, Global Customer Care and Experience at Equinix, helping to broaden the organization’s range from reactive support to proactive engagements. Before Equinix, Tara spent over 14 years in customer-facing roles at Level 3 Communications, including leadership positions in sales effectiveness, integration, sales engineering and customer care. As a champion for diversity and inclusion, Tara is deeply engaged in efforts in the corporate world and the non-profit sector to support women’s and human rights, including serving as a board member for Shadhika, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to gender equality in India. Tara holds an M.S. in business from the University of Colorado and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire.

  Cologix

  Chief Business Officer

  Tara Risser

  Chief Business Officer

  Cologix

• 

  Shawn Ronda

  Shawn Ronda focuses his practice on commercial real estate transactions and digital infrastructure transactions. Shawn guides clients through virtually all aspects of real estate acquisitions and dispositions as well as finance, leasing, and real estate development, with an emphasis on real estate development for data center, student housing, mixed-use, and retail projects both in the Chicago area and throughout the United States. Shawn regularly represents developers, operators, institutional clients, private equity companies, investors, and joint venture partners. Shawn regularly advises clients on portfolio transactions across a wide variety of asset classes. He also advises clients with respect to the real estate related aspects of mergers and acquisitions, regularly handling the negotiation of asset purchase agreements and merger documents, as well as the implementation of related due diligence strategies and activities. Shawn is committed to serving the local community, having served on the Program Committee of ULI Chicago, and the Associate Board of the Chicago Committee for Minorities in Large Law Firms. Shawn currently serves on the Board of Directors of Family Rescue Inc., and the Development Committee of the Chicago Bar Foundation.

  Greenberg Traurig

  Shareholder

  Moderator

  Shawn Ronda

  Shareholder

  Greenberg Traurig

Data Center Supply Chain, Capacity Planning and Procurement: The Biggest Challenges Impacting Supply Chain, Innovative Solutions To Keep Up With Demand and Building Resiliency

• 

  James Edington

  As Vice President at DMA, James Edington provides strategic oversight and thought leadership for the firm’s Transaction Tax practice. He leads DMA’s western U.S. Transaction Tax team, working closely with Fortune 1000 clients across a wide range of industries—including a strong focus on the data center sector. James guides teams on sales and use tax recovery, audit defense, and tax planning strategies that help clients reduce liabilities and increase efficiency. James also oversees DMA’s Tax Advisory Group, which delivers high-level consulting on nexus, taxability, and transaction tax automation—key areas for companies navigating the unique challenges of multi-jurisdictional data center operations. He regularly advises data center developers and operators on exemption eligibility, site selection considerations, and incentive optimization. His cross-functional collaboration ensures DMA’s

  DuCharme, McMillen & Associates, Inc.

  VP

  James Edington

  VP

  DuCharme, McMillen & Associates, Inc.

• 

  Chrissy Olsen

  Award-winning sales and leadership expert Chrissy Olsen brings over 30 years of experience in thetechnology and data center industry. With a deep understanding of data center infrastructure, operations, and the challenges of modern scalability, she delivers an insightful narrative about the ups and downs of disruptive technologies in this high-stakes sector. Chrissy is dedicated to ensuring her teams and colleagues develop the sales and leadership strategies they need to succeed in this rapidly evolving marketplace. Chrissy began her career in infrastructure construction, later founding her own technology design firm, which she scaled and merged with a larger organization. She leveraged this experience to launch and lead multiple data center business units globally, establishing herself as a critical resource in assessing and enhancing industry expertise and bringing consistency to complex data center projects around the world. Her expertise spans key aspects of data center design, deployment, and operational efficiency, making her avaluable asset in navigating the intricacies of mission-critical infrastructure. Widely regarded as an expert on customer engagement and retention within the data center industry, Chrissy helps businesses align their service delivery with evolving customer expectations. Her leadership has consistently contributed to the successful execution of large-scale projects, ensuring reliability, uptime, and seamless integration across data center environments. Chrissy is also a passionate advocate for advancing women in technology and the data center industry. She is actively involved with organizations such as iMasons, Women in Tech, Women in BICSI, and Women in Entertainment, pushing for greater opportunities for women in these fields. Oh, and did we mention Chrissy is Italian? That means she brings a spirited personality, quick wit, a love for the stage, and an unmistakable flair to her presentations—often accompanied by lively hand gestures! Chrissy knows how to command a platform, engage with an audience, and offer thought-provoking leadership that leaves everyone learning something valuable and new at each event.

  GCG

  VP, Data Centers

  Chrissy Olsen

  VP, Data Centers

  GCG

• 

  Piotr Pikul

  Piotr Pikul co-leads McKinsey’s Project Development & Value Improvement practice with particular focus on data centers. Piotr has extensive experience across the manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, and infrastructure sectors, specializing in enhancing project delivery and driving significant cost savings. His areas of expertise include capital project strategy, engineering, procurement, and construction execution. Piotr is based in Toronto.

  McKinsey & Company

  Partner

  Piotr Pikul

  Partner

  McKinsey & Company

• 

  Francis Sheng

  Co-Founder & CFO

  Power and Data Management

• 

  Haynes Strader

  Haynes Strader brings 8 years of real estate experience, with 7 entirely focused on mission critical facilities. Haynes spent the majority of his career as a data center site selection, acquisition and disposition expert, completing more than 200 transactions totaling more than 250 MW in 26 global markets since 2015. Haynes joined the Skybox team in January 2021 and leads the site selection and acquisition team in tandem with the sales and marketing process. Relevant experience: • Chief Development Officer, Skybox Datacenters • Vice President, CBRE Data Center Solutions • Senior Manager, HfS Research Mr. Strader continues to participate in a number of data center professional organizations including Infrastructure Masons, GLG, BWG, and 24x7. His expertise is often relied on by investors and users alike as they approach new strategies in the data center space. Mr. Strader is a graduate of Southern Methodist University and serves on SMU Dedman College Executive Board and the SMU Folsom Institute Associates Board.

  Skybox Datacenters

  Chief Development Officer

  Haynes Strader

  Chief Development Officer

  Skybox Datacenters

• 

  James Grice

  James Grice, co-leader of the global Data Centers and Digital Infrastructure Team, works with clients in high-growth potential industries, advising on transactions and projects around the world. Beyond his deep experience in general commercial real estate, Jim has distinguished himself in the data center and renewable energy sectors. No matter where his clients need him - or what they need - Jim skillfully pairs his intimate understanding of project finance with his exceptional experience with tax incentives to help clients structure deals to their best advantage. Public companies, REITs, private equity firms and real estate companies of all sizes rely on Jim to help them efficiently and effectively work through the many facets of their complex projects. Whether it be addressing state and local tax issues or working through the maze of entitlements, permitting and environmental approvals, Jim adeptly guides clients to great results.

  Akerman

  Chair, Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure Practice

  Moderator

  James Grice

  Chair, Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure Practice

  Akerman

Connectivity Beyond Speed: Smarter AI Network Development & Management

• 

  Dagi Berhane

  Dagi provides architecture/design, engineering and construction leadership / expertise to internal and external resources for the delivery of IT capacity for greenfield, brownfield, retrofit and lease delivery projects globally. His deliverables include data center site selection, managing efforts of land technical due diligence, engineering/designing/constructing the building shell/core, power, cooling, telecom, and controls infrastructure, environmental and building permitting all to align with Salesforce’s IT capacity roadmap for critical infrastructure builds, M&A, migration, optimization, decommissioning and leases.

  Salesforce

  Sr. Director, Global DC Architecture & Engineering

  Dagi Berhane

  Sr. Director, Global DC Architecture & Engineering

  Salesforce

• 

  David Dunn

  David Dunn is COO of H5 Data Centers. Mr. Dunn has nearly 15 years of experience managing significant growth and delivering outsized returns on investment in the Internet infrastructure space. Mr. Dunn most recently served as vice president at the Zayo Group where he was responsible for managing the wavelength and mobile infrastructure business units. Prior to Zayo, Mr. Dunn was senior vice president at CoreSite where he held leadership roles in mergers & acquisitions, leasing, marketing and strategy. Before joining CoreSite, Mr. Dunn held roles at several private equity firms including The Carlyle Group and J.E. Robert Companies. Mr. Dunn earned a B.S. in Finance from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

  H5 Data Centers

  COO

  David Dunn

  COO

  H5 Data Centers

• 

  Hunter Newby

  Hunter Newby is an American entrepreneur, investor, conservationist and the owner of Newby Ventures. His primary field of interest has been network infrastructure. As Co-Founder, Chief Strategy Officer and a Director of Telx, he pioneered the carrier-neutral Meet-Me-Room and the development of carrier hotels and data centers in the United States leading to massive value creation and economic development throughout the Country. Since the sale of Telx he has been and continues to be a founder, developer and investor in the creation of multiple network-neutral infrastructure businesses all across North America. Mr. Newby is a recognized authority in the network-neutral interconnection and data center industry. He has served on multiple company boards, is a published author, public speaker and has been quoted in several publications including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and USA Today. He has also been the recipient of numerous awards including being named to the Global Telecoms Business Top 40 Under 40 in 2010. Mr. Newby earned a B.S. in Communications from Drexel University.

  Newby Ventures

  Owner

  Hunter Newby

  Owner

  Newby Ventures

• 

  Mitch Densley

  Mitch Densley is a principal solutions architect at Opengear, helping companies design secure management networks with Smart Out of Band™️ technology. With deep expertise in cybersecurity, network security, and technical training, he applies zero trust principles and defense-in-depth strategies to help organizations achieve network resilience. A problem solver who simplifies complex concepts, Mitch prioritizes customer success and thrives on collaboration with Opengear’s talented team.

  Opengear

  Principal Solutions Architect

  Moderator

  Mitch Densley

  Principal Solutions Architect

  Opengear

Site Selection, Permitting and Lease Negotiation: Navigating the Early Phases of Development and Where to Build Next

• 

  Brian Chen

  Brian is the Vice President at Stewart Title’s National Commercial Services group, where he and his team provide title insurance solutions for complex transactions across the United States. With over ten years of experience in the energy sector, Brian specializes in development, construction, and operations. He is an active member of the Houston community, co-founding the Renewable Energy Alliance (REAL) Houston and serving on its Board of Directors. Before his career in the energy industry, Brian served in the U.S. Army and completed a tour in Afghanistan.

  Stewart Title

  VP

  Brian Chen

  VP

  Stewart Title

• 

  Dan Ephraim

  VP

  PointOne Data Centers

• 

  Maria Poyer

  Maria is the Head of Acquisition at Verrus, leading efforts to grow digital infrastructure through strategizing, sourcing, negotiating, and acquiring new sites. Verrus, a data center platform launched by Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners (SIP) in 2024, is focused on reimagining data centers as active energy assets by integrating behind-the-meter generation and storage, positioning data centers as critical players in transforming energy systems. As a full-service developer, owner, and operator, Verrus is building a national platform across primary and emerging data center markets. With a strong background in land development and acquisition, Maria most recently served as Senior Acquisition Manager on Microsoft’s Infrastructure Planning & Acquisition team, overseeing land sourcing, site selection, and contract negotiations. She has been involved in over $5.6 billion in real estate transactions, expanding logistical and digital infrastructure for Amazon and Microsoft, and has also held key roles at JLL, Bank of America, and Amazon, where she helped scale Amazon’s real estate portfolio and logistical network. Passionate about community-building and inclusion, Maria serves as a board member of CREW Seattle, while remaining actively engaged in key data center industry conferences to drive collaboration and diversity within commercial real estate and digital infrastructure.

  Verrus

  Head of Acquisition

  Maria Poyer

  Head of Acquisition

  Verrus

• 

  Patrick Quante

  With over 25 years of industry leadership as a Professional Engineer at Bowman, Pat Quante serves Mission Critical clients by bringing unparalleled expertise in the planning, design, and construction of commercial, and mission-critical infrastructure. For the past decade, Pat has specialized in the development of over 50 mission-critical projects, collaborating with top-tier data center developers in Virginia, South Carolina, Texas, and beyond. His comprehensive industry insights and strategic leadership have played a pivotal role in positioning Bowman as a premier force in data center development. With a reputation built on precision, innovation, and results, Pat continues to drive industry-leading solutions that shape the future of mission-critical infrastructure.

