Presentations
Past Roundtables & Forums
Presentations at Roundtable meetings are made by distinguished international speakers on subjects related to current hot issues regarding the Energy industry. The Roundtable format encourages attendees to indulge in vibrant and open discourse related to the presentation at hand and provides an opportunity to participate first-hand in change in the industry. We continually strive to develop a broad program of lectures and discussions throughout the year that provide stimulating thought as well as one-on-one interaction between Roundtable members and the distinguished guests. We hope you will support our efforts to lend a meaningful voice to our industry’s dialogue and debate by joining us at the Roundtable meetings.
Presentations made at our Roundtable meetings are sometimes of a sensitive nature. For this reason, the press is requested to Contract RGF Prior to attending. This also enhances the open debate that has become the hallmark of our Roundtables. Where a speaker elects to post a presentation to this website, it is for the personal use of the viewer while visiting this website, with the understanding that the copyright remains with the author(s). Use in any other manner requires the express written permission of the copyright holder.
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2025 |
2025 Forums | |
| Presentations | Rice Global Forum 2025 Recap Applied Spychology - The Story of a Double Life Starting in the Service of the KGB and Ending as a Successful US Capitalist |
2023 Roundtables | |
| Date | Thursday, June 8, 2023 |
| Topic | “Inflation Reduction Act: Navigating the Murky Waters of Compliance and Incentives” |
| Speakers | Shawn Daray, Associate, Jones Walker LLP; Adam Green, Carbon Policy Advisor, Worley; Brandon Mabile, Strategic Development Manager, Performance Contractors, Inc.; Tiffany Raush, Partner – Construction Practice Team, Jones Walker LLP (moderator) |
| Presentation | No slides |
| Date | Thursday, May 4, 2023 |
| Topic | “Next Generation Project Management" |
| Speakers | Gary Fischer, PE, Executive Director, Project Production Institute (PPI); Ivan Damnjanovic, Ph.D., Professor and Head of Construction, Geotechnical, and Structures Division, Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University |
| Presentation | Fischer-Damnjanovic 20230504 |
| Date | Thursday, April 6, 2023 |
| Topic | "Energy Market of the Future" |
| Speaker | G. Allen Brooks |
| Presentation | Brooks 20230406 |
| Date | Friday, March 10, 2023 |
| Topic | “Loopholes: Identifying and Managing Key Risks in EPC Contracts” |
| Speaker | Tiffany Raush, Partner – Construction Practice Team, Jones Walker LLP |
| Presentation | Raush 20230310 |
| Date | Thursday, February 2, 2023 |
| Topic | “Managing the Supply Chain to Deliver Successful Projects” |
| Speakers | Bob Tinn, Senior Projects Procurement Manager, Delek Logistics; Jamie Horton, Senior Director, Supply Chain Management, Worley; Jake Bolin, Supply Chain Manager, Endress+Hauser USA |
| Presentation | No slides |
| Date | Thursday, January 5, 2023 |
| Topic | “The Importance of Carbon Intensity to Meet Decarbonization Goals and Impact on Capital Projects” |
| Speaker | Kristine Klavers, Managing Director – Houston, EcoEngineers |
| Presentation | Klavers 20230105 |
2022 Roundtables | |
| Date | Friday, December 9, 2022 |
| Topic | “Relationship Building for Successful Projects” |
| Speaker | Nathan Clemens, USLFO – Red River Manager, US Liquids, TC Energy |
| Presentation | Clemens 20221209 |
| Date | Friday, October 14, 2022 |
| Topic | “Storage Innovations in Tanks & Terminals” |
| Speaker | Dr. Onder Akinci, Project Director and Vice President, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger; Dr. Rama Challa, Project Director – Storage Solutions, Matrix PDM Engineering, Inc.; Joseph Hakim, Director of Projects & Engineering, Vopak Americas |
| Presentation | RT 221014 |
| Date | Friday, September 16, 2022 |
| Topic | “What Makes a Great Project?” |
