NEDAS Live! Where Wireline and Wireless Meet

In this episode of NEDAS Live!, Scott Longhurst, Data Center Services Director at Datalec Precision Installations, explores what it takes to keep data centers resilient as AI drives unprecedented demands for power and cooling. Drawing on more than 35 years of experience, Scott discusses a growing challenge: facilities are being built faster than people can be trained to operate them. He explains how liquid cooling is changing maintenance responsibilities, why proactive maintenance requires more than following a calendar, and how skilled teams and better monitoring help prevent costly failures. The conversation offers practical insights into protecting reliability and improving energy efficiency as the industry races to support the AI era.

Tune in as we are joined by Dr. Atif Ansar, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Foresight, for a compelling conversation about the digital race and the true economics of delay. Dr. Ansar explains why time has become one of the most valuable resources in digital infrastructure, how even brief delays can dramatically affect the economics of data center projects, and why organizations may need a "Chief Time Officer" to bring greater discipline to project delivery. He also explores how data, AI, professional standards, and honest conversations about risk can help companies anticipate challenges, accelerate construction, and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving industry.

Tune in as Brittani Clarke Clayman, Director of Marketing & Sustainability at ESI Total Fuel Management, explores how strategic fuel management strengthens the reliability, resiliency, and sustainability of data centers and other mission-critical infrastructure. Brittani discusses the often-overlooked risks posed by fuel quality, storage conditions, and emergency-delivery logistics; the potential of cleaner alternatives such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO); and how data-driven tools can help operators anticipate worst-case scenarios and protect uptime. She also shares why sustainability and reliability can reinforce one another, as well as her thoughts on expanding career pathways into the rapidly growing digital-infrastructure industry.

In this episode of NEDAS Live!, Steve Altizer, President and CEO of Compu Dynamics, explores how modular infrastructure is transforming the way AI-ready, edge, and high-density data centers are designed and deployed. He discusses the advantages of factory-built systems—including greater speed, scalability, flexibility, quality, and predictability—while addressing workforce constraints, liquid-cooling needs, and growing community concerns about data center development. He also shares how Compu Dynamics Modular is expanding its manufacturing capabilities to meet extraordinary demand and explains his vision for a future in which standardized, fully integrated data centers can be configured and ordered online.

In this episode of NEDAS Live!, we are joined by Priscilla Favors of Aureon, Chris Crowe of T3 Broadband, Kurt Raaflaub of Nokia, and Jeff Sanders of Midco for a timely conversation on Delivering the AI Era: Building a 100-Terabit Midwest Connectivity Corridor. Together, they explore how surging AI demand is reshaping the communications infrastructure landscape, why the Midwest is becoming a critical hub for data center and transport connectivity, and what it takes to coordinate large-scale network deployments across regional providers, technology partners, and equipment innovators. The conversation highlights the growing need for fiber diversity, power-efficient optical networking, supply chain coordination, and trusted partnerships as the industry prepares for the next wave of AI-driven bandwidth, compute, and connectivity needs.

Tune in for a conversation with Phil Shih, Managing Director at Structure Research, as he explores the rapid evolution of digital infrastructure in the age of AI. The discussion dives into the growing demand for AI-driven data centers, the emergence of neo-cloud providers, the crossover of crypto infrastructure companies into the AI ecosystem, and the global race to build sovereign AI capabilities. Phil also shares insights from Structure Research's latest findings on infrastructure investment, hyperscale growth, energy demands, and how regions like Europe are responding to the changing landscape of cloud, compute, and data center development.

In this episode, you'll hear a wide-ranging conversation with David Bacino, CEO of Symphony Towers Infrastructure, exploring how wireless networks are built, scaled, and future-proofed across the United States. Drawing on more than three decades of leadership in telecom and digital infrastructure, David breaks down what it takes to support nationwide connectivity, the role towers and rooftops play in everyday wireless use, and how emerging technologies like 5G, 6G, and AI are shaping the next phase of the industry. Listeners will gain a behind-the-scenes look at the infrastructure powering modern life—and what's coming next as demand for wireless connectivity continues to grow.

In this episode, we explore what it really takes to build the next generation of talent in the digital infrastructure industry. Guest Luke Adams, Co-Founder of Data Center Youngbloods and an analyst at DPGlobal Assets, shares his journey from discovering the world of data centers in college to launching a fast-growing community designed to make the industry more visible, accessible, and welcoming to young professionals. Luke discusses the gaps in education-to-career pathways, the power of mentorship, the misconceptions young people have about entering the field, and why curiosity, resilience, and real human connection are essential for the future of digital infrastructure. This conversation offers a rare look at how emerging leaders are shaping the sector—and how seasoned professionals can play a role in elevating the next generation.

In this episode, we are joined by Brian Moon, CEO of the Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC), for a timely conversation about how the organization is evolving in the age of AI, data centers, and global connectivity. Brian shares how PTC is expanding member benefits, reimagining its annual conference, and launching new initiatives—from The Alakaʻi Stage, a new leadership and innovation platform, to next-gen talent programs and the Week of Laulima for women in the industry. It's an inside look at how PTC is shaping the future of connectivity and why PTC '26 is set to be one of the most impactful events yet.

Tune in for a conversation with Marci Nigro, Founder and CEO of Purpose Consulting Services, for a thought-provoking conversation on leadership in the age of AI. Drawing on nearly three decades of executive search experience, Marci shares how artificial intelligence is transforming not just technology, but the very fabric of leadership—reshaping what investors seek, how executives are evaluated, and which skills define success in today's AI-driven landscape. From navigating hyper-growth and managing complexity to cultivating emotional intelligence and culture alignment, Marci offers candid insights on what it takes to lead—and stay human—in an era defined by intelligence, innovation, and rapid change.