People

Tom Kalb
Thomas Kalb
Director

Lamar University
Beaumont, TX
(e) tkalb@lamar.edu (m) (203) 803-7677

Mr. Kalb is an oil and gas executive with 43 years in financial and operating commodity businesses. He spent 35 years serving as an oil and gas focused institutional investor and provider of corporate finance advisory services, and seven years as a petroleum engineer. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Chicago where he earned a B.S. (Petroleum Engineering) in 1979 and an MBA (Finance) in 1988, respectively.

Lou
Dr. Timothy Roden
Faculty Advisor

Lamar University
Beaumont, TX
(e) troden@lamar.edu
(o) (409) 880-2179

Dr. Roden is an Associate Professor of Computer Science in the College of Arts and Sciences. In addition to his rich experience in research, Dr. Roden has published eighteen articles focusing on computer science. He is a graduate of Midswestern State University (B.A. English), Angelo State University (B.S. Computer Science), University of Texas at Arlington (M.S. Computer Science), and University of North Texas where he earned a Ph.D in Computer Science. 

Lou
Dr. Helen H. Lou
Faculty Advisor

Lamar University
Beaumont, TX
(e) helen.lou@lamar.edu
(o) (409) 880-8207

Dr. Lou is a Professor of Chemical Engineering and a Fellow of American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). In addition to her rich experience in research, development and education, Dr. Lou was a Board Member of the Gulf Coast Regional Center of Innovation and Commercialization (2009 – 2015). She is a graduate of Wayne State University where she earned a Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering) and an M.A. (Computer Science) in 2001.

Industry Advisory Board

ajay

Ajey Chandra
CEO
Baker & O'Brien Inc.
Houston, TX

Ajey Chandra is Chief Executive Officer of Baker & O'Brien Inc., an internationally known consulting firm. He has over 37 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, both in the North American and Internationally. Mr. Chandra joined Baker & O'Brien in 2022 after having gained experience in various facets of the midstream industry, including operations, engineering, business development, management, and consulting. Mr. Chandra has had a wide variety of assignments covering all aspects of the energy industry during his career, and has had several long-term expatriate assignments overseas, including Europe and Southeast Asia. Mr. Chandra’s operating, consulting and management experience includes working at Amoco, Purvin & Gertz, Hess, NextEra Energy Resources, and Muse Stancil & Company before joining Baker & O’Brien.

Dan Noack

Dan Noack
Vice President -
Emerging Energy
Plains All American
Pipeline, L.P.
Houston, TX

Dan joined Plains in 2008, serving in roles of increasing responsibility in the company's natural gas storage processing business prior to accepting his current position. Dan is responsible for identifying and pursuing energy transition opportunities that complement Plains' assets and services and support the company's long-term focus on sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions across Plain's North American operating footprint.


John Tikkanen

John Tikkanen
Retired Executive
Shawcor
Houston, TX

John Tikkanen is an accomplished executive with over 30 years of management, strategy, marketing, sales, and M&A experience at Shawcor and affiliates where he managed a global $1 billion P&L. He has a track record of growing revenues, profits and improving safety performance. Mr. Tikkanen holds an Honors degree in Business Administration from the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. He also graduated from the University of Toronto’s Director’s Education Program and Wharton Business's School's Executing Strategy. He is currently a Board Member of Pine Bluff Sand and Gravel, Seal of Life Industries, and the International Pipeline and Offshore Contractors Association in Geneva Switzerland. He is a past board member of PFT Systems, TorcSill Foundations, and the Alley Theater in Houston, Texas, and a past Trustee of the National Association of Pipe Coating Applicators.

