Schedule

  • Sunday, October 24
    1:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    Registration
  • Sunday, October 24
    6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    Welcome Reception

    SPONSORED IN PART BY:
    Caterpiller_logoPowerSecure

    Join us for a reception with open bar and buffet dinner accompanied by music. This is an excellent opportunity to dialogue with conference presenters, meet new people, network, welcome first time attendees, renew old acquaintances, and meet the board members.

  • Monday, October 25
    7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
    Registration & Breakfast

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

  • Monday, October 25
    8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
    Welcome and Opening Remarks

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

  • Monday, October 25
    8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
    Conference Keynote
    Bigger Than Oil: Why Data’s Impact on Society is Still Misunderstood and Still in its Early Days

    “Data is the new oil.” First coined 15 years ago, this maxim gained currency in recent years – particularly as the general public became aware of major data-driven stories such as Cambridge Analytica, Wikileaks, and endless Congressional hearings featuring CEOs from “big tech” companies like Facebook, Google, and Amazon. But as this talk will highlight, the “data as oil” metaphor is simply too small to accurately explain the impact of this new resource on society, business, and culture. Touching on economics, policy, and media theory, Battelle’s talk lays out a framework for understanding data which reveals a stunning truth: While we’re all right to be excited – and perhaps a bit concerned – about the role of data in our lives, we’ve barely begun to understand its significance. That’s good news for anyone building out the infrastructure for data – as long as they’re cognizant of the changes coming in both the architecture and the operational realities of a data-driven world

    John Battelle (bio)
    Global Thought Leader on Technology and Business Disruptions, Serial Entrepreneur and Founder of NewCo.

  • Monday, October 25
    9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
    Refreshment Break
  • Monday, October 25
    10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
    COVID, Maintenance, and Medium Voltage –Interacting Threats to Data Centers

    MTech has been calculating the effects of maintenance on data center reliability for over 20 years. Our analyses have consistently shown that the risk of downtime is significantly increased by most maintenance practices. This message has not been welcomed by many in the industry, but some clients have reduced the frequency of maintenance on systems where our calculations and evidence show that the risks are especially high. Costs are always reduced, while reliability is increased or unchanged. The response to Covid-19 forced many data center operators to severely limit or curtail maintenance. Facilities adopted a “break/fix” strategy, where only failed components were serviced. This is a variant of condition based maintenance. While determining the condition of an operating component is often difficult, it is simple when the unit has failed. Steve will discuss MTech’s approach to incorporating maintenance into data center reliability calculations and review the results for key components. Then he will compare the results from incremental reduction in maintenance frequency with the effects of the 2020 shift in maintenance strategy. The inexorable increase in the size and power of data centers has resulted in moving medium voltage distribution systems from the utility interface to deep inside many data centers. Medium voltage has unique risks and requirements that are not widely known. Steve will review case studies of medium voltage failures and discuss the implications for maintenance and downtime.

    Steve Fairfax (bio)
    President
    MTechnology

  • Monday, October 25
    11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    Edge Computing: Transforming How Last-Mile Edge Computing Infrastructure is Deployed in America

    Now more than ever, the need for gigabit capable internet access is imperative to both our business and personal lives. As deployments of IoT, 5G, AI and analytics applications become more frequent, businesses will require IT infrastructure that supports higher speeds and increased reliability to keep pace with the digital transformation. Bringing fiber and 5G to a town puts them in the fast lane, changing the way a community does business and elevating their economic landscape. However, smaller cities often don’t have the fiber & IT infrastructure needed to help them make this transformation. EdgePresence & Schneider Electric joined forces to help level the connectivity playing field for Tier 3 and Tier 4 cities by designing and deploying highly secure multitenant Edge Data Centers to serve all use cases within a city. Together they share how their creative business partnership delivered fast, repeatable, and highly resilient, efficient edge data centers and helping to bridge the nation’s digital divide. This joint presentation will explore how their unique partnership has developed unmanned, modular data centers at the edge to give customers in various markets across the U.S. the network access and connectivity they need.

    Doug Recker (bio)
    Founder & President
    EdgePresence

    Joe Reele (bio)
    Vice President, Solution Architects
    Schneider Electric

  • Monday, October 25
    12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
    Lunch and Networking
  • Monday, October 25
    1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
    Concurrent Breakout Sessions
  • Monday, October 25
    1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
    Breakout A
    Sustainability – Driving Change in the Data Center EcoSystem

    Data Center investors, customers, clients and host communities are demanding more renewable energy and sustainable design. New and existing data center facilities are moving aggressively beyond renewable energy credits (RECs) and into driving additive renewable development and adoption. Data center designs are increasingly integrating sustainability as a key pillar alongside traditional data center traits of resiliency, cost and scale. The practices and designs are proving effective at reducing carbon and material use. Panelists will discuss the trends that are driving sustainability and practices that are proving successful and where the industry will continue to progress.

