Texas Oil & Gas: Navigating Challenges in 2025 and Beyond – and Building Skills for a Successful Career

This presentation will explore the intersection of energy market fundamentals and career opportunities in the Texas oil and natural gas industry. We'll discuss economic and market trends shaping the industry, offering students insights into the skills and expertise most valuable to a dynamic energy landscape. We’ll address emerging risks and opportunities, including the implications of fiscal and monetary policy changes, potential tariffs, and Texas' pivotal role in ensuring both U.S. and global energy security. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the industry’s evolving demands and the leadership qualities essential to build a successful and impactful career in energy.

About the Presenter

Dr. Dean Foreman serves as the Chief Economist for the Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA), bringing over 20 years of experience and expertise in the oil and gas industry. With a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Florida, he specializes in global and domestic policy analysis, finance/risk management, corporate strategy, market analysis and forecasting.

Dr. Foreman’s career includes leadership roles with ExxonMobil, Talisman Energy, SASOL, Saudi Aramco, and the American Petroleum Institute, where his research and insights have been instrumental in shaping strategic decisions, legislation, and regulatory frameworks. He is a prolific author, with over 140 publications, and has been recognized as a 2024 LinkedIn Top Voice for his expert commentary on energy economics and policy.

In addition to his role at TXOGA, Dr. Foreman is 2025 President of the U.S. Association for Energy Economics (USAEE) and serves as an advisory board member for TCU’s Ralph Lowe Energy Institute.

Renewable Energy Perspectives 2025 and Your Career

The renewable energy sector is evolving quickly, creating new opportunities for professionals to lead and innovate. This session will explore key trends in the industry, global perspectives, and the leadership qualities needed in the industry. Career advice and a few resources will be provided.

About the Presenter

C. Kay McCall is an experienced energy industry executive, most recently serving as an independent director on both public and private equity-backed boards of global companies. Ms. McCall currently chairs the board of directors of Flexitallic Group, a global leader in the design and manufacture of high quality, high value static sealing products. In addition, she serves as an advisor to Game Change Technologies, a leading global supplier of solar tracking systems. Recently, Ms. McCall served as a member of the board of directors of EDP Renewables, a public, global leader in renewable energy, where she served on the ESG Committee.

A former CEO of a renewable energy company, Ms. McCall has worked extensively in the renewable and thermal power, oil and gas services, engineering and construction, and manufacturing industries. Specifically, Ms. McCall served as President, CEO and board member of Noble Environmental Power, LLC, an independent wind energy company which developed and operated assets in Texas and New York. Ms. McCall also served as a member of senior leadership teams of large public companies in both the power and oil and gas industries, including General Electric, Enron, and Technip. She began her career as a trial lawyer.

Following the completion of her tenure at Noble, Ms. McCall launched and now chairs a non-profit renewable energy trade association in Houston. She is also a member of the Board of Advisors for the University of Houston Bauer College of Business – Gutierrez Energy Management Institute, and the Board of Affiliates for Rice University’s Masters of Energy Economics and Global Affairs. She is a frequent public speaker on various energy industry and leadership topics, as well as guest lecturer at three universities.

Ms. McCall earned both her Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Houston. An avid learner, she has earned certificates in Sustainable Energy Development (2020), ESG for Energy Companies (2021), the Hydrogen Economy (2021), and CCUS (2023) from the University of Houston. In 2022, Ms. McCall earned a certificate in “Making Corporate Boards More Effective” from Harvard Business School.

From Entry Level to Energy Executive: a Mid-Career Look-Back and Lessons Learned

Careers are rarely a smooth, straight line from beginning to end. While we all have goals and aspirations for our individual careers, the path that each of us take will be unique. Mr. Johnson’s path from entry level to Vice President included many opportunities to take on roles within the midstream energy operating space, and introduced him to a variety of commodity markets, including petrochemicals, refined products, crude oil & NGLs. Looking back over the first half of his career, Don will share some stories, talk about principals that he has embraced in his career, and give insights to those about to begin their career or those already advancing their careers. 

