2023 TIEEP Fall Energy Forum
Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization – Success Stories
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Moody Gardens, 1 Hope Blvd, Galveston, TX 77554
PDH certificates available.
Panelists
Dr. Michael Curtis, Carbon and Energy Technology Principal, The Dow Chemical Company
Dr. Mike Curtis currently serves as the Carbon and Energy Technology Principal in Dow’s Energy Technology Center, where he is responsible for developing and communicating strategies related to low carbon power and heat technologies. Mike began his career in applied R&D and later transitioned to M&E as a Sr. Technology Manager in Coatings and Performance Monomers. Mike holds a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia in Organometallic Chemistry, completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University before joining Dow.
William (Bill) Hicks, Principal Sustainability Engineer, ExxonMobil
Bill Hicks grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, graduating from A&M in ’91 with a ChE BS. He has served the last 6 years as the Principal Sustainability Engineer for ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering Co. Bill has over 30 years in ExxonMobil with significant refining experience.
Denyse Howard, Process Engineer, Chevron Phillips Chemical
Denyse Howard is a process engineer and the energy coordinator at the Chevron Phillips Orange, Texas site. She graduated from Lamar University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. Her background over the last 12 years has primarily been in operations and expansion projects with various chemical companies.
Frank Roberto, : ExxonMobil (Retired)
Frank Roberto retired from ExxonMobil in 2021 after nearly 45 years of company service in the Utilities and Energy fields involved in project development, operations support, as well as various energy and management positions. Roberto started with Exxon Chemical Company in NJ in 1976, after graduating from Stevens Institute of Technology. Joining Exxon Chemical in their Engineering and Technology organization, there were extended assignments in Louisiana, Texas, The Netherlands, London, Italy and Edinburgh, Scotland before relocating permanently to Texas. Key roles included Regional Energy Specialist and Global Energy Advisor. At retirement, Roberto was in management in ExxonMobil’s Global Projects Company and currently serves on various boards and committees associated with Stevens Institute as well on the Advisory Council of Texas Industrial Energy Efficiency Program and the Advisory Board of Industrial Energy Technology Conference.
Dr. Douglas White, : Principal Consultant, Emerson Automation Solutions
Dr. Doug White is a Principal Consultant for Emerson Automation Solutions and has more than 35 years of international experience designing, justifying, installing and commissioning advanced real time automation, optimization, sustainability and digitalization applications in petrochemical and oil refining plants and assessing their safety, economic and environmental impact. He has published more than 50 papers on the application of these technologies in the process industries and their financial benefits. Previously he held senior management and technical positions with MDC Technology, Profitpoint Solutions, Aspen Technology, and Setpoint. He started his career with Caltex Petroleum with positions at their Australian refinery and central engineering group. He has a BChE from the University of Florida, an MS from California Institute of Technology, and an MA and PhD from Princeton University.