Schedule

7:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Registration & Breakfast

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

8:00 A.M. – 8:30 A.M.
Welcome and Opening Remarks

Bob Cassiliano, 7×24 Exchange Chairman & CEO, will open the conference, provide an overview, review meeting logistics and address general housekeeping items.

8:30 A.M. – 9:30 A.M.
Conference Keynote:
Leveraging AI for Good: AI’s Potential to Redefine Productivity and Reinvent Employee Satisfaction

Zack explores the intersection of cutting-edge AI advancements and their practical applications in the business landscape. Delve into the current state of AI, its trajectory, and discover how different industries are harnessing this technology to revolutionize efficiency, liberate employees from burnout inducing tasks, and transform work as we know it. Drawing on his years of expertise linking AI advancements to solve bottlenecks at work, Zack presents an inspiring vision of an AI-enhanced future and offers practical, actionable strategies to ensure your organization is equipped to leverage AI for the benefit of your people.

Zack Kass (bio)
Former Head of Go-to-Market at OpenAI
Futurist and Visionary

9:30 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.
Refreshment Break

10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.
WiMCO^® PANEL: Developing and Utilizing Physics-Based Models to Mitigate Ever-Changing Environmental Risk

Step into the future of data center management with Meta’s groundbreaking physics-based modeling. This pivotal session will unveil how advanced models are reshaping decision-making, elevating thermal management, and transforming environmental risk strategies. From conception to real-world impact, learn how Meta is not just predicting but revolutionizing the approach to data center reliability, sustainability, and efficiency.

James Monahan (bio)
Senior Solutions Engineer
Meta

Laura Nofziger (bio)
Data Center Campus Facility Director
Meta

Lisa Rivalin (bio)
Research Scientist
Meta

11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Panel: Mega-Powers Unite

Batteries are always an electric topic at 7×24 Exchange. Join our panel of leading battery company representatives as they take a deep dive on lead, lithium, and nickel-zinc technologies, specific to their market successes and challenges. 

Moderator:
Steve Shapiro (bio)
Senior Technical Manager, Electrical Engineering
EYP Mission Critical Facilities, Part of Ramboll

Panelists:
Bruce Cole (bio)
Senior Vice President – Sales
East Penn Manufacturing Co.

James Li (bio)
General Manager of UPS, Datacenters & Telecom
Ampace Lithium Batteries

Aaron Schott (bio)
Director of Product Management
ZincFive

Jay Shipman (bio)
Product Manager
Vertiv

12:00 P.M. – 1:30 P.M.
Lunch and Networking

1:30 P.M. – 2:30 P.M.
Data Center Trends Shaping the Industry

While the data center industry continues to recover from post-pandemic supply chain constraints, it is also going through one of the biggest technology revolutions ever. During this presentation we will explore some of the most significant trends such as: AI, power generation, sustainability, etc and how those may determine the future of data centers.

Angie Garza (bio)
Director, Data Center & Advanced Technology Sourcing
Google

Angad Sandhu (bio)
Director of Data Center Infrastructure Design
Google

2:30 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Refreshment Break

3:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Concurrent Breakout Sessions

Breakout A:
Energy Independence and the BYOP Strategy

Join this session to learn about the bring-your-own-power (BYOP) strategy for data center operators. BYOP adopters deploy low- or zero-carbon distributed energy resources (DERs) on site, reducing or eliminating scope 1 and scope 2 emissions, while also reducing dependence on utility power and the friction that currently exists between operators and utilities.

Peter Panfil (bio)
Vice President Global Power
Vertiv

Breakout B:
Panel: The Exigent Data Center Industry Construct

The panel will discuss their projected industry challenges and trends for the five-to-ten-year horizon for critical industry topics such as labor, resilience, recovery, etc. In addition, we will delve into categories that tie to individual areas of expertise for the same time horizon – data center builds, recovery and sustainability, healthcare trends, and multi-industry innovation trends that may influence data centers of the future.