Wes Johnson

John W. "Wes" Johnson
Senior Vice President
& Global General Manager
 Corrpro
Houston, TX

Wes Johnson is a Lamar University College of Engineering alumnus with 20+ years in the energy industry (up-, mid-, and down-stream). He is currently the Senior Vice President & Global General Manager of Aegion’s Corrpro Division, a leading provider of Cathodic Protection and Integrity Management. He has worked in the midstream services sector for 10+ years both internationally and domestically. Wes has worked and has extensive knowledge in mid-stream focal areas such as inspections, coatings, manufacturing, distribution, field services and engineering. Wes and his family reside in Cypress, Texas. Wes earned B.S. IE and B.S. IT degrees in 1997 and 1996, respectively, from Lamar University and was a Alpha-Pi-Mu Graduate.


Cardona

Juan Cardona
Sr. Manager, System Planning & Asset Optimization
Summit Midstream Partners, LP
Houston, TX

Juan Cardona brings a decade of experience in the midstream oil and gas industry; his primary focus is new products and new application development. He holds an industrial engineering degree from Lamar University, is a certified Six Sigma black belt, and a senior member at IEEE. Juan understands the importance of developing reliable oil and gas midstream infrastructure. Over the past ten years, Juan has managed several facility standardization efforts to enhance the viability of oil and gas midstream projects.

glasgow

Ian Glasgow
Vice President
Project Services
Blue Tide Environmental
Baytown, TX

Ian Glasgow has over twenty years of process engineering and process integration experience for the refining, syngas, and chemical industries.  Before working at Blue Tide Environmental he was the Director of Project Development at TritenIAG where he was responsible for project feasibility analysis, process scope development, and owner’s engineering support. Ian’s specialty in process technologies allows him to support acheiving business, economic, and operational objectives.  Prior to TritenIAG, Ian was a Senior Process Engineer at Wood Group Mustang for over 10 years, and a Research Associate at the Process Integration in the Pulp and Paper Industry Research Chair at Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal. Ian is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) where he has chaired several committees. He has been awarded the Distinguished Service Award from AIChE F&PD and the South Texas Local Section (STS).  He currently serves on the advisory board for the Center for Midstream Management and Science at Lamar University and the Texas Industrial Energy Efficiency Program (TIEEP).  He holds a BS degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati, an MS degree in Chemical Engineering from Auburn University, and is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Texas.


oostendorp

  Dirk van Oostendorp
  Director, Engineering
  & Technical Services
  Corrpro
  Houston, TX

Dirk van Oostendorp is the Director of Engineering & Technical Services for CorrPro, a division of Aegion, located in Houston. Dirk has more than 40 years of global experience in all aspects of pipeline and structural integrity, encompassing cathodic protection, corrosion control, material selection, protective coatings, inspection technologies, and risk assessment. More recent experience includes integrity monitoring, failure analysis, and pipeline integrity issues. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in chemical technology and physical chemistry. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Fellow of the Institute of Corrosion and a NACE Corrosion Specialist. Mr. Oostendorp is the author of 22 technical articles and 36 conference papers.

Time Edward

Tim Edward
President
OneBridge Solutions, Inc.
Calgary, Alberta

Tim Edward spent the past 27 years researching and designing software solutions for oil and gas pipeline operators, including solutions for public awareness, pipeline asset integrity, risk, corrosion, crack and geohazard management. He is a co-founder and President of OneBridge Solutions, Inc., which developed and commercialized Cognitive Integrity Management™, the world’s first process, data and integrity management solution that leverages digital transformation, machine learning and data driven analytics to improve operational efficiencies.


Quinn Holub
Quinn Holub

Director, Oil & Gas Business Development
HUVRdata
Austin, TX





Quinn Holub knows the O&G business from top to bottom. He started off 20 years ago as a welder, inspector and field supervisor. After completing his bachelor's degree in business management, he transitioned to operations and general management at several different industrial service companies. In 2018 Quinn joined Gecko Robotics to help spearhead new inspection methods and technologies. Drawing on his years of field experience dealing with complex tasks in hazardous environments, he has become a champion of robotics and automation that increase safety and efficiency. To that end, Quinn recently joined HUVRdata to help create a powerful ecosystem of solutions using the best technology, software and services available. Quinn is a member of Sprint Robotics, ASME and on the Mobile Unmanned Systems Committee.  He provides go-to-market strategy, advises industrial technology startups and actively promotes youth involvement in "skilled trade" career paths.