  Bowman Consulting

  Principal

  Patrick Quante

  Principal

  Bowman Consulting

• 

  Terry Rennaker

  Partner

  Eagle Rock Partners

• 

  Mark Looney

  Mark focuses on representing property owners and national, regional and local developers in all aspects of the land planning, zoning and development process. He serves as a strategic adviser and guide to help secure the necessary approvals required for office, retail, industrial, data center, mixed-use, residential, healthcare, hotel and large planned community projects.

  Cooley

  Partner

  Moderator

  Mark Looney

  Partner

  Cooley

The Case for Edge Data Centers: Are We Ready for Edge Infrastructure Build Outs?

• 

  Christopher Abramo

  Christopher Abramo, PE, LEED, Founder, Professional Engineer with over 18 years of experience in project management, construction management, and engineering design, with specialization in the design of modular high-density data centers over the last 8 years. Mr. Abramo has lead design and construction teams, including managing project schedules, budgets, and quality. Additionally, he specializes in the design of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems for new and existing buildings. Assignments have included the design and construction of private, commercial, healthcare, municipal, transportation, mission critical data center facilities, and government agency projects. Project sizes have ranged up to $50M for individual project. Mr. Abramo has a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from State University of New York at Fredonia and Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology

  Mod42

  Founder

  Christopher Abramo

  Founder

  Mod42

• 

  Kanan Joshi

  Kanan joined CVC DIF (formerly DIF Americas) in 2021 and is based in New York. She is managing the New York office, is co-head for the firm in North America and Global Head of Digital Infrastructure. Kanan was appointed to partner on the 1st of October 2023. Kanan is recognized within the infrastructure industry as an expert in telecoms, including data centres and fibre. Prior to joining CVC DIF, she worked at private investment firms Upper Bay and Digital Bridge, where she was part of the team leading data center investments. Prior experience also includes roles at JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank advising companies across North America, LATAM and Asia and execution of high-profile M&A and capital raising transactions. Kanan holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Mumbai and an MBA from the University of Chicago

  CVC DIF

  Global Head of Digital Infrastructure

  Kanan Joshi

  Global Head of Digital Infrastructure

  CVC DIF

• 

  Kirk Mettam

  Kirk Mettam is Senior Vice President of T. Y. Lin an international infrastructure firm. He has been involved in the practice of structural engineering and architecture throughout his professional career of over 40 years. Through his firm, Mr. Mettam represents a larger collaborative consisting of engineers specializing in advanced methods of planning for infrastructure (mobility, power, water, data) as well as building technology. Mr. Mettam’s building experience extends to a wide variety of structure types, including data center and lab buildings for government and private institutions, residential/ mixed-use, higher education and cultural facilities. Mr. Mettam has particular expertise with adaptive re-use of existing buildings ranging from early vintage structural systems through those used in the ‘mid-century modern’ era and current construction techniques. Mr. Mettam has maintained active participation in the industry through his involvement with boards, committees and technical publications, and in academia, teaching courses in structural engineering and architectural technology.

  T. Y. Lin

  SVP

  Kirk Mettam

  SVP

  T. Y. Lin

• 

  Doug Recker

  Doug Recker is a renowned telecommunications industry veteran with over 30 years of experience successfully delivering multi-access Edge Data Center (“EDC”) and colocation services now leads the Duos Edge AI subsidiary’s initiatives to provide EDCs to remote districts, including schools and health facilities. Mr. Recker is responsible for managing, designing, implementing, and deploying EDC Infrastructure across the US for our client sites. He founded Edge Presence in 2017, which was sold to Ubiquity in 2023, and before that, he founded Colo5 Data Centers LLC, which was later acquired by Cologix, Inc. in 2014. The company installed over 40x TM2500s into power plants around the world. Throughout his career, he has achieved several accolades, including Northeast Florida’s Ultimate CEO Award by the Jacksonville Business Journal, and the owner of one of Florida’s fastest-growing companies and one of Inc. Magazine 500 fastest-growing companies nationwide, he was awarded the Best CEO award in 2013 by BizTech Innovations, and he was also listed in Jacksonville’s Business Journal Top 40 under 40 in 2010. Mr. Recker is also a widely recognized thought leader, speaking at key industry events where he shares his vision, industry knowledge, and overall market strategy. Before his success in the Data Center industry, Mr. Recker was a telecommunications expert at the beginning of the fiber/telecom industry, leading and supporting sales teams. Mr. Recker served in the United States Marine Corps, where he learned the value of developing a strong team and leading those teams throughout his entire career.

  Dous Edge AI

  Founder & President

  Doug Recker

  Founder & President

  Dous Edge AI

• 

  Drew Unger

  Drew leads the commercial efforts at Polargy. He has a decade of experience providing infrastructure to the mission critical market and leading teams to achieve optimal results for the customer. Prior to joining Polargy, Drew was leading sales at DAMAC, where the majority of his time was spent in the hyperscale space creating custom tailored products. He thoroughly enjoys working within the space and is excited to watch the continued growth and new faces join as we all scale.

  Polargy

  EVP

  Drew Unger

  EVP

  Polargy

• 

  Robert Gangi

  Robert Gangi serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of ESI Total Fuel Management, a company specializing in diesel fuel filtration and lifecycle management for mission-critical operations. Previously, Bob led RG Consulting Services, providing strategic guidance across various industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, trades, technology and cybersecurity, non-profit organizations, and government contracting. With over two decades of experience in commercial lending, Bob has worked with both domestic and international banks and their clients, fostering a deep understanding of global business strategies. Bob holds a degree in economics from George Mason University. He is also an avid fan of Washington, D.C. sports teams.

  ESI Total Fuel Management

  COO

  Moderator

  Robert Gangi

  COO

  ESI Total Fuel Management

Human vs AI: To What Extent Can AI Fill the Workforce Gap?

• 

  Casey Eldringhoff

  Casey is a 20-year veteran of the US Navy Nuclear power program, trained as an electrician. She retired from the Navy in June 2014 and went to work for the insurance company that insures all the commercial nuclear power plants across the US, Spain, and Belgium. In that role she performed engineering, risk, and project management evaluations. In January 2020, she started her career at AWS as a Facility Manager, responsible for the operation and maintenance of all mechanical, electrical, HVAC, and fire/life safety systems needed to power and cool a data center. In September 2021, she was promoted to Area Manager and in May 2022, she was promoted to Cluster Manager. In her current role, she leads a team of 86 managers, chief engineers and technicians across 12 data centers and is the first woman to hold this position in the Northern Virginia region. She has earned two Bachelors degrees in Psychology and Nuclear Technology, a Masters of Divinity Degree in Chaplaincy, and is working towards a Doctor of Strategic Leadership degree.

  Amazon Web Services (AWS)

  Sr. Product Lifecycle Electrical Engineer

  Casey Eldringhoff

  Sr. Product Lifecycle Electrical Engineer

  Amazon Web Services (AWS)

• 

  Mark Gusakov

  Mark Gusakov is the Chief Certification Officer at the International Data Center Authority and Advisory Board Governance Chairman for Nomad Futurists. IDCA is the global regulatory and certification standards authority that brings compliance to our digital infrastructure ecosystem to ensure resiliency. As a globally-recognized professional speaker on education, skilled trades, workforce development, supply chain impacts, Edge computing, facility resiliency, redundancy and operational stability, as well as fluid power expertise regarding liquid cooling applications, his well-rounded knowledge ensures a vast array of topics can be covered by discussing solutions and not dwelling on problems. Throughout a 20-year career spanning Automation, Process Control, and Value-Added Consultation, Gusakov's goal has been to work with clients to take their facilities and interests to world class performance standards. Gusakov continues to pursue advocacy for clients in their overall performance and stresses the importance of data-driven accuracy for management and operational success. With his transition to promote the educational foundation for emerging talent in the digital infrastructure industry as a Nomad Futurist, the organization is working diligently on building the structured curriculum for the next generation of talent. Gusakov holds an ATS Accreditation from Uptime Institute, LSS Yellow Belt, Parker PTAC Specialist, Festo Product Specialist and Eaton Product Specialist Certifications.

  Nomad Futurist Foundation

  Board Governance Chairman

  Mark Gusakov

  Board Governance Chairman

  Nomad Futurist Foundation

• 

  Matthew Kleiman

  Matt is CEO of Cumulus and serves on the company’s Board of Directors. Prior to co-founding Cumulus, he was the co-founder and Head of Programs at Shell TechWorks, Shell’s Skunk Works-style technology center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on developing and deploying new technologies for Shell’s capital projects and operating facilities. Before joining Shell, Matt held various commercial positions in the biomedical and aerospace industries. When he isn’t working, you can find him enjoying time with his wife, daughter, and dog, skiing, or scuba diving. Matt earned his BA from Rutgers University, JD from Duke University, and Executive Certificates in Management & Leadership and Strategy & Innovation from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

  Cumulus Digital Systems

  CEO

  Matthew Kleiman

  CEO

  Cumulus Digital Systems

• 

  Amy Polvado

  Chairwoman, US Proptech Council | Host, CRE Morning News Show, Proptech Genius Podcast | Founder & CEO of a data and AI proptech company, Facilimax | Two-time winner of a Congressional Award | Graduate of Purdue University, Bachelors of Science in Organizational Leadership and Graduate of the University of Texas, Masters of Science in Technology Commercialization | Doctoral Candidate in Technology, Purdue University. Amy Polvado began her career in the software and semiconductor manufacturing industry before transitioning to commercial real estate in 2003 by founding a construction company serving the retail and multifamily sectors. By 2014, her company was active in 16 states, building various projects. In 2008, she expanded into real estate investing and established a vertically integrated real estate private equity firm, which managed over $1 billion in assets by 2022. In 2019, Amy founded Facilimax, an AI proptech company aimed at addressing inefficiencies in the commercial real estate industry. She currently serves as the Founder and CEO of Facilimax and holds the position of Chairwoman of the US Proptech Council, the trade association for the proptech industry in the United States. In January 2025, she authored "From Data to Deals: How to Use AI to Up Your Real Estate Game.

  Facilimax

  Founder & CEO

  Amy Polvado

  Founder & CEO

  Facilimax

• 

  Adam Wiggins

  Adam Wiggins is the Data Center Segment Manager for Camfil, a leading global manufacturer of clean air solutions. He is responsible for Camfil’s data center strategy, market share, and technical support in the US. Adam brings over 12 years of experience in optimizing air filtration systems for many Fortune 500 companies such as Cardinal Health, AT&T, HCA Healthcare, Tyson Foods and Nissan. He is an expert in modeling data center TCO air filtration system costs using Camfil’s Life Cycle Cost (LCC) software. LCC software can accurately project various costs associated with a data center air filtration systems using ASHRAE filter loading data. Air filtration Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) optimization will drastically reduce kWh usage, CO2 emissions, labor hours, and environmental landfill impact. Adam passionately believes the best solutions for his customers are the best solutions for our planet too. Recent publications include Air Pollution In Data Centers: New Resource Tackles the Issue and Offers Remedies for Costly Equipment Downtime, and also Famous Music City Venue Provides Healthier Indoor Air and Reduces Costs Significantly published by Yahoo News. Adam resides in Nashville, TN with his wife and son.

  Camfil

  Manager, Data Center Segment

  Moderator

  Adam Wiggins

  Manager, Data Center Segment

  Camfil

Data Center Financing and Capital Markets: Investment Trends, Deal Structures and Incoming Capital

• 

  Angela Harding

  Angela joined the MAM Americas Digital Infrastructure team in 2021, with a focus on sourcing and evaluating acquisition opportunities as well as asset management responsibilities. Angela is currently a Board Member for Aligned Data Centers and also leads the asset management for Aligned, which has included a $12bn capital raise to fund growth and the acquisition of ODATA. Before joining MAM, Angela spent 3 years at the International Finance Corporation in Washington, D.C., focusing on infrastructure investments in emerging markets, and prior to that, worked at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in the real estate investment banking team. Angela has over 10 years of experience in real assets. Angela holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Economics from the University of Queensland, Australia, with majors in Finance and International Trade.

