Speakers

THE 42ND USAEE/IAEE NORTH AMERICAN CONFERENCE WILL FEATURE A DYNAMIC AND GROWING LINE-UP OF SPEAKERS FROM ACROSS INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT, AND ACADEMIA — MORE SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INFORMATION ARE COMING SOON!

Kevin Book
Co-Founder and Director of Research | ClearView Energy Partners, LLC

For more than two decades, Kevin Book has been translating energy policy into actionable strategy for corporate leaders and institutional investors. Kevin and his team excel at distilling key trends and salient issues into accessible frameworks. Their work unpacks moving parts—decision-makers and decision protocols, signposts, and uncertainties—to identify impacts to supply, demand, price, and environmental performance. Clients value Kevin’s succinct, transparent, and witty delivery; his willingness to tackle challenging and hard-to-predict topics; and his Firm’s ability to parse the geopolitical big picture as well as specific details. In his analytical capacity, Kevin covers energy geopolitics and fossil energy policy. He appears frequently within print and broadcast media, contributes to policy forums convened by government and private organizations, and meets with top Washington policymakers. Kevin has also testified before several House and Senate Committees. He is a member of the National Petroleum Council (a self-funded advisory body to the Secretary of Energy), a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a nonresident Senior Adviser to the Energy Security and Climate Change Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Kevin holds a B.A. in Economics and English from Tufts University and an M.A.L.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. 

Dr. Anna Broughel
Lecturer in Sustainable Energy Transition Policy | School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University

Anna Broughel is a Lecturer in Sustainable Energy Transition Policy at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University. As a member of the executive council of the United States Association for Energy Economics (USAEE), Anna holds the position of Vice President of Communications at the USAEE and is in charge of the USAEE/IAEE annual conference plenaries. Her extensive engagement with alumni of the Clean Energy Leadership Institute showcases her dedication to fostering collaboration and advancing clean energy solutions. In the past, Anna worked as an energy economist at Tetra Tech and as a science and technology fellow in the U.S. Department of Energy. During her tenure, she focused on leveraging big data and behavioral economics to generate actionable insights for a successful energy transition. She holds a Ph.D. in economics and policy, conferred by the State University of New York in association with Syracuse University, where she was a Fulbright scholar. She completed post-doctoral training at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland and the University of Maryland, College Park.

Dr. Dean Foreman
Chief Economist | Texas Oil & Gas Association

As chief economist for the Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA), Dr. Foreman brings over two decades of experience in the oil and gas industry, including global and domestic policy analysis, finance and risk management, business planning, forecasting, and market analysis, all grounded by his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Florida. His career also includes progressive roles at the American Petroleum Institute, ExxonMobil, Talisman Energy, and Saudi Aramco, where he spearheaded initiatives crucial to industry planning, regulatory influence, and supporting multibillion-dollar investments. His work has driven analyses that guide strategic industry decisions and played a significant role in the development of legislation and regulatory frameworks. He is the president of USAEE, serves as an advisory board member and faculty fellow at TCU’s Ralph Lowe Energy Institute, and is recognized as a Top Voice on LinkedIn.

Thomas J. Gleeson
Chairman | Public Utility Commission of Texas

Thomas Gleeson was appointed Chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) by Gov. Greg Abbott on January 19, 2024. He previously served as the Executive Director of the PUCT, a position he held since December 2020. Thomas has worked for the PUCT for over 15 years in various roles, including chief operating officer, director of finance and administration, and as a fiscal project manager. Gleeson also worked as a legislative analyst for the Texas Senate and a budget analyst for the Legislative Budget Board. Gleeson is a graduate of the Governor's Executive Development Program at The University of Texas at Austin and served as the former chairman of both the City of Pflugerville Finance and Budget Committee and the First United Methodist Church of Round Rock Finance Committee. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Southwestern University and a Master of Public Administration from The Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University. 

Karr Ingham
Economist and President | Texas Alliance of Energy Producers

Karr Ingham is an Amarillo, Texas economist, and serves as Petroleum Economist and President of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers. For over 25 years, he has worked as a metro/regional economist in Texas and elsewhere, and as an oil and gas/energy economist. He is a frequent commentator on the state’s oil and gas economy as well as markets and prices for crude oil and natural gas, and on state and national energy policy issues. He served as the Consulting Petroleum Economist for the Alliance from 2003-2024, and became the organizations Executive Vice President in 2019. Ingham was named President of the Alliance in July 2024. Mr. Ingham is a native of Stratford in the northern Texas Panhandle, and is a magna cum laude BBA. Economics graduate of West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas (and taught undergraduate economics there for a short time as well). He is a council member, vice president for conferences, presenter, and panel moderator for the US Association of Energy Economics. Ingham also co-chairs the Supply and Demand Committee of the Independent Petroleum Association of America. He is a member of the Texas Comptroller’s Economic Roundtable, a group of statewide and national economists convened to offer economic insight to the Comptroller in terms of the general condition of the Texas economy and the ongoing revenue outlook. He is the creator of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers Texas Petro Index, a tool for tracking growth rates and industry cycles in the Texas oil and gas exploration & production sector, as well as the Alliance Texas Permian Basin Petroleum Index.

