What an incredible month. We launched SGA’s first-ever Natural Gas Take Action Month with one objective: To empower our colleagues with the facts and confidence more...
GMRC is a subsidiary of the SGA founded in 1952 to provide its member companies and industry with the benefits of an applied research and technology program directed toward improving reliability and cost effectiveness of the design, construction, and operation of mechanical and fluid systems.
Learn more about GMRC by viewing the Year End Report to Members …see more
GMRC Training
Only GMRC workshops and conferences provide professionals of all levels the opportunity to gain knowledge that can be used immediately, acquire skills to help you work safer and smarter, and keep up with the latest industry regulations …see more
Gas Machinery Conference (GMC)
The GMC is an industry unique event that brings together subject matter experts in gas machinery for three days to include short courses, technical papers and new technology updates …see more
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SGA is revising the art of verbal persuasion and energizing an industry through the Natural Gas Champions training program. This unique course is a result of a collection of industry leaders' vision to harness the power of knowledge sharing and evaluate the sentiment of conversation about the future of energy in this country.
For more information, please contact Nicolle Billmyre.
Whether you’re already a member or considering SGA membership, you can purchase the learning module at any time here.
Why Join SGA? from AVOS' agency on Vimeo.
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It is National Volunteer Appreciation Week and SGA is hosting a POWER HOUR with our volunteers! Join us for some networking, live music and virtual games.
SGA Volunteers
April 30, 2020 | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm /CT
SGA's Volunteers: Free
Thank you to our Sponsor:
This webinar considers the role of natural gas in a lower carbon economy. We will look at natural gas opportunities and possible impacts on key stakeholders, including energy consumers, infrastructure investors and policymakers.
Further, we’ll examine how natural gas and its requisite infrastructure will be needed and utilized in a lower-carbon economy. Additionally, discussion of current and future technologies for the automation and digitalization of the industry.
A. Gathering, transmission and distribution of natural gas are at the front line of the climate debate, and each sector must have a successful methane management plan to thrive in today’s operating conditions. The most critical tool in managing and reducing methane emissions is not technology - it is demonstrating a true commitment to environmental stewardship with three key elements: people, culture, and relationships. Methane management by definition includes engineering and best practices in operations – but to stop there may be short-sighted. A holistic approach including culture and leadership is critical to the success in reducing or eliminating methane emissions. Gaffney Cline and Associates, an international global oil and gas consultancy, will share best practices in a successful methane management program, including:
B. RNG enhances fuel diversity for natural gas utilities and provides a waste management solution and a new revenue stream for family farmers. Ryan Childress, Director-Gas Partnership Business Development, Gas Infrastructure Group Dominion Energy will discuss the Dominion Energy and Smithfield Foods’ joint venture, Align Renewable Natural Gas.
C. Digital Transformation for the natural gas industry – Mosaic’s nation-wide benchmark study provides insight from senior electric, gas, and pipeline leaders concerning the workforce impacts of the continuous evolution the energy industry is experiencing. The study addresses significant changes industry leaders are experiencing and anticipate related to digital and technological transformations; as well as how to build and sustain a skilled and competent workforce.
Learning Objective:
Attendees will receive 3 Professional Development Hours
May 19, 2020 | 01:00 pm - 04:00 pm /CT
Member:$200
Non-Member: $300
Registration is now closed
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Joyce Gorgan, Managing Director of the Central Region, Mosaic
Joyce Gorgan is Managing Director of the Central Region for Mosaic, a national consulting firm that focuses on the utility and oil & gas industries. During her tenure with Mosaic, Joyce has consulted with utilities across the US regarding workforce planning and enhancement, training program and facilities development, as well as change management and user adoption for large ERP initiatives. Joyce recognizes that a company’s workforce is its largest and most valuable asset, and she works with companies to help them realize maximum benefit from their workforces.
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Lizzy Rienholt, Senior Director of Sustainability & Corporate Affairs, Summ
Lizzy Reinholt currently works as Senior Director of Sustainability & Corporate Affairs at Summit Utilities where she oversees the development and implementation of the company’s long-term sustainability vision along with community and public relations, government affairs and corporate communications. In addition, she sits on the board of ONE Future, a coalition of natural gas companies working together to voluntarily reduce methane emissions across the natural gas supply chain. Prior to that joining Summit, Lizzy spent much of her career working on various political campaigns and worked as a senior project manager at the Bernstein Shur Group working with a variety of environmental, energy and social justice companies and organizations.
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Jennifer Stewart, Director of Methane Management, Gaffney Cline and Associates
Jennifer Stewart is the Director of Methane Management at Gaffney Cline and Associates, an international global oil and gas consultancy offering technical, commercial, and strategic advice to the oil and gas industry. Her expertise and focus is on a value and holistic approach to methane management.