Moderator:
Donna Jacobs (bio)
IT Senior Director, Infrastructure Operations
University of Pennsylvania

Panelists:
Vince Albanese (bio)
Managing Partner
Programma

Mark Evanko (bio)
Principal/CEO
Bruns-Pak

Greg Hartley (bio)
IT Senior Manager Hosting Services
University of Pennsylvania

Mark Jacobs (bio)
CIO Emeritus, Delaware Health Information Network, and
Principal, M&I Consulting Services, LLC

Breakout C:
Innovation in Data Center Development and Construction: Leveraging Technology for Sustainability and Efficiency

Data centers have quickly emerged as a critical pillar of digital. Their construction and maintenance, however, demand a balance between technological advancement and environmental sustainability. Developers today require advanced technologies and more sustainable equipment options to save time, maximize returns, and support evolving goals. In this presentation, we’ll discuss ways equipment, solutions, and data can help drive efficiencies and streamline construction—all while considering the cornerstones of a thorough, yet practical, sustainability strategy. Panelists will discuss how they have used new applications, emerging alternative equipment solutions, and ways their team has used data and tech innovations to create a more sustainable and connected worksite over the last 12 months.

Doug Cooper (bio)
Vice President, Integrated Operations Manager
Turner Construction Company

Chris Hann (bio)
Data Center Development
United Rentals

Bill Hassel (bio)
Advanced Technology Group Sustainability Manager
Turner Construction Company

Tony Leopold (bio)
Senior Vice President, Strategy & Digital
United Rentals

4:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.
WiMCO^® Networking Reception

Join the National Women in Mission Critical Operations Committee for a networking reception.

SPONSORED BY:

 7:00 A.M.- 8:30 A.M.
Breakfast & Registration

8:30 A.M. – 9:00 A.M.
Opening Remarks

Bob Cassiliano will review day one highlights, recognize the conference Corporate Leadership Program sponsors and give a 7×24 Exchange update.

9:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.
Tuesday Keynote: Going Clean – A Look at the Future of Data Center Power

The data center industry has made great strides in containing energy usage. Still, data centers need consistently reliable, high-availability power, and renewable energy sources are increasingly seen not only as the answer to creating a climate-secure world but as the solution to building a power-secure industry too. However, a facility’s renewable energy supply, outside of those that generate power on site, is to a large degree a function of where it’s located, daylight hours available, and weather conditions. Local grids supply the power needed, but the intermittency of some renewable energy sources presents challenges.

Phill Lawson-Shanks (bio)
Chief Innovation and Technology Officer
Aligned Data Centers

10:00 A.M. – 10:30 A.M.
Refreshment Break

10:30 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.
Panel: Future of the Enterprise Data Center

This panel discussion will include owner, colocation provider, and consultant perspectives on data center sustainability strategy, various approaches to aging facilities and critical infrastructure assets, current and future regulatory challenges, and balancing of enterprise versus colocation critical infrastructure solutions for business needs. We will explore these topics to understand their influence, constraints, and business drivers from the point of view of this diverse group of stakeholders.

Moderator:
Joshua Fluecke (bio)
Senior Principal – Critical Facilities
Syska Hennessy Group

Panelists:
Rhett Bailey (bio)
Sr. Vice President, Mission Critical
Truist Financial

Haynes Strader (bio)
Chief Development Officer
Skybox Datacenters

Herb Tracy (bio)
Global Head of Critical Site Operations
BlackRock

Dutch Wickes (bio)
Principal, Global Practice Director of Mission Critical
Ci

11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
Panel: Demonstrating the Value of Resilience in the Design of the Next Generation of Data Centers

Critical information infrastructure developers are responding to user demands for 24/7 resilience by strengthening building design criteria to limit damage and downtime following a catastrophic climate or earthquake event. Buehler Engineers and Clark Pacific recently completed the design of a Phoenix data center for Edgecore. It is the first to obtain a US Resiliency Council Platinum Rating for earthquake and wind perils, signifying that in worst-case events, downtime is expected to be less than a week. We will present the decision-making and design processes that were used by the developer, builder, and USRC to ensure that the data center achieved maximum resilience.

