Published January 31, 2023
By Christine Reed
The School of Energy Resources is sending four graduating seniors to the 2023 North American Petroleum Expo (NAPE) Annual Summit event taking place January 31-February 3 in Houston, Tex.
Founded in 1993 by the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL), NAPE is an organization to benefit the energy industry at large through programs such as education, legislative and regulatory advocacy, technical publications, public lands access efforts, scholarships and more.
Kieran McMullen and Eli Vigil, both of Castle Pines, Colo., along with Dayton Reese of Brighton, Colo., and Montgomery Hughes of Claremore, Okla., will represent the University of Wyoming at the event. All majoring in Energy Resource Management and Development (ERMD) at SER, the quartet of students have all pursued the Professional Land Management (PLM) concentration within the program.
“Our participation in the NAPE Annual Summit is an unrivaled experience for our PLM students,” says SER Academic Director Kami Danaei. “Our students have earned a reputation as high achievers at the expo and take full advantage of the opportunity to interact with all aspects of the industry and to network with professionals and future employers.”
Accompanying the students to the expo are Occidental Chair of Energy and Environmental Policies and SER Professor of Law Tara Righetti, and Karolina Klatka, SER’s college relations representative.
“NAPE is a quintessential event for land professionals and provides an excellent opportunity to integrate PLM students into the profession,” says Righetti. “Attending NAPE provides UW students with an opportunity to engage with AAPL, UW alumni, industry professionals, and students in other accredited land management programs.”
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the 2023 NAPE Summit is the world’s largest exploration and production expo and tradeshow. With over 16,000 attendees and showcasing more than 900 exhibiting companies in 2022, it represents every facet of the energy industry from legacy industries in fossil fuels, to growing renewable energy and bitcoin mining. Attendees can forge new business partnerships, enhance career opportunities, and stay up to date on all new and relevant topics in energy development.
In addition to the immense expo and networking opportunities, the NAPE Annual Summit hosts a wide variety of educational events throughout the week, including the NAPE Energy Business Conference which features presentations from senior-level executives and industry to discuss some of the industry’s most pressing topics.
Headlining this year’s Energy Business Conference, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon will participate on a Governor’s Panel alongside Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Oklahoma Governor J. Kevin Stitt.
Gov. Gordon has been widely supportive of Wyoming’s “all of the above” energy strategy, calling for support and increased funding to spur innovation and transformative projects in the state. He will highlight these efforts and his commitment to Wyoming’s energy economy as the governors discuss the energy landscapes in their respective states.
Following the panel, the SER students will have the opportunity to visit with Gov. Gordon as well as his Chief Energy Advisor, Randall Luthi.
“Having Governor Gordon and Mr. Luthi attend this year’s event is really special for us,” adds Danaei. “We are so incredibly fortunate to live in a state where our leaders are so invested and engaged with our students.”
While the NAPE show floor will be packed with exhibitors and prospect generators, the University of Wyoming SER stall is easy to visit in booth 1531 on the expo floor, located on the north end of the George R. Brown Convention Center through Entry Hall B.
