Oil and Gas

Previewing LAGCOE 2015

by Patrick Flanagan

Age 60 looks good on the country's second-largest oil and gas show.

LAGCOE 2015 will celebrate our 60th year of operation. Industry volunteers have worked tirelessly for decades to welcome attendees from across the globe to LAGCOE, one of the world's pioneer oil and gas expositions. LAGCOE is different than many other oil and gas shows because, as a non-profit, this hands-on experience is put on for the industry by industry professionals.

Family traditions are followed by volunteers, some of whom are the fourth generation serving.

Kenny Crouch's father, Jodie, began volunteering for LAGCOE in the 1970s when there were still LAGCOE parades. Crouch, owner of Pressure Control Specialties, has been involved for almost 40 years, currently serving LAGCOE as chairman-elect.

Kent Gerdsen with Parker Drilling Company serves as chairman of the LAGCOE Inside Exhibits Committee and traces his involvement to his mother who was involved in the 1960s. Kent began serving in the 1980s, and today, his sons Garrett and John and nephew Jim Andrepont are carrying on the family tradition as the third generation supporting LAGCOE.

George Eaton with Eaton Oil Tools is one of four generations volunteering for LAGCOE. His father began in 1967 and he started in 1984. Today George is LAGCOE lobby chairman and, his son, Edward, and two grandsons serve alongside him.

Growing and changing in response to industry needs
The LAGCOE Career Fair was introduced in 2013, drawing 1,000 job seekers and 30 hiring companies and continues as an annual event with the second scheduled for Oct. 29, 2014, at the Cajundome Convention Center. Registration is free for job seekers and information is available here.

The LAGCOE Education Fund, a fund at the Community Foundation of Acadiana, was initiated to educate the public and the industry through programs such as scholarships, educational presentations, support of STEM programs and workforce development programs. The Young Professionals of LAGCOE continue to lead the charge in fundraising efforts including the annual LAGCOE Sporting Clays Tournament.

The Future Energy Professionals program was established in 2013 under the umbrella of the LAGCOE Education Fund to encourage and support future industry professionals to pursue technical degrees and positions which fuel our world. Tours of LAGCOE gave high school students a hands-on view of industry technology and the opportunity to vie for scholarships to pursue STEM-centric degrees. Plans are under way to expand the FEP program beyond Lafayette Parish schools to include the entire Acadiana region.

DRILLS, created and facilitated by EXCELERANT, which debuted at LAGCOE 2013, is a program designed to engage current and future leaders of the industry in conversation about ensuring a pipeline of prepared, qualified senior and executive leaders.

YPL will continue to host DRILLS events to keep the conversation on leadership and succession in the industry going.

Because LAGCOE is a nonprofit organization, sponsorships provide critical support. With sponsors' support we are able to open our biennial exposition to attendees with no registration fee and provide programs like our technical presentations addressing hot topics in the industry featuring local and international speakers. An array of new sponsorship options are available online here.

Hotels and transportation showcase Lafayette hospitality by welcoming visitors who will hopefully be returning to do business with local companies. We will again provide professional bus transportation throughout each day from the hotels that participate as official LAGCOE host hotels.

A Priority Points System for exhibitors will be initiated in 2015 to help address the ongoing "good" problem of a 600+ company wait list for exhibit space.

Reaching out to all generations, inviting future and emerging professionals and honoring lifetime members
Young Professionals of LAGCOE's hundreds of members are active in initiatives such as the new LAGCOE Mentor Program, classroom talks on STEM careers and networking events in addition to the aforementioned LAGCOE Sporting Clays Tournament, Future Energy Professionals Program and DRILLS.

LAGCOE is expanding ways to include volunteers in a new organizational membership structure as we are blessed with a tremendous outpouring of supportive offers from industry professionals and community-minded individuals. Lifetime members of LAGCOE will be recognized in the new structure as they have led us for 60 years and continue to inspire us today.

It is important in this coming 60th year of LAGCOE to both honor our long-standing history and continue to look to the future of the industry. Stay up to date on new events and celebrate history with us as we share on social media images and information for 60 weeks leading up to LAGCOE 2015.

Angela Cring is the executive director of the Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Exposition, the country's second-largest oil and gas show held biennially in October at the Cajundome and Cajundome Convention Center. Next year's show is Oct. 27-29.