Washington D.C., December 6th 2023: The International Data Center Authority (IDCA) today announced that Mr. Buddy Rizer has joined IDCA as Chief Development Officer ("CDO") and Global Head of Digital Hubs at the International Data Center Authority (IDCA). “I am humbled to be part of its growing team and progressive mission”, stated Buddy Rizer, on the occasion of his joining the IDCA.

Buddy Rizer has been named a Tech Titan seven times by Washingtonian Magazine (2017 – 2023), has been named one of the 50 most influential Virginians 6 times by Virginia Business Magazine (2018 – 2023), a four-time member of Virginia’s Power 500 (2020 – 2023) and was three times named to the Washington Business Journal’s Power 100 as one of the most influential businesspeople in Washington, DC (2020, 2022, 2023).

Buddy joins IDCA in the right time and place in history,” stated Mehdi Paryavi IDCA Founder & Chairman. Paryavi continued, “IDCA is the leader in digital economy initiatives and helps nations and communities around the world build sustainable digital economies. Buddy is one the few, if not the only individuals on earth who can claim that has been responsible for building the largest digital footprint and concentration in the world.”

Buddy has served as the Executive Director for economic development in Loudoun County, Virginia, which was named the 2021 Economic Development Organization of the Year by the International Economic Development Council. He has lead the agency responsible for encouraging growth and developing relationships with Loudoun’s business community.

During his tenure, Buddy and his team have attracted more than $50 billion in new commercial investment and more than 50 thousand new jobs. During this time, the growth in the commercial based has help lower the tax rate in Loudoun by more than 41 cents on the dollar, saving residents thousands of dollars annually on their tax bill.

Buddy continued, ““I have joined IDCA because I believe in its vision and mission to build sustainable digital economies around the world, serve global communities and create great social and economic impacts for the emerging markets around the world, as well as here at home. I hope that by IDCA's key partnerships with the local, state and federal governments around the world, to be able to play a role in moving this conversation forward.”

In 2007, Buddy joined Loudoun County and helped build “Data Center Alley” into the largest concentration of data centers in the world.He also has extensive international business development experience in China, France, Germany, Russia, Ireland, United Kingdom, Finland, Taiwan, Japan, India, Korea, Ghana, Uruguay, and the United Arab Emirates.

Currently Buddy serves as the Chair of the Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance (NOVA EDA), is a member of the Board of Trustees for Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), Past-Chair of the Northern Virginia Community College Foundation Board, Secretary of the Go Virginia Region 7 Council.He is on the Board of Directors for the Northern Virginia Technology Council, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce, and the Washington Airports Task Force (WATF).He is also the Chair of the Rivana at Innovation Station Community Development Authority. Buddy is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), a certified Entrepreneurship Development Professional (EDP) and a graduate of Virginia Tech's Local Government Management Graduate Certificate Program.

With respect to Buddy's new IDCA role, Roger Strukhoff, Chief Research Officer at IDCA, noted, “Building a Digital Economy worldwide is no longer a matter of choice for any nation, it's a matter urgency. We have a deeply experienced team ofhands-on experts who have 'been there and done that.' Our mission is to help all emerging markets build the right set of economic plans and initiatives and develop future-proof digital infrastructure that can most benefit their communities, foster innovation and invite investment.”

In line with its 2024 and beyond vision, IDCA is unleashing a series of aggressive plans by involving key global leaders, working with mega institutions, expanding strategic alliances, and introducing advanced solutions and services to the national and international markets.