| Speaker | Erik Wiik, President, ReAdapt, Inc. |
| Presentation | Wiik 220916 |
| Date | Friday, June 10, 2022 |
| Topic | “Houston’s $1.8 Billion Progressive Design Build Project for Sustainable Drinking Water” |
| Speaker | Paul Vranesic, Project Director – Design-Build Division, Jacobs Engineering Group |
| Presentation | Presentation will not be posted |
| Date | Friday, May 13, 2022 |
| Topic | “Engineering Leadership for Industry 4.0: Is Your Company Ready?“ |
| Speaker | Dr. C. Fred Higgs, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs; Director, Rice Center for Engineering Leadership; John and Ann Doerr Professor of Mechanical Engineering; Rice University |
| Presentation | Higgs 220513 |
| Date | Friday, April 8, 2022 |
| Topic | “Digital Transformation in the EPC Space – What it is, What it does, and How to Profit from It" |
| Speaker | Tim Trae Tindall, Senior Sales Executive, Mintmesh Corporation |
| Presentation | Tindall 220408 |
| Date | Friday, March 11, 2022 |
| Topic | “Recovery or Relief? Navigating an Uncertain Future with Confidence” |
| Speaker | Jay Bowman, Partner, FMI |
| Presentation | Bowman 220311 |
| Date | Friday, February 11, 2022 |
| Topic | “Lowering Risk and Improving Performance for the Construction Supply Chain” |
| Speaker | Peter Dumont, CEO, PrairieDog and Executive Advisor, Premier Resources Group |
| Presentation | Dumont 220211 |
| Date | Friday, January 14, 2022 |
| Topic | “Evolution of Capital Projects in the Era of Social and Technological Changes” |
| Speaker | Jim Ellis, Microsoft Corporate VP Global Construction |
| Presentation | Presentation will not be posted |
2021 Roundtables/Webinars | |
| Date | Friday, December 10, 2021 |
| Topic | “Assuring Low Engineering and Safety Risks During a Project and Beyond” |
| Speaker | Jack Chosnek, KnowledgeOne LLC |
| Presentation | Recording |
| Date | Friday, October 8, 2021 |
| Topic | “Modern Supply Chain and its Data: Making Silos Transparent, and Bridging Home Office & Site” |
| Speaker | Jeff Houtz, PMP, Founder & Principal, Constructing Supply Change LLC |
| Presentation | Recording |
| Date | Friday, September 10, 2021 |
| Topic | "Trends in Supplier Markets" |
| Speaker | Zach Weimer, P.E., Director of Supply Chain Commercial Strategies – Americas, Fluor |
| Presentation | Webinar Recording |
| Date | Friday, August 27, 2021 - CANCELLED |
| Date | Friday, July 9, 2021 |
| Topic | "Organization Factors Affecting AWP Success" |
| Speaker | Chuck Sander, Senior Consultant and FirstProduct™ Practice Leader, ePM LLC |
| Presentation | Webinar Recording |
| Date | Friday, June 11, 2021 |
| Topic | "Overview of Renewables in the Fuels and Chemicals Markets" |
| Speakers | Glenn Giacobbe, Director, IHS Markit OMDC Consulting; Jesse Tijerina, Executive Director, IHS Markit Chemical Consulting |
| Presentation | Webinar Recording |
| Date | Friday, May 14, 2021 |
| Topic | “The Energy-Water Nexus: Opportunities for Renewable Energy Production and Energy Market Drivers in the Water Industry” |
| Speakers | Dustin L. Craig, P.E., Principal, Bioenergy Practice Leader, CDM Smith |
| Presentation | Webinar Recording |
| Date | Friday, April 9, 2021 |
| Topic | “Everything is Bigger in Texas – Even Outages” |
| Speakers | Ravikanth Varanasi, PE, Managing Director – 1898 & Co. | a part of Burns & McDonnell; David Daley, Regional Practice Manager- Power Generation, Burns & McDonnell |
| Presentation | Webinar Recording |
| Date | Friday, March 12, 2021 |
| Topic | "How Best to Use Lessons Learned from the Past to Optimize EPC Delivery in the Future" |
| Speakers | Caryn Fuller, Director, HKA Global; Julian Haslam-Jones, Director, HKA Global; Charles Wilsoncroft, Partner, HKA Global |
| Presentation | Webinar Recording |
| Date | Friday, February 12, 2021 |
| Topic | "EPC Contract Considerations for Renewable Energy" |
| Speakers | Michael “Mike” Cortez, Shareholder, Andrews Myers | Attorneys at Law |
| Presentation | Webinar Recording |
