The Energy Industry's Only Event Dedicated to Transforming Frontline Operations
Main Conference Day Two | Thursday, March 20 2025
7:15 am - 8:00 am
MEET THE EXPERT BREAKFAST: Ron Norris, Casual AI
This is an exclusive opportunity to join AI Leader Ron Norris for breakfast and in a small group setting quiz him on all things AI and the innovative work he has been leading at Georgia Pacific. There are only 30 places available so to avoid disappointment, make sure you book early!
7:30 am - 8:00 am
Check in and Networking Breakfast
8:00 am - 8:10 am
Chair’s Opening Remarks
8:10 am - 8:50 am
LIGHTNING TALKS Data Analytics Technologies and AI in Action: Lessons Learned from Active Projects
Darwin Jebha -
Vice President IT,
Thermon Inc
Brent Railey - Chief Data & Analytics Officer, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
Tony Huffman - Enterprise Architect Strategist, Industry 4.0, Koch Industries
Jonathan Alexander - Manufacturing AI & Advanced Analytics Manager, Albemarle
This session will feature 4 lightning talks (7 minutes), each from an industry leader in the Connected Worker Space. Designed to share a project challenge, insights into the technology that helped solve it and the lessons learned along the way, you’ll leave with practical insights into how each company is driving ROI.
Talk 1: Using Data to Optimize Processes, Reduce Costs and Improve Decision Making at Thermon Inc. Darwin Jebha, VP & CIO, Thermon Inc
Talk 2: Harnessing AI Agents for Efficiency: Automating Repetitive Tasks, Streamlining Complex Processes, and Boosting Productivity, Brent Railey, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
Talk 3: Utilizing Gen AI to Enable Personalized Learning Experiences that Drive Upskilling and User Experience, Tony Huffman, Enterprise Architect Strategist, Industry 4.0, Koch
Talk 4: Breaking free of Pilot Purgatory - Realizing Global Economies of Scale via AI, ML, & Operational Excellence, Jonathan Alexander, Manufacturing AI & Advanced Analytics Manager, Albemarle
8:50 am - 9:20 am
The Missing Link: Private 5G Connectivity for the Connected Worker
Pradhyum Ramkumar -
Head of Product Marketing,
Celona
Michael McDowell - Solutions Center Manager, LyondellBasell
In this fireside chat, Celona Head of Product Marketing Pradhyum Ramkumar will talk to LyondellBasell Solutions Center Manager Mike McDowell about the impact of their Celona 5G LAN solution deployment. LyondellBasell was looking for a connectivity solution to connect their global manufacturing sites to provide efficiency through better data visibility, control and security in support of the company’s Value Enhancement Program. Mike will discuss lessons learned from the deployment, and how Private 5G improved employee productivity through reliable and pervasive communications in outdoor locations, reduced costs for emergency communications using push-to-talk, and improved workplace safety overall. Today Private 5G has become one of the cornerstones of modernization that LyondellBasell is leveraging to achieve its strategic goals.
9:20 am - 10:00 am
PANEL: Smart Operations Need Smarter Cybersecurity: Protecting your Operational Assets
George Crawford -
CISO, CIO & Partner,
Catapult Energy Services Group LLC
Dave Bang - Senior Trust Advisor, Global Security Awareness, LyondellBasell
Reynaldo Gonzalez - Principal Cybersecurity Architect, Cummins Inc
Preston Boley - Industrial Automation Security and Systems Manager, CISSP, BASF
Durgesh Kalya - BTN PCT Automation – OT Security/Network Expert, Covestro
The alarming rise in OT cyber-attacks on America’s industrial sector has highlighted the urgent need to prioritize investment to effectively defend against OT specific cyber threats. Energy, utilities and industrial manufacturers need to reassess their approach to cybersecurity and mitigate against attacks across converged systems. This panel will explore:
· Reassessing your approach to cybersecurity and prioritizing investment in advanced threat detection, employee training and incident response capability
· Developing a zero-trust approach to data protection across diverse platforms and multiple OEM systems
· Designing a comprehensive strategy to safeguard your legacy assets and provide a clear picture of potential vulnerabilities
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Networking Break
CONNECTED SAFETY
10:30 am - 11:00 am
CASE STUDY: Staying Safe, Staying Hydrated: Deploying Connected Hydration Solutions
Kathryn Underhill -
Digital Scout/Project Manager,
Chevron Technology Ventures
Louisa Reid - Digital Technology Scout, Chevron Technology Ventures
Mike Wasik - Occupational Health Programs Advisor, Chevron
Santiago Cepeda - HSE Manager, Chevron
· Deploying a sweat-sensing wearable biosensor and cloud analytics solutions that measure sweat loss, sodium loss and skin temperature
· Providing individualized rehydration strategies in real-time to protect our workforce across multiple sites
· Exploring behavioral changes of our workforce when utilizing connected hydration solutions
