New Leadership at Sabey Data Centers: An Interview with Tim Mirick, President & CEO

Sabey Data Centers, a privately held, vertically-integrated U.S. data center company with an exclusive partnership with National Real Estate Advisors, embarks on a new chapter as Tim Mirick steps into the role of President & CEO. A key member of the company since 2012, Mirick previously served as Chief Revenue Officer, bringing a wealth of industry expertise to his new position.

In our latest interview, Mirick shares his vision for the future of Sabey Data Centers and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Can you share a bit about your journey with Sabey Data Centers since 2012 and how it has prepared you for this new role as President?

I came to Sabey Data Centers in 2012 after spending 20 years in the Seattle technology scene. I spent time with RealNetworks as streaming media was becoming mainstream and Amazon while we built the 3rd party seller business. I was lucky to experience a lot of firsts and work with some incredible people.

Transitioning into data centers, and real estate, was a whole new world, and I really learned the business from the inside out. I joined as VP of Sales and later became the Chief Revenue Officer, which gave me a strong understanding of what matters most to our customers. It was deeply satisfying to develop and sell a product that will last for years and people see and touch — a big change from online solutions. It gave me the opportunity to learn a new industry while still staying close to leading edge technology.

Through it all, I gained a well-rounded view of the business and a deep appreciation for what makes Sabey special.

What are some of the key initiatives or strategies you plan to focus on as President?

One of the things that made this leadership opportunity so exciting is that we have a world-class team in place. Our consistent investment in developing our people and systems has created a trusted platform and a culture of excellence that benefits our customers and makes this a great place to work.

My goal is simple: to keep the momentum we’ve built going — to continue pursuing smart growth. That means staying focused on getting better every day and continuing to add great customers to our portfolio. We will grow faster moving forward but will continue to focus on investment grade opportunities while also taking on hyperscale projects where it makes sense. We’ll also be looking into emerging growth areas like AIaaS. The key is being thoughtful and strategic while continuing to evolve with the market.

The data center industry is evolving rapidly. How do you see Sabey Data Centers adapting to emerging trends and technological advancements?

The biggest thing for us is taking the time to really understand how hardware requirements are changing. We need to stay close to our customers, anticipate their needs and build in as much flexibility as is commercially reasonable — so we can meet their needs today and into the future.

Across our operations, security and administration, we’re also focused on leveraging technology to drive greater efficiency. That mindset of continuous improvement is something we’ll continue to double down on.

What do you see as the biggest challenges and opportunities for Sabey Data Centers in the next five years?

The biggest challenge — and opportunity — is our ability to find and deliver capacity at the right scale and timing for our customers. A lot of that comes down to access to land and power, and we’re taking steps to make sure we control those variables where we can. Projects like our Umatilla development and the SDC Columbia expansion, where we control over 250MW of capacity, are great examples of that strategy.

Additionally, if we can manage our supply chain, we put ourselves in a much better position to keep our costs down and to deliver what the market needs — when it needs it.

When you are not focused on Sabey Data Centers, how do you spend your free time?

What free time? (Laughs) When I do have time away from work, I really enjoy being at home with my family. I like to golf when I can, and I’m a big (UW) Huskies fan — going to games whenever possible. Spending time with my wife and two grown children is what matters most to me. But honestly, between work and family, there’s not a whole lot of downtime — and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Finally, what excited you most about leading Sabey Data Centers into the future?

We’re at a unique moment in time where the opportunities in front of us are absolutely energizing. We’re seeing convergence between the continued growth of cloud and the explosive development of AI. The potential impact of AI on everyone’s lives is something I find really exciting. There’s never been a time when the opportunities for data centers have been as great as they are right now. We’ve entered the global conversation, and I’m proud that the platforms we’re building at Sabey are going to play a central role in shaping the future.

At the end of the day, I feel incredibly lucky to be leading a fantastic team that’s set up to take full advantage of this moment.

Thank you, Tim!

As a joint venture between Sabey Corporation and National, Sabey Data Centers manages over three million square feet of mission-critical space across six campuses and 21 buildings. With National’s support and Mirick’s leadership, we believe the company is well-positioned for continued growth and innovation.