Pipeline Leadership Conference Announces Agenda
Brecksville, Ohio – August 18, 2016 – The Pipeline Leadership Conference has announced the agenda for the two-day event to be held Nov. 15-16, 2016, at the University of Denver, in Denver, Colorado.
The oil and gas pipeline industry faces challenges from volatile commodity prices and increased regulations and heightened public scrutiny. The 2016 Pipeline Leadership Conference agenda highlights how strong leadership and stakeholder collaboration can ensure successful projects. The agenda is as follows:
Day 1 – Nov. 15, 2016
12-1 p.m. Registration
1-1:15 p.m. PLC Kickoff
Speakers: Barb Jackson, Director of the Franklin L. Burns School of Real Estate & Construction Management, University of Denver; Rob Krzys, President, Benjamin Media Inc.
1:15-1:30 p.m. Welcome Message
Speakers: Eric Tharp, Chief Energy Services Officer, Colorado Springs Utilities; Luke Litteken, Area Vice President, Gas Operations, Xcel Energy
1:30-2 p.m. Pipeline and Distribution Market Overview
An election, volatile global environment, terrorism, increased regulation, operator qualification, workforce availability and changing commodity prices are all driving activity in the pipeline and distribution construction market. This session will forecast construction spending and highlight when and where spending will accelerate.
Speaker: Mark Bridgers, Continuum Capital
2-2:30 p.m. Keynote Address
Speaker: Corey Goulet, Senior Vice President of Operations, Projects and Engineering, TransCanada Corp.
2:30-3:30 p.m. Executive Roundtable Panel
Commodity prices remain low, but energy demand continues to climb. Hear from the industry’s top leaders on market trends, challenges and solutions for the oil and gas pipeline and distribution sectors.
Moderator: Mark Bridgers, Continuum Capital
Panelists: Corey Goulet, Senior Vice President of Operations, Projects and Engineering, TransCanada Corp.; Rick Kivela, Director of Operational Compliance, Spectra Energy; Luke Litteken, Area Vice President, Gas Operations, Xcel Energy ; and Eric Tharp, Chief Energy Services Officer, Colorado Springs Utilities
3:30-4 p.m. Coffee Break
4-5 p.m. Pipeline Integrity Management Panel
Pipeline integrity management requires regular inspection and cleaning to ensure safety and efficiency. Pigging, inline inspection, data integration, regulatory compliance and system verification are among the many integral topics our experts will.
Moderator: John Fluharty, Quanta Services
Panelists: Cindy Brann, Senior Director of Energy & Utilities, The Mosaic Co.; Cal Chapman, P.E., President, Chapman Engineering; Markus Ginten, Senior Sales Manager, ROSEN Group; Jonny Minder, Integrity Solutions Engineer, Diakont; and Andy Jensen, Director, Oil and Gas, Structural Integrity Associates Inc.
5-7 p.m. Networking Reception and Pipeline Leadership Award Presentation
Day 2 – Nov. 16, 2016
7:30-8:30 a.m. Networking Continental Breakfast
8:30-9 a.m. Countering Opposition Through Community Engagement
Oil and gas pipeline projects face heavy scrutiny from third-party stakeholder groups. Learn about strategies on how project owners can engage with the public and address concerns through a variety of communication platforms.
Speaker: Terri Larson, Director, Communications, Community Investment & Public Awareness, Enbridge
9-10 a.m. Distribution Capital Construction Strategies Panel
Transition and transformation: The panel will discuss recent announcements to dramatically expand internal workforce for selected utilities while other organizations are “doubling down” with construction service providers. Attendees will learn the strategies behind these moves and discuss the implications of them on both utility and contractor participants.
