CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
November 2nd
7:00 AM-
9:00 AM
Exhibition Setup
8:30 AM
Registration Opens
9:30 AM
Exhibits Opens
10:00 AM
Welcome Remarks and Exhibition Opens-
Charli Matthews Carruth, CEO, Empowering Pumps & Equipment
TBD, Gulf Energy Information
10:20 AM
Regulations Impacting Pumps & Valves Systems
Ben Madison, Regulatory and Technical Affairs, GRUNDFOS
11:00 AM
Break
11:15 AM
Panel Discussion: Data Center Sealing Power Generation-
Moderator: Andre Davanzo, Global Director of Strategic Business Development, TEADIT
Speaker 1: Chris Morris, Sales Engineer, TEADIT
Speaker 2: Ben Waterland, Business Unit Manager, VSP Technologies
Speaker 3: Brad Baumann, Director of Corporate Accounts, ARDT
12:15 PM
Networking Lunch
1:30 PM-2:15 PM
Main Hall
Turning Innovation into Business Impact
Speaker: Hanna Gerbstedt, Product Line Leader, General Industrial Pumps, Flowserve
Room A
THE DATA BEHIND THE GREASE: Insights from 10,000+ Reliability Projects and Assignments. Lessons in ROI, Myth-Busting, and Site Culture Transformation.
Speaker: Shon Isenhour, Owner, Eruditio LLC
Room B
Leadership Beyond Rank: Building Leaders at Every Level
Speaker: Joshua Martindale, Sales Director, Load Controls
2:15 PM-3:00 PM
Principles of Pump Intake Design
Speaker: Randal Ferman, PE, Principal, EKWESTREL ENGINEERING LLC
API 682 Updates from Fluid Sealing Association
Digital Transformation
Speaker: A.W. Schultz, Host of Factory of the Future Podcast
3:00 PM-3:30 PM
Networking Break/ Exhibits are open
3:15 PM-5:00 PM
Small Group Tours of CPET Equipment Labs
Equipment Labs Included in Tour:
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1318 Dow Process Equipment Lab
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1319 Pump Training Lab
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1322 Analyzer Lab
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1324 Process Instrument Control (H.O.T. Lab)
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1328 Glass Pilot Lab
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1336 Glycol Unit / Control Room
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1134 Swagelok Instrumentation Lab
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1137 Programmable Logic Control Lab
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1147 Valve Test Lab
Tours begin at 3:15, 3:30, 3:45 and 4:00 PM. Tour duration = 45 minutes
Participants congregate in area behind main stage to start the tour.
3:45 PM-4:30 PM
Crane Pump Demo Pump Trailer
4:30 PM-6:00 PM
🍸Networking Reception: Drinks & Light Appetizers Sponsored by Flowserve
November 3rd
8:00 AM
Registration open
8:30 AM
Exhibition open
9:00 AM
Welcome Remarks-
Lee Nichols, Senior Vice President, Content/Editor-in-Chief, Gulf Energy
9:15 AM
Keynote: A look into the world of Additive Manufacturing
Speaker: Fabian Alefeld, Director, Global Business Development, EOS
9:45 AM
Panel Discussion: Lessons Learned From the Field?
Moderator: Charli Matthews Carruth, CEO, Empowering Pumps & Equipmen
Speaker: Margaret Misera, Lead Rotating Equipment Engineer, Venture Global LNG
Speaker: Jaclyn Herrera, Chief Marketing Officer and Bridgebuilder, ChasmBridge
Speaker: Kathy Geck - Energy Transfer
10:30 AM
Break
10:45 AM-11:30 AM
Main Hall
Introduction to Pumps and Pump Systems for better operational reliability and energy efficiency.
Speaker: Matt Derner, Senior Manager, Hydraulic Institute
Room A
Investing in the Next Generation of Leaders
Speaker: Partha Chinnasamy PE, VP of Valve Engineering, Bray International
Room B
Low-emission vs. non-detectable emissions technologies
Speaker: Bronson Pate
MagDrive Technologies
11:30 AM-12:15 PM
Breaking Down Data Silos: The Foundation for Reliable Operations
Speaker: Nadine Tribur, Operations Executive, FTI Consulting
Flexible Graphite Packing and Best Practices
Speaker: Thom Jessup, Sales Manger- Fluid Sealing, EGC
Controlling the Environment: How Intelligent Actuation Is Transforming Asset Management
Speaker: Jon Cox
Business Development Manager, Rotork
12:15 PM
Networking Lunch & Awards Presentation
1:30 PM-2:15 PM
Leadership/Innovation Track- Main Hall
Fireside Chat: The Data Center Reality- Growth, Constraints, and What Industry Must Do Next
Speaker: Drew Donahue
VP, Mission Critical Infrastructure, Taco, Inc.
Valve Track-Craft Lab
Valve Basics: Understanding Quarter-Turn Valves
Speaker: Andrew Lewis, Global Product Manager - Butterfly Valves, Bray International Valve Manufacturers Association
Pump Track-Dow Lab
Hands-on Training
Speaker: Rainer Krause
Head of EagleBurgmann Academy
EagleBurgmann Industries LP / USA
This session is 90 minutes
Mechanical seals are critical components in rotating equipment, yet their operating principles, design variations, and selection criteria are often not fully understood outside of specialist circles. This session provides a high-level overview of mechanical sealing technology, introducing key principles, terminology, design concepts, and material considerations. The presentation is intended as an introductory session that helps participants understand the fundamentals of mechanical seals while highlighting areas for further study and more advanced training.
VMA’s Valve Basics program provides a practical introduction to industrial valves, helping industry professionals understand how different valve types operate, their applications, and the considerations that impact safe and reliable performance. This session focuses on quarter-turn valves, including plug, ball, and butterfly valves, commonly used in oil, gas, and chemical facilities. While these designs share the ability to move from fully open to fully closed with a simple 90-degree rotation, each offers distinct characteristics and advantages. Attendees will explore the fundamentals of each valve type, and discuss their benefits, limitations, and suitability for different operating conditions. Participants will also have an opportunity to explore valve components and ask the instructor questions during the hands-on “Valve Petting Zoo” component of the session, connecting valve fundamentals to real-world applications.
2:15 PM-3:00 PM
Rethinking Success: Lessons from an Unexpected Journey in the Petroleum Industry
Speaker: Renee Murphy, Senior Environmental Scientist, Ensolum, LLC.
3:00 PM-3:15 PM
Break
3:15 PM-3:45 PM
From Bottlenecks to Breakthroughs: Unlocking Performance with the Theory of Constraints
Speaker: Hina Butt, Global Lifecycle Services, Drives, ABB
Every organization has a bottleneck that limits performance. In this interactive 20-minute session, Hina Butt introduces the Theory of Constraints (TOC), a practical framework for identifying and addressing the single constraint that has the greatest impact on results. Attendees will learn how to recognize hidden workflow barriers, focus improvement efforts where they matter most, and apply simple strategies to improve efficiency, throughput, and team performance. Walk away with actionable insights to turn operational challenges into breakthrough results
Crane Pumps & Systems Demo Trailer
Actuator Selection: Choosing the Right Solution for Repair, Retrofit & Upgrade
Speaker: Chad Laird
Rotork Controls
3:45 PM
Power & Influence: Secrets of Olympic Gold Medalists
Speaker: Rob Kalwarowsky
4:15 PM
Closing Remarks
Charli Matthews Carruth
4:30 PM
Exhibition Closes