Plan your 2024 Convention now! Sept. 22-25 is when “the” midstream event of the year convenes at the Marriott Rivercenter along San Antonio’s famed River Walk, a cultural melting-pot destination in Texas worthy of visit in its own right. The main attraction for attendees though, is that the GPA Midstream 2024 Convention will once again represent the largest gathering of industry professionals responsible for leading the sector and its engineering and technical expertise.
20% of the nearly 2,000 attendees are CEOs, COOs, presidents, directors and other high-ranking executives, and more than 30% have engineering titles and backgrounds. Collectively, the group constitutes the majority of operating and supplier companies of all sizes in midstream, ensuring a well-rounded program with ideas and opportunities to benefit every individual registrant.
Pre-Convention Tips
Get and use the Midstream Go app for reviewing and building your own schedule around convention activities and meetings to attend. That way it’s all right there in your phone and in your hand, including agenda, descriptions, locations and hotel maps. Midstream Go is free and can be downloaded on the Apple Store or get it on Google Play.
Regardless of how you access the schedule, take a few minutes to study and understand the Convention’s “Track” designations. Most agenda items fall into one of three tracks: Advocacy, Technical or Commercial. Each is color coded for easy visual distinction, and allows quick reference to track-related topics.
Meetings, roundtables and forums … don’t sweat the details, you have it all at your fingertips. You’ll find everything you need to know about each within the program schedule in your Midstream Go app. While a few may be designated “closed meeting,” most are open to your attendance and participation. For some, seating may be limited by room size. Therefore, for your must-attend choices, plan on arriving early to ensure a seat. The majority of meetings speak to a specific topic, but some are more general for the good of overall industry knowledge. If in doubt, select the “Learn More” dropdown under specific agenda item for a deeper dive into details.
Sunday’s “Don’t Miss It”
If your first GPA Midstream Convention, take advantage of the New Attendee Orientation, 4-5 p.m. Those in the know will share valuable insights on how to make the most of your convention time and experience to fit needs and interests.
Opening Reception and Vendor Night, 5-8 p.m., is the perfect first-evening mixer to reconnect with familiar acquaintances and meet new ones in a friendly, high-energy atmosphere. Sponsored exhibits around the perimeter showcase industry products and services, and are manned by company personnel that know them best. Learn and mingle, while you eat and drink.
Monday’s “Don’t Miss It”
The Center Stage Luncheon, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., provides a comfortable venue for a delicious sit-down lunch with fellow attendees and to join in celebrating industry news and awards. Association leadership will provide remarks, and then turn the mic over to keynote speaker Jay Samit. Samit has advised popes and presidents, and collaborated with Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Reid Hoffman, and more. He also helped launch LinkedIn, eBay and iTunes, and pioneered breakthrough advancements in mobile video, robotics, internet advertising, ecommerce, social networks, eBooks, and digital music.
Now Samit is ready to motivate GPA Midstream Convention attendees with his high energy and entertaining presentation focused on employee empowerment, loyalty, change and innovation. He speaks to everything future proofing to AI.
Note: Doors open at 10:30. Arrive early to make sure you get a seat at Center Stage Luncheon. First come first seated — except for sponsored tables.
First-time attendees should plan to attend our GPA Midstream/GPSA/Chapters 101 overview at 8:30 a.m. This is a great opportunity to learn more about what the associations do for the industry and how to get involved.
Don't miss the Executive Roundtable on Monday from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Hear what's ahead for the industry from the visionary leaders shaping its future — Bill Johnson, Phillips 66; Jen Kneale, Targa; and Greg Floerke, MPLX. They'll address strategic issues for the midstream in a free-flowing panel discussion moderated by GPA Midstream President Joel Moxley.
Monday afternoon you’ll want to catch the Let’s Clear the Air: Communicating the Value of Midstream Infrastructure program, 4-5 p.m. GPA Midstream staff will provide updates on the industry’s outreach initiative, including latest messaging and measurables.
5-6:30 p.m. is the Professional Women’s Networking Event.
Tuesday’s “Don’t Miss It”
Two breakfast opportunities kick-off Tuesday, both at 7:30-9 a.m., and each requiring a purchased ticket. The Industry Keynote Breakfast features GPA Midstream Chair Micheal Dunn, Williams; Chair-Elect Greg Floerke, MPLX; and Vice Chair Bill Johnson, Phillips 66 in a roundtable discussion: Lessons Learned in Setting Safety Culture.
Popular Texas pastor Randy Phillips keynotes the Convention Prayer Breakfast. The founder of LifeFamily churches believes every person's life can be transformed through the power of Jesus Christ and Phillips proudly spreads the gospel through praise, worship, and practical messages.
Five “Lunch and Learn” options for noon dining and timely topics, noon-1 p.m., are available for separate ticket purchase. Each lunch meeting has its own sponsored presentation and expert speakers addressing key industry matters, ranging from Unlock Your Safety Culture Potential to CO2 Composition and Quality Challenges. Limited seating, so it’s best to procure tickets in advance.
There’s a training program on tap, 2:30-3:30 p.m., Professional Ethics for Engineers, provided by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.
Wednesday’s “Don’t Leave Yet”
Three great presentations round out the Convention’s final morning of programs. Challenges in Midstream Facilities Design and Operation is 8:30-11:30 a.m. Modern Leadership for Energy Professionals is 8:30-9:30 a.m. Power Struggle - How the Electrification of Our Industry is Affecting Projects and What Options Exist to Meet Desired Timelines is 10:30-11:15 a.m.
Networking Galore!
While Sunday morning’s Sporting Clays event is now closed to shooter sign-ups, there are still some station sponsorships available. GPA Midstream’s Melodi Foster says a station set is a minimal investment to get involved and a great way to connect one on one with the participants who represent the diverse mix of member companies’ participants. Contact Foster directly for sponsorship information.
In addition to the many by-chance opportunities to connect in hallways and around elevators, there are a whole lot more places created specifically for networking. Convention Friends and other sponsored booths are located throughout the spacious foyer on the paths to and from meeting rooms. And don’t overlook sponsored coffee breaks, around the company-featured literature stands, or at the many nightly hospitalities as spots to make new contacts.
Also, a new-for-2024 activity is a Monday-night sponsored Happy Hour in the hotel’s lobby bar, 8-11 p.m.
Without question, the GPA Midstream 2024 Convention is “the” conference for everything midstream. GPA Midstream and GPSA members are entitled to registration discounts and there’s still time. Let’s meet next month in San Antonio!
Click here and register before the price increases on August 21.
