May 27, 2025 – Lakewood, CO Encore Electric announces today that Derek Varnell has been named Vice President of Data Centers. In his new role, Varnell will be responsible for overseeing all data center construction and supporting Encore Electric data center project teams. Varnell will work alongside Scott Larson and JR Bond, both Encore Electric Vice Presidents of Business Units.

“It has been an honor to work with such an amazing team for the entirety of my career. To be a part of this team and witness the growth through determination and strength has been unimaginably exciting,” Varnell said. “I have been very fortunate in my career to be surrounded by incredibly smart professionals and am humbled by our team’s ability and devotion. As we continue to navigate the market of data center construction, I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us all.”

“Derek’s experience over the past decade has prepared him for this next step in his career. His proficiency in collaborating with our customers and supporting project teams has significantly contributed to our expansion in the data center construction market. We are excited to see where his leadership will take us in the future,” said Encore Electric President Andy Gordon.

Varnell has been with Encore Electric for 18 years and has been a leader in the development of data centers in Northern Colorado and Wyoming. In 2020, Varnell was promoted to Director of the Northern Business Unit, and since led and developed the Northern team while simultaneously managing complex and highly technical electrical data center projects in Washington, Texas, Utah, and Iowa.

“It’s very exciting to have Derek Varnell focused on data centers in all areas. His leadership, strong understanding of the data center industry and market, as well as his relationships will benefit all Encore Electric customers in the data center space,” said Wade Stencel, Encore Electric chief operating officer.

Varnell is a Colorado native who started his career at Encore Electric as an intern while completing his degree in construction management at Colorado State University. After graduating, Varnell became a project engineer and has since grown his career to hold multiple leadership positions within Encore Electric.

Vice President of Data Centers, Derek Varnell