Todd Patterson
Todd Patterson

Senior Manager of Enterprise Asset Management
Buckeye Partners, L.P.
Walnutport, PA



Dr. Patterson is Senior Manager of Enterprise Asset Management at Buckeye Partners, L.P. His current responsibilities include strategic and tactical asset-related data management to provide accurate and reliable monitoring of asset performance particularly with a focus on condition-based maintenance and predictive analytics. Todd has more than 20 years of Geographic Information Systems experience spanning multiple industries and diverse applications, including academic support, landcover mapping, imagery classification, CAD integration, environmental remediation, software development, and pipeline operations. He has been associated with the Pipeline Open Data Standard (PODS) for several years and has served as its President for the last two.

Todd holds degrees from the State University of New York, University of South Carolina, Villanova University, and an MBA from Norwich University. He also serves as an adjunct instructor at Lehigh University, East Stroudsburg University, and Northampton Community College.


Ravi Dasari
Ravi Kiran Dasari

Process Engineering Manager
Audubon Engineering Companies
Houston, TX



Mr. Dasari has over 15 years of qualitative experience as a process/facilities engineering manager in upstream, midstream and downstream industries where he has worked on numerous technologies including hydrogen, petrochemicals, refineries, and LNG. He has both greenfield and brownfield work experience in feasibility studies, pre-FEED, Front End Engineering Design (FEED), and Detailed Engineering (DE). He is a registered professional engineer in Texas and Louisiana and holds a project management certification (PMP).

Mr. Dasari holds a Master of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas and a Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering from J.N.T. University, Hyderabad, India where he graduated in the top 5% of his class.

MITCHSMOLIK
Mitch Smolik
Vice President - Engineering
Howard Energy Partners
San Antonio, TX

 

 

Mr. Smolik is Vice President - Engineering at Howard Energy Partners (HEP) where he previously served as Director of Operations. Prior to joining HEP, Mr. Smolik worked over 18 years in various engineering and operations roles at MPLX, MarkWest, OneSubsea, and the Southwest Research Institute.

Mr. Smolik is a 2005 graduate of Texas A&M University - Kingsville where he earned a BSc, Mechanical Engineering.


Wesley CarterWesley Carter
Vice President of Environmental,
Health, and Safety
Kinetik
Houston, TX

 

Mr. Carter is a  Process Safety Professional with a diverse background spanning onshore natural gas E&P, midstream Gas Processing/Treating/NGL Fractionation, and the Chemical Processing/Manufacturing industry. Throughout his career, he has excelled in overseeing regulatory compliance and internal programs covering Environmental/GHG, Occupational Health & Safety, Process Safety, and Pipeline Integrity Management, and currently holds the AIChE – CCPS Certified Process Safety Professional (CCPSC) certification.

Wesley received his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and the Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Engineering Certificate, both from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX. He is currently pursuing an Executive MBA in Energy from the University of Oklahoma, Price College of Business.

chris jones
Chris Jones 
Global Director
LNG, Pipelines & Terminal
Honeywell Process Solutions
Houston, TX

 

 

Chris Jones is Global Director of LNG, Pipelines, & Terminals for Honeywell Process Solutions. He has been with Honeywell for 26 years. In his early days with Honeywell, Chris worked as an operator in chemical plants then as an engineer where he gained experience in various roles, including process engineering, production superintendent, and operations manager. More recently, Chris has lent his expertise in marketing, business development, estimating, and sales leadership. In his current role, Chris has a team of technical consultants and business leaders across the world that focus on the LNG & Midstream industries to bring industry domain knowledge to their automation projects. Chris holds an MBA from Lamar University and a BSc in Chemical Engineering from McNeese State University.