Sessions

9:00 – 9:10am
Duration: 10 minutes
Location: Exhibit Hall

9:10 – 9:50am
Duration: 50 minutes
Location: Exhibit Hall

In this keynote speech, technology futurist Shara Evans shares the latest insights on smart city initiatives that are being undertaken around the world, as well as her vision for “Cities of the Future”. With an emphasis on global, rather than US projects, Shara will describe cutting edge deployments such as robots doing maintenance on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and work being done in Europe to develop self-repairing cities. She’ll also talk about the collaboration between government, industry, start-ups and researchers that will be required to create a future that we want to live in.

In the software enabled world of the near future, robots as a service will be offered by innovators in a range of industries, autonomous vehicles + drones will communicate with each other and the cloud, all kinds of things will be 3D printed on demand, our homes will contain voice and gesture activated smart appliances, and humans will become increasingly integrated with the ‘net. Strap in: Shara’s speech will take you on a ride into the future.

Speaker: Shara Evans

10:00 – 10:40am
Duration: 40 minutes
Location: Track A

Learn how to influence a highly siloed global IT Operations organization to adopt a solution that requires a high degree of coordination between People, Processes, and Technologies.   This session explores development of an DCIM Onboarding Plan, establishment of a DCIM Champion Initiative, and expanding the solution value proposition to influence other business initiatives including transition from traditional IT to managed services.  See demonstrations of how to customize commercial DCIM software, NLyte Enterprise, and enable role-based usage-scenarios that map onto varied IT Operations workflows.

Speaker: Phil Pennington, Global DCIM Lead & Solutions Architect, VMware

10:00 – 10:40am
Duration: 40 minutes
Location: Track B

Increasingly, organizations are seeking to transform their workplaces through customized, alternative solutions that reflect their culture, promote the brand, support recruitment, and boost the bottom line.  Work settings today are a migration from traditional environments to open spaces that support spontaneous and planned collaboration. However, this change often results in uneasiness and pushback from staff that isn’t ready to give up their privacy for an environment that encourages alternative solutions and new technology. This creates a challenge for management, architects, and project managers, particularly in workplaces where multiple generations, each with different attitudes and skillsets, work side by side. Fortunately, there are proven methods that address these issues.

Key to this discussion is change management…a thoughtful process to engage employees in the development and decision-making process. The goal is to make everyone more receptive to change and optimize successful solutions. In our upcoming panel discussion, we will bring together a group of distinguished, local business leaders who can provide firsthand information about their challenges and results in dealing with these dynamics.  Robin Weckesser—founder of a3 Workplace Strategies and an industry pioneer in the forefront of innovative project management changes—will lead a timely and lively discussion designed to be educational and interactive.

Moderator: Robin Weckesser, Principal at a3 Workplace Strategies
Primo Orpilla, Co-Founder of Studio O+A
Marlene Sironi, Workplace Strategist, Inside Source
Dwain Christensen, Director of Workplace Strategies, SAP

All Day
Location: Tech Hub

Learn about new products and collaborate with peers

10:40 – 11:00am
Duration: 20 minutes

11:00 – 11:40am
Duration: 40 minutes
Location: Track A

Recent statistics show that only 18% of undergraduate computer science degrees and 26% of computing jobs are held by women. It also shows that only 5% of leadership positions in the technology industry are held by women. This issue punctuated at the first Infrastructure Masons Leadership Summit, where only 5 of 105 attendees were women. Members commented that the pipelines for female candidates interested in Technical Infrastructure positions are empty. Infrastructure Masons will be targeting solutions to narrow this diversity gap in 2017.

Join Maricel Cerruti, IM Board Member and leader of the IM Women in Technical Infrastructure (WITI), as she gains insight from women in leadership positions at Facebook, Google, Siemons and Uber. How/why did they chose this career; What barriers are there for women participating in this industry; and strategies on how to attract more women to this field.

