Karen Petersburg serves as the Senior Vice President of Data Center Design & Engineering at PowerHouse Data Centers, where she leads the planning and construction of hyperscale and AI-configured campuses. With nearly 20 years of experience, Petersburg has emerged as a leader in one of the most complex sectors of the built environment, managing projects like PowerHouse 95, a site designed to accommodate up to 900 MW of power.

She is also the creator of PowerHouse’s sustainability program, launching a first-of-its-kind sustainability index to track environmental performance across design and procurement. Petersburg’s influence is defined by her commitment to community impact; in Reno, she transformed a data center development into an initiative that connects workforce training with digital literacy programs.

Her technical leadership in sustainability earned her the Green Building Initiative’s 2024 Member of the Year title. She also serves as the President of the 7×24 Exchange Greater Washington, DC Chapter, where she focuses on workforce development and inclusion.

Petersburg’s ability to deliver technically rigorous, environmentally responsible infrastructure while serving as a platform for social benefit makes her a pioneering figure in the data center industry.