| Date | Friday, January 8, 2021 |
| Topic | "The Immediate Gains from Adopting Digital Engineering Technologies for Engineering and Construction Organizations" |
| Speakers | Nathan Doughty, CEO, Asite |
| Presentation | Webinar Recording |
2020 Roundtables/Webinars | |
| Date | Friday, December 11, 2020 |
| Topic | "Changes in US Gulf Coast Energy Industry, and Engineering and Construction Considerations" |
| Speakers | John M. “Jack” Koban, PhD, PE, PG, Project Manager, Business Development, Fugro |
| Presentation | Webinar Recording |
| Date | Friday, October 9, 2020 |
| Topic | "Managing Project Delivery Risk During a COVID-19 Pandemic - A Modular Project Delivery Model" |
| Speakers | Mauricio Villegas, Business Development Manager, Koch Modular Process Systems; Chris Loftus, Project Manager, Koch Modular Process Systems |
| Presentation | Webinar Recording |
| Date | Friday, September 11, 2020 |
| Topic | "Thoughts on the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry" |
| Speakers | Bruce Crager, Executive Vice President, Endeavor Management |
| Presentation | Webinar Recording | Q&A Recording |
| Date | Friday, August 21, 2020 |
| Topic | Creating a Winning Resume |
| Speakers | Mark J. Friedman, Ph.D., Principal, MJF Associates |
| Presentation | Webinar Recording | Q&A Recording |
| Date | Friday, August 7, 2020 |
| Topic | "Leading Through a Crisis: Managing Your Career in Crazy Times | Covid-19 Pandemic" |
| Speakers | Mark J. Friedman, Ph.D., Principal, MJF Associates; Dianne Reece, Managing Partner, Insight Out Consulting LLC; Patrick Jankowski, Senior Vice President, Research, Greater Houston Partnership; David Deaton, Partner, Synergy Corporation |
| Presentation | Webinar Recording |
| Date | Friday, July 17, 2020 |
| Topic | "Leading Through a Crisis: Has Plant Digitalization Held Up to its Promise? | Covid-19 Pandemic" |
| Speakers | Dr. Paige Morse, Industry Marketing Director, Aspen Technology; Thomas Heinzerling, Senior Vice President – Advanced Operations Services, Linde; Scott Mayhew, Production Unit Manager – Ethylene Cracker Unit, Shell Polymers – Pennsylvania Chemicals Project |
| Presentation | Webinar Recording |
| Date | Friday, June 12, 2020 |
| Topic | “Leading Through a Crisis: Supply Chain Disruption | Covid-19 Pandemic" |
| Speakers | Bob Tinn, President and Founder, Supply Chain Innovations; Al Hankins, Principal Vice President & Corporate Manager of Procurement and Contracts, Bechtel Corporation; Carsten Bernstiel, Vice President Procurement & Materials, KBR Energy Solutions; John Mika, Supply Chain Director, Capital Projects Oil, Gas & Chemicals Business Line, Wood’s Houston Operations |
| Presentation | Webinar Recording |
| Date | Friday, May 8, 2020 |
| Topic | "Leading Through a Crisis: Contractual Implications | Covid-19 Pandemic" |
| Speakers | Caryn Fuller, Director, HKA Global, Inc; Michael “Mike” Cortez, Shareholder, Andrews Myers | Attorneys at Law; Michael Dailey, Vice President, Air Liquide USA LLC; Brian Gaudet, Counsel, Kilpatrick Townsend; David Senko, Vice President, Project Execution, Wison USA |
| Presentation | Webinar Recording |
| Date | Friday, April 24, 2020 |
| Topic | "Leading Through a Crisis: E&C Leadership Perspective | Covid-19 Pandemic" |
| Speakers | Lee Nichols, Editor-in-Chief Hydrocarbon Processing; Joerg Linsenmaier, Vice President of Project Management, Manufacturing and Construction, Air Products; Stephen Toups, President, Turner Industries; Kevin Wetherington, Chief HSE Security & Quality Officer, Baker Hughes |
| Presentation | Webinar Recording |
| Date | Friday, February 7, 2020 |
| Topic | “Artificial Intelligence: Good or Evil” |
| Speaker | Philippe Herve, Vice President of Oil and Gas Solutions, SparkCognition |
| Presentation | Herve 200207 |
| Date | Friday, January 10, 2020 |
| Topic | "Advance Your Career in Downturns" |
| Speaker | Dr. Cortlan J. Wickliff, Esq., Motivational Speaker, Author, Lawyer, Engineer, and Entrepreneur |
| Presentation | Wickliff 200110 |