American Oil and Gas Reporter - July 2021 - 33

Event To Focus On Today, Tomorrow
The Energy Summit
DENVER-After going virtual last year,
the Colorado Oil & Gas Association's
annual Energy Summit returns for its 33rd
year with an in-person conference and
golf tournament Aug. 23-24, in Denver.
Traditionally one of the region's largest
oil and gas events, COGA indicates the
Energy Summit will feature one day of insightful
panels and speakers at an in-person
event at the Denver Museum of Nature &
Science, along with an evening cocktail
party. But given COVID-19 and many
peoples' changing work habits, COGA
notes it also is hosting the event virtually
so it can be viewed by anyone, anywhere.
" Our 2020 conference-like so many
things that year-was a first for the Energy
Summit. The conference was held 100%
as a virtual event, with a complete package
of sessions, networking and sponsorship
opportunities that mirrored our traditional
in-person conference, " recounts COGA
Vice President of Operations and Director
of the Energy Summit Sara Reynolds.
Unwinding the August 2020 event,
which had been almost completely planned
as an in-person event prior to the COVID19
pandemic, and rebuilding it as a virtual
event, was a challenge, she acknowledges.
" However, there was a degree of certainty
as well, " Reynolds adds. " Once the decision
was made and the path clear, it was just a
matter of rolling up our sleeves and digging
into the work, and creating a successful
experience for all our stakeholders. "
According to COGA President and
Chief Executive Officer Dan Haley, planning
for 2021 was far less certain. With
contracts to sign and commitments typically
made months in advance, trying to
predict the state of COVID-19 and the
economic conditions impacting the industry
were impossible.
" Normally we begin planning the conference
almost a full year in advance, but
after consulting with the board, we decided
to hold off on any planning until the end
of the first quarter of 2021, " Haley recounts.
The wait paid off, he assesses. " I don't
think many of us would have predicted
that the vaccine would arrive so soon,
and be so widely available within the
first quarter of the year, " Haley continues.
" It become clear that an in-person conference
was possible in 2021. Sure, it
would still look and feel different, but
gathering for an in-person conference
was a priority for our Board of Directors
and delaying the planning process was
key to making that a reality. "
While planning an in-person conference
was somewhat a return to normal for the
conference team, COGA indicates, there
were still new variables and opportunities
to consider. With a shorter planning horizon,
the scope of the conference had to
adjust. Rather than a three-day affair, the
2021 Energy Summit will consist of its
annual golf tournament on Monday Aug.
23, followed by a single conference day
on Aug. 24.
According to COGA, the more streamlined
approach trimmed overhead expenses,
which allowed the association to
pass those savings on to attendees through
lower registration fees. " We also knew
not everyone might be able to attend the
in-person conference due to ongoing
COVID-19 concerns. Whether it was personal
circumstances, or company policies
that limit travel, providing a virtual option
was essential, " Reynolds explains. " One
outcome of the pandemic was the acceleration
of technology and solutions to
bring people and content together in a
virtual setting. There was never any question
that we would offer both an inperson
and a virtual option for the Energy
Summit this year. "
COGA says it has discounted registration
for the virtual livestream significantly,
further making the conference even
more accessible at a time when many industry
partners still are recovering from
the pandemic's economic consequences.
Commitment To Community
Colorado has a vibrant creative economy,
anchored by renowned venues delivering
art, music and cultural experiences
to the community, COGA describes, and
the pandemic impacted these venues especially
hard, with many museums, theaters
and galleries shuttered completely
or only partially open for nearly a year.
" We quickly realized we had an opportunity
to support the community with
our Energy Summit, " Haley relates. " While
we looked at a variety of potential venues,
it became clear that our conference also
could bring financial support to one of
our many magnificent cultural institutions. "
Enter the Denver Museum of Nature &
Science (DMNS), which COGA says is
one of the leading museums in the country,
and a historic building set in the region's
largest park, City Park. " The DMNS was
not only an elegant solution to the conference
The Colorado Oil & Gas Association's 33rd annual Energy Summit, scheduled for Aug. 2324
in Denver, comes to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The conference sessions
explore themes such as " Beyond the Pandemic: Social, Political and Economic Change, "
" Investing in the New Energy Space, " " Mitigating GHGs-Challenges, Opportunities and a
Realistic Path Forward, " " Creating a Culture of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Strategies
for Success " and " Combating Climate Change Together. "
JULY 2021 33

American Oil and Gas Reporter - July 2021

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