Uptime Institute Membership
2024 Spring Americas Conference
Sheraton Imperial Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport at research Triangle Park
Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, US
May 14-15, 2024
Conference Agenda
Agenda subject to change and will be updated as we finalize speaker and presentation details.
Day 1 - Tuesday, 14 May, 2024
Morning
08:00 – 09:00
Breakfast provided at the hotel restaurant, included with your hotel room.
09:30 – 10:00
Data Center Tour, bus departs hotel, security check-in
Buses will depart from the front of the hotel lobby for attendees that signed up for the tour. Security check- in will be conducted upon arrival at the site. Photo IDs are required for security check-in.
10:00 – 12:30
Data Center Tour
12:30 - 13:00
Bus return to the Hotel
13:00 - 14:30
Lunch and Data Center Tour Feedback Session at the hotel
Tour attendees will meet for a working lunch to note best practices and opportunities for improvement observed during the data center tour.
Evening
16:00 - 17:00
General Member Registration
Conference materials will be available at the Network registration table.
17:00 - 17:15
Conference Welcome & Executive Perspective
Membership Conference Welcome and General announcements.
17:15 - 18:30
Industry Critical Update and Panorama
Matt Stansberry, VP North America,
Andy Lawrence, Executive Director of Research,
Scott Good, Regional Technical Director, North America, and
Jacqueline Davis, Research Analyst for Uptime Institute
Uptime Institute presents the popular Panorama session, where the panelists and delegates discuss trends, events, and outages affecting the digital infrastructure industry.
Andy Lawrence, Executive Director of Research,
Scott Good, Regional Technical Director, North America, and
Jacqueline Davis, Research Analyst for Uptime Institute
Uptime Institute presents the popular Panorama session, where the panelists and delegates discuss trends, events, and outages affecting the digital infrastructure industry.
18:30 - 20:30
Welcome Reception & Dinner at the hotel
Join us for an enjoyable networking opportunity with a reception and dinner at the hotel.
Day 2 - Wednesday, 15 May, 2024
Session 1 - Early Morning
07:30 - 09:00
Breakfast provided at the hotel restaurant, included with your hotel room.
09:00 - 09:35
Results of the 14th annual industry survey
Douglas Donnellan, Research Analyst for Uptime Institute, with members of Uptime Intelligence
This presentation provides a comprehensive analysis of trends, challenges, and benchmarks in data center operations gathered from industry leaders worldwide.
This presentation provides a comprehensive analysis of trends, challenges, and benchmarks in data center operations gathered from industry leaders worldwide.
09:35 - 10:10
AI impact on data center capacity and power
Andy Lawrence, Uptime Institute's Executive Director of Research, with panelists to be determined
Explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping data center management by optimizing capacity and power usage. This session includes a panel discussion analyzing AI's current and future potential impacts to data centers.
Explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping data center management by optimizing capacity and power usage. This session includes a panel discussion analyzing AI's current and future potential impacts to data centers.
10:10 - 10:45
Panel: Dealing with high-density and cooling
Jacqueline Davis, Research Analyst, with
Bill Skinner, Head of Data Centers for Bloomberg, and
Naveed Saeed, VP Global Service Management for Uptime Institute
This panel addresses the growing challenges associated with high-density server environments and advanced cooling solutions. Experts will discuss strategies for efficient heat management and innovative cooling technologies.
Bill Skinner, Head of Data Centers for Bloomberg, and
Naveed Saeed, VP Global Service Management for Uptime Institute
This panel addresses the growing challenges associated with high-density server environments and advanced cooling solutions. Experts will discuss strategies for efficient heat management and innovative cooling technologies.
10:45 - 11:00
Break: Refreshments available
Session 2 - Late Morning
11:00 - 11:30
Collaboration on sustainability: Enterprises, colocation and hosting companies
Jay Dietrich, Uptime Institute’s Research Director for Sustainability
This session focuses on the collaborative efforts between enterprises, colocation providers, and hosting companies to enhance sustainability in data centers.
This session focuses on the collaborative efforts between enterprises, colocation providers, and hosting companies to enhance sustainability in data centers.
11:30 - 12:00
ASHRAE 90.4 Energy Standard for Data Centers update
Bob McFarlane, Principal at Shen Milsom & Wilke, and
Marcus Hassen, VP Mission Critical Services at Truist
This session will provide the latest updates from the ASHRAE 90.4 SSPC Committee on the composition and state of this industry energy efficiency standard, including a pending Title, Purpose and Scope change that will enable the standard to better address contemporary data center sustainability best practices and carbon emissions reporting.
Marcus Hassen, VP Mission Critical Services at Truist
This session will provide the latest updates from the ASHRAE 90.4 SSPC Committee on the composition and state of this industry energy efficiency standard, including a pending Title, Purpose and Scope change that will enable the standard to better address contemporary data center sustainability best practices and carbon emissions reporting.
12:00 - 12:30
Case study: AT&T upgrade at Raleigh-Durham, what could go wrong?
Presented by the team at AT&T
A detailed examination of the AT&T data center upgrade in Raleigh-Durham, focusing on the challenges faced and lessons learned. This case study provides insights into risk management and contingency planning in large-scale projects.
A detailed examination of the AT&T data center upgrade in Raleigh-Durham, focusing on the challenges faced and lessons learned. This case study provides insights into risk management and contingency planning in large-scale projects.
