From November 13 to 15, nearly 200 attendees representing 61 different APGA member operating companies participated in APGA’s Annual Operations Conference in Chattanooga, Tenn. Attendees heard more than 25 presentations on issues ranging from public awareness effectiveness to safety management best practices to the benefits of risk modeling for local gas distribution companies.
The program was opened with a welcome from Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Deputy Administrator Drue Pearce. Ms. Pearce reinforced the administration’s focus on infrastructure improvement and expansion, job creation, and energy dominance. She shared her personal experiences of how natural gas can greatly increase the quality of life for those who have access. She expressed the administration’s desire to continue to promote the expanded use of natural gas in a safe and reliable manner.
Mr. Wallace Jones, the Director of the Gas Pipeline Safety Division of the Alabama Public Service Commission, provided a presentation on the state regulator’s views on pipeline safety. He introduced attendees to the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR), provided an update on PHMSA regulatory initiatives and tools developed by NAPSR that are available to the public.
Another highlight during the program included a presentation from Wade Stinson from City Utilities of Springfield on lessons learned from a career in utility management. Wade shared his personal career advice on how best to position yourself for career advancement, as well as best practices for leadership.
During the two-day conference, registrants also had an opportunity to meet nearly 30 exhibitors that shared their service offerings, newest technologies and live product demonstrations. Additionally, those exhibitors each had an opportunity to provide short presentations to the full group on their products that are assisting natural gas distribution operators to meet current challenges.
Presentations from the conference can be found at
www.apga.org/chattanooga/presentations. APGA thanks the attendees for their outstanding participation, appreciates the support from the exhibitors, and looks forward to holding the 2018 Operations Conference again in welcoming Chattanooga the week of October 28, 2018.
For questions on this article, please contact Erin Kurilla of APGA staff by phone at 202-905-2904 or by email at
ekurilla@apga.org.