About the Presenter

Don Johnson serves as Vice President, Commercial and Business Development at BWC Terminals, a privately held terminal operator with 22 terminals and over 21 million barrels of storage spread across North America. Don is responsible for developing bulk liquid storage and logistics solutions for BWC’s customers. Don has worked in the commodities business for over two decades in a variety of roles including trading, scheduling & logistics, market analytics and corporate strategy. Having decades of industry experience in a variety of roles helps to facilitate in-depth discussion to achieve efficient and effective solutions that unlock incremental underlying value for BWC’s customers.

Don received both his bachelor’s (1998) and MBA (2013) from the University of Houston. Prior to BWC Terminals, he was Vice President, Crude & Refined Products at Enterprise Products.

Individual and Team Development 

How Executive Coaching and Top Team Effectiveness enable successful leadership.

About the Presenter

Chad Covey is a consultant in Spencer Stuart’s Houston office and a member of the firm’s Energy, Industrial, CEO and Boards practices. Chad recruits and advises leaders in the energy, technology and financial services industries, with focus on board and C-level assignments. He is a member of the firm’s Leadership Advisory Services team, guiding clients on CEO succession, culture and executive development. Chad is also a recipient of the firm's prestigious Lou Rieger Quality Award for highest levels of quality work and excellent client service and spends time working with local nonprofits.

Trusted adviser to boards and C-suites

• Chad has extensive experience across the energy value chain: North American unconventionals, global upstream, oilfield services and midstream/downstream — including liquefied natural gas (LNG). He also advises leaders on adapting to the energy transition and the shift to renewable energy sources.
• Chad is an experienced recruiter of technology industry leaders, with an emphasis on energy clients embracing the challenge of working on increasingly widespread digital/virtual platforms.
• Chad spent eight years with Accenture, working with some of the biggest and most profitable corporations in the energy industry, including BP, Halliburton, ExxonMobil and Shell.
• Previously, Chad lived and worked in Chile as advertising sales director for Business News Americas. He played a key role in the formation of the agency’s advertising department in the pioneering days of online publishing.

Chad is a member of the Energy Infrastructure Council, a nonprofit trade association dedicated to advancing the interests of companies that develop and operate energy infrastructure. He also serves on the KBH Center Advisory Council. Chad holds an M.B.A. from the University of Houston and a master’s in international management from Thunderbird School of Global Management. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in advertising. He is fluent in Spanish.

Session details coming soon. 

About the Presenter

Caroline, Sr. Vice President for Power Marketing & Commercial Strategy Renewables at ENGIE Renewables North America, is a leader with a passion for renewable energy and a commitment to driving positive change in the world. Caroline has over 18 years of experience in the renewable energy industry with a career focused on sourcing and negotiating Power Purchase Agreements with utilities and corporate customers in pursuit of renewable energy goals. She has successfully secured and enabled more than 4GW of utility-scale wind, solar and battery-storage assets across North America. In her current role, Caroline is responsible for leading all the commercial aspects of the renewables business for ENGIE in North America including the customer offtake, mergers & acquisitions, and strategy. Prior to joining ENGIE in 2020, Caroline held roles in origination at several other U.S. renewable energy companies, such as with EDF Renewables, Invenergy, SunPower Corporation, Nordex, Infigen Energy, and TradeWind Energy. Caroline's leadership is defined by her integrity and unwavering commitment to making a difference. In her new role, she looks forward to spearheading initiatives that drive growth, promote sustainability, and create a brighter future for all.

Transformational Leadership - Purpose, Agility, and a Growth-Mindset

Tandra Perkins, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital & Administrative Officer at Phillips 66, will discuss the role of digital transformation and innovation in the future of the energy industry and the leadership principles she uses to guide her teams in with purpose, agility and a growth mindset. 

About the Presenter

Tandra Perkins is Senior Vice President and Chief Digital and Administrative Officer for Phillips 66, a leading integrated downstream energy provider. She has 30 years of professional experience across multiple industries, including energy and chemicals, industrial manufacturing and health care.

