Budgeting for Managers
Event Summary
“Budgeting for Managers” is a comprehensive course designed to empower managers with essential skills for effective budgetary planning, execution, and control. Participants will delve into the principles of budgeting, financial analysis, and strategic resource allocation. Through practical case studies and interactive sessions, managers will develop the expertise needed to navigate financial challenges, make informed decisions, and contribute to the overall financial health of their organizations.
Course Objectives
- Budgeting Fundamentals
- Financial Analysis Skills
- Strategic Resource Allocation
- Budget Execution and Control
- Communication of Financial Information
Learning Objectives
- Budget Development Proficiency
- Decision-Making Under Financial Constraints
- Financial Planning and Forecasting
- Budget Review and Analysis
- Leadership in Financial Management
Instructor
Celesta Miracle
Director of Finance
Southern Gas Association
Ratemaking Fundamentals: Information Every Utility Professional Should Know
Event Summary
This 3.5-hour course will introduce employees to key ratemaking fundamentals for the natural gas industry. It is important that individuals working in the natural gas industry gain an understanding of the key fundamentals, since almost everyone in the industry has some impact on rates, just as rates affect how we all work.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The course provides information on key ratemaking fundamentals from the pipeline and LDC perspective, such as:
- Which regulatory agency has jurisdiction for specific assets and transactions
- Considerations and components of determining revenue requirements
- Cost-causation, gradualism, and political pragmatism
- Rate and earnings implications of O&M expense vs. capital investment vs. depreciation expense
- Considerations and components of rate design
- Assignment and allocation of common costs
- Future trends in ratemaking
- How to manage more effectively within a regulated utility
The course underscores how participants can work and manage more effectively within a regulated environment.
Attendees will receive 3 Professional Development Hours (PDH) and a Level 1 Natural Gas Utility Ratemaking Professional badge from Credly upon completion. Please email SGATraining@southerngas.org for this request.
TARGET AUDIENCE
Non-rate professionals from any department who would benefit from a broad understanding of key rate fundamentals, including Operations, Government Relations, Marketing, Public Affairs, Investor Relations, Accounting, Engineering, and other departments.
INSTRUCTORS
Mark Caudill, Attorney at Law, Mark D. Caudill, LLC
Mark Caudill is an attorney with more than 30 years of energy utility regulatory, legal, and management experience, including work before numerous state commissions and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”). Mark has served: natural gas distribution companies, interstate pipelines, and producers; electric distribution companies, transmission companies, and generators; energy marketers; and financial institutions that fund utility-related transactions. Based in the Atlanta metropolitan area, Mark is currently admitted to the Georgia and Alabama state bars. He works with companies and their local attorneys in matters regarding regulated markets. His clients include some of the leading energy companies in North America.
Mark previously served as a vice president and practice leader at MCR, a national management consulting firm specializing in regulated industries. Mark provided in-depth knowledge and expertise, including traditional ratemaking, alternative forms of regulation, supply and capacity planning, and regulatory case management. Prior to joining MCR, Mark served as Vice President for Energy Competition, and Corporate Secretary and Vice President for Rates and Regulatory at AGL Resources; Vice President of Rates and Regulatory for Atlanta Gas Light; Director of State Regulatory Affairs for Southern Natural Gas Company and Sonat; and as the Deputy Assistant General Counsel for Enforcement and the Special Assistant to the Deputy General Counsel at FERC.
In addition to appearing as an attorney in many rate and regulatory proceedings, Mark has appeared as an expert witness before state utility commission, FERC, state legislative committees, and U.S. congressional committees. Additionally, Mark regularly presents at industry and professional conferences, and he conducts seminars, workshops and mock trial training exercises to enhance the effectiveness of rate departments and in-house fact, policy and expert witnesses.
