5km Run
Start your day with a 5K run or a relaxed walk & talk across the grounds. Whether you’re up for a steady jog or prefer to walk and chat, there's something for all paces.
DCD Connect | Virginia 2026
21
Days to go
Connecting the data center ecosystem to design, build & operate sustainable data centers for the AI age
Bringing together more than 3,000+ End-User/Specifiers working across the cloud & colocation ecosystem, DCD Connect | Virginia will drive industry collaboration, help you forge new partnerships, and identify innovative solutions to your core challenges.
"DCD Connect is the single most informative event to understand the industry for the spectrum of interdependent participants, from software to hardware, from power to communications. It is the single most important venue for meeting and having substantiative across the industry" - Associate, Stevens Institute of Technology
Learn more about the Connect Experience- Network with 3,000+ Senior Data Center Professionals with a 26% Cloud, Enterprise and Colocation Audience
- Meet 200+ Exhibitors showcasing the latest tech to future proof your Data Center
- Hear from 250+ leading experts from across the entire digital infrastructure stack
- Co-located with the DCD Leadership Summit - The essential gathering for C-suite executives
Connect with 3,000+ of your peers at DCD Connect | Virginia
-
-
Pickleball Tournament
Looking to start the day with some early informal networking? Join the Pickleball tournament and build lasting connections on the court.
-
Icebreaker Networking Party
Experience live music, local delicacies, and open-bar service alongside 3,000+ of your peers.
-
Hosted Lunch Briefings
Enjoy a three course sit-down lunch alongside your peers as you discuss some of the key challenges currently facing operators across NAM.
-
VIP Private Dinner
Join a small group of like minded peers at a VIP Dinner, network with industry leaders whilst enjoying a fine dining culinary experience.
2026 Speakers
CEO & Founder, Emerald AI
VP, M&A, Csquare
Glenn Dekhayser
Global Principal Technologist, Equinix
Chante Harris
Founder, Eunoia Group
Utpal Mangla
VP, Distributed, Edge, Sovereign Cloud & Ecosystem Partnerships, IBM
Ehsan Mirbagheri
Principal Reliability Engineer, AWS
Emerging Technologies Executive, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
Scott Salandy-Defour
Co-Founder & CEO, Liquidstar
Laura Cunningham
Customer Solutions Manager, AWS
Director - Customer Solutions & Strategic Partnerships, Dominion Energy
Executive Director, Loudoun County Economic Development
Ron Taylor
Security Architect, Cisco
Chief Operating Officer, CleanArc Data Centers
Jonathan Schroth
Senior Analyst, Market & Competitive Intelligence, Cologix
Lee Ye
Vice President, Data Center Power Procurement, Prologis
Feel the buzz of DCD Connect | Virginia
Secure your pass
-
End-User/Specifier Pass
Includes access to
Connect | Virginia
For end-users within the digital infrastructure industry
Who qualifies?
✅ End-users within the data center industry from Enterprise and Hyperscale
✅ End-users specializing in IT, Compute, Storage or Networking
✅ Technical roles from Colocation Operators
✅ Specifiers of data center technology & services (technical roles) from AECs (Architects, Consulting Engineers, Contractors), Systems Integrators and Energy Utilities
✅ Procurement teams
Who does not qualify?
❌Sales & Marketing Professionals
❌Technology or Service Vendors
❌Resellers
❌Recruitment Firms
Extra details
End-User/Specifier passes include access to both days of DCD Connect | Virginia on November 3-4 at the Lansdowne Resort & Spa.
You will also be invited to private activations included hosted lunches, cocktail hours and VIP dinners (subject to availability) and have the ability to book meetings via the event app.
Complimentary food & beverages are provided throughout the event. -
General Admission Pass
Includes access to
Connect | Virginia
For digital infrastructure analysts and sales & marketing professionals.
Who qualifies?
✅ Sales & Marketing Professionals from: Colocation & Cloud Providers, AECs (Architects, Consulting Engineers, Contractors), Systems Integrators and Energy Utilities
✅ Digital Infrastructure Investors/Analysts
✅ Law Firms & Professional Advisory Services
Who does not qualify?
❌Technology or Service Vendors
❌Resellers
❌Recruitment Firms
Extra details
General Admission pass provides you with access to both days of DCD Connect | Virginia on November 3-4 at the Lansdowne Resort & Spa.
You can schedule meetings through the event app and scan leads directly at the event.
Complimentary food & beverages are provided throughout the event. -
Vendor Pass
Includes access to
Connect | Virginia
For technology vendors, service vendors, resellers and recruiters.
Who qualifies?