    Moderator:
    Kevin Heslin (bio)
    Partner
    RockScar

    Panelists:

    Adam Early (bio)
    CEO/President
    ED+C Group Inc.

    Carrie Goetz (bio)
    Principal/CTO
    StrategITcom

    Keith Klesner, PE (bio)
    Principal Program Manager
    Azure Global

  • Monday, October 25
    1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
    Breakout B
    Energy Storage & the BESSUPS Power System

    Data center loads are increasing worldwide, often at a faster rate when compared to other loads on the grid. These loads are often served via renewable energy power purchase agreements (PPAs), with the goal of achieving carbon-neutrality. With this speed of growth, there’s a new, forced symbiotic dynamic between the grid and the load that’s more nuanced and complicated versus the past. Larger loads are now required to provide grid stability and continuity of operations in several locations in the US. This allows data center users to reevaluate their power infrastructure options by mixing traditional and renewable energy systems while achieving both greener power, grid stability and lower system cost. Speakers will present one idea that achieves this goal at a far lower cost and better-than-typical reliability.

    Steven Emert, PE (bio)
    Director of Mission Critical Engineering
    Rosendin Electric

    Bill Mazzetti, PE(bio)
    Senior Vice President, Innovation
    Rosendin Electric

  • Monday, October 25
    1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
    Breakout C
    Live Surgery – Legacy “Edge” Asset Cooling Upgrade

    Rapid “edge” growth requirements and global business model transformations are driving increased use of “repurposed” properties, creating unique opportunities and challenges. Presenters will highlight the challenges, best practices and lessons learned from a cooling/chillwater system expansion of an operating repurposed data center, adding capacity and enhancing efficiency with minimal business model impact or safety risk. 1623 Farnum is a rapidly growing carrier hotel provider, providing on-ramps to hyperscalers in central USA. In 2020, market growth drove a need to expand capacity and efficiency of a 9 story data center, requiring upgrade and expansion of the entire cooling system while maintaining continuous mission critical service, amidst the challenges of COVID. In essence, a challenge similar to transforming a 737 to a 767, while flying with masks on. The presenters will review challenges in design, delivery, construction, commissioning, project schedule and budget control.

    Todd Cushing (bio)
    President
    1623 Farnam

    Don Mitchell (bio)
    Data Center Division Manager
    Victaulic

    Martin Herbert (bio)
    Associate Principal
    HED

  • Monday, October 25
    2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
    7x24 Exchange Traditional Create Your Own Ice Cream Sundae Break
  • Monday, October 25
    3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
    WiMCO® Panel
    Demand is Changing the Data Center Workforce — Is Your Organization Ready for the Next Generation?

    If it wasn’t apparent before, last year taught us that the demand for data consumption is increasing exponentially. And, despite the fact that several facilities adopted building automation systems, remote hands, and other technologies to operate unmanned sites — before, during, and after the pandemic — data centers will never function without the support of people. That’s why it’s so important for the companies of today to recruit the workforce of tomorrow. Diversity and inclusion is no longer just a goal for the mission critical industry; it’s a dire necessity.

    Moderator:
    Juli Ierulli (bio)
    Global eCommerce Growth Manager-Electric Power Division
    Caterpillar, Inc. and
    Vice President, Marketing Director & Vendor Representative
    7x24 Exchange International

    Melissa Chambal (bio)
    US LATAM & Canada Technical Manager
    CNet Training

    Carrie Goetz (bio)
    Principal/CTO
    StrategITcom

    Nancy Novak (bio)
    Chief Innovation Officer
    Compass Datacenters

  • Monday, October 25
    6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
    Marquis Plus+ Partner Showcase

    Come together with us at the 7x24 Exchange International fall conference. “I read the news today oh-boy” The Marquis Plus Partner Showcase is back, so “Take a sad song (or Data Center) and make it better” visit the Marquis Plus Partners and network with attendees as we take you back in time across the pond on a trip to Abbey Road!

    Special thanks to our Marquis Plus+ Partners that made this event possible:

  • Tuesday, October 26
    7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
    Breakfast & Registration

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

  • Tuesday, October 26
    8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
    Opening Remarks

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

  • Tuesday, October 26
    9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
    Keynote
    Phishing, Ransomware and the New World Order

    This talk will dive into the new challenges that we all face in the new post-COVID world. From remote workforces to the newly sophisticated phishing, whaling and spear-phishing attacks to the scary phenomenon of ransomware. As we saw from Solar Winds and Colonial Oil, it’s increasingly obvious that it’s a case of “when, not if” you’ll be affected. So what can be done to protect yourselves, and if the worst happens, what can be done? With tales from the trenches, Kevin will explain some of the headline-grabbers from recent months, and as usual, will offer actionable advice and concrete suggestions for work in this new, strange and distributed world. Covering topics from email to Cloud, this talk will take a deep look at Information Security in the new 7x24 environment, and what changes we can expect in the near future.

