About EDCF
The Forum originated in January 2012. Founding members stressed a desire to conduct focused group discussions on common challenges encountered in delivering continuous facilities systems operation. This is largely accomplished through conferences and quarterly 90 minute conference calls. Each conference includes a data center tour with group feedback. All agenda topics are requested and volunteered by participants in advance of each event. Continuing dialogue occurs through the Forum's interactive website and via telephone. Summaries of all facilitated communications and posted copies of presentations are maintained for members' access in a secured area of this website.
The annual participation fee covers unlimited attendees from each member company. The fee is determined by dividing actual operating expenses by the number of participating companies. There are no additional fees for conference registration. Hotel, meal, and travel expenses are paid individually by each attendee.
The Forum conducted its first conference in May 2012 in Colorado Springs. Fifteen individuals participated in the initial three-day meeting, which focused on group discussions on a variety of topics, several unique presentations, and a thorough tour of Progressive's data center. By 2015, the Forum had grown to eleven member companies and 46 conference attendees.
In 2016, the Forum created Group 2 to permit additional companies with interest to participate. This ensured all participants would have the opportunity to contribute to group discussions, by limiting the number of member companies in each group to ten, essentially limiting individuals at a given conference to less than fifty. Group 2 initially met in Atlanta in 2016, hosted by United Parcel Service.
In addition to annual Spring conferences, up to three attendees from each company (both groups combined) meet each Fall. These sessions include highly rated presentations from each group’s Spring conference. At each conference, a feedback session is conducted to suggest new enhancements to the overall Forum experience. Those agreed upon by the majority of Forum members are implemented for the following year.