Panelist
Frank Scalzo
Vice President of Site Selection, North America, Vantage Data Centers
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**SOLD OUT** ULI Washington: The Data Center Boom - Land, Power, and the Future of the DMV Data Center Market
Data centers are rapidly emerging as one of the most influential and often misunderstood asset classes reshaping the future of commercial real estate in the DMV. As artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure drive unprecedented demand for data capacity, the Mid-Atlantic region has become a national focal point.
Once a niche corner of the industrial market, data centers now play a pivotal role in shaping land use patterns, investment strategies, and regional economic growth. Their development raises complicated questions:
- How will escalating energy and infrastructure needs influence site selection and entitlement processes?
- What new partnerships and capital structures are forming to meet demand?
- How are local governments responding to this opportunity?
This panel brings together leading voices from across the data center ecosystem to unpack the dynamics driving the sector’s evolution.
Agenda
8:00 - 8:30AM - Arrival/Check-in (Light breakfast and coffee will be provided)
8:30 - 9:30AM - Panel Presentation
Panelists
- Josh Greenberg, CBRE
- Jeff Kim, Vantage Data Centers, Moderator
- Jieer Ren, kW Mission Critical Engineering, Member of WSP
- Frank Scalzo, Vantage Data Centers
- Amanda Williams, Cooley
9:30 - 9:50AM - Audience Q&A
9:50 - 11:00AM - Networking & Program Closure
Hosted by the YLG Education Subcommittee, and open to members and nonmembers of all ages!
Speakers
Panelist
Jieer Ren
Managing Principal, kW Mission Critical, WSP
Jieer Ren is a leader in the design and delivery of advanced data centers, with a track record of organizing and directing multidisciplinary teams of architects, engineers, and construction managers. He specializes in projects that demand rapid global deployment, integration of modular systems, adoption of emerging high-density cooling technologies, enhanced security requirements, and navigation of complex supply chain challenges.
At kW, Jieer is responsible for recruiting and developing engineering teams to support a growing portfolio of data center projects. He also plays a key role in promoting the firm’s technical capabilities within the data center community and strengthening industry relationships.
Outside of work, Jieer is an avid sailor, gardener, and fisherman. He also enjoys golfing with his 12-year-old son and scuba diving. He is an active member of the Illuminating Engineering Society and has served as President and Past President of the Washington, DC chapter.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech, which serves as the foundation for his technical leadership and industry expertise.
Panelist
Amanda Williams
Special Counsel, Cooley LLP
Amanda represents property owners and international, national and regional developers in all aspects of the land planning, zoning and development process. She has a particular focus on development matters related to data centers and related fiber optic conduit facilities, but also handles complex industrial, office, mixed-use, residential, healthcare, hotel and large planned community projects. Amanda regularly represents clients before state and local governing authorities, planning commissions, advisory commissions, and interested citizen organizations. Additionally, she advises clients on complex ownership and governance regimes for data center campuses and mixed-use developments, including the creation of condominium and subdivision structures, commercial and mixed-use property owners’ associations, and reciprocal easement agreements.
Read Amanda’s full bio here with recent representative project: https://www.cooley.com/people/amanda-williams/in-depth
Panelist
Josh Greenberg
Senior Vice President, CBRE
Josh Greenberg is a member of CBRE’s Data Center Solutions group based out the Tysons Corner office. Josh’s business is focused on the data center capital markets with his expertise ranging from institutional sales of turkey data centers to powered shells to greenfield land developments across North America. Josh provides a unique perspective to his clients due to his detailed tracking of the national data center markets and attention to the latest industry trends and indicators. Due to the knowledge and expertise that Josh has in the asset class, his clients trust him to advise on complex real estate transactions across multiple markets and verticals in the industry. Josh and his team have transacted on over $1.5B of data center institutional asset sales and $1.2B in land transactions in the past 36 months.
Josh is a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with a B.S. in Real Estate.
Moderator
Jeff Kim
Director of Site Selection and Acquisition, Vantage Data Centers
Jeff Kim is the Director of Site Selection and Acquisition at Vantage Data Centers, where he oversees the identification and acquisition of land for hyperscale data center campuses across North America. Prior to joining Vantage, Jeff was a Partner at Ideal Realty Group and Principal at IRG Data, where he led investment sales and site selection efforts across multifamily, retail, and undeveloped land assets. Over the course of his career, he has closed more than $500 million in transactions, conducted detailed market and infrastructure analyses, and worked closely with utilities and municipalities to navigate zoning and entitlement processes. His background combines real estate strategy with technical and regulatory insight to support long-term infrastructure planning.