  Macquarie Asset Management

  SVP

  Angela Harding

  SVP

  Macquarie Asset Management

• 

  Michael Hochanadel

  Mr. Hochanadel joined the firm in 2020. As Managing Director and Head of Digital Assets, he is responsible for leading Harrison Street’s digital real estate business and defining strategy for the digital sector, establishing key initiatives and executing the sourcing, analysis and closing of joint venture partnerships and investments in the sector. Prior to joining Harrison Street, he was with Jones Lang LaSalle for 15 years where he was a senior leader for the firm focused on the data center asset class. As part of the Capital Markets team, he provided capital placement and structuring expertise to help user and investor clients develop optimal real estate finance solutions. Mr. Hochanadel focused on sale leasebacks, investment sales, build to suit transaction structuring and lease restructuring. Since 2005, he has been involved in the execution of over 49 million square feet of transactions valued in excess of $7 billion including industrial, office, data center, retail and life sciences real estate. As a market leader in the data center sector, Mr. Hochanadel has closed approximately $4.0 billion of transactions involving data centers and telecommunications assets. With a national focus, transactions have spanned all meaningful data center categories including turnkey colocation sites, powered shells, carrier hotels, enterprise facilities, telecommunications switch buildings, development projects and high-performance computing centers across 18 U.S. and European markets. Mr. Hochanadel received his MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business and graduated from Harvard University where he was a member of the baseball and football teams.

  Harrison Street

  Managing Director & Head of Digital Assets

  Michael Hochanadel

  Managing Director & Head of Digital Assets

  Harrison Street

• 

  Thomas (TJ) Hofheimer

  Mr. Hofheimer leads the portfolio and asset management team at National, which is responsible for managing a diverse portfolio of real estate equity and debt investments, focusing on preserving and enhancing the value and return of the investments across all the company’s funds and separate accounts. Additionally, TJ is Co- Portfolio Manager of the National Data Center Fund, with responsibility for the portfolio management, operations and strategic direction of the Fund. TJ has over 29 years of experience in the real estate industry, working with a variety of product types, and with direct experience in acquisitions, dispositions, underwriting and asset management. Prior to joining National in 2013, TJ served as Portfolio Manager of two opportunistic real estate investment funds for a Washington, D.C. based real estate investment manager. He also worked as an Investment Officer in the Real Estate Private Equity Group at Fidelity Investments, where he was responsible for sourcing, underwriting, closing, and the dispositions of value-add real estate assets throughout the United States. Mr. Hofheimer earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Virginia.

  National Real Estate Advisors

  Managing Director, Portfolio & Asset Management

  Thomas (TJ) Hofheimer

  Managing Director, Portfolio & Asset Management

  National Real Estate Advisors

• 

  Adam Krupp

  Mr. Krupp is responsible for capital formation, strategic joint venture partnerships, and spearheads Wharton Digital Ventures’ Data Center platform. During his over 35-year career, Mr. Krupp has been involved in all facets of real estate, including acquisition, development, construction, leasing, asset management, and capital raising. Working both entrepreneurially and with well-established firms including Waterton Residential, CS Technology, Grubb & Ellis, and The Glick Organization he has been involved with the acquisition and development of over $3 billion worth of properties across a broad array of asset classes. As pertains to WDV’s Data Center vertical, Mr. Krupp brings 15 years of experience in the siting, design and construction of high reliability and sustainable mission critical data centers for some of the world’s largest financial services and technology companies including Bank of America, AIG, Digital Realty Trust and CRG West (the predecessor of CoreSite). He has been instrumental in the firm’s acquisition and development of both utility power and “behind the meter” data center projects ranging from 80MW to 1.3GW. Mr. Krupp received his Master of Science in Real Estate Development & Investment degree from New York University’s Shack Real Estate Institute, and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

  Wharton Equity Partners

  Managing Director

  Adam Krupp

  Managing Director

  Wharton Equity Partners

• 

  Jeffrey Moerdler

  Jeff heads our Real Estate and Communications practices in New York and has significant experience in general commercial real estate law. Jeff’s general real estate practice includes acquisitions, sales, development, leasing, and borrower’s side financing. He also has a particular focus on real estate challenges facing communications, technology, and energy companies, and represents property owners and telecom companies in telecom real estate matters, such as data center leases. His clients include both large national companies and smaller, local clients. He is frequently invited to speak on real estate, data center, and telecom topics. He also writes for several industry publications, and he is regularly quoted in national media. Jeff was a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and led many of its major real estate and telecom transactions.

  Mintz

  Member

  Jeffrey Moerdler

  Member

  Mintz

• 

  Bill Collins

  William M. Collins has more than 30 years of commercial real estate experience focused primarily in the sale of commercial real estate office buildings and land in the Washington metropolitan area. Bill works actively with institutional owners in the consultation and disposition of their real estate assets. During the past ten years, he has successfully completed more than $30 billion in investment property sales. Areas of Specialization • Investment Sales • Finance, Debt, and Equity • Land Acquisition & Disposition

  Cushman & Wakefield

  Executive Vice Chairman

  Moderator

  Bill Collins

  Executive Vice Chairman

  Cushman & Wakefield

Closing Day 1 Keynote: Data Center Innovation & Technology of the Future: A Deep-Dive Into What Is Being Discussed Today

• 

  Lane Anderson

  With more than 25 years of experience in mission critical construction and design, Lane Anderson has an extensive background in MEP projects and design and construction leadership. Having delivered over 3.5 million square feet of data center projects, Lane is well versed in designing for efficiency to pursue low PUE facilities and has strong expertise in building design and construction teams. At QTS, he is responsible for Corporate Development, Construction, Design and Strategy, as well as Strategic Procurement.

  QTS

  Executive VP, Development & Strategic Procurement

  Lane Anderson

  Executive VP, Development & Strategic Procurement

  QTS

• 

  Dr. Peter de Bock

  Dr. Peter de Bock developed the $42M COOLERCHIPS program focused on making a transformational leap in efficiency of cooling of high density (AI) Data Centers at the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) for the US Department of Energy. In addition, Dr. de Bock leads and developed the $63M ASCEND and $10M PRE-TRAILS programs to realize a future of sustainable aviation and manages $20M transformational R&D projects in the areas of ultra-high power density battery systems, propulsion, additive manufacturing and power electronics. Prior to joining ARPA-E, Dr. de Bock worked at GE Research for 18 years and held roles as Principal Engineer ThermoSciences and platform lead Power-Thermal Mechanical Systems. Dr. de Bock is the former chair of ASME K-16 committee on Heat Transfer in Electronics equipment, ASME Fellow, IEEE Sr. and AIAA member and holds 50+ patents and numerous publications. Dr. de Bock received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and holds MSc degrees from University of Twente in the Netherlands, and University of Warwick in the United Kingdom.

  Department of Energy (DOE)

  Program Director, ARPA-E

  Dr. Peter de Bock

  Program Director, ARPA-E

  Department of Energy (DOE)

• 

  Peter Gross

  Peter Gross is a technology and energy internationally recognized expert whose career spans over three decades. He is presently the Managing Partner of PMG Associates a consulting and advisory firm. In addition, he sits on several boards of directors and boards of advisors for public, private and not-for- profit companies. Until recently, he was the VP of Mission Critical Systems at Bloom Energy, the premier supplier of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell systems. Before his Bloom stint, Peter Gross was Vice President and Managing Partner of HP Global Technology Consulting at Hewlett Packard. Prior to HP, he was the co-founder and CEO at EYP Mission Critical Facilities, Inc., a consulting company specialized in strategic technology planning, design and operations support for large-scale data centers. In this position, he has played a pivotal role in the rapid growth of EYP MCF’s business since its founding in 1997, leading to its acquisition by HP in 2008. Peter is recognized as a thought leader in the mission-critical digital infrastructure domain, has published numerous technical papers in the field, authored several patents and is a frequent speaker at international events. His focus centers on mission-critical facilities, high-reliability design, power quality, energy, and sustainability. Peter is the recipient of 2010 Data Center Dynamics "Outstanding Contribution to the Industry" award, is a Senior IEEE Member and was one of the contributors to IEEE Standard 3006.7-2013, “Recommended Practice for determining the reliability of 7x24 Power Systems in industrial and commercial facilities”. He also received the 2020 award for Outstanding Contribution to the Digital Infrastructure Community and was inducted in the Infrastructure Masons Hall of Fame.

  PMG Associates

  Managing Partner

  Peter Gross

  Managing Partner

  PMG Associates

• 

  Phill Lawson-Shanks

  With over 30 years of industry experience, Phill has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of data center infrastructure, network architecture, and cloud solutions worldwide. As Chief Innovation Officer at Aligned Data Centers, Phill spearheads the identification of emerging trends and technologies, strategically leveraging them to shape Aligned's innovation roadmap. He's instrumental in cultivating a culture of creativity, driving the development of new products and partnerships that ensure the company remains both competitive and highly adaptable in today's rapidly evolving market. Before joining Aligned, Phill served as Chief Innovation Officer at EdgeConneX, where he was instrumental in developing edge-based network data centers that underpin today’s digital content ecosystem. His career spans senior executive roles at Virtacore, Alcatel-Lucent, SAVVIS (now CenturyLink Technology Solutions), and MCI (now Verizon Digital Media Services), as well as Compaq/HPE. Phill holds eight active technology patents and serves as a board member for organizations such as Netrality Data Centers, the Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA), and the Nomad Futurist Foundation. Known for his ability to distill complex technical concepts into actionable strategies, Phill is a sought-after speaker and advisor, recognized for his innovation and commitment to advancing sustainability in the digital infrastructure sector. Phill’s unique journey—from his early roles in enterprise systems development and digital infrastructure to his leadership in global technology firms—reflects his passion for challenging the status quo and empowering the next generation of technology leaders.

  Aligned Data Centers

  Chief Innovation Officer

  Phill Lawson-Shanks

  Chief Innovation Officer

  Aligned Data Centers

• 

  Ken Patchett

  Ken is a proven leader in the hyperscale data center space with experience topping 1 gigawatt of global data center leadership, across 65+ sites working for companies such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Oracle and now developing infrastructure for emerging hyperscaler Lambda AI.

  Lambda

  VP, Data Center Infrastructure

  Ken Patchett

  VP, Data Center Infrastructure

  Lambda

• 

  Forrest Secosky

  Forrest joined Eaton in 2007 as part of Eaton’s Leadership Development Program for Technical Sales. He has held increasing roles of responsibility in sales, engineering, operations and marketing. In his current role, he is responsible for working with sales and product management to develop our go-to- market strategy and data center segment messaging. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University and an Executive MBA from the University of North Carolina.

  Eaton Corporation

  Manager

  Moderator

  Forrest Secosky

  Manager

  Eaton Corporation

Opening Day 2: AI’s Industry Influence: Can Data Centers Keep Up With Next-Gen GPU Demands?

