Schedule

Check in, pick up your name badge, conference materials and enjoy a hot buffet breakfast.

Bob Cassiliano, 7x24 Exchange chairman, will open the conference, provide an overview, review meeting logistics and address general housekeeping items.

As the data center industry is experiencing unprecedented and explosive growth, the environment that supports this boom needs to expand at the same rate. However, the quantity and quality of skilled labor across the full spectrum of design, construction, and facility management has proven to be a significant hindrance to the market’s desired speed and volume of data center deployment. This gap is amplified by the complexity of data centers’ labor and staffing requirements, ranging from skilled trade labor to data center operations to engineers and more. This panel will address the challenges of this labor shortage and how the industry is responding to close the gap.

Moderator:
Frank Nash (bio)
Senior Director
Schneider Electric

Panelists:
Dennis D. Cronin (bio)
CEO, Resilient Solutions and
Founding Member, 7x24 Exchange International

Chris Jansen (bio)
Senior Vice President
Faith Technologies

Bill Mazzetti, PE (bio)
Senior Vice President & Chief Engineer
Rosendin Electric

Nancy Novak (bio)
Senior Vice President of Construction
Compass Datacenters

The era of Edge is fast taking shape as devices, networks, core storage and software are configured ‘on the ground’ to deliver real world benefits of processing close to the source. Yet more than three years of DCD analysis and discussion indicates how the refinement of Edge systems may be just the beginning of a new series of adoption challenges as the technology fights to make a business and investment case, and fights also to achieve a level of understanding sufficient to enable acceptance. Stephen will also reference research conducted by DCD in North America and recently across the major markets of the Asia Pacific to look at how the balance between technology, perception and delivery is being mapped as Edge moves forward.

Stephen Worn (bio)
Chief Technology Officer & APAC Director
Data Center Dynamics

Designed to encourage in-depth discussion and debate on the latest challenges in data center planning, design and operation, topics will include: trends in infrastructure design resiliency, energy efficient design and operational practices, capacity planning and management, and the day-to-day challenges in managing data center operations. The moderator will guide the discussion with the use of PowerPoint slides and handouts; However, the real star of this session will be you, the end user! Bring your appetites, but more importantly, be ready to engage your peers in an exciting interactive discussion on the latest challenges of our industry. Don’t forget those business cards as this will be a great opportunity to meet your peers in the industry!

Moderator:
Dennis D. Cronin (bio)
CEO, Resilient Solutions and
Founding Member, 7x24 Exchange International

Learn Uptime Institute’s new findings about data center outages, including trends in causes and types and strategies for reducing the number and impact of outages.

Chris Ludeman (bio)
Director of Business Development / Eastern US Region
Uptime Institute

In the spirit of the chain is only as strong as its weakest link, the vast majority of companies’ existing network infrastructures are completely unprepared to support even the most rudimentary IoT applications. Over reliance on the public network, outdated switching hardware and inefficient design present significant architectural challenges delivering the degree of low latency necessary to enable volumes of data to be processed and acted upon. The presenter will examine the structure of existing infrastructure architectures and identify the major inefficiencies and chokepoints that stand in the path of effective IoT implementations. During this discussion, Mr. Fotouh will discuss the emerging hardware bandwidth standards and infrastructure design alternatives that are being adopted to support IoT applications across a variety of industries.

Sharif Fotouh (bio)
Managing Director, Compass Edge Solutions
Compass Datacenters

The future of data centers is being influenced by industrial trends, such as hyperscale, wireless, security and digital. Digital distribution systems and equipment enable deep component visibility and easy automation for even lights out data center operations. Digital electrical equipment, such as digital switchgear, is the ultimate example of Edge Processing. The system communicates peer to peer and makes decisions without having to communicate back through the centralized control system. Join this session to learn how innovative digital technologies not only improve system communication, but also simplify the electrical system to save data center owners space, costs, time and risk.

Dave Sterlace (bio)
Global Head of Data Center Technology
ABB

This presentation will review state-of-the-state of quantum computing, and the perceived impact QC will have on mechanical and electrical systems, how the technology change will impact current design and operations topologies, and ability to adapt existing real estate as those things exist today. The mechanical impact to the ballroom, and the changes to the central mechanical plants, if necessary, to supply systems that have operating elements close to zero degrees. The overall impact to electrical, both to the device, and of the supporting mechanical equipment, will be discussed. How close coupled cooling to the QC chassis impacts things like fluid transfer in the IT space. We will explore how processing changes potentially reduces the quantity and type of individual servers, the fabric of the cloud, and the reduction or modification of real estate, as well as how adaptable. As well as how adaptable existing real estate can receive the technology.