Introduction to Corrosion and Cathodic Protection
Cathodic Protection, commonly referred to as CP, is one of the most effective methods for mitigating corrosion attacking your most valuable assets. This course explores definition of corrosion as the “Electrochemical Cell” while focusing on cathodic protection as a practical tool for corrosion mitigation. Regulatory requirements are also covered and their relationship with various state and local codes addressing corrosion and corrosion control associated with gas pipelines, liquefied natural gas facilities, hazardous liquids pipelines, UST’s, and AST’s.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Gain a fundamental understanding of how Cathodic Protection mitigates corrosion
- Understand what federal regulators expect of your CP system
- Provide examples of CP system designs
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
- Pipeline Integrity and Engineers and Managers
- Corrosion Managers and Engineers
- Design and Construction Engineers
- Compliance Managers
Introduction to Natural Gas Midstream Facilities and Operations
- ABOUT THIS VIRTUAL WORKSHOP:
- This one-day virtual workshop provides natural gas professionals with an introduction to facilities and operations within the midstream segment of the natural gas industry. Non-technical descriptions of equipment and processes employed to gather, treat and process gas in order to render it commercially acceptable and to transport, store and trade the commodity prior to delivery to consumers are provided.
- TOPICS COVERED:
- Gas Industry segments and US supplies of natural gas
- Separation of gas at the wellhead
- Gathering of gas (measurement, composition analysis and transport)
- Gas treating (acid and sour gas, dehydration)
- Gas processing (NGL recovery, ethane recovery/rejection)
- NGL transportation, fractionation (US markets and exports)
- Transportation of gas (gas transmission pipeline facilities: operations, P/L integrity, changes in flow patterns)
- Gas commodity location basis differential and implications
- Transportation of gas (LNG)
- Underground storage of gas
- Exports of gas
- Wholesale gas sales, deliveries to consumers and commodity price hedging
- Produced water handling (new midstream entities)
- LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Participants will:
- Be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of the size, source and disposition of US natural gas supplies including domestic production, imports, consumption and exports.
- Be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of what physically happens to natural gas after it leaves the well on its journey to consumers.
- Be able to identify and describe the services provided by gas midstream entities and how fees for such services are established.
- Be able identify and explain the relationship between midstream entities and both gas producers and gas consumers.
- Be able to differentiate between entities charging market-based rates and rate regulated entities and between entities bearing commodity price risk and those that do not.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
Any relatively new employee of a gas industry entity and experienced gas industry professionals (administrative, financial, operations, legal, marketing, and other disciplines) seeking to broaden their understanding of the gas midstream segment.
SPEAKER BIO:
J. RICHARD MOORE
Dick Moore has more than 40 years of experience in the energy industry including jobs in both regulated and unregulated segments of this industry. He has held senior management positions in oil and gas exploration and production companies, interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines, gas and electric utilities as well as natural gas gathering, processing and marketing companies.
Mr. Moore previously served on the Board of Directors of the Gas Processors Association and has held a position as adjunct faculty in the economics department at Richland College in Dallas. He serves as faculty for the Energy Executive Course at the University of Idaho and the Legislative Energy Horizons Institute of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region as well as the Professional Development Institute at the University of North Texas and has been a speaker on energy topics for the Maguire Energy Institute at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
Environmental 101
Learn the basics of the environmental landscape, agencies and regulations impact the industry.
Introduction to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
This course provides a high level overview of LNG facilities, economics and trade. It examines the characteristics of LNG and look at processes and facilities to produce and transport it including costs and economics associated with LNG plants and terminals. It also explores the domestic markets for small scale LNG plants and the uses for LNG produced therein. Finally, we will consider possible implications of several new large scale export facilities planned for the West Coast of North America. Some are under construction as we speak.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Gain a non-technical understanding of LNG production and transportation
Learn about export and domestic LNG markets
Recognize potential impacts on US gas producers, midstream entities, utilities and consumers arising from growing LNG exports
AC Interference
EVENT SUMMARY:
High voltage AC power transmission systems are often collocated with natural gas pipelines, and the complex interactions between the two can pose a threat to pipeline integrity and safety to personnel and public.
