As Infrastructure Masons (iMasons) CEO Santiago Suinaga noted, the sold-out DCD Connect Virginia event in Leesburg on Nov. 6-7 was a standing-room only affair, reflecting the region's huge interest in the data center industry, in a conference which year-over-year "does not disappoint," in the words of International Data Center Authority Chief Certification Officer Mark Gusakov. Both men are key advisors to the Nomad Futurist Foundation.

Nomad Futurist is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established, per its mission statement, "to demystify the world of digital infrastructure and the related technologies that impact every aspect of our daily lives." Committed to educating youth in underprivileged communities, promoting diversity and inclusion, and opening up opportunities for growth and new career paths, the group says its "primary focus is to empower and inspire younger generations through exposure to the underlying technologies that power our digital world."

Nomad Futurist is known for appointing individuals throughout the data center industry to its ranks of Ambassadors and Advisors, who work to promote the organization's ethos and goals in their professional spheres. The group's members are a pervasive presence in the data center sector, to be found in attendance and presenting at most industry events in the U.S. and abroad. The purpose of the Data Center Frontier/Nomad Futurist: Field Report series -- aka "Nomads at the Frontier" -- is therefore to gather recurring industry insight, expertise and commentary from Nomad Futurist leaders and ambassadors, firsthand and in the field, as they participate in these events.

During this impromptu podcast discussion, as recorded on-site at Leesburg's Landsdowne Resort Convention Center, Santiago discusses key topics from the event's iMasons Member Summit, including education programs and community concerns. He highlights challenges as cited from the iMasons State of the Industry report, such as power, talent access, and sustainability planning.

For his part, drawing on perspective gained from his ongoing travels around the industry, Mark emphasizes the need for standardization and correcting misconceptions about the data center industry, while urging professionals to act as ambassadors to improve public understanding as the industry grows its vital workforce and sustainability stakes.

Santiago concurs with the pivotal need to increase data center awareness and bring more people into the industry. Mark concludes with some vibe check remarks, taking the temperature of Datacenter Dynamics' annual confab in the world's largest data center market.

Demand for data centers has never been higher. In our latest episode, we dive deep into the exploding world of data centers together with JLL's head of Data Center Research and Strategy for the Americas, Andrew Batson. According to JLL’s U.S. Data Center Report, the first half of 2024 shattered all records, but, what does this mean for you?

We explore how these facilities have become the foundation of modern society and why securing land, power, and talent is more crucial than ever. How is the industry coping with limited supply in the face of insatiable demand?

We'll reveal shocking statistics about the U.S. colocation market's growth and the unbelievably low vacancy rates. Plus, we'll uncover the massive impact of AI on the data center landscape, with investments skyrocketing into the hundreds of billions. We'll discuss the ongoing struggle to find and keep skilled workers in this rapidly expanding field. And while the U.S. power grid seems stable for now, what issues could threaten the industry's future?

Join us as we unpack the complexities of the data center boom and explore what it means for the future of our digital economy.