    Kevin Kealy (bio)
    Chief Information Security Officer
    Scientific Games

  • Tuesday, October 26
    10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
    Refreshment Break
  • Tuesday, October 26
    10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
    Monetizing the Data: IoT as a Service

    The internet of things has redefined everyone’s relationship with data as well as the expectations of privacy. We have entered the second generation of IoT solutions where instead of IoT supplementing an operation, it is now becoming the analytical solution of the system. In this presentation Michael Skurla, CPO of Radix and Keith Rutledge, GM of EdgePoint at Compass Datacenters explore where data infrastructure, edge computing, telecommunications advancements, and IoT technology have married to enable offerings from consumer applications to critical infrastructure upkeep. This presentation explains the analytics revolution that is no longer just confined to facility management.

    Keith Rutledge (bio)
    GM of EdgePoint
    Compass Datacenters

    Michael Skurla (bio)
    Chief Product Officer
    Radix IoT

  • Tuesday, October 26
    11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
    Urban Data Centers and the Edge

    What is driving the growth of urban data centers and the emergence of the edge in the industry? Over the past decade as growth in the cloud has created an enormous remote campus—latency becomes an increasing concern—today, hyperscalers have been coming back to urban environments from the farm fields. This overlap with the urban environment presents challenges and unique design opportunities for today’s data centers. You’ll hear about emerging trends from thought leaders in real estate, architecture and engineering with recent case stories.

    Mark Bauer (bio)
    Managing Director
    JLL

    Joshua Fluecke (bio)
    Principal
    Syska Hennessy Group

    Jackson Metcalf (bio)
    Senior Associate, Global Facilities Leader
    Gensler

  • Tuesday, October 26
    12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
    Lunch & Networking
  • Tuesday, October 26
    2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
    Energy Transition & the Path to Sustainably Powered Data Centers

    This presentation will deliver solutions supporting data centers in the achievement of decarbonization goals. Leveraging a longstanding relationship investigating renewable fuels in the electric power space, including Hydrogen and HVO, Caterpillar and STACK Infrastructure will outline fuel options available to data centers of all sizes through the short, medium, and long-term highlighting the benefits and challenges that accompany these options. All of this in support of the need to deliver 99.999% uptime.

    Anthony Goyer (bio)
    Product Definition Strategy Manager
    Caterpillar

    Tim Hughes (bio)
    VP, Strategy
    STACK Infrastructure

    Matt Spitznagle (bio)
    Director of Global Accounts
    Caterpillar

  • Tuesday, October 26
    3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
    Refreshment Break
  • Tuesday, October 26
    3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
    Concurrent Breakout Sessions
  • Tuesday, October 26
    3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
    Breakout A
    Trends in Development: The Rise of Data Centers

    As cloud-based services have become vital for business growth and profitability, data centers are now among the most valuable uses for real estate. Developers are buying properties and demolishing old structures to accommodate new facilities or to utilize existing infrastructure in new ways. This trend is well-established in the San Francisco Bay Area and is starting to emerge in other areas, such as northern Virginia. There are site and building design factors unique to data centers, and knowing the latest trends is key as businesses look to secure their data and prevent interruptions in daily operations.

    Rich Keagy, PE, LEED AP (bio)
    Senior Associate & Practice Leader
    Woolpert

    Farris Shaheen (bio)
    Regional Manager/Senior Account Executive
    R.G. Vanderweil Engineers, LLP

  • Tuesday, October 26
    3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
    Breakout B
    Forging Data Equity with Integrated Facility Management from the Edge and Back

    As digital transformation is boosting demand for data centers and edge facilities, data center operations, maintenance and facility management are growing increasingly complex. Operators must navigate the challenges of achieving 100% uptime while driving down total cost of ownership in a portfolio of diverse data center locations. This dynamic session will explore how leading facility management practices and advanced data analytics can help data center operators/users leverage technology and next-generation maintenance programs to not only drive efficiencies and reliability in their large, centralized data centers, but also in smaller edge locations.

