2022 Trusted Advisers Technology Professional: Todd Murren

Last edited 3:54 p.m., Oct. 12, 2022

After a long career at City Utilities of Springfield, Todd Murren transitioned to a new leadership role that coincided with a sale.

He’s now general manager of Bluebird Network LLC’s data centers, including one inside Springfield Underground. Previously, he was director of CU’s SpringNet, which was sold its SpringNet Underground colocation facility to Columbia-based Bluebird in 2014.

“Bluebird Network and Bluebird Data Centers have the depth in knowledge, abilities and resources to partner with customers and make a positive impact,” Murren says. “My goal is to be considered a knowledgeable and trustworthy resource and to assist customers in making the right technology decisions for their business. Wrong decisions are costly and time-consuming.”

Those decisions appear to be paying off, as his client list grew to 158 in 2021 from 91 in 2020.

Murren seeks “to earn the person’s trust by taking the time, actively listening, attempting to fully understand the objective, putting their interest first and earning their confidence,” he says.

“Done properly, this is the foundation to building a lasting relationship, and honesty is the glue.”

Bluebird Network’s Springfield Underground space offers data center suites, colocation cages and colocation racks to allow clients to house their networks.

One initiative announced this year by Bluebird Network is to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. On the ground in Springfield, he’s leading local efforts.

“Data center technologies have greatly evolved over the last 20-plus years,” Murren says. “Today, it’s hybrid solutions involving cloud computing, hosted services and traditional colocation with advanced support capabilities.”

Murren also led a Bluebird expansion in Springfield Underground to the tune of roughly $5 million in recent years. With the expansion, Bluebird Underground added a third 2-megawatt generator, 14,000 more gallons of fuel storage and a second uninterruptible power supply system, according to Springfield Business Journal reporting.

Additionally in 2015 and 2016, the company doubled the center’s data storage space.

To keep up with trends, Murren is involved with myriad industry groups. Bluebird Network is a founding member investor of the Springfield Tech Council, for which he’s a board member, and Bluebird participates in Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce events.

“Industry associations are very important to remain relevant for your company, and it’s how we get better at what we do,” he says. “I believe our community is blessed with a strong technology foundation primarily afforded by the outstanding educational institutions here. This isn’t the case in most communities.”

Civically, Murren says the First Baptist Church of Springfield is “at the center” of his involvement efforts.

“This keeps me well grounded in the principles that are critical to a full and joyful life,” he says.

Through Bluebird, Murren also is involved with organizations such as Care to Learn, Missouri Rural Crisis Center and Batting for Kids.

“I’m also involved in the Barons club, which is a great way to connect with many of the outstanding business individuals in the region,” Murren says of the community betterment organization.