• 

  Kevin Beck

  Director, Critical Infrastructure Solutions

  Sterile Environment Technologies (SET3)

• 

  Scott Greenberg

  Scott D. Greenberg is the President of HydraVault, which is a ground up, next generation, high density 17.5-megawatt data center located in downtown Chicago, only 10 blocks from 350 Cermak, featuring a purpose-built, liquid to chip cooling loop (CDU), allowing for rack densities of up to 200 kw per rack. Scott D. Greenberg is a visionary real estate developer and technologist with over 30 years of experience creating award-winning, category-defining developments across the hospitality, residential, retail, entertainment, office, industrial, and mixed-use sectors. As the Chief Executive Officer of of HydraVault and the President of Dreamweaver Hotels, GSD Decisions and Smash Virtual, Mr. Greenberg has built a reputation for delivering transformative projects that blend cutting-edge technology, artistic expression, and market insight to shape innovative consumer experiences. Experience & Expertise includes 30+ years in real estate development, $1.2+ billion in total transaction volume, expert in ground-up construction, land development, financing, and high-density data facility design. https://www.hydravault.com/

  HydraVault

  President & CEO

  Scott Greenberg

  President & CEO

  HydraVault

• 

  Bill Kleyman

  Bill Kleyman is an award-winning data center, cloud, and digital infrastructure leader. He was ranked globally by an Onalytica Study as one of the leading executives in cloud computing and data security. He has spent more than 15 years specializing in the cybersecurity, virtualization, cloud, and data center industry. As an award-winning technologist, his most recent efforts with the Infrastructure Masons were recognized when he received the 2020 IM100 Award and the 2021 iMasons Education Champion Award for his work with numerous HBCUs and for helping diversify the digital infrastructure talent pool. As an industry analyst, speaker, and author, Bill helps the digital infrastructure teams develop new ways to impact data center design, cloud architecture, security models (both physical and software), and how to work with new and emerging technologies. You can read more of Bill’s contributions as a contributing editor in Data Center Frontier, Data Center Knowledge, InformationWeek, ITPro Today, and others. Twitter: http://twitter.com/quadstack http://linkedin.com/in/billkleyman https://www.billkleyman.com

  Apolo.us

  CEO & Co-Founder

  Bill Kleyman

  CEO & Co-Founder

  Apolo.us

• 

  Andre Patrick

  Patrick with over 31 years of domestic and international Data Center experience. He has held key leadership positions orchestrating complex Information Technology solution builds. His passion is delivering application and infrastructure transformations yielding operational efficiencies and cost recuperation. Patrick has been accountable for program development and execution budgets of $17M - $1.45T. His leadership directed matrixed staff, consultants, architects, and multiple EPC contractors. These programs encompassed infrastructure and construction management delivery of $3.4B in data center green and brown field initiatives. Under his leadership high-performing multi-disciplined engineering teams delivered design build and mission critical transformations beyond 4.2GW+ in capacity across the U.S. and EU. These programs aligned engineering teams with strategic technology roadmaps to meet enterprise, colo and hyperscale market needs. Prior to Introba, Patrick has significant experience as business owner, consultant, and contractor delivering mission critical facilities. He has held Data Center leadership positions as Director of Engineering, VP Program Director, VP Director, Enterprise Principal Architect, VP Infrastructure Services, Senior Officer Operations. His experience and client delivery include Airlines, Automotive, Banking, Defense, Financial Services, Enterprise Technology Sector, Education, Energy/Utilities, Health Care, Insurance, Manufacturing, Social media and Retail.

  Introba

  Sr. Principal, Data Center Engineering Services

  Andre Patrick

  Sr. Principal, Data Center Engineering Services

  Introba

• 

  Matt Pfile

  Matt has 20 years of experience in telecom engineering, critical infrastructure acquisition, corporate banking, management consulting, and commercial negotiations. He spent the previous 12+ years at Google leading over $5B of global infrastructure acquisitions, and led data center site selection strategy, third-party data center leasing, utility interconnections, and land acquisitions across the Americas and Asia. While at Google, he recognized the need for a data center company that truly understood customer needs and founded Crane. Matt holds a B.S. from Georgetown University and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis.

  Crane Data Centers

  Founder & CEO

  Matt Pfile

  Founder & CEO

  Crane Data Centers

• 

  Artecia Wilson

  Artecia Wilson is a Director of Technology, with extensive leadership and technical experience including enterprise data + AI governance strategy, product management and technology lifecycle management. Artecia has held several leadership roles in AT&T. Prior to her current role, she led a team that delivered products and features supporting sales, ad analytics, optimization, and cross screen ad delivery for AT&T's ad business. She has also led teams that were responsible for enterprise-wide strategies, architecture, and network deployment In-Building Mobility systems that amplify wireless service in densely populated venues and downtown areas. Previously, she led operations and network implementation teams supporting the launch of AT&T’s premier video offering, U-verse TV. She was integral in creating a system that improved delivery of new products and applications across mobile devices, PCs, and televisions. Artecia began her career with AT&T in Atlanta, GA, supporting the global consumer business, before making the decision to pursue her passion for technology in Dallas, TX. Artecia graduated from LeTourneau University with a BBA and MBA. She is an advocate of STEM, and serves as a mentor to new college hires that want to pursue technical leadership careers. She resides in McKinney, TX and enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.

  AT&T

  Director, Technology

  Artecia Wilson

  Director, Technology

  AT&T

• Moderator

  Jim Marsh

  Key Accounts Manager, Data Center Technologies

  Munters Corporation

Debt, Equity, JV Opportunities: How Are Developers, Private Equity and Lenders Raising and Leveraging Capital?

• 

  Fentress Boyse

  Fentress Boyse is part of the Private Infrastructure Americas business unit at Partners Group, based in New York. He has been with Partners Group since 2014. Partners Group is a leading global private markets firm that seeks to capitalize on thematic growth trends and transform attractive businesses into market leaders. Fentress focuses on the origination, execution, and ongoing value creation activities for lead direct infrastructure investments in the communications, energy, water and services sectors. He is on the Board of Directors and is the Investment Leader for Partners Group’s investment in EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure. Prior to joining Partners Group, he worked at Citigroup. He holds a master’s degree in energy studies and international finance from The Johns Hopkins University’s Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Washington D.C. and a bachelor’s degree from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md.

  Partners Group

  Member of Mgmt., Private Infrastructure - Americas

  Fentress Boyse

  Member of Mgmt., Private Infrastructure - Americas

  Partners Group

• 

  Daniel Golding

  Daniel Golding is one the world's leading experts at data center and network engineering, business development, and operations. He has a 30 year career focused on building Internet, Cloud, and AI/ML infrastructure for enterprises, colocation providers, hyperscale clouds, and the emerging AI ecosystem. Dan recently left a long career at Google where he was the only Google Engineering Director to be a part of both the Google Global Networking and Google Data Centers Advanced Technology Innovation teams. He's been a technical lead on the design, engineering and build teams responsible for over $25b of datacenters - thousands of megawatts. He's also a leader in data center leasing, having negotiated, sold, performed due diligence, or signed over $600m of wholesale data center lease deals. Prior to joining ASG, Dan was the Director of Global Network Delivery Engineering at Google. Before Google, he was the VP of Operations and Engineering at Iron Mountain Data Centers, and before that RagingWire Data Centers, now NTT Data Centers. Dan was the sector's leading industry analyst and investment banker at Gartner for Technical Professionals, Tier 1 Research (451 Group) and DH Capital. Dan was one of the earliest engineering leaders at groundbreaking Internet service providers like AOL, Mindspring, and Earthlink. Dan is the former Chairman of NANOG and former vice-Chairman and co-founder of Open-IX. He is frequently credited as the co-founder of Northern Virginia's Data Center Alley in Ashburn. Dan's three most significant innovations have been the popularization of the now dominant Donut model of Internet interconnection which supplanted the former Tier-n model of interconnect; the most historically advantageous Ashburn, VA data center land deal, NTT's 100 acre campus in the middle of Ashburn for $20m in 2012 - land with an objective value of $500m; and the development of engineering continuous improvement techniques to vastly accelerate deployments in hyperscale data centers by factors of 5x or more. Dan has a Bachelor of Engineering Degree from Auburn University, and a Master of Science Degree in Telecommunications Engineering from George Mason University. He is a graduate of the US Navy's Nuclear Power School.

  Appleby Strategy Group (ASG)

  CTO

  Daniel Golding

  CTO

  Appleby Strategy Group (ASG)

• 

  Drake Greer

  Drake Greer is located in the Washington, DC office of JLL where he is part of the National Data Center Capital Markets group helping cover the East Coast region. He is responsible for all data center sales, equity raises and debt raises for data center and infrastructure adjacent projects. Throughout the course of his career, Drake has participated in debt and equity transactions representing more than $6.5 billion of total transaction volume.

  JLL

  Sr Director

  Drake Greer

  Sr Director

  JLL

• 

  Peter Hopper

  Peter Hopper is a Co-Founder and Managing Director at Primary Digital Infrastructure, an independent data center investment platform. In prior roles, Mr. Hopper was a Managing Director at DigitalBridge Investment Management. Mr. Hopper was responsible for the identification, evaluation, and implementation of growth opportunities for DigitalBridge’s investment management franchise. Prior to joining DigitalBridge, Mr. Hopper was Co-Founder and CEO of DH Capital, a firm specializing in assisting growing businesses in the Internet Infrastructure, Telecom and SaaS industries. Prior to founding DH Capital, Mr. Hopper founded and served as President and CEO of DURO Communications, one of the largest privately held ISP/CLECs in the U.S. Mr. Hopper received a Bachelor of Science from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.

  Primary Digital Infrastructure

  Co-Founder and Managing Director

  Peter Hopper

  Co-Founder and Managing Director

  Primary Digital Infrastructure

• 

  Robbie Sovie

  As EVP of Construction and Development, Robbie is the leader of T5’s Construction Services division, where he sets the overall vision and business strategy. He holds the general contractors license and/or business license for construction activity across the organization. Robbie holds a degree in Construction Management from Western Carolina University.

  T5 Data Centers

  EVP, Construction & Development

  Robbie Sovie

  EVP, Construction & Development

  T5 Data Centers

• 

  Matt Monaco

  As Senior Vice President, Matt plays a critical role in identifying data center growth opportunities, market trends, and operator partnerships while optimizing asset performance and maximizing the value of PowerHouse Data Center investments through strategic planning, effective management, and development initiatives. At his core, Matt’s greatest skills lie in navigating the tradeoffs between growth and yield, short-term and long-term needs, and the lifecycle phases of a data center. Matt’s approach involves building, developing, and inspiring data-driven teams that prioritize customer success, continuous improvement, and inclusivity. His development acumen offers critical prescience, enabling efficient deployments with immediate power and connectivity with the capacity to grow unimpeded to gigawatt-scale.

  PowerHouse Data Centers | AREP

  SVP, Asset Management & Development

  Matt Monaco

  SVP, Asset Management & Development

  PowerHouse Data Centers | AREP

• 

  Kemal Hawa

  Kemal Hawa is a corporate partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Kemal represents many of the world’s largest private equity firms, infrastructure funds, real estate investors and lenders across a broad range of transactions in the digital infrastructure sector domestically and internationally, including mergers and acquisitions, investments, financing arrangements, joint ventures and development projects. Kemal counsels clients in complex transactions across the digital infrastructure and telecommunications, media and technology industries. This includes many of the world’s largest data center operators, telecommunications carriers, tower companies, cloud providers, fiber providers, media companies, submarine cable operators, fintech companies, wireless and international carriers, internet service providers, satellite companies, equipment manufacturers and electric utilities. In addition to M&A and financing transactions, Kemal represents companies in connection with the full spectrum of digital infrastructure transactions globally, including the negotiation of data center leases and colocation agreements, telecommunications master service agreements, licensing deals and other commercial transactions. Kemal is a frequent author and speaker on digital infrastructure topics and has consistently been recognized as an industry leading attorney in the sector. In 2023, Kemal was named as one of Capacity Media’s “Power 100” – a list of the 100 most influential people in the digital infrastructure sector globally, and was voted “TMT M&A Lawyer of the Year” by an independent panel of judges organized by TMT Finance.

  Kirkland & Ellis

  Partner

  Moderator

  Kemal Hawa

  Partner

  Kirkland & Ellis

The Future of Data Center Cooling: How Will High Density Chips Impact Cooling and Power Infrastructure?

• 

  Ryan Hansen

  Ryan Hansen is a 30-year critical environment engineering and technology expert. He is currently the Technology Director, Hyperscale Strategic Accounts at Schneider electric. During his 25-year career at Schneider Electric, Ryan has held several key transformational roles including Application and Solution Engineering Director, Product Line Chief Engineer, and Regional Prefab Application Center Director. Prior to coming to Schneider Electric in 2000 he worked as an Application Engineer at Best Power (now part of Eaton), and as a Hardware System Engineer at Cray Research / Silicon Graphics. Ryan has spent his career solving the problems created by the introduction of new technology and ever increasing IT power

  Schneider Electric

  Technology Director, Hyperscale Strategic Accounts

  Ryan Hansen

  Technology Director, Hyperscale Strategic Accounts

  Schneider Electric

• 

  Dave Meadows

  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.

  STULZ Air Technology Systems

  Director, Technology

  Dave Meadows

  Director, Technology

  STULZ Air Technology Systems

• 

  Terry Rodgers

  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.

  T5 Data Centers

  VP, Design & Engineering

  Terry Rodgers

  VP, Design & Engineering

  T5 Data Centers

• 

  Danielle Rossi

  Danielle has over 16 years of experience in data center solution design and engineering for hyper-scale, colocation, enterprise, edge, and government environments. In her current role, Danielle manages global mission-critical cooling products and processes to provide a standardized deliverable for customers executing projects domestically and internationally.

