The Data Center 2020 Bounce-Back

On this episode of the Not Your Father’s Data Center podcast, guests Buddy Rizer and Dave Liggett join host Raymond Hawkins to look ahead to 2020.

Rizer has been in the data center business since the beginning. Before he took the leap, Rizer took time to get to know the industry, then filled the data centers.

Rizer said that it was “such a new industry” that he was the only economic developer at trade shows. He also said that he was lucky to have investors and management “give him the budget and authority to get it done.”

On the topic of the industry’s inception, Rizer said that some entrepreneurs started in AOL and are still “driving the business which is exciting to us.” Dave Liggett said that it’s neat that Rizer has the perspective of where it started and where it’s going.

The conversation shifted toward the future and where the industry is headed in 2020. Being a capital intensive business, 2018 was a great year, but 2019 didn’t feel very good, and this had them worried a little.

The question came up: was it as bad as they thought? Liggett said that, in 2019, the industry players were “victims of their own success.” He said when investors see a great year, they ask, “How good can you do the next year?”

Fortunately, Liggett said he was “encouraged already for 2020 with the data we’re receiving.” The host said to keep some perspective, as “there aren’t many 53% increase industries.”

Rizer then talked about the benefits and jobs that his data centers bring locally, turning the thought that data centers don’t bring jobs on its head.

Rizer predicted that, for the next east coast data centers, there is “still room to grow in Loudoun County, Virginia,” where he is located, or Atlanta and communities in Georgia.

He said that partnerships with power companies are key, and a distributed model could provide opportunities across the country and world.

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Software & Technology Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!
Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

healthcare
The Future of Employer Benefits: Balancing Rising Healthcare Costs with Creative, Employee-Centered Perks
August 28, 2025

The landscape of employee benefits has undergone a seismic shift in the last decade. From the rise of telemedicine to the introduction of lifestyle spending accounts and stipends for services like DoorDash and HelloFresh, employers are reimagining how they support workers in a post-pandemic, inflation-conscious world. With healthcare costs rising and talent competition intensifying,…

Read More
How Smart EHR Features Return Time to Patient Care: Insights from Healthcare Leaders
August 27, 2025

When Documentation Technology Finally Works for Clinicians At ChartLogic, we’ve spent years perfecting the features that matter most to healthcare providers. But rather than tell you what we think works, we wanted to hear directly from clinicians about the EHR capabilities that have genuinely improved their workflows. We asked healthcare professionals: Have you ever used…

Read More
sustainability
From Green Initiatives to Guest Loyalty: Building the Future of Hospitality Through Tree Planting and Plastic Cleanup Programs
August 27, 2025

Sustainability is no longer optional in hospitality—it’s the expectation. A recent Booking.com report found that 84 percent of global travelers now prioritize making their trips more sustainable, raising the bar for hotels worldwide. Yet too many properties are still relying on the basics—like towel reuse cards or energy-saving reminders—that guests increasingly see as table stakes….

Read More
The Future of Directional Drilling: How Emerging Technologies Are Reshaping Performance Standards
August 27, 2025

Driving Innovation in Energy Exploration At Altitude Energy Partners, we’ve long understood that the future of energy development depends on continuous innovation in directional drilling technology. As formations become more complex and environmental standards more stringent, the industry is experiencing a technological revolution that promises to redefine what’s possible in drilling performance. We asked industry…

Read More