Moderator: Mark Bridgers, Continuum Capital
Panelists: Andrew Lu, Managing Director, Operations and Engineering Services, American Gas Association; Tracy Townsend, Vice President, Construction, Compliance and Safety, Washington Gas
10-10:30 a.m. Fostering Innovation and Introducing New Technology
Two-way communication is a powerful tool for manufacturers. Partnering with customers to “build a better mousetrap” allows companies to identify opportunities and make changes to existing products. New technology allows contractors to increase overall productivity and profitability.
Speaker: Bill Solomon, President, Vacuworx
10:30-11 a.m. Coffee Break
11 a.m.-12 p.m. Regulatory Compliance, Implementation and Training Panel
The pipeline industry has faced increased scrutiny and added governmental oversight. Pipeline operators and their contractor partners must ensure their assets comply with new regulations. Implementation and training are crucial to ensure new pipeline systems meet the rigors of today’s regulatory climate.
Moderator: Steve Weiler, Partner, Stinson Leonard Street LLP
Panelists: Paul Andersen, OSHA Compliance Services LLC; Ralph Cantafio, President and Managing Partner, Cantafio Hammond; Kelly Gleason, Director, Pipeline/Midstream Business, ABS Group; Rick Kivela, Director of Operational Compliance, Spectra Energy; and Russel Treat, President and CEO, EnerSys Corp.
12-1 p.m. Lunch in the Tuscan Ballroom
1-1:30 p.m. Pipelining the Next Generation
Understanding new technologies in the oil and gas pipeline industry, as well as the influx of Millennials coming up in the business and how they look at the industry. A look at how the face of the contractor and owner companies are changing.
Speakers: Robert Osborn, Senior Vice President, Pipeline Operations, Michels Pipeline Construction; and Tim McGuire, Vice President, Michels Directional Crossings
1:30-2 p.m. Preparing to Transfer and Accept the Duty of Care
The oil and gas pipeline industry is at a tipping point with regard to transferring the duty of care from its current leaders to the next generation. The industry must aggressively and collectively works toward retaining and developing new employees and transferring knowledge from its experts, it could be a step-change opportunity for the industry.
Speakers: Eric Lang, P.E., Integrity Engineer, Enbridge Energy Partners, and Secretary of the Young Pipeline Professionals (YPP); Chris Yoxall, Senior Executive Vice President, ROSEN Group, and YPP Advisor
2-2:30 p.m. Innovation and Field Application to Improve New Pipeline Integrity
Supplying pipeline jobsites requires collaboration and partnership to ensure successful project execution. CRC-Evans works closely with customers to ensure their needs are met from conception to service startup.
Speaker: Brian Laing, Chief Operating Officer, CRC-Evans
2:30-3 p.m. Buying Inspection Services is Like a Box of Chocolates
What is the pipeline doing to improve inspection? Pipeline operators have different tastes and different needs, and they value variety. This presentation will look at changing standards in the industry and what we can learn from other industries to improve operations.
Speakers: Dan Lorenz, Managing Member, Joe Knows Energy; and Richard Hoffman, Executive Director and Treasurer, INGAA Foundation
3:30-4 pm. Dispute Resolution Through Effective Project Management
Poor project management performance is one of the most frequent and significant causes of claims during project execution. This presentation will cover the impacts generated by issues that arise during phases of the project life cycle and discuss resources to avoid errors and guarantee successful project completion.
Speakers: Stephen Cabano, President, Pathfinder LLC; Andrew Sorensen, Manager of Program Management Office, Quality, TransCanada Corp.—Columbia Pipeline Group; and Jeff Cone, Vice President of Engineering and Construction, Buckeye Partners.
The Pipeline Leadership Conference is organized by North American Oil & Gas Pipelines and Benjamin Media Inc., in partnership with Continuum Capital and in cooperation with the Franklin L. Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management at the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver.
Benjamin Media will provide CEUs to all attendees upon successful completion of the conference. For registration questions, contact Vicki Miner at vminer@benjaminmedia.com. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Brittany Cline at bcline@benjaminmedia.com or call (330) 467-7588. Visit www.plconference.com for more information.