Jen: This is the PKF Texas Entrepreneur’s Playbook. I’m Jen Lemanski, and I’m here with Brian Baumler, the Energy Practice Leader at PKF Texas and the Chair of the 17th annual TXCPA Houston Energy Conference. Also with us today is Jennifer Poff, the Executive Director of TXCPA Houston, and Tracy Tyler, the Co-Chair, as well as the Managing Director at WG Consulting. Welcome to The Playbook, everyone.
Jennifer: We’re glad to be here.
Brian: Thanks, Jen. I appreciate you having us here.
Tracy: Thanks, Jen.
Jen: Let’s kick this off. Jennifer, tell us as little bit about TXCPA Houston.
Jennifer: TXCPA Houston is the local resource for CPAs and accounting professionals to get networking opportunities, career development. We protect and promote the profession; we also have a lot of continuing education opportunities for our accountants and CPAs.
The energy conference is definitely one of those events. We’re glad we can host that again this year. We look forward to having everybody out at our new location, the Marriot Marquis, so we look forward to everybody coming out and hearing all of our various topics.
Jen: That’s great. So, we’ll jump right in. Brian and Tracy, as Co-chairs of the conference, tell us a little bit about what people can expect this year.
Brian: Well, we’re always very excited about this conference each year, because it’s an opportunity – really, I refer to it almost like a reunion – for the profession and also those that are industry leaders out there practicing in the energy industry space. We cover a lot of hot topics. We’re primarily focused on accounting and reporting, also on emerging markets, capital markets, taxation and also technology. And also, all the various challenges that really face this industry each year in these very challenging times.
Jen: Perfect. Now, Tracy, who have you got lined up for speakers?
Tracy: We’ve got Mark McCollum, CEO of Weatherford, and he is going to be bringing new insights to where the oilfield services industry is going today.
Jen: Perfect. Brian, what else have we got planned?
Brian: Well, we also have a number of panels. We’re excited about those. We have an E&P panel, and we’ve got some great representation there that’s going to talk about their insights on exploration production both on the onshore and offshore areas.
We also have a speaker that’s going to be talking a little bit about what’s going on in the water, because water is a very interesting segment of the industry that’s primarily up in the Permian Basin where they’re using a lot of water up there, and also the challenges with all the water rights and things that take place just protecting that.
The other item as far as the panel goes is we’re going to have a panel that’s going to be discussing capital markets and the challenges it has in this industry and raising capital.
And also, the last one, which we’re really excited about is the technology panel that’s going to be headed up by WG Consulting and one of their representatives there. They’re going to be talking more about artificial intelligence and what it’s doing to change the workforce and also improve the efficiencies within our industries.
Jen: Perfect. Now, Tracy, you guys are one of the underwriters, correct?
Tracy: Yes, we’re the primary underwriter, and this is our second year. We’re just really proud and excited to be hosting once again.
Jen: So, we’ve heard about the great topics, the great speakers. Jennifer, where is it again? When can they register? Where can they register? Give us a little bit of background on that.
Jennifer: Yes, the event will be at the Marriot Marquis on August 28th. You can go to our website to register at www.houstoncpa.org. We encourage everybody to sign up as soon as possible and hopefully we have a good crowd.
Jen: That sounds great, Jennifer. Brian, anything else?
Brian: Yeah, actually I do. One of the big drivers for the conference every year is we have representation from all the big four firms, talking on the various technical topics that are driving and shaping the industry.
And lastly, to close the conference this year we have Scott McClelland, and he’s our favorite H-E-B guy. He will be talking on various things regarding his new role as Chair of the Greater Houston Partnership, talking a little bit about Houston, talking about the various campaigns that he’s promoting this year that will be shaping education, and then, really, just the quality of our lives and the betterment for all.
Jen: Tracy, you’re Co-chair; you get the last word.
Tracy: This is not your father’s energy conference. Make sure you register; make sure you come. We’ve got a lot of exciting speakers and we’re really, really excited to have a good group of professionals this year at the 17th Annual Energy Conference.
Jen: Great, well thanks everybody. I really appreciate it.
Brian: Thanks, Jen.
Tracy: Thanks so much.
Jennifer: Thank you.
Jen: This has been another Thought Leader Production brought to you by PKF Texas – The Entrepreneur’s Playbook. Tune in next week for another chapter.