She recently retired from the role as Senior Vice President Legislative and Regulatory Affairs of Southwestern Energy, an independent energy company engaged in natural gas and oil exploration and production. Jennifer led efforts to identify, develop and implement methane reduction solutions. Under her leadership, Southwestern Energy led all North American producers with the lowest methane intensity under the EPA’s GHG Reporting Program and received recognition among environmental shareholder activist groups and regulatory bodies as the leading upstream producer for methane abatement practices and disclosures.
Jennifer was designated as a Houston Business Journal Women in Energy Leadership Woman to Watch and has been recognized twice by the National Diversity Council as one of the Most Powerful Woman in Oil & Gas. She is an attorney licensed to practice in the state of Texas.
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Ryan W. Childress, Director-Gas Business Partnership Development, Dominion Energy's Gas Infrastructure Group
Ryan W. Childress is responsible for sourcing, analysis and execution of new business strategies for Dominion Energy’s Gas Infrastructure Group.
Childress was an intern with the company from 2008-2009 and joined the company full-time in 2013 as a Business Development Consultant in the Alternative Energy Solutions Group. He joined the Midstream Group in 2015 as a Project Manager, and was promoted to Manager-Midstream in July 2017. In January 2019 he became Manager-Gas Business Development and assumed his current role in October 2019.
From 2009 to 2013 he worked in the Investment Management Division at Barclays Capital. Prior to that, he served on the staff of former Governor Mark R. Warner.
Childress received a bachelor’s degree in government and a master’s degree in education from the University of Virginia, where he was a four-year letterman on the football team. He also earned his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business
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Suzanne Ogle, President and CEO, Southern Gas Association
Suzanne Ogle is President and CEO of the Southern Gas Association. As CEO she helps SGA members overcome the challenges, they face operating in the natural gas industry and navigating public perception. With her entrepreneurial mindset and wide range of experience across the natural gas value chain from service, to exploration and production, midstream and transmission she focuses on business process, optimization and effective communication to prepare the SGA members for resilience and innovation in an industry in transition.
Suzanne is an Accredited Public Relations and Certified Investor Relations professional. She holds an Advanced Marketing certificate from Southern Methodist University, as well as Finance Management, Business Analytics and Change Management certificates from Cornell University and an Executive Leadership for Energy Professionals certificate from the University of Houston. She received a Master of Education in educational psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in business marketing from California Lutheran University.
This event follows the SGA Cancellation Policy "C" when cancellation is needed.
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While various natural gas operators have standard ways of designing and constructing gas metering and regulating assets, applying best practices and improvements to standard approaches will increase safety and resiliency in each system. Station Design Best Practices will discuss many design considerations and philosophies that inform many areas of best practices including site layout, launchers & receivers, piping design, filtration, tank storage, metering design, heaters, pressure regulation, piping supports & equipment foundations, odorization and site security.
You will learn:
Attendees will receive 1.25 Professional Development Hours
Natural Gas Operators, Engineers, Project Management, Construction Management, Distribution Operations and Maintenance professionals.
May 28, 2020 | 10:00 am - 11:15 am /CT |Virtual (log-in information will be sent prior to the event date)
Burns & McDonnell has generously agreed to sponsor 100 operating company attendees.Those positions are now full. Registration is open for all members and non-members at standard registration rates.
Member: $50
Non-Member: $100
Registration is now closed
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James Culbertson, Pipeline Engineer, Burns & McDonnell
Mr. Culbertson graduated with B.S. in Engineering from the University of Akron in 2011. He spent 2 years working as an Operations Engineer and 6 years as a Facility Design Engineer with NiSource before joining the Pipelines Department with Burns & McDonnell in 2018. He presently serves Burns & McDonnell as a Pipeline Engineer providing design services for transmission and distribution pipeline facility projects. Mr. Culbertson has experience in planning, designing, managing and constructing Metering and Regulating Stations which typically include the installation of launching and receiving traps to support pipeline in-line inspection, gas conditioning equipment to include filter/separators and natural gas-fired heaters, flow measurement, overpressure protection and natural gas odorization equipment. He has experience with natural gas systems and is knowledgeable in CFR 49 Part 192, AMSE B31.8 and API regulations.
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C. David Slavin, P.E., Project Engineer, Burns & McDonnell
Mr. Slavin graduated Magna Cum Laude with B.S in Engineering from Colorado School of Mines. He started with Burns & McDonnell in 2011 where he presently serves as a Project Engineer providing design and project management services, while specializing in Transmission and Distribution Pipeline Facilities, specifically related to measurement and overpressure protection facilities. Mr. Slavin has experience in planning, designing and managing a multiple discipline team to execute the engineering of various Metering and Regulating Stations ranging from 6 MMSCFD to 1BCFD which typically include overpressure protection, flow metering, launching and receiving traps, electrical and control buildings, manual and remote operated valves, odorization, filter/separators, water bath heaters and natural gas analyzers.
This event follows the SGA Cancellation Policy "C" when cancellation is needed.