At Phillips 66, Perkins is responsible for enabling services that support the enterprise, including Digital Transformation and IT, Energy Research and Innovation, Procurement, Real Estate and Facilities, Agile Enterprise Services and Executive Services.

Before assuming her current role, Perkins was Vice Chair of Growth and Strategy for KPMG in the U.S., a Big 4 professional services firm. She held several leadership roles within KPMG during her 21-year tenure, including Managing Partner for its Houston Major Market and Houston Advisory Leader.

Perkins is a member of the Board of Directors for Chevron Phillips Chemical Company and Commercial Metal Company. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Greater Houston and previously held positions on numerous nonprofit boards, including Louisiana State University's Dean Advisory Council, Women Corporate Directors, Greater Houston Partnership, CEOs Against Cancer, Houston Zoo, Ronald McDonald House of Houston and Central Houston.

Among other honors, Perkins received the 2019 Impact Award from the National Black MBA Association and is a Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame Inductee for 2019.

Perkins earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Louisiana State University and an MBA in information systems from the University of Houston.

About the Presenter

How should I move forward in my studies and career when I keep asking myself: What kind of jobs will be available when I graduate? Who (or what?) may be the competition? What can I do to make sure I contribute – and have success – when I enter the workforce? When I get into a company, what will be expected? What if I am an introvert? Can I be me? How may the energy transition shape my prospects and career? And can I future-proof myself against automation, artificial intelligence, deglobalization, inflation, interest rates, and other macroeconomic mega-trends never mind geopolitical events?

Why not join a fireside chat and “Ask me anything?” session with Don Victory, founder of Energy Mentors, and previously the Chief Upstream Process Engineer at ExxonMobil? While lessons and perspectives from a 40-year career in energy might not provide definitive answers, perhaps they can inspire resiliency against a changing world over your own multi-decade career.

Download Defeating Career Anxiety Presentation

About the Presenter

Don Victory is the Founder and Chair of Energy Mentors, a 501(c)(3) charity sponsoring “Power the Community - an International College Design Competition.” The competition challenges student teams to reimagine affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy infrastructure supporting a new community of 2,000 families. Team submissions are due May 15, 2024, to be eligible for the $10,000 grand prize or part of the additional $21,000 for other distinguished designs.

With over 40 years of experience in research, operations, capital project management, and risk assessment, Don's focus areas include sustainability, energy transition, integrative design, and mentoring innovation deployment. Energy Mentors’ mission is to catalyze transfer of crystalized intelligence to a rising generation of energy students and professionals.

In this session, I will share my personal connection to sustainability, tracing it back to my upbringing on a farm and finding that many daily practices in my childhood align with sustainability practices of today. I will then delve into my career journey, highlighting my transition from a background in chemical engineering to energy efficiency leading to my current role focused on sustainability and decarbonization. The session will conclude with an overview of Eastman's plans for decarbonization. I will discuss the company's commitment to sustainability, including the strategies, initiatives, and technologies being evaluated and employed to achieve carbon emission reductions.

Download From Raising Cows to Removing Carbon

About the Presenter

Sharon Nolen is an Eastman Fellow and leads Eastman’s Global Natural Resource Management program, as well as one of the company’s three Sustainability Subcouncils. She represents Eastman in the DOE Better Plants Program and the ENERGY STAR® Industrial Partner Program, and serves on the Industrial Advisory Board for the National Alliance for Water Innovation. Sharon is a frequently invited speaker at national and international energy conferences. She has been published in Chemical Engineering Progress and Chemical Processing and authored a chapter in the book: Energy Management and Efficiency for the Process Industries. She was named the 2019 International Energy Manager of the Year by the Association of Energy Engineers and received the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ Energy and Sustainability Award in 2020. She is a Professional Engineer and a Certified Energy Manager.
 

The energy industry is changing rapidly. Understanding how it is changing – and where it is heading – is critical to identifying career opportunities for the future. In this session, our presenter will share experiences and learnings from her own 20+ year career in energy, and she will provide insights into the changing energy industry from her current role leading a coalition of industry members as they navigate the transition to a lower-carbon world.

