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Posts tagged "Youngstown Ohio Utica Natural Gas Conference and Expo"

2012 YOUNG Conference & Expo Expands, Focuses on Businesses

Friday, September 7th, 2012 | 0 Comments

EID-Ohio traveled to Youngstown this week for the Youngstown Ohio Utica & Natural Gas (YOUNG) Conference & Expo 2012.  Like YOUNG 2011, this year’s conference was packed with exhibitors, experts, and attendees from the shale industry, its suppliers, and related industries.  Also like last year, exhibitor space sold out.  The event was sponsored by the Youngstown – Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce and gave businesses a chance to connect with other businesses in the shale chain in hopes of making the Mahoning Valley and Ohio a vital part of the shale industry.

Eric Planey, Vice President of International Business Attraction at the Chamber, took a minute out of his busy day to chat with us about this year’s YOUNG Conference and the benefits it and the shale industry will have on the Youngstown area:

This year it is simply a business to business expo, we have more industry players from around the United States attending and exhibiting—Eric Planey (:42)

Located in the Covelli Centre, the expo included enthusiastic vendors from every aspect of the industry.  There were also two educational stages in the building for attendees to listen to expert speakers. Thursday morning visitors could listen to several sessions including David Mustine, Managing Director of Energy, Chemicals & Polymers for JobsOhio.  He pointed out that all Ohioans are much closer to a major development than most think.  He said everyone in Ohio can benefit from this development.  Attendees also had a chance to listen to Harry Schurr, General Manager of Utica Operations and Hess J.V. for Consol Energy.  Schurr told the crowd of potential contractors, suppliers, and business partners that the highest priority is safety.  If they plan on working with Consol, they must operate safely and strive to be 100% compliant.  As the day continued, many companies echoed Schurr’s emphasis on safety.

In the afternoon, visitors got an introduction from the Mayor William D. Franklin of the City of Warren:

The City of Warren and the entire Mahoning Valley hopes—and we really don’t hope, we know—that this will be the birth of a prosperous future—City of Warren Mayor William D. Franklin (:01)

Following, the conference got a taste of the midstream part of the industry from John Bonn, President of NiSource Midstream Services, LLC:

We see this as just the beginning of our footprint here, we identify probably about a billion to 1.5 billion dollar worth of capital projects that will grow from these first two projects as we continue to expand in this area—John Bonn (1:56)

After sitting in on some of the day’s sessions, EID-O walked around the expo to chat with some folks involved with the Utica Shale play, most of which have recently expanded because of the industry.  First, we talked to Ashley McKenzie and Rachel Van Loan from Minuteman Environmental Services.  The company is based in Williamsport, Pennsylvania and recently expanded to Cambridge, Ohio:

Actually some of our retaining customers have come out this way and they’re drilling exploratory wells, so we followed them out and their utilizing our services. Even speaking with the engineers…they’re really excited about the Utica Shale—Ashley McKenzie (:37)

Lastly, EID-O spoke with John DiNunzio, Vice President of Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.  He told us his business has expanded “tremendously” because of the Utica Shale:

Our firm has grown tremendously through the opportunities from the Marcellus and Utica Shale, where we probably added 30% additional staff over the last several years and we just see this growing and growing and continue to develop more opportunities in Ohio—John DiNunzio (:47)

On the way out, we did run into a sole protestor, making it clear that the hundreds of conference attendees and shale supports outweigh the misconceptions and anti-development minority in Ohio.

Overall, YOUNG 2012 was extremely successful.  Chamber representatives, vendors, and attendees all made it clear that they plan to help in the success of Ohio’s shale industry and the incredible investment that has come to the area.  There is no doubt that YOUNG 2013 and similar events like June’s Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Shale Supply Chain Seminar will continue to be successful.

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2011 YOUNG Conference and Expo

Thursday, December 1st, 2011 | 0 Comments

Yesterday, the EID Ohio team made the trek to Youngstown to attend the 2011 Y.O.U.N.G (Youngstown Ohio Utica Natural Gas) Conference and Expo. The event, sponsored by the Youngstown – Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce, packed hundreds of visitors. With 80 vendors ranging from local and national banks to equipment rentals and independent producers, the Covelli Centere was the place to be for those seeking information about shale development and shale opportunities.  It was also the place to be to hear first-hand announcements touting the economic prosperity Utica Shale development is already bringing to the region.