  Trane Commercial

  Global Director – Mission Critical Cooling

  Danielle Rossi

  Global Director – Mission Critical Cooling

  Trane Commercial

• 

  Jay Smith

  A pioneer in data center infrastructure development, Evocative is proud to have Jay Smith as the company’s Vice President, Data Center Operations and Engineering. Jay has over 25 years of experience in telecommunication and data center management including deep knowledge of voice and data communication, fiber optic connectivity, data center design, colocation, managed services and related technologies. Prior to joining Evocative, Jay was the co-founder of Cyberverse. Established in 1994, Jay’s leadership over the past 25 years enabled Cyberverse to earn the reputation as one of the most trusted Internet infrastructure services companies in the industry. Today, Jay is responsible for all Evocative data centers operations across the United States and consults with clients on determining the most appropriate combination of physical data center locations and customized infrastructure solutions to meet their specific needs.

  Evocative

  VP, Data Center Operations and Engineering

  Jay Smith

  VP, Data Center Operations and Engineering

  Evocative

• 

  Greg Stover

  With over 30 years of IT and data center, infrastructure and IT efficiency and optimization expertise, Greg has a proven track record of pushing the technology innovation envelope with the leading Thermal, Power, Monitoring and DCIM Solutions with Cloud Providers, Colocation Operators, End-Users and the Channel. As an evangelist for new technology, rapid change and continuous improvement, Greg has demonstrated a unique ability to coordinate disparate teams and bridge IT, Facilities and partner/vendor gaps while they work to solve the daily questions of Cloud, Colo, On-Prem, DR, EDG/IoT and whatever is next? All while ensuring reliability, resiliency, availability, optimal service and value to the business. Greg is Director of National Accounts and resides in Laguna Hills with his family!

  Vertiv

  Global Director, Hi-Tech Development

  Moderator

  Greg Stover

  Global Director, Hi-Tech Development

  Vertiv

Physical and Cyber Security Converge: What The Future of Security Looks Like in the Data Center Space

• 

  Altaf Bora

  Altaf "Al" Bora currently serves as the Vice President of Data Centers for Metro One Loss Prevention Security Group. Al is responsible for expanding the security services for the data center portfolio and currently works with several national accounts to optimize and develop security strategy for the data center space. Al served 21 years as an Infantry Marine and an Intelligence Officer in the United States Marine Corps. Post active duty Al worked as an Operations Director for Redpoint Resolutions LLC where he planned and executed several security and medical evacuations globally for travelers stranded abroad. Al also worked as a Data Center Security Manager for AWS, managing the physical security of several AWS sites in the Bay Area. As a Counter-Intelligence Investigator for Lockheed Martin Space he supported the security of several sensitive facilities in the western United States. And most recently Al was a Data Privacy Investigations Manager at Meta where he managed a global team of investigators responsible for securing user data from bad actors. Al currently lives in San Diego, CA where he likes to surf and teach his daughter how to properly eat fresh tacos.

  Metro One LPSG

  VP, Data Centers

  Altaf Bora

  VP, Data Centers

  Metro One LPSG

• 

  Michele Iversen

  Michele Iversen joins the Chertoff Group as Principal and Head of Geopolitical & Regulatory Risk. A cybersecurity and information communications technology (ICT) supply chain expert, she leads a consulting practice which focuses on National Security and Geopolitical risks which encompasses zero trust cybersecurity, cyber supply chain risk management and Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence, and engagements. Prior to joining the Chertoff Group, Ms. Iversen served as Director of Risk Assessment and Operational Integration at the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). At DOD she specialized in risk and vulnerability assessments, security engineering, Supply Chain Risk Management, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. Ms. Iversen has also held senior IT and Cybersecurity positions in the Intelligence Community (IC) and the Federal civilian sector. Ms. Iversen served with the Central Intelligence Agency’s Cybersecurity Division, the CIO for the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB), and as the Chief of System Security Engineering other positions at the National Security Agency. Ms. Iversen is a retired Army Signal Corps officer who helped establish the Joint Task Force for Computer Network Defense (JTF-CND) which was the first formal cyber unit within the DOD and served as the Chief of the Army’s Computer Emergency Response Team in Southwest Asia and concluded her career at US Cyber Command.

  Chertoff Group

  Principal and Head of Geopolitical & Regulatory Risk

  Michele Iversen

  Principal and Head of Geopolitical & Regulatory Risk

  Chertoff Group

• 

  Dylyn Reynolds

  Associate

  Teecom

• 

  Nicholas Simone

  Head of Security Operations & Technology

  Waymo

• 

  Brandy Byrd Chapman

  Brandy Chapman is a seasoned Business Development Specialist with a passion for safeguarding Mission Critical Sites. Collaborating closely with Directors of Security, Construction Managers, Architects, and Security Consultant firms, Brandy focuses on fortifying site perimeters to ensure utmost security. She firmly believes that the integrity of a high-security site begins with its perimeter, setting the standard for the level of protection afforded to valuable assets within.

  Ameristar Perimeter Security

  Business Development Specialist l Mission Critical

  Moderator

  Brandy Byrd Chapman

  Business Development Specialist l Mission Critical

  Ameristar Perimeter Security

Data Center Operations and Management: Navigating the Future of Facility Optimization and Infrastructure Management

• 

  Michael Bahr

  Mike Bahr joined DRW Holdings in 2013 and has built co-locations and stand-alone data centers for trading firms all over the world. Mike is also in charge of all MEP designs for all company offices globally. Mike also is co-founder of a start-up, Co-Low.com, a true subscription based colocation/data center finder for all IT needs. Mike lives in Crown Point, IN with his wife Colleen and his four children.

  DRW Trading Group

  Head of Infrastructure, Data Center & Networking

  Michael Bahr

  Head of Infrastructure, Data Center & Networking

  DRW Trading Group

• 

  Mark Donnelly

  More than 25 years' experience in the IT industry primarily focused on UNIX/Linux administration and Data Center Engineering with the past 6 years managing Datacenter Engineering and Operations teams. My primary strengths involve building efficient teams, automation, monitoring, capacity planning, colo build outs and migrations, server/rack designs, and hardware lifecycle activities.

  SiriusXM

  Sr. Director, Data Center Engineering & Operations

  Mark Donnelly

  Sr. Director, Data Center Engineering & Operations

  SiriusXM

• 

  Ken Duncan

  Lead Data Center Application Consultant

  Belimo Americas

• 

  Andrew Jimenez

  Andrew Jimenez has over 30 years of experience in the fields of telecommunications testing and product certification. He has held various engineering and management positions with test laboratories specializing in the certification of network communications systems and components. Currently, he leads technical sales at Wesco Data Center Solutions. Andrew is also a Cisco CCNA with Wireless Specialization. He has given numerous technical presentations at tradeshows and symposiums and was the 2015 BICSI Harry J. Pfister Award recipient for Excellence in the Telecommunications Industry.

  Wesco

  Sr. Director, Data Center Solutions

  Andrew Jimenez

  Sr. Director, Data Center Solutions

  Wesco

• 

  Matt Kightlinger

  Matt Kightlinger has 25 years of experience serving the data center market. He is currently the Vice President of Data Center Sales for Johnson Controls in North America. Matt has led various go-to-market transformation, strategic accounts teams, North America sales teams and global initiatives over the past 25 years in the industry.

  Johnson Controls

  VP

  Matt Kightlinger

  VP

  Johnson Controls

• 

  Craig Compiano

  Craig Compiano is the co-founder and President of Modius Inc. Craig is a successful executive and entrepreneur and has been our President since 2004. Craig has a passion for operational systems development and performance analytics for data centers. He brings 30+ years of business and technology expertise to his role. Before Modius, Craig was at Andersen Consulting and the co-founder & VP of Paymap, Inc. Craig holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering from USC and an MBA in Finance from UC Berkeley. He also holds a patent for an Electronic Payment Technology that is widely deployed in the banking industry. Craig is also a US Navy Veteran.

  Modius

  CEO

  Moderator

  Craig Compiano

  CEO

  Modius

Building for AI and Advanced Tech Infrastructure: Understanding Key Differences in Scale, Engineering and Design

• 

  Sanjay Agrawal

  As a founding member of AG&E, Sanjay brings over 27 years of experience as a structural engineer. His leadership and expertise in the design and construction industries have propelled the growth of the company into one of the largest structural engineering firms in the state of Texas. Sanjay is licensed in more than 30 states and has led the structural design of numerous projects in different market sectors including healthcare, municipal, education, mission critical, industrial, corporate, parking structures, and aviation, as well as structural forensics and full-scale load tests. Sanjay is actively involved in the development process of each project and closely monitors design execution and completion. He is also committed to training and coaching junior engineers, team building, and strategic corporate planning.

  AG&E

  CEO

  Sanjay Agrawal

  CEO

  AG&E

• 

  Brian Gero

  SVP, Core and Strategic Engineering

  Flexential

• 

  Matt Souders

  VP, Data Center Infrastructure

  Oracle

• 

  Kyle Steinberg

  Kyle Steinberg has spent the past 17 years with Whiting-Turner constructing approximately 10 data centers East of the Mississippi. In addition, Kyle serves as Whiting-Turner’s Mid-Atlantic Mission Critical Leader. Not only is he an integral role in the construction process, but he focuses even more on collaboration during design with project partners to assist in encouraging a FastTrack design to promote speed to market for construction. While Kyle has built a variety of ground up projects, he also specializes in the retrofitting existing/end of life data centers. Kyle is also an active member of 7x24 and AFCOM in the Potomac region. When Kyle isn’t working with his Whiting-Turner family and customers, he can be found on the golf course or hockey rink.

  Whiting-Turner

  Mid-Atlantic Mission Critical Leader

  Kyle Steinberg

  Mid-Atlantic Mission Critical Leader

  Whiting-Turner

• 

  Michael Terrigno

  Michael Terrigno has over 16 years of experience as a principal, project manager and electrical engineer. As Director of Syska Hennessy’s Washington, D.C. office, Mike has led the engineering design teams for many of the firm’s significant and complex Critical Facility projects in the NoVA region. Through both design/build partnerships and traditional bid-build construction projects, he has managed and designed engineering projects to provide safe, secure, functional, and resilient facilities for numerous Cloud, Colocation, and Enterprise clients. He is actively involved with various mission critical facility clients working with them to increase reliability and to integrate new technology within their business. Mike has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at Auburn University, Auburn, AL. He is a Professional Engineer licensed in NY, VA, MD, DC, and DE as well as a LEED Accredited Professional.

  Syska Hennessy Group

  Principal

  Michael Terrigno

  Principal

  Syska Hennessy Group

• 

  Neila Wilson

  Bio coming soon...

  Visa

  Director, Data Center Engineering & Operations - East

  Neila Wilson

  Director, Data Center Engineering & Operations - East

  Visa

• 

  Marshall Sorenson

  Develops strategies for applications of precast/prestressed concrete building systems in the data center space. Leads the effort to engage technical staff in the design-assist effort of very fast-track projects, at the earliest stages of development. Works with end-users and their agents to create unique designs and unusual applications of precast concrete building systems. Drives Metromont’s practice of acting as a specialty precast subcontractor in the data center -- and not just the manufacturer of various precast parts and pieces. Metromont can self-perform 100% of the precast concrete work, beginning from structured design-assist engagement, through field erection of "all-precast" buildings. Leads the activities of Metromont’s VA Sales staff in pursuit of projects primarily in Virginia’s Data Center Alley, but across the U.S. Metromont has the capability of extending its reach beyond this area, on certain projects, where organizational strengths, financial capacity, and past experience -- particularly with regard to mission-critical projects -- are required. 35 years experience in the precast/prestressed concrete industry, including responsibilities for nearly every aspect of the ", get work" and "do work" functions. Directly involved in preconstruction through contract, in 20M SF of all precast data centers. Marshall is a 7x24 Exchange DC Chapter Board of Directors member and a member of the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA).

  Metromont

  VP

  Moderator

  Marshall Sorenson

  VP

  Metromont

Mission Critical - Solving The Data Centers’ Power Problem

• 

  David Bell

  Dave has been in the utility industry for over 10 years helping support temporary, or long-term power generation requirements to industry, either behind or in front of the meter, using large reciprocating engines. Dave has worked with, industry, utilities, ISO’s and RTO’s to support capacity requirements, emergency response challenges and help improve planned work requirements. Dave joined the VoltaGrid in 2022 where VoltaGrid been supporting large industry by electrifying their processes when they have been completely stranded or have limited access to their utility. By supporting their customers they have reduced emissions by over 38%.

