About us

We’re Your Infrastructure Partner for Responsible Data Center Growth

Our mission is to bring together digital infrastructure and sustainable agriculture so both can operate more efficiently and sustainably, while uplifting communities.

Our Story

Our journey began with a simple question: How can we harness untapped energy to power what the world needs most?

Atherra was founded on the idea that technology can drive efficiency and uplift communities. Our team first proved it by engineering a system to channel heat from a high-density compute facility to power a hydroponic greenhouse. Today, with the rise of AI and next-generation data centers, we’re bringing that vision to life at scale—transforming compute into fresh food, new jobs, and stronger local economies.

At our core, we enable responsible innovation that fuels communities, strengthens food systems, and supports a healthier planet.

Where
it all began

The Merging of

Two Industries

We bring together two disparate industries for the greater good. By pairing digital infrastructure with sustainable agriculture, we create a closed loop where resources flow with purpose.

Excess heat flows to the greenhouse. CO₂ feeds plants. Energy and water are reused. The result is a win‑win—measurable cost savings for our data center partners, low-impact production for our hydroponic greenhouses, and a lighter carbon footprint. It’s smarter. Cleaner. Built to benefit all.

From the start, we’ve focused on making our solutions practical, efficient, and scalable.
Our model integrates powered land, heat reuse systems, and hydroponic greenhouses.
That means data centers can deploy faster, lower PUE, and meet sustainability targets.

Where We’re Going

As demand for AI and cloud computing grows, so does the need for smarter, more sustainable infrastructure. Our goal is to make heat reuse a standard feature of data center designs worldwide—one that not only reduces emissions, but also powers climate resilience and positive community impact.

Because building what’s next shouldn’t come at the cost of what matters. Data can fuel the future, and feed people.

Our Team

We’re innovators and problem solvers. Our team brings deep experience across data center development, renewable energy, policy-making, and sustainable agriculture.

Jay Jorgensen

Founder & CEO

Jay leads Atherra’s vision for a new category of sustainable infrastructure—AI-ready data centers that recycle waste heat to grow food. With 15+ years in land acquisition, utility negotiations, and energy strategy, he has helped pioneer the intersection of digital infrastructure and agriculture.

He’s raised and deployed over $20M, holds a patent for a closed-loop heat recycling system, and led one of Idaho’s first demand-response programs for data centers. From site selection to government affairs, Jay has led full-cycle data center development with an eye toward innovation, impact, and scalability.

As Founder, he drives strategic partnerships, technology direction, and growth as Atherra scales into new markets.

Aaron Symbolik

President

Aaron brings 20+ years of executive experience leading revenue strategy and scaling high-growth technology companies. A former Marine Corps Sniper, he began his business career at Paychex before joining Paylocity, where he helped drive the IPO and ranked among the top sales performers nationwide. He later served as CRO at White Glove, positioning it for a successful private equity acquisition.

A serial entrepreneur with multiple exits, Aaron now serves as Atherra’s President, applying a CEO mindset to operations, execution, team building, and mission-driven scale. Drawn to the company’s mission of advancing sustainable food and energy infrastructure, he’s committed to leading with purpose and performance.

Matt Diamond

Chief Financial Officer

Matt is an accomplished finance leader with 15+ years across corporate finance, investment banking, treasury, tax, and capital markest research. a $2 billion private equity firm focused on sustainable agriculture and food technology investments, leading underwriting, financial planning, and performance monitoring across large-scale land holdings. He also held senior roles at JPMorgan and Citi, advising on billion-dollar transactions. Matt is a CFA, CPA, and data science certificate holder.

As Atherra’s Chief Financial Officer, overseeing financial operations, strategic planning, and tax optimization with an entrepreneur’s mindset and a CPA’s tax expertise.

Colleen Moore

VP of Business Development

Colleen is a proven sales leader with 20+ years of experience driving revenue and market growth across technology, infrastructure, and real estate. At Honeywell, she led Fortune 500 partnerships and secured multi-year sustainability and energy-efficiency contracts. At View Inc., she closed major infrastructure deals with Google, Apple, Salesforce, and LinkedIn.

Colleen has an established reputation as a sales strategist known for exceeding targets, developing high-performance teams, and delivering consistent top-tier results. Her innovative approach to sustainability-driven sales significantly increased contract renewals and positioned the company for competitive wins.

She also brings valuable experience from her previous roles at HydroPoint Data Systems, CleanFish, TruGreen, Eli Lilly, and Coca-Cola.

