On Friday morning, Colorado Mesa University partnered with the Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) for the third part of its “Student Energy Series” labeled the Energy and Manufacturing Forum. This event focused on the importance of responsible energy development, jobs in the field, the economy and its impact and the revitalization of the domestic manufacturing sector.

“It was informative on what they are trying to do,” energy management student Chris Kapple said. “With the type of businesses that they are trying to grow and bring more jobs for those businesses.”

The event began by introducing the three leaders in the energy and manufacturing community from three different energy corporations who were on the panel. They were each given 10 minutes to describe to the audience what their corporation does in this industry.

First to speak was Joe Stratman, who is the executive vice president of Nucor Corporation. Nucor is the largest steel producer in the United States.

The company brought in $16 billion in sales in 2016, and are the nation’s largest recycling company, according to Stratman.

The second member on the panel was Executive Vice President Danny Wilson for G2X Energy. His company focuses on the conversion of natural gas to things like methanol.

Next up was Bob Braddock, the senior project advisor for Jordan Cove LNG. Jordan Cove LNG is an infrastructure company that stores natural gas and they ship it all over the world.

“The facilities are pretty straight forward,” Braddock said. “It is essentially taking gas and running it through a giant refrigerator like you have in your kitchen.”

The final member of the panel was John Harpole, who is the founder and president of Mercator Energy. Harpole also served as the moderator.

After everyone was introduced, they moved to the panel discussion of the forum where each of the panelists were given questions that were either determined by Harpole or from members in the audience.

Audience members asked questions about the company’s contributions to the natural gas industry. One attendee asked whether the panelists fear one another as competition in the industry.

“I don’t fear that as competition,” Stratman said when asked about his thoughts on what Braddock’s company does. “In other words [the] demand for natural gas goes through the roof, prices go through the roof […] so that is why I wish him all the best in the world because he is creating American jobs.”

Members in the audience included coworkers of the panelists, community members, CMU staff and students. Many of the attendees felt that they received vital information from the discussion that took place.

“I thought it was encouraging [and I] am in the energy business so they are top notch for sure,” community member Rodney Christ said.

CMU’s own Land and Energy Management Club was also in attendance to learn about the industry and to ask some questions of their own.

“It is good to see different aspects of the industry, like the whole steel industry and how that applies to the natural gas sector, and also to see how they come and go with each other,” president of the club Cole Deihs said.