  VoltaGrid

  VP, Utility & Micro Grid Development

  David Bell

  VP, Utility & Micro Grid Development

  VoltaGrid

• 

  Mike Brady

  VP, Power Generation Execution

  Liberty Energy

• 

  Will McCausland

  As the Vice President of Data Center Utilities, Will brings more than 15 years of significant experience to PowerHouse, strategically leading the development of domestic and reclaimed water, power, fiber, and other utilities crucial for successful project execution. While collaborating with everyone from datacenter end-users and equipment suppliers to energy suppliers and capital partners, William manages project communications, budgets, scheduling, consultant and contractor selection, and overall utility development to drive innovation and sustainable growth in the data center industry. With over 15 years of utility experience, he held multiple positions at Dominion Energy, including roles in electric infrastructure design, business development, and leading the company's Innovation Team. Notably, he spearheaded Dominion Energy's data center services initiative for several years, overseeing the recruitment and execution of major data center projects in Virginia. In his latest role with Dominion Energy, he served as a strategic advisor for electric transmission projects. William holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Old Dominion University.

  PowerHouse Data Centers | AREP

  VP, Power & Utilities

  Will McCausland

  VP, Power & Utilities

  PowerHouse Data Centers | AREP

• 

  Jennifer Ruch

  Director, Energy & Sustainability

  Oracle

• 

  Scott Worley

  Bringing Energy Where You Need It™ Headquartered in Houston, TX, Stabilis Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: SLNG) is a leading provider of turnkey clean energy fueling, production, storage, and delivery solutions to multiple end markets for many of the world’s most recognized, high-performance brands across North America. We provide decades of experience and proven, reliable offerings to critical market sectors including Clean Marine Fueling Solutions, Distributed Power Solutions, and Aerospace. An experienced LNG provider with two permitted, owned, and operated PHMSA facilities and additional LNG infrastructure projects in development, Stabilis provides 24/7, 365-day LNG supply and unmatched expertise to our customers. This, combined with our 30+ point supply network across North America, ensures critical LNG know-how and reliable LNG supply when and where you need it. With a strong emphasis on safety, reliability, and customer service, Stabilis works closely with our customers to understand their needs and provide innovative solutions, repeatedly earning us the role of Trusted Partner.

  Stabilis Solutions

  Sr. Director

  Scott Worley

  Sr. Director

  Stabilis Solutions

• 

  Toyebi Adedipe

  Toyebi Adedipe is a seasoned Commercial Business Leader, Technology Enthusiast, and Futurist with over 15 years of experience in the electrical power generation industry. His background spans product design, application engineering, and business development. Currently serving as a Strategic Account Manager at Hitachi Energy, Toyebi leads initiatives in developing the data center colocation business, leveraging his deep industry knowledge and forward-thinking approach. Passionate about technological innovation and future trends, he brings a unique blend of technical expertise and strategic insight to drive sustainable growth and transformation across the energy sector.

  Hitachi Energy

  Key Account Manager

  Moderator

  Toyebi Adedipe

  Key Account Manager

  Hitachi Energy

Opening Day 3 Keynote: Dynamics Around The Data Center Ecosystem and Future Road Map

• 

  Mario Calderone

  As Chief Real Estate Officer, Mario Calderone is responsible for all aspects of Serverfarm’s commercial real estate portfolio, including acquisitions, leasing, management, financing and disposition. A seasoned real estate industry professional, Calderone has an established track record of successful value creation across a broad range of investment assets. Prior to joining Serverfarm, Calderone founded and operated Alpine Investment Company, a private investment company that he operated for more than 15 years. During this period, he was responsible for over $500 million of successful investment or capitalization of commercial assets involving entities such as General Electric, Global Exchange, Royal Ahold, ATT Corporation, and Verizon. Calderone also spent several years as Asset Management Vice President for a regional development firm with an office and industrial portfolio totaling more than 2 million square feet. During his tenure, the company successfully built and leased over 700,000 square feet of commercial space. Calderone started his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Calderone received a Master’s Degree in Corporate Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Temple University.

  ServerFarm

  Chief Real Estate Officer

  Mario Calderone

  Chief Real Estate Officer

  ServerFarm

• 

  Jim Footh

  James Footh is a managing director at PGIM Real Estate on the global Data Center Investments team. Based in Seattle, Washington, Jim has transactional and portfolio management responsibilities for investments made by PGIM Real Estate in the data center sector and is a senior member of the Global Data Center Strategy portfolio management team. Before joining PGIM Real Estate, Jim spent eight-years as a senior leader within the Amazon Web Services (AWS) infrastructure team. His most recent role was the senior manager of AWS Strategy and Planning leading a team of infrastructure planners to develop private-cloud infrastructure solutions for AWS U.S. government and non-U.S. government clients. Previously, Jim was a principal at AWS Strategy and Technical Leadership group where he had a global role focused on solving difficult and systemic infrastructure expansion challenges for new and existing AWS commercial regions. Jim also held roles as the managing principal for AWS EMEA & APAC Data Center Development with responsibility for leading teams managing all data center development across both the AWS EMEA and APAC regions. Earlier roles at AWS included Real Estate Development Manager of Western U.S., Canada and Latin America overseeing all AWS data center developments in these regions. Prior to his years with AWS, Jim held a number of senior roles in the real estate services industry, including director in the Johnson Controls corporate real estate outsourcing business and leading the Capital Markets practice for Jones Lang LaSalle for the Northwest region of the United States. Jim has a bachelor’s degree from University of Washington, he is also a member of the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) Institute, Masters of Corporate Real Estate (MCR) and LEED Green Associate.

  PGIM Real Estate

  MD, Global Data Center Investments

  Jim Footh

  MD, Global Data Center Investments

  PGIM Real Estate

• 

  Casey Miller

  Casey is Managing Director, Portfolio Management for Principal Real Estate, the dedicated real estate group of Principal Asset Management. He serves as a portfolio manager within private equity specializing in data centers and has been involved with the data center development activity of Principal nationwide since 2006. Casey joined the firm in 1999 and prior to his current role spent time in the acquisitions/dispositions and asset management departments for Principal Real Estate. Prior to joining Principal, he was an assistant manager at Wells Fargo Financial. Casey received an MBA in business administration from Drake University and a bachelor's degree in business management from Waldorf College.

  Principal Real Estate

  Managing Director, Portfolio Management

  Casey Miller

  Managing Director, Portfolio Management

  Principal Real Estate

• 

  John Sheputis

  John Sheputis is a Co-Founder and Managing Director at Primary Digital Infrastructure, an independent data center investment platform. From 2019 through 2023, John was a Managing Director at GI Partners where he led the technology real estate acquisitions and headed the Essential Tech + Science Real Estate Fund. Prior to GI Partners, Mr. Sheputis was President of Infomart Data Centers. In 2018, the Dallas Infomart was acquired by Equinix and the remaining Infomart assets and operations were acquired by IPI Partners to be the initial properties for STACK Infrastructure. Prior to Infomart, Mr. Sheputis was Co-Founder and CEO of Fortune Data Centers. Mr. Sheputis received a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA and an MS Engineering from Northwestern.

  Primary Digital Infrastructure

  Co-Founder and Managing Director

  John Sheputis

  Co-Founder and Managing Director

  Primary Digital Infrastructure

• 

  Anthony Wanger

  Founder & CEO

  Regnaw Capital

• 

  Carl Fleming

  Carl J. Fleming is the global co-head of the Firm’s Energy & Project Finance Group. He is a transactional lawyer whose principal areas of practice are renewable energy and private equity. He leads transactions throughout the US and worldwide for a number of the renewable industry’s leading developers, global private equity funds and Fortune 500 companies. He provides legal, commercial and strategic advice on the development, purchase and sale and financing of renewable energy projects in wind, solar, energy storage, electric vehicles and other low carbon solutions. A partner in our Washington, DC office, he also advises on a number of energy and climate change policy issues. Carl’s work and thought leadership are often featured in leading publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Power Finance and Risk, The National Law Review, The Global Legal Chronicle and The Washington Lawyer. He is also frequently interviewed for his market insights by global media outlets such as Reuters and Forbes. Carl is recognized as a “Next Generation Partner,” “Rising Star,” “Super Lawyer” and one of the “Top Rated Energy & Natural Resources, M&A and International Attorneys in Washington, DC.” Carl was an appointee to the Biden administration’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee (REEEAC) where he advised the Secretary of Commerce on wind, solar, battery storage, electric vehicles, and other low carbon solutions. Prior to this appointment, Carl was a REEEAC appointee under both the Obama and Trump administrations. Prior to joining McDermott, Carl served the United States as an advisor to the White House on energy and infrastructure under the Obama administration while he was with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). Carl is a frequent speaker and prominent author. He speaks throughout the US and internationally on topics such as renewable energy, public policy and cross-border transactions. He has written, or contributed to the writing of, several books or chapters on topics such as power purchase agreements, construction, equipment procurement and service contracts and battery storage. He has lectured at Harvard University, the Georgetown University Law Center, the University of Pennsylvania, and American University.

  McDermott Will & Emery

  Partner

  Moderator

  Carl Fleming

  Partner

  McDermott Will & Emery

Optimizing the Data Center Delivery Process: Reducing Cost and Mitigating Risk Across All Stages of the Project Lifecycle

• 

  Buddy Burks

  Buddy Burks, PE, serves on the Enterprise Accounts team for the Construction Solutions division of Nucor Corporation, the nation’s largest domestic steel producer and supplier. With over a decade of experience in structural engineering and business development, Buddy brings a unique blend of technical expertise and client-focused strategy to the built environment. In his role at Nucor, Buddy is part of a specialized team of structural engineers dedicated to enhancing building efficiency and performance through innovative design solutions and strategic use of Nucor’s diverse product offerings. He collaborates with stakeholders across the country to optimize structural systems and drive value throughout the construction process. Buddy holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in structural engineering and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Tennessee. He is also an active and engaged member of the AEC community, regularly participating in industry events, thought leadership forums, and collaborative initiatives that aim to advance the future of construction.

  Nucor Vulcraft Verco

  National Account Specialist

  Buddy Burks

  National Account Specialist

  Nucor Vulcraft Verco

• 

  Jessica Herrala

  Jessica Herrala serves as Buildots’ North American Regional Director, specializing in AI-driven construction technology that enhances scheduling efficiency. With over 25 years in commercial construction, she excels in strategy and process optimization. Jessica’s career spans leadership roles at Clayco, The Walsh Group and Skanska. She also serves on the Northwestern Hospital board in Chicago and holds a Journalism degree from the University of Tennessee.

  Buildots

  Regional Director

  Jessica Herrala

  Regional Director

  Buildots

• 

  Brian Marcuzzo

  Senior TPM, Network Deployment

  Google

• 

  Blake Roskelley

  An experienced Structural Engineer and Development manager, Blake Roskelley brings 14 years of experience in the construction industry to his current role at Clark Pacific, a leading provider of innovative engineering and construction solutions. Blake works across a spectrum of roles - Business Development, Preconstruction, and Product Management. He is on the front lines of project pursuits, developing innovative gravity and lateral systems while working closely with design teams to ensure project goals are met. Post award he continues to refine project specific solutions having successfully standardized these project-based solutions into cost effective market facing products. In addition to his role at Clark Pacific, Blake serves as a Director on the board of the US Resiliency Council. He endeavors to increase awareness of the importance of resiliency in building design, an issue of significant importance to the Mission Critical and Data Center market. His commitment to this cause underscores his dedication to the advancement of the construction industry and his drive to promote sustainable and resilient building practices.

