Which 21 Data Center Experts Speak at Conferences?

Over the past few years, our research and buying habits have drastically changed. Search engines, social media, and mobile devices have become tightly interwoven into just about every personal and business interaction.

Gatekeepers and intermediaries have become massively disrupted. For those in the data center and critical facilities industry, this means it’s easier than ever to reach out to many data center experts.

Social Media and Online Events Supplement, But Not Replace Offline Conferences

Even though social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter – and online conferencing tools like GoToWebinar and WebEx -- are now very widely utilized by IT executives and their channel partners, there’s still plenty of room for like-minded people to come together offline, learn together, network, and build vibrant communities – heck, even play some golf and enjoy a few rounds of drinks.

But conferences, trade shows, expositions, whatever you refer to them as, are nothing without people. Usually, the primary stakeholders include attendees, speakers, and sponsors – plus journalists and analysts.

The Data Center Experts That Share Their Knowledge and Build Up Their Thought Leadership Footprint

So when you attend a conference for the data center- or mission-critical facilities industry, who are some of the most widely-regarded, most sought-after industry thought leaders that you’re likely to hear speak? In other words, who are the 21 data center experts that regularly speak at conferences?

1. Douglas S. Adams -- Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Office -- NTT (RagingWire)
2. Anthony Bolner -- Managing Director and Partner -- Stream Data Centers
3. John Clune – President -- LightEdge Cavern Suites (Cavern Technologies)
4. Chris Crosby -- Chief Executive Officer -- Compass Datacenters
5. Chris Curtis -- Senior Vice President of Development and Acquisitions -- Compass Datacenters
6. Robert DeVita -- Founder and CEO -- Mejeticks (Chief Sales Officer -- 1547 Critical Systems Realty)
7. John Ford -- Retired (Vice President Sales and Leasing -- Sabey Data Center Properties)
8. Billie Haggard -- EVP, Operations -- Aligned (Senior Vice President of Data Centers -- CoreSite (CoreSite Realty Corporation))
9. Phillip Koblence – Chief Operating Officer -- New York Internet
10. Dave Leonard -- Retired (Chief Data Center Officer -- Flexential  (ViaWest))
11. Drew Leonard – DCL Associates (Vice President of Global Colocation -- Lumen Technologies (CenturyLink))
12. Michael Levy -- Director of Product, Private Cloud -- Rackspace Technology ‎(Manager of Global Colocation Product Management -- CenturyLink Business)
13. Raul K. Martynek -- Chief Executive Officer of DataBank (Net Access)
14. Craig McKesson – Executive Vice President of Colocation and Cloud Solutions -- T5 Data Centers
15. Shawn Mills – Chief Executive Officer, Founder, and President -- Lunavi (Green House Data)
16. Ryan Oro -- Self-Employed (‎Vice President of General Management – CoreSite)
17. Andrew Schaap -- CEO -- Aligned Energy ‎(Senior Vice President of Sales -- Digital Realty)
18. Eli D. Scher -- OIX Association (Chief Executive Officer and Chairman -- SBA Edge (Continuum Data Centers))
19. John Sheputis –  Managing Director -- GI Partners (President -- Infomart Data Centers)
20. Josh Snowhorn -- CEO -- Quantum Loophole (Vice President and General Manager of Interconnection – CyrusOne)
21. Joel Stone -- President and COO -- CalEthos (Vice President of Global Data Center Operations -- CenturyLink)

Also, see

• Exhibiting at Data Center Trade Shows? Plan Costs and Goals
• How Data Center World Compares to Other Conferences
• How to Track Data Center Leads Before, During, and After Conferences
• Which Data Center Trade Shows Should You Attend?

Did we overlook any of your favorite data center experts that should be added to this list? Let us know in the comments below.