Moderator: Maricel Cerruti, Founder of the TCC and Treasurer, Infrastructure Masons
Carrie Goetz, Global Director Data Center Services, The Siemon Company
Carissa Clark, Data Center Facility Operations Electrical Engineer, Facebook
Sarah Keller, Sr. Manager of Technical Procurement, Uber

Join IM group on LinkedIn

11:00 – 11:40am
Duration: 40 minutes
Location: Track B

Moderator: Brian Mata, Senior Audiovisual Designer, TELADATA
Scott Ethersmith, Global AV Systems Lead, Airbnb
Christopher Rosario, IT/AV Project Manager, SAC Health System
Trent Tanaka, Global AV Manager, Tesla

All Day
Location: Tech Hub

Learn about new products and collaborate with peers

11:50 – 1:00pm
Duration: 70 minutes

12:20 – 12:50pm
Duration: 30 minutes
Location: Exhibit Hall

The next horizon for IT Data Centers is The Edge and Edge Computing. “Edge Computing is pushing the frontier of computing applications, data, and services away from centralized nodes to the logical extremes of a network“ -Wikipedia

We know where we are heading, but what is required to get there?

IT applications and hardware will continue to evolve, but where these products and services will be deployed is changing dramatically – by definition The Edge could be just about anywhere. Including deployment in spaces that may not have: 1.) Multiple layers of security and access control; 2.) Sufficient heat removal and climate control; or 3.) Reliable and stable power supply and distribution. In many cases – these spaces may not be optimal for deploying Edge Computing.

In this session you will:

• Understand how to successfuly navigate these new installation environments and conditions when moving to the The Edge.
• Learn how to create a migration plan for critical infrastucture components required to support Edge deployments – including climate control, power distribution, and physical security.
• Acquire a comprehensive overview of solutions available to insure a safe, stable and secure Edge installation.

Join this session to insure you are at The Edge and ready to meet the demands of next generation data center infrastructure.

Speaker: Herb Villa, Senior Systems Consultant, Rittal Data Center Solutions

1:00 – 1:30pm
Duration: 30 minutes
Location: Exhibit Hall

Jonathan Hewitt, Regional Sales Manager at Crestron
Greg Mattson, Technical Director at Crestron

1:40 – 2:20pm
Duration: 40 minutes
Location: Track A

There is no accepted industry standard for measuring the performance of data centers through a business lens. This members only working session will focus a new proposal to normalize this measurement through provided performance based criteria. The goal of this sessions is to review this content, discuss and debate the merits and align on a solution. IM Leaders and senior members will facilitate this session.

Dean Nelson, Head of Uber Computer & Chairman/Founder, Infrastructure Masons
Mark Monroe, Executive Director, Infrastructure Masons

Members only working sessions to discuss and debate new DC Performance Certification proposal

Join IM group on LinkedIn

1:40 – 2:20pm
Duration: 40 minutes
Location: Track B

The internet only became useful to the masses when HTML allowed people to create webpages and applications. Likewise, the IOT is going to need a protocol for people to communicate with their machines in a way that allows them to become programmers and data scientists and unlock the value of the IOT – without having to learn how to code or understand the underlying algorithms. This presentation will explore some of those concepts applied to Industrial IOT devices: how we interface to building infrastructure (BAS/BMS and DCIM systems) and allow people to help teach those systems using simple UI/UX.

The IOT is not about the internet or about things: it’s about having better experiences with the things that surround us every day, it’s about clean man/machine interfaces, and it’s about allowing people to use ever-day language to communicate with machines and teach them what the data they are gathering really means – allowing humans to help teach the new IOT – the Intelligence of Things.

JP Balajadia, VP, Co-Founder, LitBit

All Day
Location: Tech Hub

Learn about new products and collaborate with peers

2:20 – 2:35pm
Duration: 15 minutes

2:35 – 3:15pm
Duration: 40 minutes
Location: Track A

IM leaders have confirmed that there is a storage of technical infrastructure talent coming into the industry. College degree programs and recruitment efforts are focused on software, finance, and business careers. College curriculum and certification programs underserve the foundational layers of the digital age (data centers, network, hardware, storage, and infrastructure software). This session will focus on solutions around vocational education, college & university curriculum & degrees, and diversity programs to raise the awareness and visibility of the issues and opportunities in filling this gap. IM Leaders and senior members will facilitate this session.

