Join our panel of 7x24 Regional Chapter leaders as they share insights and strategies on recruiting, community building, sustainability and diversity in the data center industry.

To learn more about the chapters:

Empire State:

https://7x24empirestatechapter.wildapricot.org/

Greater Philadelphia:

https://www.7x24exchangedelval.org/

Metro New York:

https://7x24exchangemetronychapter25.wildapricot.org/

New England Chapter:

https://7x24newengland.wildapricot.org/

Washington DC Chapter:

https://7x24dc.org/

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who participated in our highly successful International Data Center Day event on March 22, 2023. Our panel of experts - Nabeel Mahmood, Phillip Koblence and Carrie Goetz - spoke to a standing-room only crowd.  It was an engaging and thought-provoking day filled with insightful conversations about the future of Data Centers and how to adapt your career to the upcoming changes. 

Key Takeaways and Insights:

Exploring the Next Generation of Data Centers:

Throughout the event, our esteemed panel of experts delved into the exciting advancements and transformations awaiting the data center industry. From innovative technologies to expanding infrastructure needs, the conversations sparked a collective understanding of the significant role data centers will play in our technology-dependent future. 

Need for a Common Data Center Training Curriculum

One key takeaway was the urgent need for a standardized curriculum to train and educate aspiring data center professionals. Currently, there is a lack of consistency in teaching methods and content, hindering the industry's growth and creating challenges for employers seeking qualified candidates. By establishing a common curriculum, we can ensure that individuals entering the field receive a comprehensive education, covering essential technical skills and industry knowledge. This collaborative effort among educational institutions, industry organizations, and professionals will elevate the professionalism of data center workers, foster industry-wide standards, and pave the way for successful careers in this rapidly evolving field.

The Impact of AI on Data Center Workers:

One of the most intriguing topics revolved around the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in data centers and its potential impact on the workforce. The speakers and participants had a lively discussion about possibilities and challenges presented by AI integration. While there was consensus that AI will undoubtedly enhance operational efficiency and streamline certain tasks, there were concerns that AI would replace the Data Center worker. The question remained - How do we balance the irreplaceable value of human expertise and creativity in data center operations? 

Resources:

• Get your copy of Jumpstart Your Career in Data Centers Featuring Careers for Women, Trades, and Veterans in Tech and Data Centers here. 

• Want to help teach kids about the Data Center Industry, sign up to make a 1 minute video about your job for our Career Tree.  

• For more resources, including the future Data Center trainings and supporting the next gen, please visit http://nomadfuturist.org/

Conclusion: 

Thank you once again to all our participants, speakers, sponsors and volunteers for making this event a resounding success. Together, we will shape the future of the data center industry and embrace the opportunities that await us. Stay tuned for more exciting events and discussions as we continue our journey of knowledge and innovation!

 

3/22/2023 Agenda:

4:45 PM - Registration Opens

5:30 PM -  State of the 7x24 New England Chapter

5:30 PM - 

• Data Centers Today & The Future | Nabeel Mahmood
• Jumpstart Your Career in Data Centers | Carrie Goetz
• Fireside Chat: Jump Start Your Career Today for the Data Center of Tomorrow with Nabeel Mahmood, Carrie Goetz and Phillip Koblence.

7:15 PM - Networking  & Refreshments

Note that tours of Digital Realty's Data Center will be conducted throughout the event. 

Speaker Bios:

Nabeel Mahmood
CEO & Co-Founder, Nomad Futurist Foundation

Nabeel Mahmood is a Technologist, Futurist, Influencer, and a Keynote Speaker. Nabeel has 25-plus years of experience leading large-scale global technology organizations through seasons of explosive growth via M&A, global expansion, implementing new business models, and technology innovation. His areas of expertise include Big Data, Cloud, ERP, IoT, AI, ML, RPA, Mobility, and Data Centers. Nabeel is a strategic CXO identifying opportunities that are being underpinned by emerging technologies and is an advisor to CIOs, CTOs and CEOs across a number of industries. He serves on multiple boards of private. 

You can learn more about Nabeel here.

Carrie Goetz

Principal/CTO, StrategITcom and Author of Jumpstart Your Career in Data Centers

Carrie Goetz, Principal/CTO, StrategITcom, and Amazon best-selling author of “Jumpstart Your Career in Data Centers Featuring Careers for Women, Trades, and Vets in Tech and Data Centers,” personifies over 40 years of global experience designing, running, and auditing, data centers, IT departments, and intelligent buildings. 

