By Sarah Miller, President & CEO

The GPA Midstream Convention returns to San Antonio Sept. 21-24, at the Marriott Rivercenter — the place to be for the people who design, operate, and maintain midstream infrastructure. Come learn about new innovations and reliable best practices. Spend time developing your industry network. Convention is all about knowledge sharing and networking.

Before you arrive, we want to help you make a plan to maximize the value of your convention attendance.

Register and Book Your Hotel

If you haven’t registered, do it soon. Pre-registration ends Sept. 19. On-site registration will cost an additional $100.

Staying in the Marriott Rivercenter or Riverwalk (across the street) is the best way to enjoy Convention. While our room blocks at these properties have closed, you can still contact the hotels directly for assistance.

Use the App

Download the Midstream Go app — it’s the place to find the up-to-the-minute schedule, room maps, and exhibitor info. Use it to confirm locations, check session descriptions, and locate colleagues. You can even message other attendees through the app.  

Pick your priorities

The Convention is big and there’s a lot going on. But there is a method to the madness. Our sessions are organized into tracks or forums focused on the following topics:

• Advocacy Track: safety and reliability, pipeline safety, environmental
• Technical Track: process and research, facility design, operation and maintenance, treating, greenhouse gas measurement and abatement
• Commercial Track: market analysis to help prepare for what's coming in the energy industry
• Communications Forum: tools to help professionals become industry ambassadors

It’s impossible to see it all. Rather choose a few priorities that matter most for your work and your team. Block some time in advance to study the schedule, and identify the most relevant forums and sessions. The speakers have been selected by your peers in the industry. You can get credits to help meet your professional continuing education requirements. We even offer professional ethics for engineers.

Start a longer term engagement

All of our technical, advocacy, safety, and communications committees meet during Convention. To get involved, just attend a committee meeting — all are welcome. Be prepared to listen and consider how you can benefit and contribute.

Plan to have fun!

Did you know we have a Clay Shoot at The National Shooting Complex on Sunday morning, Sept. 21? Supplemental registration is required. By popular demand, we added capacity to accommodate more participants. Shooters of all skill levels can test their aim and enjoy the great outdoors.    

Your convention registration fee includes Sunday Vendor Night where you can enjoy free food and beverages, while wandering among 25 industry partners showing off their expertise.  

Center Stage Luncheon on Monday, Sept. 22, is a marquee moment open to all convention registrants. Plan to join a few hundred of your colleagues, and consider arriving early to secure a good seat. This year’s keynote is by science-based illusionist, Jason Latimer, and it’s sure to be a good show.

Your general registration also includes the Tuesday Public Hospitality night, which is a collection of extraordinary parties. Visit them all and you can participate in a drawing to win prizes with values up to $500.  

Network with intent (not by accident)

Networking events are a great time to connect with friends and colleagues and start relationships with new ones. Consider a task-oriented approach to networking: pick a few people or vendors or potential partners and engage in a brief conversation. If you need some help with that, attend the Elevator Pitch Workshop during the Communications Forum on Monday afternoon.

And follow up! Collecting business cards is great. Make notes on the back about your discussion, and send a short, specific message that can turn an introduction into progress.

Welcoming New Attendees

First-time attendees and those who want some tips on how to navigate Convention should plan to attend the New Attendee Orientation from 4-5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21. This session is a great way to get up to speed fast on everything Convention has to offer.

If you’re not participating in the New Attendee Enhanced Convention Experience Program (NAECE), consider pairing junior staff with a senior colleague who can make introductions and provide direction.

The GPA Midstream Convention isn’t just another conference — attendees describe it as the Super Bowl of midstream. It’s a concentrated time when midstream professionals tackle engineering, operations, policy, and networking all under one roof. Come with curiosity, leave connected and engaged. See you in San Antonio.