  Clark Pacific

  Development Manager, Building Systems

  Blake Roskelley

  Development Manager, Building Systems

  Clark Pacific

• 

  Joe Walsh

  Chief Delivery Officer

  Montera Infrastructure

• 

  Chris Adams

  Chris Adams is a senior leader in the global data center space, serving as Managing Director at Cumming Group, an international building consultancy with deep expertise in mission-critical infrastructure. He leads a team of over 40 professionals supporting a confidential hyperscale client, delivering high-performance data centers optimized for cost, efficiency, and operational resilience. With a foundation in cost management and quantity surveying, Chris brings over 15 years of experience across Europe and North America, blending financial precision with strategic oversight. His expertise spans the full project lifecycle—from early-stage planning and procurement through project controls, scheduling, and delivery—making him a key voice on reducing cost and mitigating risk at every phase of development. Chris’s approach is grounded in de-risking complex capital programs through integrated strategies that align stakeholders, streamline schedules, and manage cost exposure. His background includes leadership roles at Turner & Townsend and Robinson Low Francis, where he worked across major commercial and infrastructure programs. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Quantity Surveying from Edinburgh Napier University and is known for bringing structure, clarity, and commercial rigor to mission-critical projects. As the moderator of this panel, “Optimizing the Data Center Delivery Process,” Chris brings a multidimensional perspective shaped by hands-on leadership in the hyperscale data center sector. His ability to connect the dots across cost, scheduling, energy, and delivery makes him an ideal facilitator for a conversation focused on smarter, more efficient project execution.

  Cumming Group

  Managing Director & Data Center Sector Lead

  Moderator

  Chris Adams

  Managing Director & Data Center Sector Lead

  Cumming Group

Onsite Construction - Implementing The Best Tools and Technology for Project Delivery

• 

  Adam Black

  Adam Black is a member of TA Realty’s portfolio management team and is responsible for driving strategy and execution for certain of the Firm’s investment vehicles as they continue to grow. He has been with the Firm since 2023 and prior to joining he was DCS Manager, Mid Atlantic at Google. Previously, Mr. Black worked in Infrastructure Construction Management – Special Projects at Facebook. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Management and Southern Polytechnic State University with a M.S. in Construction Management.

  TA Digital Group

  SVP, Design & Construction

  Adam Black

  SVP, Design & Construction

  TA Digital Group

• 

  Jay Brummett

  President

  Ares Technology Consultants

• 

  Andy Kirby

  Andy Kirby is the AMER East & LATAM Build Partner at Microsoft, where he plays a pivotal role in overseeing various business operations and strategic initiatives within the Americas and LATAM region. With a focus on enhancing efficiency and consistency across the organization, Andy is dedicated to fostering a collaborative environment where team members are motivated to excel every day. In his current role, Andy is responsible for managing the development and execution of data center projects, ensuring that they meet the highest standards of safety, compliance, and operational excellence. His expertise in project management and risk mitigation has been instrumental in driving the successful completion of numerous high-profile projects. Before joining Microsoft, Andy spent 26 years working for general contractors, where he was involved in building highly sophisticated buildings to include the last 7 years focused on data centers. This extensive experience has provided him with a deep understanding of construction processes, project management, and the importance of collaboration and innovation in delivering complex projects. Andy is known for his visible leadership and commitment to building strong relationships with general contractors and trade partners. He has a keen eye for identifying potential challenges and implementing innovative solutions to keep projects on track and within budget. Throughout his career, Andy has demonstrated a passion for continuous improvement and learning. He has been actively involved in various training and workshop initiatives, including safety and compliance reviews, incident reviews, and corrective actions. Andy's dedication to professional development extends to his team, where he emphasizes the importance of building a culture of safety and excellence. In addition to his professional achievements, Andy is a strong advocate for community engagement and global citizenship. He has supported initiatives such as partnering with local high schools for engineering programs and participating in regional safety initiatives.

  Microsoft

  Partner, Data Center Construction Lead

  Andy Kirby

  Partner, Data Center Construction Lead

  Microsoft

• 

  Reid Senescu

  Reid Senescu is VP of Product Management at Doxel. His team talks with folks in construction and communicates their needs to software developers who use AI to help the industry build better, faster, with lower costs. His career began as a structural engineer, founded a construction tech startup out of his PhD research at Stanford and then led product for Rhumbix followed by Enlighted (acquired by Siemens).

  Doxel

  VP, Product Management

  Reid Senescu

  VP, Product Management

  Doxel

• 

  Tyler Stevenson

  Growing up spending time on his family’s farm in East Texas, Tyler Stevenson developed a love for seeing tangible results from hard work. He found construction the perfect industry to satisfy his passion for problem-solving and teamwork. Tyler went on to earn his degree in construction management from Texas A&M University. He then worked for many years for a Dallas-Fort Worth general contractor, where he learned the ropes overseeing their Self-Perform department. He then joined Clune Construction in 2018. At the beginning of his career with Clune, Tyler managed various high-profile mission-critical projects. He was then tapped to manage Kirkland & Ellis' newest award-winning build-out in Dallas. Once completed, he was entrusted to manage multiple teams for Clune’s Dallas office. His continued successes building Clune’s Texas portfolio recently earned him the promotion to Vice President, Project Executive. Tyler's biggest professional strengths include building the right team for the job based on his evaluation of individual strengths and anticipating how present actions will affect future success. He is known in the industry for his availability, integrity, and ability to act on past lessons learned and bring unique solutions to challenging projects. Tyler is actively involved in the Dallas community. He participates in events such as Cycle for Survival and volunteers with organizations 7x24, One Tribe Foundation, and Friends of the Katy Trail. Tyler is also a graduate of Clune's Vistage program, which has credits for helping him become the leader he is today.

  Clune Construction

  SVP

  Tyler Stevenson

  SVP

  Clune Construction

• 

  Kevin Williams

  With 14 years of experience in the AEC industry, Kevin Williams specializes in VDC project lifecycle management and BIM coordination, with a primary focus on the data center sector. His expertise in construction processes—from design through field execution—ensures seamless integration of BIM technologies to optimize project efficiency. As the key liaison for BIM-related matters, he drives collaboration between construction teams, designers, subcontractors, and stakeholders to mitigate risks and streamline decision-making. His extensive experience in data center projects enables him to navigate the sector’s unique challenges, delivering high-performance, scalable solutions that exceed client expectations.

  VEC

  Director, VDC Coordination

  Kevin Williams

  Director, VDC Coordination

  VEC

• 

  Colin McShane

  Colin McShane is a native of Northern Virginia. He received his bachelor’s degree in engineering and minor in business from James Madison University. Colin joined the construction industry in 2016 after working as a government contractor and has worked for E.E. Reed East Coast for the last nine years with the last seven being in the mission critical space. Currently working as a Senior Project Manager, he oversees multiple project teams working on different data center campuses in the area. He has a proven track record of delivering complex projects on time and within budget. Colin is known for his strategic planning, decisive leadership, and strong client relationships.

  E.E. Reed Construction

  Senior Project Manager

  Moderator

  Colin McShane

  Senior Project Manager

  E.E. Reed Construction

Data Center Engineering: Driving Adaptable Design and Innovations in Efficiency

• 

  Marc Bhuyan

  Product Manager

  Google

• 

  Matt Effron

  Matt Effron holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and an Executive MBA, complemented by over 15 years of experience in data center and electrical infrastructure projects. He is dedicated to engineering success, focusing on modularity and volumetric construction. Matt specializes in creating prefabrication and modular solutions that expedite deployment, lower total costs, and improve scalability within data center infrastructure builds. He actively engages in industry events and thought leadership forums and works from Hubbell PCX's facility in North Carolina.

  Hubbell PCX

  Director

  Matt Effron

  Director

  Hubbell PCX

• 

  Maggie McNamara

  Principal, Design Delivery

  Equinix

• 

  Jonathan Mesik

  Principal, Mission Critical - National

  DLR Group

• 

  Hari Krishna Ravipati

  Hari is a construction manager at Meta, where he oversees the site development, construction, and commissioning of data centers. He brings extensive experience in data center deployment, having worked with major hyperscalers such as AWS and Microsoft in various capacities. Hari's professional journey spans over 15 years of international experience managing complex infrastructure projects, including the development of renewable and thermal power plants, data centers in India

  Construction Manager

  Hari Krishna Ravipati

  Construction Manager

• 

  Steve Rodriguez

  Business Leader with a track record of building successful teams, delivering rapid revenue growth, and creating world-class operational structures to sustain growth and profitability. Experience includes global sourcing/negotiation, business evaluation and analysis, business development and leadership roles for international, public manufacturers and distributors. Talent for communicating vision, developing business unit and market focused strategies and aligning team efforts toward common goals. Specialties: Keen ability to forecast industry trends, capture opportunities and catapult new ventures; top flight communicator; thrives in challenging situations and dedicated to organizational excellence and quality of service; decisive, determined and solutions-driven; expertise in leveraging company assets to maximize company profits

  USG

  Director, Mission Critical

  Steve Rodriguez

  Director, Mission Critical

  USG

• 

  Kurt Lindorfer

  Kurt’s professional engineering career spans over 40 years. His expertise includes structural engineering design for Mission Critical Facilities such as Data Centers, Health Care Facilities such as Hospitals and Clinics and Life Sciences Facilities such as Biopharmaceutical Pilot Plants and Production Facilities around the United States and the World. His area of expertise is in designing buildings to be occupable after natural disasters including Tornados, Hurricanes and Earthquakes. He has been the structural engineer of record for conventional “fixed Base Buildings” ranging from 1-23 stories, “Base Isolated Buildings” ranging from 1-5 stories, and the retrofit and new construction of buildings incorporating Fluid Viscous Dampers ranging from 1-22 stories. He has published numerous papers on passive energy dissipation and presented the findings at various conventions in Boston, San Francisco and Milan. For over 23 years as the Founding Principal at PARADIGM Structural Engineers, Kurt spends most of his time developing new leaders at PARADIGM and mentoring staff in Chicago and San Francisco.

  PARADIGM Structural Engineers

  Founding Principal

  Moderator

  Kurt Lindorfer

  Founding Principal

  PARADIGM Structural Engineers

Power Management and Energy Storage: The Evolution of Backup Solutions and What to Apply in Your Data Center

• 

  Jan Buijk

  Jan Buijk is a Sales Director for AB Energy, an organization that is specialized in providing energy solutions with best-in-class gas engine technology for On-Site Power, CHP, biogas and other gaseous fuelled power generation applications, as well as Renewable Natural Gas systems. Over the past 30+ years Jan has had engineering, project management and direct sales and marketing responsibilities for dozens of CHP, and other distributed generation projects currently in operation across North America. Jan received a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Utrecht in The Netherlands, where he also wrote a thesis on the use of landfill gas for power generation applications.

  AB Energy USA

  Director

  Jan Buijk

  Director

  AB Energy USA

• 

  James Connelly

  James Connelly is a Sales Manager for Clarke Energy USA - With over two decades of experience globally in the Energy and Power Generation sector James has gained extensive expertise across various sectors including Sales and Business Development, project management, field service and commissioning and lead him to live and work in multiple countries around the globe. He currently leads the Clarke Energy data center sales segment leveraging his CHP, Power Generation and Energy Storage experience.

  Clarke Energy USA

  Manager

  James Connelly

  Manager

  Clarke Energy USA

• 

  Pavan Kundurthi

  Pavan Kundurthi is an accomplished professional with over 13 years of experience as an Electrical Engineer and Engineering Manager. Currently, he manages teams of Electrical and Mechanical engineers at Amazon Web Services, overseeing the design and continuous innovation of the rapidly expanding data center fleet in the region. Pavan collaborates closely with the Construction, Operations, and Commissioning teams at the Data Centers. He holds a Master's Degree in Power Electronics from Illinois Institute of Technology and an MBA from Chicago Booth. Pavan has ventured into entrepreneurship with energy storage solutions, demonstrating his passion for commercializing innovation. His recent work focuses on finding innovative solutions to handle potential power constraints in data centers while minimizing disruptions to operations, both now and in the future. Pavan's expertise lies in optimizing data center capacity to support rapid demand growth.

  Amazon Web Services (AWS)

  Manager, Field Engineering

  Pavan Kundurthi

  Manager, Field Engineering

  Amazon Web Services (AWS)

• 

  Evan Pierce

  VP, Site Development - Americas

  EdgeConneX

• 

  Chad Pomajzl

  Beginning his career with Foster Fuels Mission Critical in 2017, Chad Pomajzl currently serves as the Director of Business Development. Equipped with an extensive background in sales, account management, and client engagement, Chad now leads a team of National Fuel Consultants who partner with data center customers nationwide to meet their routine fueling, emergency fueling, and fuel quality needs. Headquartered in Brookneal, Virginia, Foster Fuels also has operation centers in NOVA (Sterling, Virginia), Dallas, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona. Chad resides in Phoenix, Arizona.