Christopher McLean (bio)
Director, Mission Critical Solutions
M.C. Dean

Join WiMCO and leaders from Facebook’s Infrastructure Data Centers team as they share their experiences as sponsors, mentors, and allies, and how these relationships were formed. They will also discuss how these relationships helped them to build high-performing teams based on their people’s strengths and hear some perspectives from those on their teams. Panelists will speak about their personal experience navigating career pathways in the data center industry, and highlight how Facebook’s open and inclusive culture, focus on mentoring, and professional development programs contributed to their success. Join them and discover what you can take away to create or sustain your own high performing teams, retain great talent in a competitive market, and maximize productivity.

Organized by the Women in Mission Critical Operations (WiMCO) Committee
SPONSORED BY:

Moderator:
Michelle Carr (bio)
Pre-Construction Manager
Facebook

Panelists:
Adrain Garner (bio)
Facility Operations Chief Building Engineer
Facebook

Randi Johnson (bio)
Global Data Center Facilities Operations Director, Central Region
Facebook

Jean Normandy (bio)
Facility Operations Manager
Facebook

James Swensen (bio)
Director, Global Data Center Facility Operations
Facebook

Tom Winter (bio)
Global Data Center Facilities Operations Director, East Region
Facebook

Heather Woolery (bio)
Site Startup Program Manager
Facility Operations, Infra Data Centers
Facebook

Bob Cassiliano will review day one highlights, recognize the conference Corporate Leadership Program sponsors and give a 7x24 Exchange update.

Chris Crosby (bio)
CEO
Compass Datacenters

The level of expectation for the availability and functionality of data center-supported applications has become analogous to the same presumption that we have whenever we flip a light switch: It should just work, and you shouldn’t have to think about it. In effect, data centers have reached a level of ubiquity that requires them to provide the same level of service as utility companies. The presenter will examine the impact of this transition on the data center marketplace, as data centers are expected to operate not as technology but as a utility. The session will also include a discussion of the changes that data center providers are making to their modes of operation to maintain their competitiveness in the face of increasing levels of customer expectation and demand.

With over two billion monthly active users, Facebook has experienced tremendous growth across its suite of products (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger). This explosive growth demands extensive infrastructure, one that is sophisticated enough to serve its still growing user base. Facebook has answered this call by shifting away from leased space and colocations to designing and building their own data centers – their first was built in Prineville, Oregon, in 2011 – and they have not stopped building since. Now, with 15 data centers operating or in construction across the globe, they have continued to evolve their data center design, construction, and approach to start up. In this presentation, leaders from Facebook’s Infra Data Centers team will share how Facebook has continued to build, start up, and operate their cutting-edge data centers with unparalleled success.

Michelle Carr (bio)
Pre-Construction Manager
Facebook

Dan Lee (bio)
Global Data Center Design Director
Facebook

James Swensen (bio)
Director, Global Data Center Facility Operations
Facebook

Designing, operating and maintaining a modern data center, including those used for Edge Computing, presents a host of options – but what is really important and how should you choose? Is it sufficient just to produce a design that operates within guidelines? Do you need a scientific assessment? Or, will pure technology win the day? Leading individuals from the National Science Foundation Center for Energy-Smart Electronic Systems Industry University Cooperative Research Center will debate what’s important including ASHRAE thermal guidelines, power and cooling infrastructure, energy reuse, right-sizing your IT and intelligent controls, along with the latest research in these areas. Come and join this controversial debate on how to be a best in class data center today, and tomorrow.

Moderator:
Bahgat Sammakia (bio)
VP for Research
Binghamton University

Panelists:
Dereje Agonafer (bio)
Jenkins Garrett Professor, Site Director,
NSF IUCRC Center in Energy Efficient Systems and
Director, Electronics, MEMS & Nanoelectronics Systems Packaging Center
University of Texas, Arlington

Kanad Ghose (bio)
BU Site Director, ES2 and
Professor of Computer Science Binghamton University

Alfonso Ortega (bio)
Associate Director
NSF Center for Energy Smart Electronic Systems

Roger Schmidt (bio)
IBM Fellow Emeritus, Traugott Distinguished Professor,
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Dept.,
(Retired IBM Chief Engineer for Data Center Energy Efficiency) Syracuse University

Mark Seymour (bio)
CTO
Future Facilities

The coming wave of Edge Computing will stretch the Cloud beyond today’s paradigms. Rapid changes, new technologies, and speed to market are driving new and unknown demands, challenging the maturing Hyperscale marketplace. Hyperscale clients position themselves for changes in Technology. Facilities built by and for Hyperscale Data Center clients were already a breed apart from what the Enterprise Users and Colocation Providers traditionally provided. Edge Computing is impacting Demand, Site Selection, Design, Vendor Selection, Procurement, Construction, Commissioning, Network Facility Management, and Cost Management. Different perspectives on appropriate IT cooling, power, reliability/availability, carbon footprint, risk avoidance, procurement process, and IT Strategy will emerge. This presentation will explore their unique drivers and how the demands from the Edge will impact tomorrow’s decisions.

