#11: The Real Story on Data Centers feat. Data Center Coalition CEO Josh Levi

#11: The Real Story on Data Centers feat. Data Center Coalition CEO Josh Levi

We use data centers every day. They have been around for decades. But most people couldn’t tell you what is inside of them or what they actually do.  Lately, they’ve become one of the most debated pieces of infrastructure in the world.  In this episode, Chris Curtis of Prologis and Josh Levi of the Data Center Coalition break down the important role data centers play in our world.   With decades of experience between them, the two talk about how data centers are built, why there are misconceptions around their use of resources and the significant economic impact they can have on local communities.   What’s hype? What does smart growth look like as we all rely on the services supported by AI?  Because data centers are central to our modern economy, it’s time to better understand them.  In this episode:  00:38 - Intro: Meet Josh Levi  01:57 - Data centers in space and the future of digital infrastructure  02:48 - What data centers are and why demand is growing  07:59 - How data centers support daily life, business and AI  14:04 - Energy demand, grid investment and power costs  22:04 - Community concerns, misinformation and the need for facts  26:30 - Local impact: Jobs, tax revenue and community opportunity  32:04 - The next decade of data center growth  33:40 - Why the industry needs to tell its story better  34:41 - Closing thoughts  Today’s experts:  Chris Curtis serves as global head of data centers at Prologis. In addition, Chris serves on the Data Center Coalition Board and the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Data Center Product Council. A seasoned data center expert, Chris brings more than 5 gigawatts of data center development experience across the U.S., Canada and Europe. Before Prologis, Chris co-founded Compass Datacenters, where he led all development projects from 2011 to 2023. Prior to that, he spent a decade developing high-security, build-to-suit projects for U.S. Federal Government agencies.    Josh Levi is president and CEO of the Data Center Coalition (DCC), the membership association for the U.S. data center industry focused on empowering and championing the data center community through public policy advocacy, education, thought leadership and community engagement. Before DCC, Josh was vice president for policy at the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), a nationally recognized regional trade association, where he spent nearly 20 years supporting Northern Virginia’s vibrant technology community.   Additional Resources:   * Understanding the Drivers of Rising Electricity Rates and the Role of Data Centers, [https://www.ethree.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Understanding-the-Drivers-of-Rising-Electricity-Rates-and-the-Role-of-Data-Centers_E3-2026.pdf] May 2026, Energy + Environmental Economics  * Economic Contributions of Data Centers in the United States, 2023-2024, [https://www.centerofyourdigitalworld.org/2026-impact-study] May 2026, PwC  Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Prologis.

#10: The Dealmaker’s Playbook: CBRE’s Darla Longo on the Future of Logistics Real Estate, AI & Leadership

How is the logistics real estate market shaping up in 2026 — and how is CBRE creatively using AI in its business?  In this episode of Moving the World, Prologis’ Chris Burns sits down with CBRE Managing Director Darla Longo, one of the most experienced dealmakers in logistics real estate. With more than four decades in the business and over $91.5 billion in closed transactions, Darla shares where she’s seeing real momentum, how AI is changing decision-making on the ground, and what leaders often get wrong as technology reshapes the industry.  The conversation goes beyond market forecasts to explore how Darla has built and led teams across cycles — and why culture, judgment and relationships still matter just as much as data in an increasingly digital, global business.  In this episode:   00:00 - Intro  00:59 - Early Days in Logistics Real Estate and Market Growth  05:09 - Transition from Leasing to Capital Markets  07:40 - 2026 Logistics Real Estate Market Outlook and Demand Trends  10:30 - Global Logistics Momentum and Emerging Markets  12:08 - U.S. Logistics Capital Markets and Investment Trends  20:02 - Role of AI in Logistics Real Estate  22:10 - Human Element and Future of AI in Business  26:25 - Nurturing Corporate Culture in a Digital Age  29:44 - Leadership, Mentorship and Building High-Performance Teams  Today’s experts:  Chris Burns is head of deployment for North America at Prologis. He oversees deployment forecasting, portfolio strategy, multi-market acquisitions and dispositions, and manages the company’s investment services group and Investment Analyst Program. Prior to joining Prologis, Burns spent more than two decades at Duke Realty, where he served as executive vice president of real estate operations and helped expand the company’s West Coast portfolio to nearly 30 million square feet.  Darla Longo is vice chairman and managing director with CBRE’s West Coast Institutional Group and one of the most accomplished industrial real estate brokers in the country. Over a 47-plus-year career, she has been involved in more than $91.5 billion in real estate transactions, including investment sales totaling more than 1.5 billion square feet. Longo is the first woman elected to CBRE’s board of directors and has ranked among the firm’s top producers for more than four decades. In 2021, CBRE named the Darla Longo Award in her honor, recognizing the next generation of outstanding producers.

