One of the signature themes of President Donald Trump’s candidacy was to support the domestic oil and gas industry in a variety of ways, from promising to give the go-ahead to stalled pipelines to denying that human activities have caused climate change.
The CEOs we spoke with saw some positives and negatives in how President Trump is addressing energy, with plenty of room for growth.
His denial of climate-change rankled some who felt that it boxed the new administration unnecessarily into a corner of seemingly doctrinaire support of the hydrocarbon business.
Some suggested that he could agree with the “insurance policy” approach put forth in early February by way-back establishment Republicans George Shultz and James Baker in a Wall Street Journal op-ed piece, calling for a carbon tax and other measures that would comprise “a conservative answer to climate change.”
“I’m supportive of how they want to address climate-change problems in a market-oriented fashion,” said John Berger, CEO of Sunnova, which makes solar-energy equipment. Berger would also like to see President Trump get the federal government involved in helping electric utilities overhaul power plants and other aspects of the grid that are in disrepair.
But the executives were broadly in support of early Trump administration initiatives to clear the way for completion of the long-delayed Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil and gas pipelines in Flyover Country, reversing Obama administration stops on those projects.
And some supported the “America First Energy Plan” that Trump released shortly after Inauguration Day, which would fund a national infrastructure program from new taxes on oil and gas.
Restaurant Technologies CEO Jeff Kiesel favored a gasoline tax. Prices remain low, and “this would be a perfect user tax, which could fluctuate to keep gas at a fixed retail price,” he said. “We could adjust to higher fuel prices.”
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
