8:00 – 8:30am

8:35 – 8:45am

Vicki Worden, President & CEO, GBI

8:45 – 9:15 am

Angela Tovar, Chief Sustainability Officer and Commissioner, City of Chicago

9:15 – 10:00 am

Keynote Speaker: Phill Lawson-Shanks, Chief Innovation Officer, Aligned Data Centers

10:15 – 11:30 am

The sustainability of data centers is a crucial challenge as digital infrastructure plays an ever-increasing role in the global economy — both contributing and resolving rising emissions.

In this session, we will address the technical advancements driving sustainability in design and operations, as well as the workforce challenges and opportunities, in the sector. With a focus on creating a sustainable future for data centers, our goal is a balanced discussion from both technical and workforce perspectives, exploring the intersection of innovative infrastructure solutions, alongside the need for a diverse and well-trained workforce.

It will start with two expert speakers providing in-depth technical insights into the sustainability of digital infrastructure. Following the technical discussion, a small panel of industry professionals will tackle the issues of workforce development, highlighting the importance of increasing representation across various sectors involved in data center operations. The session will conclude with a collaborative discussion between all speakers, focusing on the intersections between technology and workforce development to achieve a sustainable future for data centers.

Presenters:

Miranda Gardiner, Executive Director, iMasons Climate Accord
Courtney Popp, Director of Education Programs, iMasons
Karen Cooper, Mission Critical Client Leader|Senior Associate, DLR Group
Mercy Manning, SVP, Sales & Sustainability Strategy, Aligned
Reine Rambert, Manager of Global Public Affairs, Invenergy
Sara Neff, Partner/GM for Sustainability, Cloud Operations + Innovation, Microsoft

11:30 – 12:00 pm

As demand surges for high-performance data centers driven by artificial intelligence and digital expansion, a new approach is essential to build sustainable, resilient facilities. Join Bill Kleyman, Co-Founder and CEO of Apolo.us, and Ken Moreano, Co-Founder and CEO of Scott Data Center, as they explore transformative strategies for designing data centers that meet the needs of both AI advancements and green initiatives. Plus, they’ll discuss the real enterprises that are already using these greener facilities for powerful AI use cases.

Presenters:

Bill Kleyman, CEO, Co-Founder, Apolo
Ken Moreano, Co-Founder, President & CEO, Scott Data Center

12:00 – 12:25 pm

In a truly comprehensive sustainability strategy, it is essential to consider the efficiency and resilience of existing facilities. CyrusOne will share how GBI’s Green Globes certification is helping optimize the sustainability of their operational data centers through third-party assessment, open dialogue, and thought provoking criteria.

Presenters:

Dan Moore, Senior Director Operations Business, CyrusOne
Alison Hoagland, Principal Architect, Mackenzie, 2025 GBI Board Chair

12:25 -12:35 PM

Megan Baker, VP of Engagement, GBI

12:35 – 1:25 pm

Lunchtime Roundtables:

• Infinitum | Designing for Serviceability and Longevity in Data Centers
• Parklane | Complaints vs. Compliance: How Inconsistent Noise Regulation Is Undermining Public Trust in the Data Center Sector
• Leviton | High Performance Data Center Infrastructure for AI applications
• Legence | Modernization of legacy data centers

1:30 – 1:40 PM

DCs for Bees in Ireland intrigued industry professionals worldwide for its innovative approach to reducing risk by enhancing biodiversity on site. Presenter Noah Wilson-Rich, PhD is a bee expert, entrepreneur, and author, with 15+ years of experience in the corporate real estate biodiversity services. Learn how to engage negative public perception and “NIMBY” with data centers in this educational session that aims to support the achievement of efficiency goals through Green Globes and Journey to Net Zero assessment and certification. Attendees will leave feeling encouraged to implement creative and cost-effective strategies for a bigger impact.

Presenter:

Noah Wilson-Rich, CEO & Chief Scientific Officer, The Best Bees Company

1:40 – 2:20 pm

Designing and constructing a data center in Reno, Nevada is unlike most other markets. PowerHouse Data Centers and its partners, HKS Architecture and Bala Consulting Engineers are implementing a variety of frameworks to collect data to understand unique environmental risks, their probability and severity. Performing assessments, conducting energy modeling, and pursuing third-party whole-building certification helps those who design, construct or own data centers to better understand how design decisions influence a building’s overall impact and how the building will be affected in the future. Learn the importance of company-wide goals, an integrated design strategy, and data collection for time- and cost-effective decision making.

Presenters:

Steve Truebner, Business Development Director, Mission Critical Environments, Legence (Moderator)
Karen Petersburg, VP, Data Center Development & Construction, PowerHouse Data Centers
Sherin Sameh, Project Coordinator, Associate, HKS
Elizabeth Larsen, Senior Sustainability Engineer, Bala Consulting Engineers

2:20 – 2:40 pm

This session will explore the transformative potential of clean energy in data centers and across supply chains. Additionally, integrating Carbon reduction initiatives throughout the supply chain—from manufacturing to distribution—ensures a more sustainable and resilient operation. By adopting these practices, alongside strategic partner selection, companies not only contribute to environmental preservation but also achieve cost savings and enhance their corporate responsibility.

Presenters:

Steven Anson, Sr. Director, Global Marketing, Leviton
Kennedy Miller, Global Programme Manager, Leviton

2:40 – 3:30pm

Data center sustainability is a multifaceted strategy including enterprise environmental impact, asset resilience, and community relations. This panel of data center owner/operators will address challenges and opportunities for scaling sustainability throughout rapidly growing portfolios, and prioritization of focus areas including energy, water, site, and waste management. This session will emphasize the importance of designing with the local ecosystem in mind, leveraging low emission materials, and opportunities to connect with and positively contribute to local communities. Panelists will detail how they are aligning green building certifications such as Green Globes with their sustainability efforts to drive improvement, influence industry, and demonstrate accountability.

Presenters:

Mark Bacon, Practice Lead – Energy Incentives, Leyton (Moderator)
Namrata Gupta, Sustainability Engineer, Vantage Data Centers
Amy Marks, SVP, Innovation, Compass Datacenters
Matt Pfile, CEO, Crane Data Centers
Mikael Svanfeldt, Chief Technology Officer, EcoData Centers
John DeLacio, Principal, AVAIO Capital

3:45 – 4:40 pm

According to the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), data centers could consume up to 9% of the United States’ total electricity generation by 2030. Power availability is the primary risk facing data center operators and their surrounding communities. Through improved collaboration, industry, communities and utilities can develop strategies to ensure access to reliable and affordable energy. This expert led panel will provide existing and emerging power technologies to decarbonize, alleviate grid pressure, positively contribute to local communities, and meet the energy demands of a rapidly growing industry.

Panelists:

Brian Jabeck, VP, Buisness Development, Bennett & Pless, Inc.
Buddy Rizer, Executive Director, Loudoun Virginia Economic Development
Spencer Stanton, Director, Business Development, Jupiter Power
Ben Hoffman, Head of Commercial Sales, Data Centers, Last Energy
Patrick Hughes, Senior Vice President, Technical & Industry Affairs, NEMA
Grace Power, General Counsel, EVP of Government Affairs, Solar Landscape
Ben Taylor, Head of Business Development, Independence Hydrogen

4:40 – 4:55 pm

This conversation will delve into strategies for addressing the talent gap in the data center sector. The discussion will include engaging young people through STEM education, fostering diversity and equity, creating meaningful career pathways, and the importance of mentorship and community engagement to build a more inclusive industry.

Presenter:

Phillip Koblence, COO & Co-Founder, Nomad Futurist

5:00 – 7:00 PM