2025 Featured Keynotes
Keynote Speakers
David Bell
Vice President of Utility and Microgrid Development, VoltaGrid
Chris Crosby
Chief Executive Officer, Compass
Mike Dunleavy
Governor, State of Alaska
David Holmes
Global Industries CTO & Energy Lead, Dell Technologies
Michael McNamara
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lancium
Woody Rickerson
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)
Keynotes
Arctic Advantage: Alaska's Emerging Data Center Frontier
A Keynote Conversation with Governor Mike Dunleavy
When: Tuesday, September 30 | 3:00 pm to 3:45 pm CT
Where: Hill Country A-D
Alaska presents a compelling and untapped opportunity for data center innovation. Join Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy as he unveils the state's strategic vision to become the next epicenter for sustainable, scalable, and AI-ready data center development.
In this exclusive keynote, Governor Dunleavy will discuss:
• Natural Cooling Advantage: How Alaska's climate can dramatically reduce cooling costs and environmental impact
• Energy Independence: Leveraging abundant natural gas resources and renewable energy potential—including hydro and geothermal
• Strategic Security: Geographic advantages offering enhanced resilience and reduced geopolitical risk
• Economic Development: Creating a sustainable tech ecosystem with significant cost and tax advantages
As industry leaders face increasing challenges with power constraints, cooling costs, and suitable development locations, Alaska offers a forward-thinking solution—complete with robust connectivity options and untapped land availability. Governor Dunleavy will present concrete opportunities for partnerships, incentives, and infrastructure development that position Alaska as not just a frontier, but the future of sustainable, scalable, AI-ready data center operations.
Discover how your organization can be at the forefront of this transformative opportunity in data center innovation.
Mike Dunleavy
Governor, State of Alaska
Governor Mike Dunleavy arrived in Alaska in 1983 as a young man looking for opportunity, and he found it. His first job was working in a logging camp in Southeast Alaska. Later on, Governor Dunleavy pursued his dream of becoming a teacher. He earned his teacher's certificate, and then a Master of Education degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He spent nearly two decades in northwest Arctic communities working as a teacher, principal, and superintendent.
Governor Dunleavy and his family moved to Wasilla in 2004, where he owned an educational consulting firm and worked on several statewide education projects. Dunleavy served on the Mat-Su Borough School Board, with two years as Board President, and then as a state senator for five years.
Dunleavy was first elected Governor in 2018 and then again in 2022, making him the first Republican Governor in Alaska to win re-election since 1978. Governor Dunleavy has kept the health of the economy and jobs at the forefront of his Administration’s policy setting initiatives and has been a true champion for the Alaskan business community.
Governor Dunleavy’s wife Rose is from the Kobuk River Valley community of Noorvik. Together, they have three children – Maggie, Catherine, and Ceil – who were raised in both rural and urban Alaska. The Dunleavy’s enjoy spending time together as a family, often in Alaska’s great outdoors. Hunting, fishing, snowmachining, and camping are all favorite activities.
Governor Dunleavy is focused on moving Alaska forward and believes that our greatest years are yet to come if we work together to maximize our potential.
Power Paradigm Shift: How Texas is Leading the Charge in Powering Digital Infrastructure to Support the AI Roadmap
Featuring Chris Crosby & Woody Rickerson
When: Tuesday, September 30 | 8:45 am to 10:00 am C.T.
Location: Hill Country A-D
Nowhere is the intersection of energy, AI, and digital infrastructure more visible—or more critical—than in Texas. The Lone Star State has become both the proving ground and pressure cooker for balancing explosive data center growth with grid reliability and sustainability.
In this landmark keynote, Chris Crosby, CEO of Compass Data Centers, and Woody Rickerson, COO of ERCOT, will pull back the curtain on how strategic collaboration between data center operators and Texas’s grid authority is reshaping the future of power. Expect a candid, executive-level dialogue that goes beyond theory to tackle the real challenges of capacity, resilience, and accountability in the nation’s fastest-growing digital infrastructure market.
Key Insights:
- The strategies ERCOT is deploying to modernize the grid, forecast demand, and ensure reliability in a high-growth environment.
- How data center developers can successfully navigate Texas’s complex and fast-moving energy ecosystem.
- New models for collaboration that align the priorities of grid operators, regulators, and data center leaders.
- ERCOT’s evolving national leadership role amid heightened scrutiny of U.S. energy reliability and sustainability.
As AI and hyperscale deployments push power demand into uncharted territory, Texas is setting the blueprint for the nation—and the world. This keynote anchors DCW POWER 2025, offering rare insider access to the decision-makers driving one of the most consequential transformations in the energy and digital infrastructure industries today.
Chris Crosby
Chief Executive Officer, Compass
After years of working at the intersection of tech and real estate development, Chris Crosby set out in 2011 to take a new approach to data center development. His vision was to focus on greenfield projects and deliver customizable, scalable, sustainable, and low-cost data centers in an expedited time frame and, therefore, established Compass.
A testament to Chris’ bold vision and a solid culture centered around four core convictions from which the company has never wavered, Compass has grown at a remarkable rate. From completing its first 1.2 MW data center in 2012 to serving the campus-level hyperscale market with developments underway across the globe less than a decade later, Compass’s success is the result of Chris’ vision, a strong foundation, and a talented team of innovative thinkers.
