The Energy Workforce Supply Chain Committee held its annual conference at HMH addressing resilient energy supply chains and how the energy services sector is navigating the path ahead. Held in conjunction with the International Trade and Legal Committees, the conference offered participants a variety of perspectives from customers downstream, to steel producers, to customs brokers, to create a comprehensive supply chain dialogue.
Opening Conversations – Building Relationships for Long Term Planning
Opening the conference with a supply chain outlook, Juan Andrade, Deloitte, shared how companies can optimize resiliency through enhanced visibility and advanced analytics. He emphasized the need for increased communication and visibility into a company’s tier 2 and 3 suppliers as there can often be disruptive supply chain events originating there.
The customer panel, moderated by Supply Chain Committee Chair Ryan Carr, Kodiak Gas Services and featuring John Griggs, Kodiak Gas Services; Sam Reynolds, Marathon Oil; Micah Garrison, Patterson-UTI and John Cochran, Phillips 66 offered attendees a number of actionable sound bites:“The biggest cost for our customers is downtime. The value we bring has to be measured in runtime and uptime, solving for that is what makes us indispensable.”
“Internationally, contracts are rigid. But here in the U.S., long-term MSAs let us build relationships that can withstand cycles. That stability is where the real value lies.”
“AI is a partner, not a replacement. The future is about integrating data streams with human judgment to make better decisions while keeping stakeholder relationships at the center.”
“At the end of the day, it’s relationship, relationship, relationship. Contracts matter, but trust is what keeps supply moving.”
Building on the theme of relationships, the lunch keynote, led by Tim Hill of Nucor Steel, provided participants with insights into how steel is produced in the United States and their engagement with companies in the energy services and equipment sector. During an extensive audience Q&A, Hill addressed how Nucor is working with local talent pools to increase production, their focus on domestic investment, and their perspective on current tariffs.
Thematic Breakouts – Power & AI, Legal and Trade
The afternoon was broken up into three themes: power generation and generative AI; section 232 tariffs and customs brokers, and mergers & acquisitions in the energy industry.
During the Power Systems segment, Dave Bosco, PROPWR and Clint Taylor, Evolution Well Services, addressed evolving trends in power generation for the energy services sector and integration of new technologies. The continued theme of building relationships for long-term success echoed: “Power gen for oil and gas sometimes feels like it gets the ‘what’s left’ mentality. You need partners who are with you through thick and thin. Invest in your supply chain, invest in your people.”
In the generative AI segment, Serhat Alpar, HMH and Hugh Parry, Alta, showcased an example of how an internally developed generative AI tool is reshaping global supply chains through predictive modeling, risk management, and smarter sourcing strategies at HMH. Audience members were highly engaged in the session looking for applicability in their own businesses as a way to mitigate supply chain headwinds.
The Legal breakout session, moderated by Legal Committee Chair Jordan Chester, DNOW, featured a panel composed of Dan Conelly, HMH, John Griggs, Kodiak Gas Services, and Debra Martinez, Weatherford. They discussed post-acquisition integration, focusing on the critical first 90–180 days. They also highlighted best practices over years 1–3, including where to integrate versus take a hands-off approach, managing expectations, leveraging outside resources, and addressing challenges such as talent transitions, legacy businesses, and avoiding repeat integration failures.
For insights on how to navigate the current tariffs regime and changes to Section 232, Josh Beker, Roberts & Kehagiaras LLP, shared how the recent updates interplay with reciprocal tariffs and how the sector can think about long term planning. Beker gave practical examples of imports and how the various tariffs interact or in some cases “stack” and answered questions from supply chain and trade specialists. Following the presentation, Sandy Lance, Aries Worldwide Logistics and Jose Romero, Crane Worldwide Logistics, had a conversation on how brokers are actively supporting their customers in the industry address and mitigate current trade challenges. They offered practical advice for companies and suggestions on what trade pitfalls to avoid in these uncertain times.
Presentations from the conference can be accessed by emailing Maria Suarez-Simmons.
Energy Workforce would like to thank this year’s Supply Chain Conference sponsors: Kodiak Gas Services, PROPWR, ClearSync Solutions, Appian, Halliburton and its strategic partners Chevron and SLB.
If you would like to join the Supply Chain Committee or learn more about the International Trade or Legal Committees, please reach out to Maria Suarez-Simmons for additional information.
Maria Suarez-Simmons, VP Energy Policy, writes about industry-specific policies for the Energy Workforce & Technology Council. Click here to subscribe to the Energy Workforce newsletter, which highlights sector-specific issues, best practices, activities and more.