This session discusses the impact that AC interference (ACI) has on the pipeline industry, corrosion symptoms, risks and threat mitigation, and the industry standards and federal regulations.
Part 1 - What is AC Interference and How Does It Affect your Pipelines - In the first session, you’ll learn about the complex interaction between collocated pipelines and high-voltage AC power transmission systems, and the threat they pose to safety and overall pipeline integrity. We’ll review the impact of ACI on the pipeline industry, teach you how to recognize AC corrosion symptoms, and identify additional risk factors related to design and operating conditions. We’ll provide an overview of federal regulations and industry standards from organizations including NACE, INGAA, NEC and PRCI.
Part 2 - Understanding your Mitigation Options - In the second session, you’ll learn about the various mitigation and monitoring options available to you. We’ll discuss the pro’s and cons of computer modeling vs engineering field design as well.
Part 3 – AC Interference Threat Assessment - In the third session, you’ll learn how to implement a threat based ACI mitigation and monitoring program to help you efficiently deploy your limited field resources. We’ll define a threat assessment framework and provide you with example use cases for applying the framework for inductive coupling (accelerated corrosion) and AC fault events such as lightning strikes and HVAC upsets.
Part 4 – AC Interference Monitoring- In our final session, we’ll discuss the importance of the selection, installation and use of coupon test stations and Remote Monitoring for effective mitigation. You’ll learn how to identify AC fluctuation trends and other AC corrosion risk factors so you can be confident that you're investing in a mitigation system that includes on-going monitoring of this dynamic environment.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
*Learn about AC interference and how it affects your pipelines
*Understand mitigation options
*Discover how to implement a threat based ACI mitigation and monitoring program
* Identify AC fluctuation trends and other AC corrosion risk factors
TARGET AUDIENCE:
* Pipeline Integrity and Engineers and Managers
* Corrosion Managers and Engineers
* Design and Construction Engineers
* Compliance Managers
Clay Brelsford, P.E.
Mr. Brelsford serves as President of Bass Engineering. Mr Brelsford brings 35+ years of experience in supervision, design, installation and maintenance of galvanic and impressed current cathodic protection systems as well as induced AC and lightning mitigation systems. Industry experience includes applications for on-shore oil and gas applications such as transportation pipelines, gathering systems, well casings, storage tanks (internal and external systems), heater treaters free water knock-outs, cooling towers, gas distribution systems, underground storage tanks (UST) and ship terminals. Mr. Brelsford’s experience also includes the evaluation of offshore galvanic cathodic protection systems for produced water handling equipment. Mr. Brelsford holds certification from NACE as a Cathodic Protection Specialist as well as being a NACE Cathodic Protection Tester and Technician Instructor. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University.
Andy Florence
Mr. Florence is an experienced software product and services professional. Mr. Florence has been delivering enterprise class solutions to Fortune 500 companies across multiple industries and geographies for over 35 years. Mr. Florence is presently the business owner of the Pipeline Integrity Management Services division of Bass Engineering and has been serving the Oil and Gas pipeline industry for over 12 years. Mr. Florence holds a bachelor degree in Management Information Systems from Texas A&M University and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Denver.
Jim O’Connor
Mr. O’Connor is a Pipeline Integrity Engineer with 15 years of experience. Before joining Bass Engineering, Jim worked at Kinder Morgan as an Engineering Project Manager for Transmission Pipelines, Gas Compression, and Underground Storage Facilities. He later joined American Innovations’ Integrity Management department as a Pipeline Integrity Engineer, followed by a transition to Field Sales Engineering which introduced him to the world of Cathodic Protection and Remote Monitoring. Mr. O’Connor holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and received his NACE CP1 Certification in 2017.
Alex Rodriguez
Mr. Rodriguez is an experienced product management professional at American Innovations. He brings over 10 years of industry experience, having served in various technical roles developing products for the Oil & Gas. Industry experience includes hardware design, firmware development and testing of downhole wireline logging tools as well as guiding product development and strategy. Mr. Rodriguez has been with American Innovations since February 2017 and holds a B.S. & M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley.