  Foster Fuels Mission Critical

  Director

  Chad Pomajzl

  Director

  Foster Fuels Mission Critical

• 

  Michael Collins

  Mike has been a forward-thinking leader in the energy space for over 28 years covering many facets of energy solutions from power generation / CHP, electric and natural gas infrastructure, load response, energy efficiency, and LNG / CNG / RNG solutions. Experience navigating large and small utilities, developers, multinational corporations, military branches, universities, large and small companies creating innovative solutions to meet each project’s specific target and requirements. Mike is responsible for growing Jenbacher North America’s Hydrogen and Natural Gas Generator Market.

  INNIO Jenbacher

  Manager, North America

  Moderator

  Michael Collins

  Manager, North America

  INNIO Jenbacher

The Path to Sustainable Data Centers: Greener, Smarter, More Efficient - But at What Cost?

• 

  Amanda Abell

  Amanda is an accomplished sustainability leader with over 18 years of experience across a variety of high impact sectors. As the Senior Director of Sustainability for Stream Data Centers, she is responsible for developing and implementing strategies that drive incremental improvements to the overall sustainability of operational facilities and new developments. Her pragmatic and fun approach allows her to engage with diverse stakeholders to develop effective and innovative solutions that address large- scale sustainability concerns. She has been recognized as a top sustainability leader in both the aviation and data center industries for her contributions to driving carbon emissions reductions, sustainable development, and fostering innovation through collaboration and engagement.

  Stream Data Centers

  Senior Director, Sustainability

  Amanda Abell

  Senior Director, Sustainability

  Stream Data Centers

• 

  Mark Hill

  Mark Hill has been involved in landfill gas and anaerobic digesters for more than a decade. As Vice President of Operations at DTE Biomass Energy, Mark was responsible for the safety, management, and profitability of 21 Landfill Gas to Energy Projects and 7 Dairy Manure to Vehicle Fuel projects - one of the largest portfolios in the industry. In this role he helped launch the first seven dairy anaerobic digester to vehicle fuel projects in Wisconsin, including the first virtual pipeline project that uses CNG trailers to move RNG from remote locations not on an interstate pipeline (American Biogas Council's 2019 Project of the Year). Prior to working for DTE Energy, Mark worked in the cement industry and was an officer in the Michigan Army National Guard. Over his twelve years in the Army, Captain Hill served in many roles, including Logistics Officer and Cavalry Troop Commander in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

  Novilla Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)

  Co-CEO

  Mark Hill

  Co-CEO

  Novilla Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)

• 

  Stewart Matson

  Stewart Matson is a dedicated professional with nearly 15 years of experience in the Power Generation and Data Center industries. Currently serving as the Division Manager of Power Generation at MIRATECH, he specializes in providing expert knowledge in Diesel and Natural Gas emissions as well as the regulations that affect them at the national and regional levels. His commitment to excellence has driven significant results in the Data Center space by developing projects in partnership with other stakeholders. Outside of work he enjoys golf, traveling and spending time with his family. Stewart is excited to share his insights and enjoys collaborating with colleagues at DICE events.

  Miratech Corporation

  Division Manager, Power Generation

  Stewart Matson

  Division Manager, Power Generation

  Miratech Corporation

• 

  Jennifer Reininger

  Jennifer Reininger is a seasoned real estate professional with over 20 years of expertise in mission-critical infrastructure, specializing in data center site acquisition, development, and strategic expansion. She currently serves as the Director of Acquisition at CleanArc Data Centers, where she leads efforts to identify and secure high-value sites that support the company’s rapid growth and evolving infrastructure needs. Prior to joining CleanArc, Jennifer held senior leadership roles with major players in the industry, including Yondr Group and CyrusOne, where she consistently exceeded acquisition goals, led landmark land transactions, and pioneered process improvements that streamlined operations and reduced costs. Her global experience spans key data center markets in North America and Europe, including Dublin, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and London. Jennifer’s expertise includes power and network planning, financial modeling, governmental negotiations, strategic planning, and risk mitigation. She is also a recognized voice in the industry, regularly contributing to conferences and publications such as Mission Critical Magazine, Data Center Dynamics, and the DCAC Conference. Previously a board member of the Data Center Coalition, Jennifer brings not only technical and strategic acumen but also a deep passion for advancing the data center industry with integrity, innovation, and forward-thinking leadership.

  CleanArc Data Centers

  Director, Acquisitions

  Jennifer Reininger

  Director, Acquisitions

  CleanArc Data Centers

• 

  Gia Clark

  Gia Clark is a renewable energy expert with over a decade of experience in utility-scale project development, portfolio strategy, and PPA market analytics. She currently leads ENGIE’s data center energy strategy across North America, integrating technical, commercial, and regulatory frameworks to deliver scalable, low-carbon energy solutions. Gia specializes in aligning cross-functional teams to optimize project execution and market responsiveness to customer needs.

  ENGIE North America

  Director, Commercial Strategy & Utility Scale Renewab

  Gia Clark

  Director, Commercial Strategy & Utility Scale Renewab

  ENGIE North America

• 

  William Graves

  William Graves is the Senior Director of Origination at BrightNight, where he helps corporations and utilities secure long-term renewable energy solutions to power their operations. With over a decade of experience in the energy industry, he has deep expertise in origination, financial modeling, project development, and the construction of renewable power plants. Before joining BrightNight, William served as Director of Origination at Sol Systems, where he led a team focused on structuring long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) for distributed solar and energy storage projects. His expertise supports the transition to sustainable, reliable energy solutions for businesses and utilities.

  BrightNight

  Senior Director of Origination

  Moderator

  William Graves

  Senior Director of Origination

  BrightNight

Presentation: Key Treatment Programs in Cooling Technologies: How to Deliver the Biggest Impact on Sustainability and Performance

• 

  Richard Tribble

  Richard H. Tribble is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and has been in water treatment for 29 years. He currently works as the Closed Loop Product Champion for ChemTreat as well as specializes in root cause failure analysis. He has developed a multitude of high performance cooling products, has been awarded 6 patents and has authored numerous papers.

  ChemTreat

  Technical Service Consultant

  Richard Tribble

  Technical Service Consultant

  ChemTreat

Presentation: Top Ten Data Center Legal and Business Issues for Powered Land, Leases and MSA's That You Should Know About

• 

  Jeffrey Moerdler

  Jeff heads our Real Estate and Communications practices in New York and has significant experience in general commercial real estate law. Jeff’s general real estate practice includes acquisitions, sales, development, leasing, and borrower’s side financing. He also has a particular focus on real estate challenges facing communications, technology, and energy companies, and represents property owners and telecom companies in telecom real estate matters, such as data center leases. His clients include both large national companies and smaller, local clients. He is frequently invited to speak on real estate, data center, and telecom topics. He also writes for several industry publications, and he is regularly quoted in national media. Jeff was a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and led many of its major real estate and telecom transactions.

  Mintz

  Member

  Jeffrey Moerdler

  Member

  Mintz

• 

  Brandon Barker

  Brandon’s practice focuses on commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, financings, sale-leasebacks, leasing and developments of office, industrial, technology, data center and multifamily projects. His experience also includes the structuring of joint ventures and transfers of equity interests. Before joining Mintz Levin, Brandon practiced as a real estate associate in other law firms in California. While in law school, he served as Executive Articles Editor of the Washington Law Review. In his free time, Brandon enjoys endurance and mountain sports and reading about Russian history.

  Mintz

  Member

  Brandon Barker

  Member

  Mintz

Liquid-to-Chip Cooling, Why It's Harder Than it Appears

• 

  Michael Beatty

  After getting his B.S. in Chemistry Michael began his career in Industrial Water Treatment for 16 years. For the next 14 years he served in the Data Center industry, advising Data Center owners, engineers, and operators regarding cooling and power designs and solutions. Michael has managed multiple Data Center Design/Build projects, from greenfield to brownfield, including live Data Center upgrades. He has Top Secret DOD clearance and has performed Data Center energy and Tier Reliability audits for the US Government and private industry. He also has experience in doing forensic analysis of Data Center equipment failures and implementing solutions for remediation. In 2020 Michael joined Nalco Water in the Global High Tech business group, responsible for advising and supporting Data Center engineers and owner/operators regarding water related issues. This includes site selection water assessment, cooling system design, water consumption and treatment, water conservation, water reclaim, water pre-treatment equipment design, water related Capex/Opex, and newer sustainable water strategies and technologies. He also leads the Nalco CDCWT Certification effort to educate Data Center industry members about best practices with water and the wise stewardship of water. Michael is married with four children and serves on the leadership teams of two ministry groups.

  Nalco Water, An Ecolab Company

  AVP, Global Data Center Design & Engineering

  Michael Beatty

  AVP, Global Data Center Design & Engineering

  Nalco Water, An Ecolab Company

• 

  Adam Braun

  Director, Design - Americas Central & West Regions

  Digital Realty Trust

• 

  Tiffany Fiedler

  I received my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and have spent the last 20 years working in the heat transfer/thermal management industry. I started as an intern with Modine Manufacturing while still in college, working on cooling hydrogen fuel cells. I then went on to work in commercial HVAC then spent some time working with industrial IC engines. Most recently I spent time working on thermal management systems for commercial and industrial electric vehicles and have since made the transition over to data center cooling with Airedale by Modine. Here I lead a team of engineers who are charged with designing the next indoor product for data center cooling here in North America.

  Airedale by Modine

  Manager, Indoor Product Engineering

  Tiffany Fiedler

  Manager, Indoor Product Engineering

  Airedale by Modine

• 

  David Quirk

  David Quirk is a visionary entrepreneur and leader in the built environment, with over 25 years of experience in the mission-critical industry. As the co-owner of several companies, he leads a team of 325+ professionals focused on “Empowering Innovation and Transformative Change in the Built Environment.” A licensed Professional Engineer in 48 states, Certified Energy Manager and LEED Accredited Professional, David has participated as a voting member on NFPA75, NFPA76, FPRF research project committees, chaired ASHRAE TC9.9 and contributed to key industry committees. He has authored hundreds of papers, co-authored books and delivered 100+ presentations, solidifying his role as an industry expert.

  DLB Associates

  President & CEO

  David Quirk

  President & CEO

  DLB Associates

• 

  Justin Seter

  Justin Seter is the Strategic Initiatives Officer at DLB, driving growth and innovation in data center commissioning, engineering, and energy solutions. With nearly two decades of experience, he has played a key role in delivering hyperscale data center programs and advancing high-density liquid cooling deployments. Focused on strategic expansion, operational excellence, and client program management, Justin ensures projects stay on track and aligned with business objectives. His leadership fosters clarity, technical excellence and a results-driven approach across the organization.

  DLB Associates

  Strategic Initiatives Officer

  Moderator

  Justin Seter

  Strategic Initiatives Officer

  DLB Associates

Day 1 Remarks from the Podium

• 

  Geoff Bland

  Geoff is responsible for the leadership of the sales, marketing, and strategy at Life Cycle Power. He is a tenured Professional Engineer with 20 years’ experience in designing power generation equipment and projects across 70 countries and has a deep understanding of the commercials and challenges facing the market. As the SVP of commercial strategies, he has brought strong leadership to the team and allowed Life Cycle power to be a trusted partner to many of our clients.

  Life Cycle Power

  SVP, Commercial Strategies

  Geoff Bland

  SVP, Commercial Strategies

  Life Cycle Power

Day 2 Remarks from the Podium

• 

  Adeel Usman

  Adeel Usman, VP of Sales at PDM (Power and Data Management), is a customer-centric sales executive committed to providing critical power equipment with the urgency needed in this dynamic global energy environment. Previously, he worked at LG Corp and Unify Energy Solutions as an account executive where he leveraged strategic thinking and technical knowledge to build strong client relationships. Adeel is skilled in negotiations among diverse suppliers, internal departments, and executive stakeholders to achieve optimal procurement outcomes. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics and literature from Purchase College, SUNY.

  Power and Data Management

  VP

  Adeel Usman

  VP

  Power and Data Management