This episode features a conversation with Brian Duffner, VP of Connectivity Solutions at fiber network provider Aureon, as he discusses his organization's connectivity and IT services offerings across Iowa. He also shares details about Aureon's 4,500 mile fiber network, differentiation selling to Iowa enterprises, and the importance of robust connectivity & security for businesses today. Discover how Aureon is assisting companies lacking IT resources, and preparing for future bandwidth demands.

Tune in for a conversation with Mike Underdown, President & CEO of Crosstown Fiber, a Chicago-based dark fiber network operator focused on providing state-of-the-art infrastructure to support the growing needs of hyperscale data centers, cloud, AI, and machine learning applications. Mike discusses the genesis of Crosstown Fiber, the challenges of building fiber infrastructure in a major city like Chicago, and the unprecedented demand for capacity driven by AI. He also shares his perspective on where communications technology may head next, with quantum computing as a potential disrupter on the horizon.

This recap episode of 2023 provides insights into the evolution of the data center industry, the rapid growth of data center development in the Nordics, the importance of education in technology, and the need for public understanding of data centers. This program features discussions on the shift in the industry towards specific platform requirements for applications, the significant development of data centers in the Nordics driven by environmental and energy considerations, the impact of education on technological interest, and the necessity of public education about data centers. The content touches on various aspects of the global digital infrastructure industry and its implications for technology, education, and society.

This week's program is a special edition, brought to you by our friends at Center Maryland with industry disruptor, Quantum Loophole, the first master-planned data center community reshaping the way site selection and giga-watt scale data centers are brought to market. Richard Paul-Hus joins Center Maryland’s The Lobby to discuss the Quantum Loophole data project in Maryland. In 2021, Quantum Loophole acquired over 2,100 acres of land in Frederick County, Maryland to develop a first-of-its kind master-plan data center community. Richard Paul-Hus is the Senior Vice President of Quantum Loophole. Learn more about the Quantum Loophole project here. Building Data Centers – And Maryland’s Future: https://centermaryland.org/blog/building-data-centers-and-marylands-future/  Subscribe to Center Maryland’s Daily Newsletter, The Morning Rundown, here.

This episode features a conversation with Craig Huffman, Co-Founder and CEO of Metro Edge Development Partners, a real estate developer creating an exclusive data center for the Illinois Medical District in downtown Chicago. Craig discusses the data center industry’s responsibility to educate communities, the economic opportunities data centers provide, and debunks myths about data centers and jobs. He also reveals how his background positioned him to lead this pioneering development as likely the only African-American spearheading such a data center project in the country.

This episode features a conversation with Bob VanDelinder, VP of Sales for Empire Access about the evolution of internet and communications technology over the past 25 years. Bob shares his experience working for Empire Access, a 100+ year old internet service provider, during the transition from dial-up to DSL to fiber optic broadband. He discusses how customer needs and internet applications have changed dramatically, requiring faster speeds and more bandwidth, and how Empire Access has adapted to provide the "fastest internet in the Northeast." He also talks about Empire Access's recent expansion into new markets in upstate New York and Pennsylvania, bringing high-speed fiber internet to towns and cities for the first time.

This episode features a conversation with Steve Scott, a veteran executive with over 20 years of experience across data centers, connectivity, and subsea infrastructure.  Steve discusses the evolution of the industry, from the early dotcom boom days when data centers were just real estate plays, to the new focus on power, efficiency, and renewables. He also shares insights on major trends like the explosion of AI, shifts in global subsea cable connectivity, and the challenges around sustainable power solutions for massive hyper-scale data centers.

This episode features a conversation with Steve Smith, Chief Revenue Officer of LiveOak Fiber. Steve reveals how LiveOak Fiber started from a PowerPoint and Excel sheet and has become a game-changer with 84 employees, nearly a thousand customers, and offices in two states. Learn how strategic market selection, local talent engagement, and community-driven growth have shaped Live Oak Fiber's journey. 

This episode features a conversation with Joe Reele, Vice President of Solution Architects at Schneider Electric. Joe discusses the evolution of AI, its historical roots, and why it's gaining momentum now. Discover the innovative ways data centers are adapting to the demands of AI applications and the ethical and societal implications of this technological revolution. 

This episode features a conversation with Carrie Goetz, author of the book "Jumpstart Your Career in Data Centers: Featuring Careers for Women, Trades, and Veterans in Tech and Data Centers." To learn more about Carrie and to get the book, visit: https://carriegoetz.com/