✅ Technology or Service Vendors
✅ Resellers
✅ Recruitment Firms
Extra details
This pass provides you with access to both days of DCD Connect | Virginia on November 3-4 at the Lansdowne Resort & Spa.
You have access to all of the open sessions and networking, and have the ability to schedule meetings through the event app and scan leads directly at the event.
Purchasing multiple Vendor passes If you wish to purchase multiple passes for your team, event sponsorship could provide you more value, as all of our packages include passes for your team members and enhanced access to the event app. Please contact: [email protected] for the best rates.
2026 Agenda Highlights
-
Major Panel: Power plays - Surviving the new energy constraints
- —
- Main Stage | Golf Clubhouse
- Energy & Sustainability
- Mission Critical Power
- Open Session
Speakers
John Bates
EVP, Power & Development, Prime Data Centers
VP Energy Infrastructure & Grid Development, Lambda AI
Chief of Energy and Infrastructure, Silicon Foundation
Jeremy Bruce
CEO, Saga Energy
Vice President of Business Development, FlexGen
Power availability is currently the biggest bottleneck dictating the industry. Operators are chasing power wherever they can find it, but the reality is that the U.S. energy grid is becoming increasingly saturated.
In this environment, a more balanced and mixed approach may be required: one tailored to each player’s specific needs, capabilities, and circumstances.
This panel will look at how the industry can manage power volatility, including:
- When to deploy behind-the-meter (BTM) solutions
- Ensuring reliability when using non-traditional power sources
- The future role of emerging solutions, such as nuclear, hydrogen, and microgrids
- Where do smaller players fit in an increasingly power-constrained market?
-
Major Panel: Right tool, right rack - Building a smarter cooling strategy
- —
- Main Stage | Golf Clubhouse
- Data Center Cooling
- Open Session
Speakers
Market Leader - Americas Data Center, BAC
Staff Data Center Mechanical Engineer, Google
Akshay Viradiya
Senior Staff Data Center Engineer, LinkedIn
Sebastian Araya
Lead Data Center Engineer, Infrastructure Architecture Team, Salesforce
This panel will examine cooling through the lens of the journalistic “5 Ws” to understand when and how to deploy different cooling technologies effectively.
As rack densities increase and new AI chips generate unprecedented heat, liquid cooling has become a viable option for many operators. However, not every facility has the same needs, and each cooling approach requires a tailored strategy.
The panel will cover:
- Who is deploying liquid cooling now
- What are the best practices for different cooling approaches
- When to plan and implement these solutions
- Where will liquid cooling be deployed - the impact of liquid cooling on the building envelope
- Why should we use different cooling approaches
-
Debate: Bridging the gap - Can the industry close the gap between power demand and grid supply?
- —
- Main Stage | Golf Clubhouse
- Energy & Sustainability
- Mission Critical Power
- Open Session
Speakers
Lee Ye
Vice President, Data Center Power Procurement, Prologis
Joniel Cha
Energy & Infrastructure, Google
Stan Blackwell
Director - Data Center Practice, Dominion Energy
Executive Vice President Industry Relations, CoVolt Power
Partner, ASG Team
Utilities are struggling to support increasing power demand. Lengthy grid connection queues, along with complex regulatory processes, are creating significant roadblocks to industry growth.
This panel will explore how utilities and operators can work as active partners, including:
- How operators can partner with local utilities to better manage load fluctuations
- How to leverage battery energy storage systems (BESS) for grid interactivity
- How utilities can support data center development without over-reliance on restrictive regulation
- How operators can provide more accurate and transparent demand forecasting to utilities
-
First class event that presented a wide variety of perspectives and technologies in an engaging and informative forum.
— Data Center Project Architect, AWS
-
I always find Data Center Dynamics events to be among the premier gatherings in our industry - places where I come to learn, engage, and leave reinvigorated. George, Dan, and the entire DCD team consistently create an environment that’s both educational and inspiring - a remarkable opportunity to connect with peers, industry leaders, and fresh ideas that shape where we go next. As we reflect on this event, it’s worth asking: What should we consider as we move forward, and what’s next for our industry? I can’t recommend these events highly enough.
— Brand Evangelist, QTS Data Centers
-
It was our first time attending and our team left with novel insights, knowledge and new connections - exactly what we were hoping for...
— Product Sales Engineer, Air Reps
-
DCD Virginia is the place to be. You are at the core of the data center market when attending this conference.
— Director of Sales Enablement, Flexnode
-
This was the best event I've been to this year, hands down. The amount of decision makers was off the charts.
— President, Sikkema Electrical Sales
-
I was impressed with the collegiality and camaraderie of the attendees. DCD does a good job of encouraging a collaborative environment.
— Technology Lead, ATS Automation
Past attendees include:
Filter:
