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We share how a 26-year-old quit a safe job, chose Houston without a car, and built traction through volunteering, TikTok transparency, and face-to-face networking. The core message is simple: action, humility, and consistency still open doors, even in a tough market.

• why Houston’s opportunity and story mattered
• leaving a stable job to prove grit and possibility
• using TikTok and LinkedIn to spark warm introductions
• vulnerability as leverage in an AI world
• volunteering and helping small businesses to build trust
• navigating objections, gatekeepers, and follow-ups
• finding and choosing high-value events without a car
• practical ways leaders can engage driven Gen Z talent
• daily journaling and morning planning for momentum
• Connor’s target roles in energy and AI near downtown

If you want to connect with Connor: “You can contact me on LinkedIn or TikTok. DM me and I’ll share my resume and email so we can set up a call.”

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We unpack what operators and service companies can do to win in a flat market: scale smart, align incentives, fix power constraints with microgrids, and use AI where it actually delivers. We close with a playbook for leaders and individuals to protect culture, sharpen skills, and stay healthy.

• industry context at ~$60 oil and consolidation pressure
• private operators needing scale and creative capital
• power limitations in the Permian and microgrid adoption
• morale, layoffs, culture, and two-way communication
• experience gaps, mentorship, and cross-training
• asset integrity versus short-term cost cutting
• true operator–vendor collaboration beyond price
• incentives, integrated providers, and accountability
• practical AI use cases with human oversight
• leadership, strategy, curiosity, and personal health

If you're a service company interested in joining the Crue Club Operator Roundtables, we have two passes left and we have two seasons, one running from January till June, and the next one running from August until December. Go to connectioncrue.com. Register to begin getting information about crew club roundtables.

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We share a practical playbook to outperform in a flat oil and gas year by leaning into culture, communication, collaboration, and conversation. Expect clear examples, candid prompts, and simple steps to build transparency, speak to value, and align partners before problems hit.

• the four Cs framework for 2026 success
• culture as transparency and psychological safety
• communication that drives outcomes and clarity
• replacing features and buzzwords with results
• collaboration that starts before kickoff and continues
• aligning drilling, completions, and production goals
• using service partners’ field insights
• shifting from reactive emails to proactive talks
• planning and executing crucial conversations
• networking and skill building before you need them

If you’re looking for more access to operators around Crew Club Roundtables, be sure to head over to www.connectioncrew, C-R-U-E, kind of spelt like energycrew.com. Register there and you’ll be updated on all the events that are happening

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We dig into what authentic collaboration looks like between operators and service companies when “lowest cost” is no longer the winning strategy. A real case shows how early alignment, shared incentives, and trust cut rework and speed execution.

• defining authentic collaboration beyond buzzwords 
• why low-cost choices backfire and how to avoid rework 
• Gavin’s bundling case and vendor-led coordination 
• operators sharing the why and inviting partners early 
• service companies asking better questions, not pitching 
• building trust through consistency and access 
• aligning incentives to outcomes and repeatability 
• shifting to long-term assets and shared wins

If you’re an operator, ask yourself: are you setting the stage for collaboration or just saying you want it? Start your collaboration conversations early. Vendors, don’t just be there to sell, be there to understand, learn, and contribute.

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JP Warren discusses the key takeaways from the August 2025 Crue Club Operator Roundtable led by Dan Ramito of Pickering Energy Partners, focusing on the changing energy, power, and water paradigm for Texas and beyond.

• Data centers require massive resources with Texas power needs projected to nearly double from 85 to 150 gigawatts by 2030
• A single hyperscale data center uses 164 million gallons of water yearly, with total water needs equivalent to 400,000 Olympic pools by 2030
• Current emissions reporting relies on factor-based estimations (spreadsheet formulas) rather than actual measurements
• Investors and insurers increasingly demand reconciled measurements combining both on-site sensors and aerial monitoring
• China controls 80% of renewable supply chains while still building coal and nuclear plants
• Tech companies exploring Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) to avoid grid constraints for data centers
• The industry must shift from engineering-focused messaging to stories about cash growth and margins
• US has reduced emissions intensity by 40% since 1975 while GDP per capita grew by 40%

Check out Dan Ramito on LinkedIn for more insights about energy realities and the challenges we face as a nation.

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JP Warren and Jim Holmes explore how effective communication and value creation determine career success in the energy industry, from navigating job interviews to surviving industry uncertainty.

• Breaking the engineering stereotype by being outgoing and engaging rather than introverted
• Differentiating yourself through genuine enthusiasm and clear communication of your value proposition
• The "Gen Z stare" phenomenon and how poor body language hinders effective communication
• Why interpersonal skills create opportunities in an increasingly digital workplace
• Strategies for students at career fairs: take notes, ask questions, and follow up effectively
• How creating and demonstrating value provides job security during industry uncertainty
• The importance of building relationships before crises occur rather than reaching out only when problems arise
• Service companies as early indicators of industry changes and the value of their expertise
• Treating internships as extended job interviews and making memorable impressions

We're recording this podcast from Colorado School of Mines where we've been working with petroleum engineering students on career development. Remember that this industry is a long-play business - build relationships consistently rather than only reaching out when you need something.

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Trey Lawson shares the story behind Mesa Solutions' heritage connection to T. Boone Pickens' Mesa Petroleum and explains how the company is transforming power generation in the oil and gas industry through relationship-based innovation.

• Third-generation oil and gas professional raised in Midland during its transition from a small-town feel to today's boom environment
• Navy veteran who joined after 9/11, serving as an intelligence specialist before entering the oil and gas industry
• Transitioned from operations to sales despite initial reluctance, discovering the value of servant leadership in customer relationships
• Views true sales success as becoming an asset to customers rather than just selling products
• Believes the industry has become increasingly siloed between operators and service companies, limiting innovation
• Emphasizes that Mesa has evolved from selling generators to providing comprehensive power solutions
• Explains how their natural gas microgrids can match or beat utility pricing while offering scalability
• Advocates for decentralized leadership that empowers team members to make decisions aligned with strategic vision
• Hires for character traits (hungry, humble, smart) rather than experience
• Identifies the "we've always done it this way" mindset as a major industry bottleneck

If you're interested in learning more about power solutions or connecting with Trey, reach out through LinkedIn.

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The production world presents unique challenges with six-month delayed feedback loops between decisions and results, requiring careful metric tracking and strong communication between office, field operations, and service providers.

• Weekly alignment and communication is critical between office, field, and service people
• Vendor relationships require understanding both wellhead operations and business context
• Leadership makes the difference in production performance through clear communication
• Talent pipeline faces challenges with mentorship gaps becoming increasingly problematic
• Operator-vendor relationships are evolving from low-cost bids toward trust and collaboration
• Communication remains the through-line connecting successful operations across all basins

Join us at connectioncrew.com to participate in our upcoming Crew Club events, with new sessions starting August 21st in Midland.

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Mike Umbro, founder of Californians for Energy and Science, reveals how California's energy policies are creating economic hardship while potentially increasing global emissions through energy imports. We discuss the urgent crisis facing the state as refinery closures threaten to push gas prices toward $8.50 per gallon.

• California currently imports 75% of its oil from foreign sources compared to just 5% historically
• Two refineries closing in the next year will remove 19% of California's remaining refining capacity
• California's gas prices are the highest in the continental US and electricity rates are triple those in Texas
• Emissions from imports and shipping aren't counted in state carbon calculations, creating false impressions of progress
• 20% of California ratepayers are currently behind on their utility bills due to high energy costs
• California's energy policies affect neighboring states like Arizona and Nevada that depend on its refineries
• The industry has largely stopped applying for new drilling permits due to regulatory blockades
• Environmental policies should focus on "reduce, reuse, recycle" rather than eliminating local production
• Recent committee hearings suggest Sacramento officials are beginning to question current approaches

Check out Californians for Energy and Science at energyandscience.com to learn more about these issues and join our movement for sensible energy policy.

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Jeff Krimmel, founder of Krimmel Strategy Group (KSG), shares insights on making better strategic decisions in energy and building a business around data-driven strategy in uncertain times.

• Building external networks is crucial for career development, even when internal relationships seem sufficient
• Naming your business after yourself makes it easier for professional connections to find your company
• Strategic decisions in energy require balancing cost management with long-term asset value maximization
• Two company paths during downturns: battening down hatches versus strategic partnership formation
• Energy consolidation is pushing companies toward professionalizing operations rather than rapid expansion
• Creativity doesn't require revolutionary ideas – asking thoughtful questions others haven't considered creates value
• Introducing appropriate rigor to decision-making processes helps companies deploy capital more effectively
• Companies should be leaning into ambiguity and uncertainty to find opportunities
• Living in the oil field builds resilience that doesn't exist in many other industries

Have a good attitude. Listen, it sucks out there, it's a dumpster fire. You hear the worst news everywhere. Have a good attitude, that'll set you apart.