Beyond Traditional: Data Center Project Management and Construction
Join ICR for our next educational program, Beyond Traditional: Data Center Project Management & Construction, where we take a deep dive into one of the fastest‑growing and most strategically important sectors in today’s built environment.
Data centers have evolved into essential infrastructure, powering everything from cloud computing to the everyday mobile devices we rely on. With demand rising across the nation—including right here in Indiana—owners, developers, and communities are navigating a rapidly shifting landscape. While the public conversation often centers on workforce, location, or community impacts, this session focuses on what it takes to attract, plan, and build these facilities from a project management and construction perspective.
ICR will explore the unique opportunities, requirements, and delivery strategies shaping modern data center development. Hear firsthand from experts who are leading projects, engaging utility partners, and driving economic development in this competitive sector.
Join us on Thursday, March 12, at Indiana Landmarks, 1201 Central Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46202, to be part of the conversation. Registration and networking will open at 7:30 a.m., with the program running from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. ET, including time for Q&A. We hope you will join us for this insightful program!
Panelists include:
- Jason Hester – Chief Economic Development Officer, Indy Chamber
- Jeff Johnson – Senior Project Manager, Turner Construction
- Nate Snyder – Program Director, ESI Electric
- John Sturm – CEO, Johnson County REMC
- Moderator: Christian Maslowski – CEO, Aspire Johnson County
Schedule
- 7:30am-8:00am – Registration/Networking
- 8:00am-9:30am – Formal Program
- 9:30am-10:00am – Networking
About Our Panelists
Jason Hester, Indy Chamber
Jason Hester serves as Chief Economic Development Officer for the Indy Chamber, where he leads domestic and international business attraction efforts on behalf of the 10‑county Indy Partnership region. A Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), Jason brings more than 25 years of experience helping communities use collaborative, data‑driven strategies to support business recruitment, expansions, capital investment, and job creation.
Prior to joining the Indy Chamber in 2025, Jason spent 15 years leading the Greater Columbus (Indiana) Economic Development Corporation and previously held leadership roles with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, the City of Kokomo, and the City of Elwood. He is a frequent speaker on business attraction, expansion, and foreign direct investment best practices and regularly contributes to state and regional economic development forums, including the Indiana Economic Development Academy.
Jeff Johnson, Turner Construction
Jeff Johnson serves as a Senior Project Manager with Turner Construction and is actively involved in the firm’s data center work out of its Indianapolis office. He brings more than 40 years of experience in the construction industry, including over two decades with Turner Construction, where he has supported a wide range of complex projects throughout the Great Lakes region.
Prior to joining Turner in 2004, Jeff held leadership roles with HBE Corporation, serving as a Regional Manager and Project Superintendent. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Building Construction Technology from Purdue University and is known for his expertise in pre‑construction planning, project execution, and managing complex project teams. Jeff’s long‑standing experience and leadership continue to support Turner’s growing presence in the data center sector.
Nate Snyder, ESI Electric
Nate Snyder serves as a Program Director with ESI Electric and brings more than 20 years of experience in the electrical construction industry. He began his career as an electrician and has progressed through increasing levels of leadership, building a strong foundation in field operations, project management, and safety. Over the past eight years, Nate has specialized in the hyperscale data center market and currently oversees multiple multi‑million‑dollar projects.
Throughout his career, Nate has supported a wide range of large‑scale data center, industrial, and manufacturing projects across the Midwest. He is known as a dedicated, results‑driven leader who consistently delivers projects on schedule while maintaining strict cost controls and upholding ESI Electric’s strong safety culture. Nate has completed extensive industry and leadership training, including OSHA 30, NFPA 70E Electrical Safe Work Trainer certification, project management training, and senior leadership development programs.
John Sturm, Johnson County REMC
John Sturm serves as CEO of Johnson County REMC and President of JCFiber, roles he has held since February 2018. He brings more than 40 years of experience in the energy utility industry, with a career focused on power supply planning, financial analysis, regulatory compliance, energy market strategy, and distributed energy resources.
Prior to joining Johnson County REMC, John held executive leadership positions with Wabash Valley Power Association and ACES Power Marketing before founding his own consulting firm, Resolution Energy, in 2015. Today, Johnson County REMC is building the intelligent distribution grid of the future, while JCFiber is focused on delivering future‑proof, fiber‑to‑the‑premises telecommunications services to rural residential and commercial customers throughout Johnson County. John is a lifelong Central Indiana resident and has lived in Johnson County with his wife, Yvonne, for more than 40 years.
Moderator: Christian M. Maslowski, Aspire Johnson County
Christian Maslowski serves as President & CEO of Aspire Johnson County, the economic development organization and chamber of commerce serving Johnson County, just south of Indianapolis. One of Indiana’s fastest‑growing counties, Johnson County plays a critical role in the Central Indiana economic corridor and is home to the cities of Franklin and Greenwood.
Christian helped lead the merger of two organizations to form Aspire Johnson County in January 2020. Under his leadership, Aspire has focused on growing jobs in advanced industries, including life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and technology. During his tenure, the organization has doubled its revenue, strengthened business retention and expansion efforts, enhanced company attraction initiatives, and expanded its impact in talent attraction and workforce development. In 2023, Aspire was designated an Intermediary by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and awarded a capacity‑building grant to expand its school‑to‑work programming.