In 2024, Compass was recognized as one of Inc. Magazine’s 5000 fastest-growing companies. In Dallas, Compass ranked second for fastest growth, and the Dallas Business Journal named Compass as one of the city’s best places to work. Chris has also been named as an EY Entrepreneur of the Year.
Compass continues to drive industry-leading sustainability practices under Chris’ leadership, creating a lasting impact on the data center industry.
Woody Rickerson
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)
As Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), Woody Rickerson oversees Grid Operations, Commercial Operations, and Planning and Weatherization.
Mr. Rickerson brings a considerable amount of electric industry experience to his position, including more than 25 years at ERCOT in various roles. A licensed professional engineer, Mr. Rickerson has worked for utilities in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. He has a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from New Mexico State University and a master’s degree in Engineering Management from the University of Colorado.
Powering the AI Era with Future-Ready Data Centers
Featuring David Holmes & Michael McNamara
When: Wednesday, October 1 | 9:00 am to 10:00 am C.T.
Where: Hill Country A-D
AI is rewriting the rules of digital infrastructure—and with it comes an anticipated surge in power demand. The question is no longer if we can scale AI, but how we do it without breaking the grid.
In this keynote, two visionary leaders at the intersection of technology and energy will share their thoughts on powering the AI revolution. David Holmes, Global Industries CTO & Energy Lead at Dell Technologies, and Michael McNamara, CEO of Lancium, will reveal how their organizations are redefining the future of data center efficiency and power. They’ll explore how Dell’s next-generation technology and Lancium's gigawatt-scale clean energy campuses are enabling organizations to unleash the potential of AI.
Key Discussion Points and Insights:
- How Dell is engineering efficient solutions to address skyrocketing AI power density requirements.
- Exclusive details on Lancium's transformative gigawatt-scale campuses and their roadmap to multi-GW.
- What it takes to support massive rack densities while maintaining efficiency and resiliency.
- Real-world approaches for energy management in high-load data centers
As global AI data center power consumption is accelerating toward 90+ terawatt-hours by 2026, Holmes and McNamara will share lessons, insights and a bold vision for how collaboration across technology and energy can chart a sustainable path forward.
Don't miss this rare opportunity to hear directly from the leaders shaping the future of data centers for the AI era.
David Holmes
Global Industries CTO & Energy Lead, Dell Technologies
David leads energy industry engagements at Dell Technologies, helping customers enhance operational efficiency and ensure energy security. He works closely with a global team focused on solution development, strategic partnerships, product innovation, and go-to-market execution. A strong advocate for open industry standards, David served on The Open Group OSDU Forum Management Committee. He holds multiple patents related to geotechnical visualization and workflow optimization and has contributed to several industry bodies throughout his career.
Michael McNamara
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Lancium
Michael McNamara is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lancium, where he leads the company’s mission to deliver innovative infrastructure solutions that meet the rapidly growing power demands of AI data centers. Since co-founding Lancium in 2017, Michael has played a central role in defining the company’s strategic direction and positioning it at the forefront of the next generation of data center development.
Under his leadership, Lancium is actively designing and developing Clean Campuses in West Texas—highly scalable, intelligently orchestrated facilities purpose-built to support gigawatt-scale AI data centers. These campuses are engineered to optimize energy use, enable fast interconnection, and bring large flexible load to the grid, helping meet the needs of both operators and power systems.
Before founding Lancium, Michael built a successful career in finance and energy investment. He founded ROR Capital in 2012, working with private equity firms to restructure several multi-billion-dollar natural resource companies. He also held senior investment and research roles at Talpion Fund Management LP, One East Partners, and Twin Capital Management, where he specialized in natural resources and event-driven strategies across North America and Europe.
Michael earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance, Magna Cum Laude, from Georgetown University. Drawing on his deep experience in both capital markets and the energy sector, Michael continues to lead Lancium’s efforts to meet the power infrastructure needs of tomorrow’s most demanding technologies.
How Energy is Changing New Site Selection
When: Tuesday, September 30 | 8:45 am to 10:00 am C.T.
Location: Hill Country A-D
An inside look at how energy trends are reshaping data center growth, site selection, and the shift toward behind-the-meter solutions
David Bell
Vice President of Utility and Microgrid Development, VoltaGrid
Dave Bell is the Vice President of Data Center and MicroGrid Development at VoltaGrid, where he spearheads the strategic identification and implementation of microgrid solutions tailored to the needs of large industry and utility entities. With a keen focus on integrating clean and reliable energy sources,
Dave ensures seamless support for operational requirements and bolsters the resilience of the utility grid. With an impressive portfolio, Dave has overseen the installation of multi-terawatt hours of energy solutions, both upstream and downstream, catering to the needs of major industrial players and utilities.
Prior to joining VoltaGrid, Dave held a leadership position at a prominent multinational corporation, where he led the Utility division. His contributions were instrumental in enhancing utility reliability metrics, particularly during periods of planned and unplanned outages. Dave brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table, making him a valuable asset in navigating the complex landscape of utility and microgrid development.