Employee Exclusive: Get to know Steve Truebner
1. You specialize in mission-critical environments, from data centers to high-reliability facilities. What do you find most rewarding about working in this area?
Mission critical is a broad definition encompassing those essential facilities that host the systems, science, and professionals where disruption can have severe consequences. Legence companies excel in this space and have built a reputation of high-performance work. It’s a privilege to collaborate with the professionals at Legence who consistently deliver precision and bring these systems to life. Their work enables me to speak with the highest confidence on topics like reliability and quality assurance because I know the systems they design and build are second to none.
2. Your background spans both public and private sectors, from working in government early in your career to business development at top engineering firms. How have those experiences shaped your leadership style and approach to relationship-building?
Across both the public and the private sector, the common thread has always been trust. My first boss, who happened to be a former Army Ranger, used to say: “You can’t lead the troops up the hill if you’re standing at the bottom drinking water.” It’s one of those things that you hear in life that just sticks. In my experience, whether it’s a voter, a co-worker, or a client, people want to know they can rely on you. When they see that you care as much about a successful outcome as they do, it builds a foundation of trust that can lead to great things together.
3. You’ve spoken and written about emerging trends in the data center market. What major shifts or innovations do you think will most impact how data centers are designed and operated over the next few years?
We’re still in the early stages of AI evolution, and most of the spotlight is on massive data centers built to handle the computing intensity of AI training models – but that’s just the foundation. As AI matures and becomes part of everyday life and business, there are additional layers of infrastructure necessary to support real-time applications with closer proximity to the end-user. That’s where “edge” and enhanced on-premise data centers come in. Many of these smaller distributed data centers will be strategically integrated into spaces like hospitals, manufacturing sites, repurposed office space, and retrofitted legacy data centers. All will demand unique design, smart cooling and power, and ongoing support. It’s a major opportunity for Legence – and we’re just getting started.
4. As Business Development Director for Mission Critical at Legence, how do you see Legence’s integrated capabilities — from engineering to ongoing maintenance — shaping the future of mission-critical performance for clients?
Within this extraordinary data center construction boom, clients are also facing serious challenges such as labor shortages, design flexibility, supply chain confidence, and rising energy costs. To mitigate these risks, they are leaning into collaborative contracting models that integrate key partners early in the project life cycle for more transparent planning with all project stakeholders. Our expertise in MEP design, constructability evaluations, prefabrication partnerships, and strategies for sustainable operations is central to those collaborations.
5. When you’re not immersed in mission-critical talk and client strategy, how do you like to spend your time outside of work?
I’m a passionate New York sports fan, specifically the Jets, Yankees, and Knicks. That aspect of my life can result in a roller coaster of emotions requiring comic relief which I’m fortunate to get from my family – Emily and our three “kids”, Clara (20), Teddy (18), and Tim (17). Whether we are skiing, swimming, golfing, or just hanging out, it’s filled with good natured sarcasm and laughter.