#09: Maximizing Throughput, Automation & Warehouse Performance

At the center of every warehouse operation is one metric: throughput. How much product can move through a building — accurately, efficiently and profitably — in a given period of time?  In this episode of Moving the World, Prologis’ Marv Cunningham sits down with Ninaad Acharya, CEO of Fulfillment IQ, to talk about the biggest challenges facing fulfillment centers and what it takes to scale AI logistics solutions that deliver real results for brands, retailers and 3PLs.  What’s hype and what can be deployed at scale? What must be true before an operator greenlights an AI rollout? And why is scaling from one successful building to a full network still so difficult?  The conversation dives into data readiness, operational discipline, workforce realities and the hidden barriers that stall innovation. It’s a candid, operator-level discussion about what it really takes to deploy AI at scale to increase throughput, maximize space and optimize operational efficiency.   In this episode:  * Why scaling AI across a network is exponentially harder than proving ROI in one facility  * The prerequisites to AI success: clean data, strong governance and usable systems  * The human side of automation: trust, change management and workforce adoption  * Why most warehouses still have very little automation—and what that means for opportunity  * How digital twins and simulation can reduce risk before investing real dollars  Today’s experts:  Marv Cunningham is the global head of Operating Essentials and Workforce Solutions at Prologis, overseeing the company’s workforce and community programs, as well as its Essentials platform, which delivers solutions for some of the most critical challenges fulfillment centers face today. Marv brings more than 15 years of experience in supply chain and logistics, including senior leadership roles at GXO Logistics, Saks Off 5th & Hudson Bay, Rent the Runway, Target and Amazon.  Ninaad Acharya is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Fulfillment IQ, an ecommerce fulfillment product studio that supports brands, retailers and 3PLs with bespoke solutions. He also hosts the eCom Logistics Podcast, where he brings together industry leaders to share insights on the future of supply chain and logistics. With over 16 years of experience in the supply chain and logistics industry, including serving as supply chain product executive at FedEx Supply Chain, Ninaad has a proven track record of delivering innovative and impactful solutions that enhance customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

#08: Where Sports & Logistics Meet: A Conversation with Orange Bowl CEO Eric Poms

The Orange Bowl is a South Florida institution, a national spotlight moment and a logistical marvel. And, this year, the home of the Orange Bowl, Hard Rock Stadium, is also hosting the College Football Playoff National Game. For the first time, we’re giving you a look behind the scenes.  In this episode of Moving the World, Jason Tenenbaum from Prologis sits down with Orange Bowl CEO Eric Poms to discuss what it takes to pull off one of the biggest games in football.   In this episode:   * What it takes to deliver one of the nation’s most iconic bowl game—from citywide operations to the community mission powering youth sports, education and civic partnerships across South Florida.  * How the Orange Bowl fuels the region’s economy and how its role in the College Football Playoff continues to evolve.  * The surprising connections between sports and logistics—including how partners like Prologis help make championship moments possible.  Today’s experts:  Jason Tenenbaum is senior vice president and market officer for South Florida at Prologis, where he leads a team managing over 32 million square feet across Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Jason is actively involved in the industry, serving as a member of the Orange Bowl Committee, the Board of Directors for NAIOP South Florida and as an advisor for Florida International University's MS in Logistics Engineering Industry Advisory Board.  Eric Poms is the chief executive officer of the Orange Bowl Committee (OBC). Since joining the OBC in 1993, and becoming CEO in 2006, Poms has led major milestones including the Orange Bowl’s integration into the College Football Playoff and hosting multiple national championships. Beyond football, he has expanded the OBC’s community impact across youth sports, education, engagement and legacy programs—positioning it as one of South Florida’s leading civic organizations.

#07: Tariffs, Treaties & Power Shifts in Global Trade

Every product you touch today has crossed a border: your phone, your shoes, the coffee that started your morning. Behind each journey is a policy decision that shapes how quickly, affordably and reliably that product reaches you.  Trade doesn’t just move through ports. It moves through policy.  In this episode of Moving the World, Steven Hussain, senior vice president and head of government affairs at Prologis, and Safiya Ghori-Ahmad, senior director of global public affairs at APCO Worldwide, unpack how a new era of geopolitics is reshaping trade—and what it means for companies operating across borders.  In this episode:   * Why today’s tariffs and industrial policies aren’t a temporary blip, but a long-term, bipartisan shift in how countries approach trade.  * How India’s rapid rise, digital infrastructure and “strategic autonomy” are reshaping global power dynamics and the role of the Global South.  * How companies are rethinking supply chains from “China + 1” to “China + many,” building resilience across multiple regions and markets.  * Why long-term relationship building with governments is essential in a world of regional blocs, shifting alliances and emerging technologies like AI.  Today’s experts:  Steven Hussain is senior vice president and head of government affairs at Prologis. In that capacity, he leads the organization's efforts to engage the public sector to deepen relationships and advance Prologis' business objectives. Before joining Prologis, Steven served in various senior leadership roles in the public and nonprofit sectors focused on economic development, education and municipal policy.   Safiya Ghori-Ahmad is senior director of global public affairs at APCO Worldwide, where she helps companies navigate the intersection of business, policy and international markets. Based in Washington, D.C., she brings a decade of U.S. government experience, including roles at the State Department and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and deep expertise in South and Central Asia. Before joining APCO, Ghori-Ahmad was a senior managing director at McLarty Associates, advising global investors and multinational companies on government affairs and market-entry strategy. Ghori-Ahmad is a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, a founding member of Chief D.C. and serves on several advisory boards, including the Clinton School of Public Service.   Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Prologis.