Amongst her accolades: 

• 2023 BICSI ICT Woman of the Year
• 2022 and 2023 Top 25 Women in Technology by Mission Critical 
• 30 Top Most Influential Women in Tech 2021 by CIO Outlook 
• Top 10 most influential women in technology 2020 by Analytics Insight 
• Network Computing Inspiration Award finalist 2020 
• IMason’s IM100
• 2020 Comptia Women in Leadership Spotlight Finalist.

Carrie is fractional CTO to multiple companies.  She is an international keynote speaker and is published in 69 countries in over 250 publications.  She holds an honorary doctorate in Mission Critical  Operations, RCDD/NTS, PSP, CNID, CDCP, CSM-Agile, AWS CCP and is a Master Infrastructure Mason with 40+ certifications throughout her career.  She served on the WIMCO national education committee and is a long-time participant in 7x24 Exchange, AFCOM and Data Center Institute board of advisors, Mission Critical Advisory Board, Women in Data Centers, CNet Technical Curriculum Advisory Board, NEDAS Advisory Board, a member of BICSI, Women in BICSI, and an Education committee member, and a member of Women Leading Technology Sorority.  She champions STEM education through outreach projects and her podcast series.  She holds two patents.

 

You can learn more about Carrie here. 

Phillip Koblence

Co-Founder and COO, Nomad Futurist Foundation

Phillip Koblence is a strategic executive and thought leader in the data center and network space. He co-founded NYI (www.nyi.net) in 1996 and has successfully navigated through an ever-shifting infrastructure landscape, growing the company from a single data center in Lower Manhattan to a robust network with executional capabilities in key national and international markets. His leadership, focus on customer experience, and ability to cut through complexity and hype, has positioned NYI as an industry leader in high-touch infrastructure solutions. 

Phillip sits on the OIX (Open-IX) Board of Directors as well as the DE-CIX North America Advisory Board. He is a frequent speaker at industry events and has been profiled by Data Center Knowledge, TheWHIR, MSPMentor, and NJ BIZ. He is the Co-Founder, with Nabeel Mahmood, of the Nomad Futurist Podcast and the Nomad Futurist Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established to demystify the digital infrastructure industry and encourage younger generations to join the space.  He has a degree in engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

You can learn more about Phillip here. 

Dear New England Data Center Community, 

We are thrilled to announce the re-launch of the 7x24 New England Chapter! After a six year hiatus, we're back with a renewed mission to expand the New England Data Center community through high quality educational events and inclusive networking opportunities.

2023 Mission

Our focus for 2023 is to grow our membership, and we're starting off with a strong base of 2000 contacts. However, we're not content to stop there. We're looking to (re)connect with current Data Center Professionals - those who design, build, operate, support, and maintain mission critical facilities. We're also hoping to increase the number of new professionals in the industry, as well as engage with those experts who are retiring and have a wealth of knowledge to share.

New Website

We've launched a brand new website, with an easy to use membership management system. This will allow you to keep your contact details up-to-date, and help us keep you informed of upcoming events and chapter news.

Some cool new website features:

• Sign up for membership (and update your current details)
• Register for Events
• Check out the latest news

You can find out more at: https://7x24newengland.wildapricot.org

New Logo

Thanks to the many talents of our Membership Director, Annie, we have a new, streamlined logo that captures the diverse New England locations- from the beautiful oceans to our gorgeous mountains!

Save the Date- March 22, 2023

Our first event will take place on March 22, 2023 in honor of International Data Center Day. This is a great opportunity for you to learn from an incredible keynote speaker, network with your peers, and hear about the state (and future) of the Data Center industry. Registration will open in mid-February. More details to follow. 

So...how can you help?

We're eager for you to be a part of our growing community, and we're making it easier than ever to get involved. Membership is free for most people, and we encourage you to sign up today. We can't wait to see you at our events! 

Best,

Aheli Purkayastha

on behalf of the growing 7x24 NE Board

Aheli Purkayastha - President

Sara Martin - Vice-President

Tom Stachowski - Treasurer

Annie Kemp - Director of Membership