Mark Monroe, Executive Director, Infrastructure Masons
Winston Saunders, IM Education Workgroup Chair

Members only working session to address industry talent resource gap.

Join IM group on LinkedIn

2:35 – 3:15pm
Duration: 40 minutes
Location: Track B

This presentation will give an overview of the fundaments of project planning process with as it relates to the facilities world of planning, design & construction. Examples will include a case study of a large tenant improvement project in Silicon Valley where employees were relocated to a new campus.

Top three takeaways from this presentation are:

• Overview of Project Management 101
• Actual case study of real project
• Good opportunity for Q&A with speakers

Anne Merrill, Senior Project Manager Planning, Design, Construction, Stanford Health Care
Cynthia Ruby, LEED AP+OM, RPA, FMA, CEO and President; Cynthia Ruby and Associates

All Day
Location: Tech Hub
Learn about new products and collaborate with peers

3:00 – 3:20pm
Duration: 20 minutes
Location: Table A

While data centers continue to evolve and become more complex, managers are faced with a multitude of challenges to efficiently manage data center infrastructure and reduce costs. According to the NRDC, data centers are one of the largest and fastest growing consumers of electricity in the US, consuming nearly 100 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity – enough to power all the households in a large city twice over. Enabling the right-sizing of IT infrastructure prevents wasted capital from underutilized equipment. Rittal will illustrate the steps you can take to redesign your company’s data center by implementing modular rack solutions and switching to energy efficient power and cooling systems. Learn how a little extra planning can help realize significant returns.

Facilitator: Herb Villa, Senior IT Systems Consultant, Rittal Corporation

3:00 – 3:20pm
Duration: 20 minutes
Location: Table B

Travis Irons, Director of Engineering, will lead an open discussion of what trends Server Technology is seeing in the Rack Power market.  Topics of discussion are kW requirements, 415VAC vs 208VAC, Open Compute power schemes, outlet densities and types, switching and monitoring Technologies, and DCIM integrations.

Travis Irons, Director of Engineering, Server Technology

3:00 – 3:20pm
Duration: 20 minutes
Location: Table G

With the increasing complexity of corporate networks, micro segmentation will become a larger and more important issue to enterprises in the future. With the growth in micro segmentation comes the need to have real-time visibility and security so companies can truly understand what is happening in their environment. We will discuss current trends in the space and what we see coming in the near future.

Chris Elgaaen, Director of Security Solutions, Sycomp

3:15 – 3:30pm
Duration: 15 minutes

3:20 – 3:40pm
Duration: 20 minutes
Location: Table E

VPS’ software orchestrates power distribution within and across racks and data centers. It employs third party power hardware, such as hybrid car like battery systems and intelligent fast acting switches to create power capacitance that can be intelligently delivered on demand to IT or other loads on power failure, peaks or spikes.

This roundtable will focus on Data Center solutions to:

• Accommodate Growth in existing or smaller footprints, saving an average of up to $2,000 per server in TCO from avoided infrastructure CapEx, Lease and OpEx costs.
• Deliver higher flexibility, resilience, scalability and automation of Data Center operations through software driven policies for power and cooling allocation based on IT workload requirements and priority.

Ankush Dham, Director – Global Business Development, Virtual Power Systems

3:20 – 3:40pm
Duration: 20 minutes
Location: Table H

What may have initially seemed to be a trend, has quickly become as ubiquitous as the open-plan office. Call it what you will, but the Huddle Space or Small Conference Room is now a mainstay of office design.

The AV industry has responded, with simpler and more cost-effective solutions coming to market – but where does the future lie for these spaces and how will AV design evolve to meet these needs?

Jonathan Hewitt, Regional Sales Manager, Crestron
Greg Mattson, Technical Director, Crestron

3:20 – 3:40pm
Duration: 20 minutes
Location: Table I

Enterprise clients are requesting One Stop Solutions for their building technology needs on corporate projects. Join this roundtable to share your experience on challenges with the design-build project approach, how to improve the current model, and your definition of success.