Moderator:
Evan Reis (bio)
Executive Director
US Resiliency Council

Panelists:
Jon Mohle (bio)
Senior Product and Market Manager
Clark Pacific

Tony Polusny (bio)
Regional Director
Buehler Engineering

Dave Rezash (bio)
Vice President of Design and Construction
EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure

12:30 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.
Lunch & Networking

2:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Operating in a Hybrid HPC Environment Using all CDU Topologies

Operating in a hybrid HPC environment, encompassing Cooling Distribution Unit (CDU) topologies, presents a unique set of challenges and considerations compared to traditional homogeneous environments. Diverse CDU topologies demand a more nuanced approach to management, requiring a deeper understanding of various cooling systems, their interactions, and the implementation of intelligent controls and standardized procedures to ensure efficient, reliable, and cost-effective operation of the HPC infrastructure.

We’ll discuss commissioning a CDU infrastructure which involves a more refined and comprehensive approach compared to legacy systems. The focus shifts towards verifying complex functionalities, optimizing efficiency, utilizing automation, and adapting to a broader skillset requirement. In this session, we’ll also discuss the importance of a well-organized playbook that covers all stages of the HPC lifecycle, from planning and procurement to deployment, operation, and decommissioning. Training programs for HPC environments should equip staff with the necessary skills and knowledge to deliver the services outlined in the playbook.

Mike Jones (bio)
EVP of Product Development & Chief Technology Officer
Salute Mission Critical

Michael Nimeth (bio)
Senior Vice President of Solutions Engineering
Salute Mission Critical

Chris Schager (bio)
Mission Critical MEP SME Skipper
Salute Mission Critical

3:00 P.M. – 3:30 P.M.
Refreshment Break

3:30 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.
Concurrent Breakout sessions

Breakout A:
Hydrogen Data Center Demonstration

Caterpillar Inc. received a Department of Energy award (DE-EE0009252) to develop and demonstrate a 1.5 MW polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) running on hydrogen to provide backup power for a data center. One key outcome is a first-of-its kind demonstration of a 1.5 MW fuel cell that can also respond dynamically to support the grid. A successful 48-hour simulated backup power event was proven with the use of liquid hydrogen as a fuel supply. The major development work involved systems integration and controls to allow power management of the fuel cell batteries and the grid. This presentation will cover the three-year project, from concept development to the evaluation of the performance of a prototype fuel cell and battery microgrid powered by hydrogen located at a data center.

Paul Wang (bio)
Senior Engineering Project Team Lead
Caterpillar, Inc.

Breakout B:
Elevating Efficiency – UPS Design Considerations for Containerized Applications

Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) design is trending towards higher power ratings and a smaller footprint as power density continues to increase to meet growing energy demands. This panel of experts will delve into applications and strategies to address thermal challenges and ways to optimize UPS performance in containerized environments. Panelists will outline key considerations around containerized solutions highlighting challenges and successes to achieve sustainable solutions for efficient data center operations.

Harry Handlin (bio)
U.S. Data Center Segment Leader
ABB

Zane Heigele (bio)
Project Engineer
Telios

Greg MacNeill (bio)
Director of Engineering
Integra Mission Critical

Breakout C:
Fire Protection for Rack-Mounted UPS Systems

Many data centers are choosing lithium-ion batteries to work with their UPS systems, which brings with it fire safety concerns and new code requirements. But what changes when the batteries are now on the rack? This presentation will discuss the fire protection considerations for data centers built with rack-mounted UPS equipment.

Lee Kaiser (bio)
VP Engineering and Training
Orr Protection

6:00 P.M. – 10:30 P.M.
Sponsored Event
An Evening at Universal Orlando Resort

Click here for event details.