Download Navigating a Successful Career in a Changing Energy Industry Presentation

About the Presenter

As Executive Director of the Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI), Jane Stricker has responsibility for the Partnership’s effort to leverage Houston’s energy leadership to accelerate the transition to an energy abundant, low-carbon future. She leads a coalition of industry, academia, and community partners to ensure the long-term economic competitiveness and advancement of the Houston region towards a more sustainable and net-zero emissions future.

Prior to joining the Partnership, Jane spent over two decades at bp, where she held leadership roles in marketing, corporate finance, governance, and compliance. Among her many accomplishments, she developed and delivered the 2019 National Petroleum Council Study on carbon capture, use and storage in coordination with the U.S. Department of Energy.

Jane has a B.A. from the University of Maryland and an MBA from Loyola University in Chicago. She serves on the advisory board of the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Energy Center, the board of BCarbon, and as an advisor to Pana Low Carbon Economy Investments and several early-stage energy transition startups.

In this session, students will learn through Sindhu Balan’s personal career journey, how STEM careers can follow a non-linear path.  From a background in Pharma and Biotech studies to a current position in advancing external innovation for the energy industry as a Venture Principal for Chevron Technology Ventures, Sindhu will share how skills can be transferable through different positions and industry.

About the Presenter

Sindhu Balan is an Investment Principal in Chevron Technology Ventures (CTV). CTV addresses Chevron’s business needs through the identification and integration of innovative externally developed technologies that strengthen Chevron’s business now and in the future. Sindhu joined Chevron in 2009 as a business analyst and has held several positions in Strategy and Planning, Upstream, Downstream, Technology Ventures and the Technical Center. Sindhu’s work experience external to Chevron spans IP, investments, and R&D for the pharma industry.

Sindhu holds a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and a master’s degree in technology (Bioprocessing / Downstream) from the University of Mumbai (India), a doctoral degree in Biochemistry & Biophysics and an MBA from the University of Houston.

• Mom of three – one boy and two Westies
• Love to travel, cook and learn about different dance forms.

The energy sector is undergoing significant transformations, driven by technological advancements, regulatory changes, and shifts in global energy demand. 'Adapting to Change: Building a Resilient Career in the Energy Sector Amidst Dynamic Shifts' dives into these transitions, highlighting the vital role of adaptability, innovation, and emotional resilience.

This presentation will emphasize the importance of personal skills such as the ability to rebound from setbacks and adapt to new situations in building a sustainable career in this fluctuating landscape. It explores how professionals can navigate the industry's uncertainties by developing a robust skill set that includes not just technical expertise but also a strong foundation in personal resilience and adaptability.

By discussing the intersection between the sector's evolving needs and individual career development, the talk sheds light on the critical attributes needed to thrive: continuous learning, the agility to embrace new opportunities, and the resilience to overcome challenges. It will focus on the dual challenge of navigating the sector's dynamic changes while cultivating the personal qualities essential for long-term success and fulfillment in the face of uncertainty.

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About the Presenter

Dr. Tatiana Mitrova is a Senior Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute of Energy Studies, Distinguished Research Fellow at the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ) and Visiting Professor at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po).

She has twenty-five years of experience in dealing with Eurasian and global energy markets. From February 2017 to December 2020, she has been the Executive Director of the Energy Centre of the Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO, a graduate business-school. From 2006-2011 she has been the Head of Research in the Oil and Gas Department in the Energy Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

• Profound knowledge of the global and FSU energy markets - energy technologies, market organization and corporate strategies
• 14 years of experience in business education
• 8 years as Independent Director in the international public energy companies. Currently Dr. Mitrova serves as a board member of SLB (Schlumberger)
• Strong focus on ESG and corporate climate strategies

Dr. Mitrova is a graduate of Moscow State University’s Economics Department. She has more than 200 publications in scientific and business journals and co-authors 10 scientific books as well as best-seller “The 8 and 1/2 Steps: How to Live, Love And Work At Full Capacity” (stories of women leaders).