James Coe, PE, RCDD (bio)
Senior Principal, Director Critical Facilities
Syska Hennessy Group

Joshua J. Fluecke, PE, LEED AP (bio)
Associate Principal
Syska Hennessy Group

On the site of the State Line Generating Plant in Hammond, Indiana, where, from 1929 until it was decommissioned in 2012, the coal fired power plant which at times produced 1 GW of power, a new innovative data center is being planned and constructed. The first major data center in this region of Indiana will take advantage of the natural elements of water, wind and sun. Not only will the Digital Crossroads data center provide server space for national companies and major institutions, there are long-term plans to develop a tech startup incubator, renewable energy generation and a greenhouse warmed by waste heat from the servers. The presentation is a case study of the history and implementation of this project.

Thomas Kutz (bio)
VP Mission Critical Special Projects
Digital Crossroads Lake Michigan

Jesse Foley (bio)
Managing Director
AHA Consulting Engineers

To harness better application response times across data workloads that are stretched to the edge, IT professionals must toggle between seemingly endless infrastructure options that promise varying degrees of optimization, performance, and scalability. Considerations include: public cloud, private cloud, containers, virtualization and just as important, how do you keep track of all this hardware and software? What’s current? Who has access? Has the maintenance contract expired? Pulling from trends and first-person research, this presentation will highlight how workloads are driving the decision making of CIOs and what personnel should focus on to remain relevant in the new infrastructure world order.

Enzo Greco (bio)
Chief Strategy Officer
Nlyte Software

This presentation assesses the social, technological and regulatory environments that are driving the current data center capacity requirements, and suggests where future innovation can be focused to help close the gap between demand and supply.

Tim Dueck (bio)
Vice President
Gephart Electric

Step right up and join the fun as 7x24 Exchange turns 30! This birthday celebration is sure to be The Greatest Show in Data Center history as we turn the Boca Resort into our very own Big Top!  Enjoy a circus-like atmosphere while you network and conduct business with attendees… complete with food and drink, live performers, music and games for all.

Special thanks to the partners that made this event possible:

ABB, American Electric Power, ASCO Power Technology, Caterpillar, CNet Training, Data Aire, DPR Construction, EastPenn Manufacturing, EnerSys, Federal Pacific, Gephart Electric, Gordon, GS Yuasa, HED, Landstar, MTU Onsite Energy, PDI, PowerSecure, S&C Electric Company, Schneider Electric, Siemens Industry, Sika Sarnafil, Silent-Aire, Starline, Sunbelt Rentals, Syska Hennessy Group, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., Thomson Power Systems, United Rentals, Wärtsilä North America

Bob Cassiliano will review highlights from day two and address housekeeping items of interest.

There are many challenges to integrating a building monitoring system for one building. The design and specification of devices to get the correct information is critical. No matter how much you plan there are often issues arise that are not planned. Such as network security issues, firmware incompatibility, protocol issues, installation inconsistencies and part shortages. Now, imagine if there were multiple Edge sites that are unmanned and spread geographically across many different regions. How would would this possibly complicate the design and integration of the system? What will you encounter that you don’t plan for and how will it be solved? In this presentation we will discuss the differences and similarities of a single site deployment and Edge deployments. What devices are typically monitored and how they integrate. Also, share valuable lessons that were encountered with the remote site deployments.

Luke Dalske (bio)
VP of Deployment & Integration
BitBox USA

John Mangiante (bio)
Network Development Manager
Google Fiber

For decades there have been numerous vendor-sponsored and vendor-neutral credentials developed for the world of IT Technology. However, the industry has been seriously lacking in developing credentials for those we entrust to deliver 24 x 7 Mission Critical operation of the data center facility. With the availability of the CMCO Exam, that has now changed.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration provided a grant to enable the creation of a multi-faceted program to prepare tomorrow’s workforce for the Mission Critical Operator role. In an industry-wide process, a full job skills analysis was conducted, and findings were validated through a global survey. Experienced Mission Critical Operators from major corporations then created the Mission Critical Operator Blueprint – areas every Mission Critical Operator must have to be effective – including maintenance, process management, reporting, and incidence response. This knowledge Blueprint now serves as the basis upon which the certification program was built.

The session will discuss the benefits of the credential for individuals, End User organizations, Consulting firms and Vendor organizations.

Dennis D. Cronin (bio)
CEO, Resilient Solutions and
Founding Member, 7x24 Exchange International