12:30 - 14:00
Lunch provided at the hotel
Session 3 - Early Afternoon
14:00 - 14:30
Panel: Data center equipment end-of-life strategies
Ron Davis, Uptime Institute's VP Digital Infrastructure Operations,
Scott Good, Uptime Institute's Regional Technical Lead for North America,
with panelists to be determined
This panel discussion delves into best practices for managing the lifecycle of data center equipment, including responsible disposal, recycling, and upgrades. Experts will share strategies to maximize value and minimize environmental impact.
Scott Good, Uptime Institute's Regional Technical Lead for North America,
with panelists to be determined
This panel discussion delves into best practices for managing the lifecycle of data center equipment, including responsible disposal, recycling, and upgrades. Experts will share strategies to maximize value and minimize environmental impact.
14:30 - 15:00
Future of maintenance: Insights from the data center maintenance survey
Anthony Sbarra, Senior Survey Manager, and
Laurie Williams, Survey Associate, for Uptime Institute
This presentation delves into the findings from the recent Network members only comprehensive survey on data center maintenance, highlighting emerging trends, challenges, and innovations in the field.
Laurie Williams, Survey Associate, for Uptime Institute
This presentation delves into the findings from the recent Network members only comprehensive survey on data center maintenance, highlighting emerging trends, challenges, and innovations in the field.
15:00 - 15:30
Panel: Managing the risk of Lithium-Ion
Matt Stansberry, Uptime Institute's VP North America, and
Naveed Saeed, Uptime Institute's VP Global Service Management,
with panelists to be determined
This session discusses the increasing use of lithium-ion batteries in data centers and the associated risks. This panel brings together industry specialists to talk about safety practices, risk mitigation, and the future of energy storage technologies.
Naveed Saeed, Uptime Institute's VP Global Service Management,
with panelists to be determined
This session discusses the increasing use of lithium-ion batteries in data centers and the associated risks. This panel brings together industry specialists to talk about safety practices, risk mitigation, and the future of energy storage technologies.
15:30 - 15:45
Break: Refreshments available
Session 4 - Late Afternoon
15:45 - 16:15
Liquid cooling approaches: From theory to practice
Jabari Williams-George, Uptime Institute Research Analyst
This session explores the practical aspects of installing various liquid cooling solutions, focusing on overcoming common installation challenges. It includes a discussion of the diversity of liquid cooling in data centers, understanding its definitions, and when its implementation is most beneficial. Some critical factors to consider before adopting liquid cooling are also identified, including energy efficiency and system compatibility.
This session explores the practical aspects of installing various liquid cooling solutions, focusing on overcoming common installation challenges. It includes a discussion of the diversity of liquid cooling in data centers, understanding its definitions, and when its implementation is most beneficial. Some critical factors to consider before adopting liquid cooling are also identified, including energy efficiency and system compatibility.
16:15 - 16:45
Revitalizing data center: The new era of DCIM
John O'Brien, Uptime Institute Senior Research Analyst
This session explores how DCIM software has changed, and why, despite many false starts over the years, DCIM is now experiencing a renaissance. It includes a discussion of this new DCIM landscape and its technologies, how and why customer requirements have changed, and what this means for data, integration and intelligence within the data center.
This session explores how DCIM software has changed, and why, despite many false starts over the years, DCIM is now experiencing a renaissance. It includes a discussion of this new DCIM landscape and its technologies, how and why customer requirements have changed, and what this means for data, integration and intelligence within the data center.
16:45 - 17:00
User generated content: A guide to effective questioning
Rose Weinschenk, Uptime Institute Research Associate
Certain cues in discussion questions make us more likely to respond than others. This presentation will review how small adjustments can garner better feedback from your intended audience.
Certain cues in discussion questions make us more likely to respond than others. This presentation will review how small adjustments can garner better feedback from your intended audience.
17:00 - 17:55
Open Mic: Inside Track & Technical Roundtable Discussion
Scott Killian, Uptime Institute's VP Global Membership Services, and
Matt Stansberry, Uptime Institute's VP North America
An interactive session where data center professionals share their firsthand experiences and technical insights. This open mic format encourages spontaneous discussion and networking among participants, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
Matt Stansberry, Uptime Institute's VP North America
An interactive session where data center professionals share their firsthand experiences and technical insights. This open mic format encourages spontaneous discussion and networking among participants, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
17:55 - 18:00
Conference wrap-up
Scott Killian, VP Global Membership Services, Uptime Institute
Closing comments and announcements.
Closing comments and announcements.
18:00
Adjourn - Networking and drinks at the hotel
Register to Attend
Registration Details
There is no charge to attend this event.
Attendees are responsible for their travel and hotel expenses, and any additional food and entertainment expenses outside of the conference.
Registration is open to Uptime Institute Members and invited guests. Membership events are not open to equipment vendors, suppliers, consultants or engineering firms.
Requests to attend will be reviewed and approved by Uptime Institute staff.
Submit your registration request and our team will follow up on your request within 72 hours via email.
Seating is limited, so please take a moment to register now to secure your spot at the Conference.
Event Location:
Sheraton Imperial Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport at Research Triangle Park
4700 Emperor Blvd, I-40 at Exit 282 (Page Road)
Durham, North Carolina, USA, 27703
+1 919-941-5050
Register To Attend
Fill out the registration form below and one of our team members will follow up with you right away.
Interested in Becoming a Member?
Membership is the industry’s largest community of end-user professionals responsible for the development, management, and operation of mission critical digital infrastructure. Uptime Institute Membership is open to companies who own and operate their own digital infrastructure or use colocation or cloud providers to power their critical IT needs.