DIRECTOR OF DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT
123.NET, SOUTHFIELD
EMPLOYEES: 300
REVENUE: NA
COLLEGE: ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY
Detroit may not be Silicon Valley, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t need state-of-the-art data centers to support its critical industries — not to mention the day-to-day activities of many of its residents and businesses.
Noah Lessaris knows this well. He joined Southfield-based fiber network 123.Net shortly after graduating from college in 2018. Following eight years as part of the company’s strategic account teams, he recently took on a new role as director of data center development.
“Folks who are sitting at home watching Netflix or Disney should know that’s not possible in Michigan without data centers,” Lessaris says. “Detroit is unique in that we have lots of automotive mobility and autonomous vehicle development in our region.
“A lot of these companies have gone from simply manufacturers to really engineering software startups. Their business models have changed. Rather than trying to design the best vehicle, they’re crunching the data to design the best software.”
Data centers are critical for ensuring connectivity, internet bandwidth, and the availability of power to run all the necessary equipment.
Lessaris’ job is to work with end users to make sure 123.Net is ready to meet their needs as they grow, and to prepare the operations teams for what that might require.
“Companies are telling us they need higher density, power usage, and cooling,” Lessaris says. “Without the improvements and the engineering resources, you’re not going to be able to support some of these customer projects in the next 12 months. So, if you’re not constantly improving, these customers won’t be able to do business with you.”
Lessaris recognizes there’s a great deal of concern in today’s world about data centers in terms of where they’re built, how much power and water they use, and how their presence will impact those around them. He wants local residents to know that 123.Net, which was founded in 1995, poses no such concerns.
“As a facility that’s been doing business in the Southfield area, we’re integrated into the community and we employ hundreds of Michigan residents and community members,” Lessaris says.
“That’s very different from the headlines people are seeing. All the work we do is connectivity-focused, and we’re not trying to hog resources like power and water.”
That connectivity focus often makes Lessaris the coordinator between his own team and the businesses that need to make sure they have access to the latest digital resources.
“I work with the Michigan-based enterprises, so we can help them with their needs,” he says.
“I’m kind of in the middle of all those worlds, and I’m trying to keep everyone on the same path. That’s what I would say is the most enjoyable aspect of my role.”
Acknowledging that he lacked experience when he came to the company, Lessaris credits the leadership team at 123.Net for investing in his development so he could grow into his current role.
“I came into the industry green, and I didn’t know much about it at all,” he says. “123.Net trained me and provided me with a platform to be successful.”
In addition to his role leading the company’s data center development, Lessaris also serves as director of strategic peering for the Detroit Internet Exchange, a nonprofit that works to improve connectivity by growing peer participation and traffic, and by routing between aligned networks.
— Dan Calabrese