    Eric Adrian (bio)
    Executive Vice President, Director – Critical Environments
    JLL

    Michael Dongieux (bio)
    CEO
    Fulcrum Collaborations (MCIM)

  • Tuesday, October 26
    3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
    Breakout C
    The Fog at the Edge: The Challenges and Opportunities of Managing Dynamic Grid-Connected Edge Infrastructure

    Battery energy storage systems (BESS) and data center edge use cases are converging. Operators will have the opportunity to dynamically change and coordinate the behaviors of these platforms, offering new economic models and upending the traditional data center and utility approaches. In this session, we will explore how digital twins and measurement infrastructure are changing to enable the industry’s transition to a simulation and test-driven approach to managing edge assets, and how this opens up the opportunity to deliver on the promise of dynamic and grid responsive edge infrastructure.

    Chris Kelley (bio)
    Global Leader, Data Center Cloud Platforms
    Eaton

    James McBryde (bio)
    Energy Storage Growth Manager
    Eaton

  • Tuesday, October 26
    6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
    Sponsored Event: Mission Critical Circus Royale

    Come one come all … step right up and join the fun with 7×24 Exchange International as we turn the resort into our very own Modern Circus!  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; Amico Security; Anord Mardix; Apollo Mechanical Contractors; Armstrong Ceiling Solutions; Burns & McDonnell; Caterpillar; Chem-Aqua; Clayco; Clear Air Enviro-Services; Data Aire; EastPenn; Eaton; EnerSys; Envirosep; Fibrebond; Global Roofing Group; Gordon Architectural & Engineered Solutions; INNIO Jenbacher Waukesha; JE Dunn Construction; Kelvion; Kohler; McCarthy; MMR; Mortenson Construction; MTU; PermAlert; Phoenix Contact; PowerSecure; PowerSmiths Socomec Group; Ramboll; S&C Electric Company; Schneider Electric; Siemens; Solar Turbines; Starline; STO Mission Critical; SUEZ – Water Technologies & Solutions; Sunbelt Rental; Syska Hennessy Group; TAS; Thermo Systems; Windy City Wire; Viavi Solutions; Victaulic and ZincFive

  • Wednesday, October 27
    8:30 AM – 8:45 AM
    Opening Remarks

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

  • Wednesday, October 27
    8:45 AM – 9:45 AM
    Keynote
    Creating New Paths for Success

    Data center demand, technology and labor shortages will combine to drive significant changes in building data centers, and who builds them. In the presentation, Nancy Novak, Chief Innovation Officer for Compass Datacenters will examine changing nature of data center construction. Among the technology driven innovations that Nancy will discuss is how off-site development of data center components opens new opportunities for the development of a more diverse workforce, how capabilities like on-site robotics will aid in eliminating gender barriers and lengthen the careers of field personnel and drive the need for more vocational changes.

    Nancy Novak (bio)
    Chief Innovation Officer
    Compass Datacenters

  • Wednesday, October 27
    9:45 AM – 10:15 AM
    Refreshment Break
  • Wednesday, October 27
    10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
    Essential Elements of Global Water Strategy

    As the world’s dependence on cloud computing grows unabated, the data center industry must find innovative ways to meet growing demand while achieving ever more stringent sustainability targets. While significant progress has been made on carbon footprint reduction, there’s still much to be done on water consumption. With new chip designs, data center re-design, and the ability to run data center equipment hotter, data center operators are often focused on eliminating their water use entirely. However, there are many benefits to using water for cooling, and it’s critical that the industry take a balanced approach. Join us for a discussion on how the industry is approaching this challenge and what new developments are on the horizon.

    Renae Kezar (bio)
    VP Global Sustainability & Government Relations
    Johnson Controls

    Walter Leclerc (bio)
    Director of Environmental Occupational Safety & Health
    Digital Realty

    Michael Lesniak (bio)
    Assistant VP of Global Corporate Accounts
    Nalco Water

    Michael Obradovitch (bio)
    Corporate Account Manager
    Nalco Water

  • Wednesday, October 27
    11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
    Powering the Edge: Sustainable Techniques to Make the Data Center an Active Part of the Energy Landscape

    Using sustainable energy is the best way to fuel the growth of the edge data center. We’ll look at energy sources, new techniques, and new technologies like new battery chemistry and energy storage systems, fuel cells, renewable integration, microgrids, modular power as well as integrating all these together.

    Dave Sterlace (bio)
    Head of Technology, Data Center Solutions
    ABB, Inc.

  • Wednesday, October 27
    12:15 PM
    Conference Adjourns

Conference Keynote

Bigger Than Oil: Why Data’s Impact on Society is Still Misunderstood and Still in its Early Days

John Battelle

John Battelle

Global Thought Leader on Technology and Business Disruptions, Serial Entrepreneur and Founder of NewCo

Conference Partners

Conference Brochure

7×24 Exchange is pleased to plan the in-person 2021 Fall Conference. All events listed are subject to change due to the current environment.