As Executive Director for Economic Development in Loudoun County, Virginia, Buddy Rizer is widely known as the “Godfather of Data Center Alley” for making Loudoun County the leading data center market globally. Since joining the department in 2007, Rizer has led efforts that have attracted more than 65 billion USD in investment and over 60,000 new jobs, which has helped reduce the local tax rate by more than 48 cents on the dollar. In 2023, Rizer founded ATIX, LLC, a consultancy focused on the intersection of digital infrastructure and community, where he has advised both industry as well as local, state, and national governments.
His leadership in the digital infrastructure industry has earned him numerous accolades, including serving as the inaugural InterGlobix Magazine cover star and being named a Tech Titan by Washingtonian Magazine eight times, one of Virginia Business Magazine’s 50 Most Influential Virginians, and a three-time member of the Washington Business Journal’s Power 100. However, his career wasn’t always driven by digital infrastructure: He also spent 25 years in the broadcast industry as a radio DJ, music director, and program director and was a well-known radio personality on DC 101, one of the region’s best known rock stations.
