Maryland Data Center Summit Agenda

Panel Session 1 – Winning Digital Infrastructure Investment – MD National Security & Public Health

Maryland’s advantage in digital infrastructure is not just geographic. It is mission-driven. With close proximity to the federal government, major defense and cyber activity, leading research institutions, and globally significant public health and medical assets, Maryland is uniquely positioned to compete for digital infrastructure investment tied to national security, health resilience, and next-generation innovation. This panel will explore how Maryland compares with peer states, what investors and site selectors are prioritizing, and how the state can better align business attraction, infrastructure planning, and public policy to win high-value projects. The conversation will also examine how federal demand, mission-critical use cases, and real-world development opportunities can help Maryland stand out in an increasingly competitive national landscape.

Moderator:

Katie Malone
Market and National Editor, Technical.ly 

Panelists:

Stephen Jenkins
Chief Development Officer, Rowan Digital Infrastructure

Panel Session 2 – From Construction to Operations: The Jobs Behind Digital Infrastructure

Data centers create far more than a small number of on-site operational roles. They support a much broader employment ecosystem that includes skilled trades, union labor, general contractors, equipment suppliers, professional services, maintenance, logistics, and long-term community college and workforce training pathways. This panel will examine how Maryland can better define and communicate the industry’s full workforce impact while building the talent pipeline needed to support continued growth. The discussion will cover immediate construction and infrastructure labor needs, long-term permanent roles, the role of apprenticeship and training partnerships, and the downstream employment effects that data center development can generate across the regional economy.

Moderator:

William Yull
Executive Director, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Maryland Chapter

Panelists:

Dana Blackwood
General Manager, Turner Construction Company

Jason Friedman
Senior Council Representative, Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters 

Brian Hatmaker
President, Stulz Air Technology Systems

Paul O’Connell
General Manager, Performance Contracting, Inc. (PCI) 

Expert Spotlight Talk 1: AI’s Influence on Data Center Infrastructure, Power, and Cooling

Panel Session 3  – Growth, Revenue, and Responsibility: The Maryland Policy Conversation on Data Centers

As data centers move closer to the center of Maryland’s economic and land use debates, state and local leaders are being asked to weigh tax policy, development incentives, zoning, infrastructure needs, and public concerns in real time. This panel will examine how those decisions are being shaped in Annapolis and in local jurisdictions, and what they mean for Maryland’s competitiveness. Just as importantly, it will connect policy choices to real community outcomes by exploring how data center projects can generate revenue, support public services, strengthen infrastructure, and contribute to broader local economic development goals. The discussion will also address common misconceptions and consider how Maryland can pursue a policy approach that is both economically credible and locally responsive.

Panelists:

Rob Corradi
Manager, Mid-Atlantic Region, AWS State and Local Public Policy, Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Doug Kelly
Chief Executive Officer, American Edge Project 

Mike McHale
Business Manager, IBEW Local 24 

Panel Session 4 – Power talk –  Powering Growth: How Maryland Can Build the Energy Backbone for Digital Infrastructure

Power availability has become one of the defining constraints on digital infrastructure development nationwide, and Maryland is no exception. This panel will examine the full energy chain behind data center growth, from generation and transmission planning to utility distribution, regulatory oversight, and emerging on-site and advanced energy solutions. The discussion will focus on Maryland’s current energy outlook, PJM’s role in forecasting and planning for future demand, and the policy and infrastructure decisions needed to support economic growth while preserving reliability and affordability. It will also explore what a realistic, durable strategy looks like for serving large new loads in a state facing both rising demand and increasing scrutiny of energy costs.

Moderator:

Lindsay North
Director, Clean Energy Strategy (CES), Pepco Holdings

Panelists:

Dinkar Bhatia
Chief Commercial Officer , X-Energy

George Bivens
North American Sales Director, Energy Services, Electric Power Division, Caterpillar

Jason Stanek
Executive Director, PJM Interconnection – Governmental Services 

Fireside Chat: America’s Digital Future

As a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, Barbara Comstock authored the 2012 legislation that modernized Virginia’s tax incentives for data centers in the Commonwealth and opened the door to billions of dollars in investments, a strong pipeline for construction and trade jobs, and billions in state and local revenue that has made Virginia a top technology state and regularly named a top state for business in CNBC rankings under both Republican and Democratic Administrations. This legislation become a model for Maryland and other states. Now one of the most consequential infrastructure questions isn’t about roads or bridges but about where the servers powering our growing digital economy will be located. Everything that uses the internet, from our government, military, businesses, to hospitals, banks, schools, cars, to manufacturers, and to anyone who creates and sells good and services – they all require data centers to operate in the 21st century. And as AI continues to become the primary driver of innovation and the global economy, lots of questions and controversies are arising on the state, local and national level. Data centers, which power our digital and AI economy, and are estimated to drive $3 trillion in investment over the next 5 years – are at the center of these debates. What is the path forward for American innovation and how do we meet the current challenges and keep the U.S. the world leader and our businesses thriving?

Kelly Schulz
CEO, Maryland Tech Council

Barbara Comstock
Founder, Comstock Strategies

Expert Spotlight Talk 2: The Digital Workforce Is Here