CONNECTED ASSET MAINTENANCE & OPERATIONS
10:30 am - 11:00 am
CASE STUDY: Navigating Business Transformation: A Step-by-Step Guide to Success
Stephan Blasilli -
Head of Business Process Excellence,
EDP
Explore the transformative potential within the energy industry and discuss common reasons why most transformation initiatives fail
This four step-transformation approach will examine:
- Setting goals upfront by understanding the business problem and future state and identifying quick wins to drive early momentum
- Analyzing the process, examining work patterns (repetitive versus unstructured) with the goal to leverage technology effectively
- Selecting the right technology that allows for speed and flexibility to empower employees and drive innovation
- Engaging with employees by fostering a culture of continuous improvement through agile practices like MVPs, rapid adaptation, and actionable metrics
· Digitizing your entire permit to work process to gain real-time visibility into your operations
· Configuring personalized notification flows for each step of the permit process
· Accessing via mobile apps for in-field use wherever you are
· Simulating the management of assets to forecast potential scenarios
· Integrating engineering and operations data to aggregate asset data and create digital twins
· Gaining complete asset visibility to drive enhanced decision-making and opex
Konrad Konarski - Member Board of Trustees, AI Applied Consortium
Adam Berg - Manager of Learning Technologies, TechnipFMC
Elias Brown - Data Manager, Vallourec
· Revolutionizing safety protocols by proactively identifying and mitigating potential risks
· Providing early detection of abnormal conditions to ensure early intervention and prevent safety incidents
Enabling real time monitoring of sites to alert security personnel on unauthorized access attempts
- Implementing a data-driven maintenance strategy to extend the life of your assets and reduce costs
- Monitoring equipment performance and preventing power outages
- Incorporating AI tools/technologies to evaluate asset performance
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch and Networking Break
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm
CASE STUDY: Driving Digital Transformation Success: Overcoming Integration Challenges & Ensuring Adoption
Mark Bohn -
Former Vice President, Transformation and Enterprise Portfolio Management,
Western Midstream
- Building strong cross-functional relationships to drive technology adoption
- Creating a pull environment where employees embrace new systems
- How do we develop systems, processes, and tools so compelling that employees choose to adopt them?
- Keeping teams aligned on priorities to maintain focus on execution and impact
Mark Bohn
Former Vice President, Transformation and Enterprise Portfolio ManagementWestern Midstream
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Campfire Session: Creating a Culture that Embraces Innovation and Drives Successful User Adoption
Jan Shumate -
Engineering & Construction Solutions/Corp Manufacturing Automation Transformation,
Eastman
Darin Powell - Senior Business Architect, Boeing
Mark A. Prosser - Industrial Mobility Product Manager, ExxonMobil Joliet Refinery
Michael Muilenburg - Senior Manufacturing Peer Group Leader and Instructor, Manufacturers Alliance
Join our campfire session to hear from our industry experts as they share insights on various aspects of their connected worker user adoption journey. Following their presentations, the spotlight turns to you, the audience, where you can offer comments, share insights, and discuss the challenges you face in this area. With ample time dedicated to audience participation, you’ll have the chance to shape your own learning experience and connect with fellow attendees who share similar challenges.
(1) Communicating a vision for change, how to clearly articulate the benefits to both your business and workforce, Jan Shumate, Director, Worldwide Engineering & Construction Solutions and Corporate Manufacturing Automation Center of Excellence, Eastman Chemical Company
(2) Learning through Failure, how to foster a culture of innovation and experimentation, even when things go wrong! Darin Powell, Global IT Digital Leader, Transformation Strategy and Experimentation, Bayer Crop Science
(3) Listen, Learn, Change: The role of open communication in reducing conflict and resistance to change, Mark Prosser, Industrial Mobility Advisor & Digital Manufacturing Lead, ExxonMobil
(4) Building change management capability and clearly communicating your vision for ‘why’ and ‘how’ the new digital tools will enhance user experience, Michael Muilenburg. Senior Manufacturing Peer Group Leader and Instructor, Manufacturers Alliance
Jan Shumate
Engineering & Construction Solutions/Corp Manufacturing Automation TransformationEastman
Michael Muilenburg
Senior Manufacturing Peer Group Leader and InstructorManufacturers Alliance