Gregory Bell, Chief Knowledge Office, TELADATA

3:30 – 4:10pm
Duration: 40 minutes
Location: Track A

Moderator: Brian Donathan, Principal, TELADATA
Jamie Saguindel, Data Center Manager, Box
Rob Morris, Managing Partner, Skybox Datacenters

3:30 – 4:10pm
Duration: 40 minutes
Location: Track B

Moderator: Thomas Keller, Senior Security Consultant, Teladata
Dan Hoffman, Corporate Real Estate Facilities Executive at Nimble Storage
Gary Backus, Manager of Safety & Security, Pandora

All Day
Location: Tech Hub

Learn about new products and collaborate with peers

3:40 – 4:00pm
Duration: 20 minutes
Location: Table B

The rise of intelligent power strips (PDU’s) in the modern data center have led to progressively more complex interfaces that must be configured in some fashion to get the most value from the PDU’s data. This roundtable will discuss the evolution of PDU configuration and provisioning across time, and the numerous innovations available today that make this a simpler, faster, and more rewarding process for the data center operator.

Calvin Nicholson, Senior Director of Software and Firmware Dev, Server Technology

3:40 – 4:00pm
Duration: 20 minutes
Location: Table C

Join us for a lively discussion on IT closets! What’s buried there?! How would you like to manage them? Hear about our latest project: providing real time monitoring, visibility, asset management to 150 IT closets.

Henrique Oliveira, Director of Technology, Mirapath

3:40 – 4:00pm
Duration: 20 minutes
Location: Table D

The purpose of the Emergency Power Shutdown Management System EPSMS system is to consolidate, control, and monitor the emergency power off circuits for a given environment that would be protected with either a Clean Agent Suppression System and/or EPO only applications. EPO Shutdown Requirements are found in NFPA 70, the National Electrical Code NEC in Article 645.

Data Center projects are to also be designed and constructed per NFPA 75, the Standard for Protection of Information Technology Equipment. The shutdown of both the HVAC equipment and power to that equipment is required and is normally provided with manual Emergency Power Off (EPO) buttons at each means of egress. Failure to properly design, install, and manage EPO controls, can jeopardize uptime and negate the entire investment made in the business continuity solutions. The application of a clean agent suppression system would also be required to be interfaced with the shutdown of these circuits.

Chris Reimer, Business Development Manager at Facilities Protection Systems, Intelli-tech

3:40 – 4:00pm
Duration: 20 minutes
Location: Table F

OK, at great cost and effort you’ve put in some new technologies in your data center, maybe new self-monitoring and adjusting CRAC units and have some temp sensors and have even separated your DC’s power usage from the rest of the building.  Do you have a baseline to measure against whether what you are now doing is any better than what you were doing?

Jim Daly, Territory Sales Manager, Raritan

4:10 – 4:30pm
Duration: 20 minutes

4:30 – 5:10pm
Duration: 40 minutes
Location: Track A

Data center efficiency and automation go hand in hand, and availability and reliability can improve with automation as well.  In fact, most every measure of performance can improve with the addition of properly deployed automation and artificial intelligence.  See what Silicon Valley data center operators are discovering today as they release control of their data centers to pre-programmed systems that respond dynamically to real-time data center demands and improvements in technology.  Hear about what is working as promised and what is not, and what is done with the good and the bad.   Also see how performance is monitored and  measured to compare different solutions and to select the best approach to automate. We will have an interactive session and encourage attendees to bring your stories and share your experiences with the audience in search of next generation data center automation solutions.

Moderator: Bruce Myatt, Critical Facilities Solutions
Mark Thiele, Chief Strategy Officer, Apcera
Richard Donaldson, Director Business Operations & Strategy, eBay
Phil Pennington, DCIM Solutions Architect, VMware
Ralph Renne, Director of Workplace Resources – Real Estate and Facilities, Americas, NetApp

All Day
Location: Tech Hub

Learn about new products and collaborate with peers