Last week, Energy Workforce & Technology Council (EWTC) hosted its annual Supply Chain Conference at HMH in Houston, TX. The conference focused on the trends, challenges and opportunities influencing the energy supply chain, and the decisions companies are making to remain competitive in an evolving market.
Centered on the question, “What’s shaping the decisions supply chain leaders are making today?” the conference highlighted the importance of adaptability, collaboration and forward-looking strategies as energy companies navigate changing market conditions, evolving trade policies, emerging technologies and workforce demands.
EWTC President Molly Determan opened the conference by emphasizing the value of bringing together perspectives from across the industry to address shared challenges, exchange ideas and identify opportunities to strengthen the energy supply chain.
Throughout the day, discussions reinforced that supply chain decisions are increasingly interconnected. Economic conditions, geopolitical developments, customer expectations, technology and workforce availability all influence how companies approach sourcing, investment, risk management and long-term planning. For energy technology and services companies, navigating these factors requires balancing immediate operational needs with the flexibility and resilience needed to respond to future disruptions.
The morning sessions included a supply chain outlook from Steve Pankratz with Deloitte, market outlook from Chris Mersinger with Piper Sandler, and customer panel with Meraj Huq with Chevron, Faith Phillips with Chord Energy, and Jeff Ostrander with SLB. These sessions provided perspectives on the broader market outlook and the evolving relationship between customers and suppliers. Speakers highlighted the importance of understanding market forces, improving operational efficiency, strengthening supplier partnerships, and delivering value in a changing business environment. Walter Ulrich, President & CEO of Medical Bridges also explored the broader role of the energy industry, including its connection to global health and economic activity.
The afternoon’s interactive discussions brought these themes into sharper focus, giving attendees an opportunity to exchange perspectives on the issues shaping their organizations. The afternoon conversations focused on:
- Tariffs with Ben Burt with Crane Worldwide Logistics and Justine Lin with Weatherford;
- Human Capital with Kierra Williams with Atlas Energy Solutions and Kersten Metz with Baker Hughes;
- AI Supply Chain Tools with Dr. Andrea Little Limbago and Jeff Bleier both with interos.ai; and
- International Trade with Alex Krutz with Patriot Industrial Partners and Jack Belcher with Cornerstone Government Affairs.
All sessions highlighted the range of considerations influencing supply chain strategies and the importance of preparing for continued change.
A central takeaway from the conference was the value of collaboration across the energy supply chain. As companies face shared challenges and increasingly complex decisions, communication between customers, suppliers, policymakers and industry partners remains important to identifying solutions, managing risk and supporting long-term competitiveness.
Thank you to our following sponsors:
Strategic Sponsor: Chevron and SLB
Facility: HMH
Media: World Oil
Table: Allison Transmission and H&P
Jessica Santos, Director Government Affairs, 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.