This two-day virtual workshop takes you through the pipeline construction and inspection process—from a general overview of the environmental inspection program to revegetation activities after construction is complete. Attendees will gain an overall understanding of elements of a pipeline construction project and how the job of an environmental inspector fits in with the overall inspection team.
Workshop Goals:
Workshop Topics:
Attendees will receive 12 Professional Development Hours
Pipeline construction projects can be complex for both seasoned inspectors and for those that are new to the world of pipeline inspection activities. This workshop provides a forum for attendees to learn from experts in the field of pipeline construction, permitting and inspection; and allows for an open dialogue to ask questions related to environmental inspection requirements.
Upon completion of this workshop, attendees will better understand the overall construction process and how an environmental inspector fits within the overall construction inspection team. This knowledge will allow the environmental inspector to better manage their responsibilities and how those responsibilities interact with other construction inspectors.
May 27 - 28, 2020 | 08:00 am - 4:30 pm /CT
Member: $595
Non-Member: $825
Registration is now closed
Stacey Atella
Stacey Atella is a Project Manager with nearly 20 years of experience providing regulatory compliance and project management support for major natural gas pipeline systems. With a technical background ranging from initial routing and siting studies to planning and permitting to training program development and construction compliance management, she is experienced in managing the environmental aspects of natural gas projects from conceptual siting to placing the line in-service.
Stacey’s experience includes federal and state permitting in support of the National Environmental Policy Act process, with specific expertise in projects regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. She is skilled in the acquisition of permits and clearances in compliance with the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act. Her permitting and compliance experience spans a variety of environmental settings from urban and industrial areas to wetland complexes and offshore habitats in support of a diverse portfolio of natural gas infrastructure projects.
Scott Rowland
Over the past 26 years, Scott Rowland has worked on all phases of environmental planning, construction and compliance management, and operations and maintenance activities for small and large-scale utility projects. He is experienced in state and federal regulatory requirements related to small and large-scale utility and energy projects, and has successfully negotiated agency agreements, permits, and required filings for complex linear infrastructure projects in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. He combines environmental resource expertise and regulatory knowledge with practical construction experience, managing environmental compliance programs and overseeing environmental compliance activities during the construction of natural gas transmission, electric transmission and distribution, water, fiber, and other energy-related projects. Mr. Rowland has extensive experience providing biological and regulatory support for the construction, restoration, operation and maintenance of natural gas, electric, fiber optic, and water utilities throughout the western United States. Mr. Rowland is also an experienced field biologist, whose biological expertise is focused on the flora and fauna of the Western United States. Mr. Rowland has a Master of Arts in Biological Science/Vertebrate Ecology and a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Science.
Steve Riggs
Steve Riggs has a strong background in environmental inspection with expertise in stream and wetland crossings along with final cleanup operations. He has inspected both oil & gas pipelines and electric transmission construction across a diverse range of habitats in Arizona, Maine, New Hampshire, West Virginia, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado, Louisiana, California and throughout the Midwestern United States. He’s a highly capable environmental consultant, project manager, lead environmental inspector, and environmental trainer with experience working with agency and contractor personnel on multi-jurisdictional projects. Besides his field experience, he has also worked in office settings in Denver, CO; Minneapolis, MN; San Diego, CA; Houston, TX; Kansas City, MO, Las Vegas, NV; and Los Angeles, CA.
Chris Cable
With 20 years experience, Mr. Cable is among the industry’s most experienced and recognized pipeline construction professionals. Mr. Cable has served as the Environmental Project Manager/Inspection Coordinator on several high-profile projects including the TGP 300 Line Expansion, Energy Transfer Company Tiger Pipeline Project, Dominion Cove Point Expansion Project, as well as serving as the Chief EI/Environmental Coordinator for the Columbia Gas Pipeline Line 1278 Replacement, Duke Energy Patriot Project, Williams Market Link and Leidy East Pipeline Project, and El Paso/Petal Gas Storage 100-Line Project. Mr. Cable also has a thorough understanding of FERC requirements having performed environmental permitting and served as a FERC Monitor on El Paso/SONAT’s North Alabama Project and the Maritimes & Northeast Project, as well a number of other projects nationwide. Mr. Cable is nationally recognized as an invited speaker at Southern Gas Association’s Environmental Inspector training sessions. Mr. Cable’s depth of experience includes all phases of pipeline project development from environmental field surveys, permitting, mitigation planning and design, to environmental inspection and coordination of inspection programs and post-construction monitoring programs. Mr. Cable is based near Albany, New York.
Tim Drake
Tim Drake is a senior consultant at Environmental Resources Management, specializing in pipeline routing, construction, restoration, and environmental inspection issues. Tim has extensive experience working with clients to develop project-specific environmental mitigation plans and support environmental inspection and compliance programs. He has worked closely with project engineers, construction supervision teams, and agency regulators to develop and implement project plans and techniques to construct through sensitive resource areas including trout streams, wetlands, and national forests.
This event follows the SGA Cancellation Policy "C" when cancellation is needed.