Below is a quick video of the massive crowd that attended the conference and expo.

Here is a short clip of the overflowing size of the audience.

As incredible as the audience and guest speaker list was (and we’ll get to that in a moment) two major announcements topped the ticket in Youngstown.  Joel Mastervich, President & COO of V&M Star stole the show by announcing the opening of a new VAM, USA facility in Youngstown. The finishing plant comes with a $57 million dollar investment, and will create an estimated 100 new jobs. The icing on the cake for Youngstown came from Judson Wallace, president of VAM:

Most of our hiring will be done locally,” (YSU, VAM put wham in chamber shale show, 12/1/11).

This next video is of Joel Mastervich, President and COO, V&M sharing an update from his company.

As one could imagine, the announcement was well received by representatives of the region, including Senator Sherrod Brown:

By partnering with V&M Star and expanding its footprint in Youngstown, VAM USA is underscoring its confidence in the Mahoning Valley’s workers and their commitment to making quality products,” (YSU, VAM put wham in chamber shale show, 12/1/11).

Congressman Tim Ryan, who represents Youngstown, also applauded the move, stating

he is  hopeful that VAM’s decision is just the beginning of the investment in the Valley and Ohio that we need to get people back to work,” (YSU, VAM put wham in chamber shale show, 12/1/11).

The plant is expected to open in 2012, and be fully operational in early 2013. This expansion comes on the heels of V&M’s increasing role in the recently resurgent steel industry – one experiencing a sudden revitalization thanks to the development of the Utica Shale (be sure to stay tuned to EID-Ohio for more on the return of Ohio Steel).

This is a video of a V&M video that shows the progress of their new plant in Youngstown.

In response to the increasing demand for new workers – ones needed to fill the 200,000-plus Ohio shale jobs to come in the next three years  - Youngstown State University (YSU) announced it will be opening a new Natural Gas and Water Resources Institute, with classes beginning as early as next fall. The program is designed to help train students in the skills needed to obtain jobs in shale-related industries. The curriculum will compliment those students studying science related fields, providing graduates with an advantage in understanding shale development. Martin Abraham, Dean of the YSU College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, is particularly encouraged by the opportunities created for graduates with the creation of the Institute:

We think this is going to put Youngstown in a leadership position,”  (YSU, VAM put wham in chamber shale show, 12/1/11).

The theme of jobs and workforce development was echoed by other esteemed guest speakers throughout the afternoon.  JobsOhio’s David Mustine and Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ Michelle Ball who addressed the issues of workforce development and job training. Many of Ohio’s top leaders also took an interest,  including individuals representing the offices of U.S. Senator Rob Portman, Governor John Kasich and Congressman Bill Johnson.

This clip is of Michelle Ball explaining Ohio’s need for strong workforce development.

Peppered amongst the excitement of the two big announcements, experts and educators provided the attendees with a plethora of information  covering varied aspects of shale development.  Dr. Jeffrey Dick, Chair of Geological and Environment Sciences at Youngstown State University, addressed the audience on several topics such as myth vs fact when it come to the subject of well production. An expert on Appalachian geology, oil and gas exploration and production, Professor Dick has over 15 years experience in the industry and has been involved with many ground water and surface water studies.

Dr. Dick explaining his background and some general facts about shale production.

Professor Dick gives the crowd a lesson is shale development.

Lastly the professor debunks some common myths about production and explains the truth about production.

Ohio Oil and Gas Executive Vice President, and EID – Ohio’s Executive Director Tom Stewart, was able to speak with several members of the media about the strong and detailed regulations and enforcement of Ohio’s laws that protect all Ohioans and the environment.

While Mr. Stewart was able to provide in great detail how regulators will protect us all his words did not calm everyone. Five uninvited guests had to be escorted out by security. Several were later arrested.  I will let my friend and colleague Shawn Bennett provide you with more details about those folks.

This last clip is of our uninvited guests be walked back outside into the brisk Ohio November weather.

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