Leadership: Communication Strategies
Investing in Your Professional Development
EVENT SUMMARY
To be completely satisfied at work, employees need to be given an opportunity to grow and self-develop. Nobody wants to be stuck in a dead-end job with no prospects for professional advancement.
Perhaps you have felt the need to widen your skillset to perform better in your job and prepare for career advancement, only to discover that your boss is completely unaware of it. Even if your need for developing new skills seems obvious, your boss might not realize the importance of education in the workplace. This free webinar hosted by SGA’s top leadership is designed to convince your superior otherwise.
OBJECTIVES
Confidently detail why education matters for both the employee and the employer.
Learn how to ask for training in ways that are effective.
Explain the skill gap that you are experiencing.
Describe the long-term benefits to your organization.
Understand how to present options.
Know how to back up your data.
SPEAKERS
Suzanne:
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.
Cindy:
Cindy Mitchell serves as vice president of operations for the Southern Gas Association (SGA), where she manages the day-to-day functions of the organization. Prior to joining SGA, Cindy spent 20 years of her first career as a county official for Denton County, Texas. When elected, Cindy was the youngest elected county clerk in Texas, serving the 9th most populous county in the United States. She has served in leadership roles within state associations and the National Association of Counties nationwide.
Upon retiring from the local government, Cindy transitioned into leadership development training and coaching for both local governments and the gas industry, leading her to SGA. “When I was elected, I found that people presenting to me had such limited interest, and it was never mine or my constituents. I will always have a heart for local government officials, and equipping leaders is a passion of mine,” Cindy said, “To be able to offer solutions to local leaders is especially gratifying.” When not working to advance the energy industry, you may find her traveling, spending time with family, or entertaining friends.
Ethical Decision Making In Organizations
Ethics and compliance are central to business strategy. It’s up to leaders at all levels across the organization to create and sustain a culture of integrity. This course will empower the participant to analyze the risks of unethical behavior that might be triggered by powerful situations. It also analyzes some of the most prominent organizational scandals of the recent decades through the lenses of management, psychology, sociology, and philosophy, in order to contribute to a better understanding of unethical behavior.
Whenever we hear about ethical scandals, we tend to believe that unethical or illegal behavior in organizations is driven by character deficiencies of the individual. However, numerous corporate scandals have demonstrated that even people with a high level of integrity can break the rules if they are put into a strong context. A better understanding of why and under what conditions good people make bad ethical decisions will enable us to better protect individuals as well as their respective organizations against the potentially overwhelming power of the context.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the course, you are able to:
Explain the impact of social context on individual decision-making using various theories (from Management, Sociology, Psychology, and Philosophy)
Apply these theories to the analysis of some of the most eminent organizational scandals of the recent decades
Assess risks of ethical blindness in your own organizational context
Design interventions to reduce such risks for yourself and your organization
TARGET AUDIENCE:
All organizational leaders.
Presentation by: Suzanne Ogle, President and CEO and Cindy Anderson, VP of Operations at Southern Gas Association.
Unconscious Bias
KEY BENEFITS:
Organizations that foster learning environments for their people to bust bias, are more diverse, productive and engaged organizations. Increased diversity and inclusion leads to better, more agile decision-making for individuals, teams and organizations. More engaged employees lead to higher productivity and workplace cultures that are ideal. Busting biases leads to happier people and a smart business strategy as well.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this session, you should be able to:
Defines the concept of unconscious bias
Recognize what unconscious bias is
Depicts different types of unconscious bias
Identify the impact of unconscious bias on individuals and organizations
Develop strategies to deal with unconscious bias
Obtain reference material via the culture of innovation bookshelf
This course is ideal for any person or leader that is interested in learning more about their own unconscious bias. This particular class will introduce you to many concepts and being the process of exploring your unconscious bias.