Ravi Kathuria
Founder and President | Houston Strategy Forum
Founder and President | Cohegic Corporation

A recognized business thought leader, Ravi Kathuria is an expert in helping organizations drive clarity and cohesion. Quoted by the Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, Forbes, WorldNews, NPR, and featured on PBS Nightly Business Report, CNBC, CBS Radio, TEDx, and the BusinessMakers show, Kathuria served as a monthly columnist for SmartBusiness Magazine. He is the author of the highly acclaimed book, “How Cohesive is your Company?: Top-notch business performance is impossible until you cohesively align mission, vision, goals, strategy, execution & culture.” It is a realistic and intense story of how a CEO struggles to transform the business and, in the process, struggles with his personal transformation. Founder and president of Cohegic, a management consulting, executive coaching and sales coaching firm, he has worked with hundreds of executives across industry sectors, and helped companies crystallize their business DNA; clarify their management philosophies; link their vision, goals and strategies; improve culture, and drive performance. Kathuria’s strong intuition and ability to listen makes him a sensitive executive coach. His business acumen and strategic skills make him a powerful business advisor. It is rare to find an executive coach who excels both in business as well as personal guidance. Founder of the Houston Strategy Forum, Kathuria has hosted the who’s who of top CEOs and executives. He has facilitated insightful discussions between speakers and attendees in a unique, high-energy fashion.Kathuria’s second book, “Happy Soul. Hungry Mind.” is a work of spiritual genius. Through the emotional and humorous story of a CEO and his mentor, he has masterfully explained the practical secrets to live a life of peace and happiness. A thought provoking and vivacious speaker, he has captivated audiences at conferences, business events, and corporate meetings.

Bryan Sams
Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs | Calpine

Bryan Sams is Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Calpine, where he leads the company's market advocacy in Texas. His extensive experience in the electric industry spans various segments including generators, retail electric providers, and investor-owned utilities. With a strong background in business and policy, Bryan has been actively involved in numerous Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) activities, including rulemakings, contested cases, and compliance matters. His leadership extends to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), where he has held various committee roles and is currently an elected member of the Technical Advisory Committee. Bryan's industry involvement is further highlighted by his recent position as the Immediate Past President of the Texas Competitive Power Advocates (TCPA), a trade association representing power generators and wholesale power marketers in Texas. His educational background includes a Master of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin Graduate College of Engineering, focusing on Energy Policy and Finance. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio.

Ken Simonson
Chief Economist | Associated General Contractors of America

Ken Simonson has been Chief Economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, the leading construction trade association, since 2001. He provides insight into the economy and what it implies for construction and related industries through frequent media interviews, presentations, and the Data DIGest, his weekly one-page e-newsletter that goes to more than 20,000 subscribers. Ken has over 40 years of experience analyzing, advocating, and communicating about economic and tax issues. He currently serves as an advisor to the Census Bureau’s construction data re-engineering initiative. He is a Fellow and past president of the National Association for Business Economics, and he is co-director of the Tax Economists Forum, a professional meeting group he co-founded in 1982. Ken has a BA in economics from the University of Chicago, and an MA in economics from Northwestern University.

Jonathan Smoke
Chief Economist & Economic Advisor | Cox Automotive

Jonathan Smoke is Chief Economist & Economic Advisor for Cox Automotive. As a senior vice president, Smoke leads the organization’s effort to track and forecast key aspects of the economic environment in which Cox companies compete, including macro-economic trends, regional market variation, consumer segments and buying power, housing, and transportation. In addition to being a key advisor to the Cox Communications and Cox Enterprises executive teams, Smoke serves as the Chief Economist for Cox Automotive and is a member of the automotive leadership team. Smoke leads the company’s effort in developing deep expertise in all aspects of the automotive transportation industry, the economic factors impacting U.S. vehicle buyers and the automotive division’s many business clients and partners. For more than three decades, Smoke has focused on translating data and trends into relevant, actionable insights for the industries that represent the biggest purchases that consumers make in their lifetimes: real estate and automotive. Prior to joining Cox Automotive, Smoke served as Realtor.com’s chief economist. Before that, he was the chief economist for Hanley Wood, a media and market intelligence company, and also served in a variety of roles at Beazer Homes, including senior vice president of strategy and innovation. Smoke is an executive member of the board for the Atlanta Economics Club and is a member of the Conference of Business Economists, the National Business Economics Issues Council, Harvard Industrial Economists, and the National Association of Business Economists.  He speaks at major auto industry conferences such as the NADA and NIADA conventions, Automotive News World Congress, and Used Car Week. His views on the economy and the auto industry are featured regularly in industry and national news outlets such as Automotive News, Auto Remarketing, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Bloomberg, and CNBC. Follow him on X @SmokeonCars to keep up with the latest industry insights. Smoke holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and religious studies from Rhodes College and a master’s degree in business from The University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Greg Upton
Executive Director & Associate Professor - Research | LSU Center for Energy Studies

Dr. Greg Upton's research interests are related to the analysis of economic, environmental and public policy issues in the energy industry. During his tenure at LSU, he has addressed topical energy issues of significance to Louisiana, including state mineral taxes, solar tax credits, and net metering policies, the impact of the oil price collapse on Louisiana’s budgetary challenges, and implications of the crude oil export ban’s lifting on the Louisiana economy, among others. He has presented research to more than 150 industry, governmental, and academic audiences, and has been quoted or cited approximately 150 times in local and national media, including the Wall Street Journal and NPR’s Marketplace. Dr. Upton holds a Ph.D. in Economics from LSU, where he also received both an M.S. in economics and a B.S. in economics with a concentration in empirical analysis.