Special thanks to the partners that made this event possible:

ABB; Aegis Project Controls; AG&E; Aggreko; AKF Group LLC.; AKG of America; Applied Climate Solutions; Armstrong Fluid Technology; Armstrong World Industries; Atkore; Avicado Construction Technology Services; Bohler Engineering, P.C.; Boon Edam Inc.; Concentric, LLC.; Cummins; DPR Construction; East Penn Manufacturing Co.; Eaton; EnerSys; Exertherm; G&W Electric; Gordon Inc.; GS Yuasa Energy Solutions, Inc.; Ideal Building Solutions; Inductive Automation; JE Dunn Construction Company; Johns Manville; Johnson Controls; K&N Engineering; Kimley-Horn; Kohler Co.; LANTANA LED; Maddox Industrial Transformer; Maverick Power, LLC; Metraflex; Miller Industries – Flex Air; MMR Group; MPINarada; MTU-A Rolls-Royce Solution; Natron Energy; Newell Company; Performance Contracting, Inc.; PermAlert; PurgeRite; Ramboll; RoviSys Building Technologies; Safety Power Inc.; Schneider Electric; Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories; Siemens; SOPREMA; Southwire Company; Standard Calibrations Inc.; Starline; Sunbelt Rentals; Syska Hennessy Group; Thermo Systems; United Rentals; Vertiv; Victaulic; The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company; XNRGY Climate Systems; ZincFive

8:30 A.M. – 8:45 A.M.
Opening Remarks

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

8:45 A.M. – 9:45 A.M.
Wednesday Keynote:
Prioritizing Highly Evolved Infrastructure and Fully Optimized Operations, Are You Ready?

State-of-the-art infrastructure design and construction must be seamlessly integrated with operational excellence to support reliable, secure, and effective data center operations. A well-located, purpose-built facility, designed and built to include reliable, efficient, and high-performance infrastructure, provides the foundation for a fully functional data center, while a top-tier data center operations program facilitates its optimal utilization. This holistic approach maximizes the potential of advanced equipment and technologies but also mitigates risks, minimizes downtime, manages change, and enhances overall resilience. The synergy that occurs when you prioritize highly evolved infrastructure and fully optimized operations is a critical factor in supporting a growing, yet increasingly competitive industry.

Ron Davis (bio)
Vice President, Digital Infrastructure Operations
Uptime Institute

9:45 A.M. – 10:15 A.M.
Refreshment Break

10:15 A.M. – 11:15 A.M.
The Power of Partnership: Enhancing Performance through Effective Communication in Data Center Commissioning

This presentation will explore the challenges faced by both contractors and commissioning providers throughout the data center commissioning process and emphasize the critical role effective communication plays in overcoming these challenges. With construction delays and equipment supply chain issues, contractors encounter issues related to coordination of the critical systems serving data centers. Contractors and commissioning providers face challenges in obtaining essential information that cause additional delays and failure of the infrastructure. Drawing from successful project experiences, the presentation will highlight effective strategies to streamline communication, ensuring accountability across all stakeholders. Topics covered will include coordination mechanisms, communication pathways, scheduling optimization, and the exchange of critical documentation.

Tony DiLeonardo (bio)
President
Wick Fisher White

Adam Leavitt (bio)
Senior Project Manager
DPR Construction

11:15 A.M. – 12:15 P.M.
Solving Data Center Sustainability and AI Density Challenges with Adaptive Reuse

From 350 Cermak to 1 Wilshire to 60 Hudson, the industry has proven its skill in repurposing buildings for digital infrastructure use. But in recent years, as facility sizes grow larger and larger, the trend has been to tear down, pave over, and stick build. And although the benefits of new construction are apparent, there’s a downside: carbon impact. For new builds, steel and concrete consume massive amounts of embodied carbon. Fortunately, there is a potential solution for the 30 billion square feet of corporate real estate in the US alone. This presentation will assess the history and future of adaptive reuse in the industry and inform the audience how reusing real estate can solve the challenges that super-dense AI deployments pose.

Sean Farney (bio)
Vice President
Data Center Strategy

12:15 P.M.
Conference Adjourns