Nina Sadighi

VP of Engineering

Nina Sadighi is a nationally recognized power systems engineer and mission-critical infrastructure strategist with over two decades of experience designing high-reliability electrical solutions for advanced industrial and digital facilities, including senior roles at Tesla and Amazon. A licensed Professional Engineer and Senior Member of IEEE, she works at the intersection of grid resilience and next-generation energy systems.

Our VP of Engineering, Nina Sadighi, leads the technical vision for grid infrastructure, microgrids, and distributed energy systems. She oversees feasibility, design, and interconnection strategy across all projects while ensuring safety, reliability, and compliance. This role sits at the intersection of energy engineering, project development, regulatory navigation, and commercial structuring. Nina partners closely with land, finance, legal, and construction teams to evaluate sites, shape project economics, and guide technical inputs for PPAs. She manages engineering execution from concept through commissioning, directing both internal teams and external partners. Ultimately, Nina ensures our energy projects are engineered to deliver long-term performance, resiliency, and value.

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Tommy Jorgensen

Project Manager

Tommy is a senior executive with 20+ years of experience in commercial lending, small-business development, and operational leadership. As a Vice President at regional banks, he built multi-million-dollar loan portfolios, led branch operations, and guided entrepreneurs through SBA and commercial financing.

At Atherra, Tommy plays a pivotal role in scaling the company’s innovative developments. He has helped secure key grant and loan funding, established vendor relationships, and supported investor-facing initiatives. His experience owning and operating a multi-state digital media franchise further reflects his entrepreneurial mindset and ability to execute under pressure.

Tommy now leads cross-functional efforts to manage site builds, oversee operational readiness, and align execution to the long-term vision.

John Picard

Advisor

John Picard is a leading environmental consultant, architect, and design innovator pioneering sustainable solutions at the intersection of technology, natural systems, and the built environment. He has led transformative projects for Fortune 500 companies and destinations such as Aria City Center, Grand Wailea, the Greening of the White House, and LEED Platinum Hangar 25. A frontier technology and data center leader since eBay’s Topaz facility, he now guides gigawatt-scale projects and engineers next-generation energy systems, microgrids, and digital twins.

John's work is defined by looking around the corner to envision what the future can be, enabling better decisions today that transform not just buildings but entire industries and communities for a sustainable tomorrow.

Richard Walje

Advisor

Arlo Richard “Rich” Walje is CEO of RAW-Energy, Inc., bringing decades of leadership across the energy and utility sector. A member of the University of Utah’s Energy Futures Research Engine, he also chairs Commercial Development International’s renewable natural gas project and serves on Blue Sky Energy’s board.

Rich’s career spans renewable energy, hydrogen, long-duration storage, biofuels, transmission, and utility operations. He previously held senior executive roles at PacifiCorp, including CEO of Rocky Mountain Power, and led major projects such as Magnum CAES and the Carbon Free Power Project. A distinguished University of Utah engineering alumnus, he has served on multiple national and nonprofit boards.

Our Advisors

Our team is backed by a network of trusted advisors. Their guidance helps us think bigger, move smarter, and stay true to our mission.

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What Guides Us

Our guiding principles are more than just value statements, they’re commitments that shape how we build, partner, and grow. Take a look at what guides us.

Lead with Purpose.

We’re intentional on what we focus on and our impact. Everything we do ties back to solving real problems for food systems, energy use, and communities.

Put People First.

Technology is a tool. But humanity is the focus. We design with care, listen carefully, and define success by how lives are improved, not just business success.

Stay Rooted in  Science and Facts.

We don’t guess. We research, test, and build with rigor. From biomimicry to thermal modeling, our work is backed by data, informed by nature, and grounded  in reality.

Inspire Through Actions.

We don’t over-hype. We build trust by doing—and doing well. We mean what we say and do what we say.

Build for What’s Next.

We design for a future we actually want generations to come to live in—one that’s smarter, healthier, and more equitable. We imagine big, but also deliver.

Move with Intention.

No gimmicks. No shortcuts. We choose meaningful progress over empty buzz. And we only move forward when it makes sense—for people and the planet.

Careers

We’re always looking for curious, mission-driven people who want to make an impact.

Whether you want to help design the future, collaborate on projects, or invest, there’s a place for you here.

Join Our Mission

Reach out to connect with us. We’re always excited to meet talented people who share our vision.

Get in Touch

We’re here to help you navigate your site selection and waste heat reuse options. Get in touch to discuss your site specific needs and how one of our built to suit solutions can help.

Partners

Bring New Opportunities to Life.

Investors

Shape the Next Generation of Infrastructure.