Saturday, October 16- Stephanie Watson, Ben Warren, and Lane Miller stop by the Energy Wolrdnet booth to share about their AGA experience.
Quick Links:
Stephanie Watson on Linkedin
Ben Warren on Linkedin
Lane Miller on Linkedin
Episode Transcript
Jim Schauer: [0:19] Everyone, Stephanie Watson from Consumers Energy is here joining us. We are so glad you stopped by the booth to say hi. Hello, Stephanie. [0:00]
Stephanie Watson: [0:26] Hello, everyone. How are you? [0:00]
Jim: [0:27] Are you, are you excited to be on? [0:00]
James Cross: [0:28] Is this your first podcast? [0:00] [[0:29] crosstalk] [0:00]
Stephanie: [0:29] This is not my first podcast. [0:00]
James: [0:32] I was gonna say. See like [xx] , she was a pro. Tell us what, what… [0:00]
Stephanie: [0:38] I did a podcast on, for consumers. [0:00]
Jim: [0:41] Did you? [0:00]
Stephanie: [0:41] I received the Woman of Color Awards. [0:00]
James: [0:44] The pro. The pro. [0:00] [[0:46] crosstalk] [0:00]
James: [0:46] That’s awesome. All right. So, we’re back at AGA. It’s AGA Week, that’s what we’re calling it. We didn’t really ask AGA whether they like it. [0:00]
Stephanie: [0:59] That’s AGA Week. [0:00]
James: [1:01] That’s what we’re doing. So, tell us a little bit about, number one, why are you here? I know you’re involved in the quality committee. Tell us a little bit about the work you’re doing there. Let’s start there. [0:00]
Stephanie: [1:03] So what I did, as much as we’ve learned, and COVID that we can work virtually, It’s really important to get together in person. [0:00] [[1:09] crosstalk] [0:00]
James: [1:10] Oh, my goodness. [0:00] [1:10]
Stephanie: There’s just a whole different level of interaction when I can look into your eyes. [0:00] [0:00] [
James: [1:14] laughs] [0:00]
Jim: [1:14] Right. [0:00]
Stephanie: [1:14] So, that is one reason for that. [0:00]
Jim: [1:15] Right, one seriously, right? Interaction… [0:00] [[1:18] crosstalk] [0:00] [1:18]
Stephanie: Seriously, and we’re we like to be able to push each other. Challenge us to move a little bit faster together. So, quality committee. We’re actually working on trying to incorporate more safety management system. So, really pulling that in to quality, and marrying quality… [0:00] [[1:30] crosstalk] [0:00]
James: [1:30] No wonder you’re hanging out with Steve. [0:00]
Stephanie: [1:32] Yes. [0:00]
Jim: [1:33] Now it all comes together. [0:00] [[1:35] crosstalk] [0:00]
James: [1:36] Steve will call me and swear he goes at five o’clock. Every, like, every time he calls it’s five o’clock, and Steve talks for an hour. Every time. On a Zoom call, on the phone, It don’t matter. [0:00]
Jim: [1:49] That’s a quick call. [0:00]
James: [1:51] Yeah. So you have to really decide whether you want to answer Steve’s call, but he is passionate about it… [0:00] [[1:57] crosstalk] [0:00]
Stephanie: [1:57] Especially, the contractors and that’s… [0:00] [[1:58] crosstalk] [0:00]
James: [1:59] Holy cow. [0:00]
Stephanie: [1:59] So, it’s been…It was great spending two days with Stephen really… [0:00]
James: [2:03] He is awesome. [0:00] [[2:03] crosstalk] [0:00]
Jim: [2:05] He is a, what’s the word I’m looking for? A champion in the marketplace for sms. He lives, eat, and breathes it. And wants everybody to be safe, wants to spread the message. [0:00]
James: [2:15] So, y’all got a lot done. [0:00]
Stephanie: [2:17] Yeah, [xx] . Got a lot of things publishing, and a lot of things we all took it from work as well. [0:00]
James: [2:21] You know, the good thing about being a person of people can turn off the cameras, and they don’t mute themselves, which is also the bad news. [0:00]
Jim: [2:29] Oh, boy. [0:00] [[2:30] laughter] [0:00]
James: [2:32] So how’s it back, at AGA you said, it’s great, you know, nobody lied to you. That the look in your eyes. [0:00]
Stephanie: [2:38] Right. [0:00]
James: [2:39] That’s what I read off of that. But what’s it like, you know, just the fellowship for connections, just walking the halls, rubbing elbows. I mean, you came over here and we’re basically best friend podcasters. [0:00]
Stephanie: [2:51] Oh, yeah. I know. It’s invigorating, because, you know, the workload ebbs and flows and you can get us home, but everybody who makes together. We’re all in this together. Just feel better. Like, you’re rejuvenated already… [0:00]
James: [3:01] There’s an energy here. [0:00] [3:02]
Jim: Yes. [0:00]
Stephanie: [3:03] Exactly. To get back and say, “Alright, here we go. Pipeline safety. We’re doing this. Probably focus, rededicate it. [0:00]
James: [3:10] Especially that group. I feel like that group needs to be in a room with more. So, I mean just I don’t know, just seems like that’s in person work like this time you need to put your head down and, you know, write some [xx] . [0:00]
Stephanie: [3:24] It’s all about collaboration. That whole concept. So, if I’m not collaborating, and for the most part people want to collaborate together. You know, 3D, I want to be able to touch you. You can’t do that virtually. [0:00]
Jim: [3:34] Yes. [0:00]
Stephanie: [3:34] So, it’s important that we’re able to get back together. Whatever, safety measures we have to take to do that. [0:00] [0:00] [
James: [3:40] xx] . [0:00]
Jim: [3:40] I, I… [0:00]
James: [3:41] I’m gonna step out. You all just, you just want to take the floor. She’s a pro. [0:00]
Jim: [3:49] She is a pro. And I have to…She just got a never, and a good nerve… [0:00]
Stephanie: [3:56] A good nerve or… [0:00]
Jim: [3:57] No, no, no. It’s a good never. [0:00] [0:00] [
Stephanie: [4:00] laughs] [0:00]
Jim: [4:01] I don’t know where he was going. [0:00] [[4:04] crosstalk] [0:00]
Jim: [4:04] Maybe it’s a whatever, but just the idea of how productive we are here at AGA by being together, just was…and my mind was going, “How many Zoom calls would you have to do with somebody like Steve or your committee or your… [0:00] [[4:10] crosstalk] [0:00] [0:00] …
Jim: [4:13] how long would that have been? [0:00] [[4:20] laughter] [0:00]
James: [4:21] We love you Steve, you know that. [0:00]
Jim: [4:23] We do love you, Steve. But, think about it, it could have been like weeks and weeks of Zoom calls. [0:00] [0:00] [
Stephanie: [4:31] xx] [0:00]
James: [4:32] I was gonna say we didn’t even get… [0:00] [[4:35] crosstalk] [0:00] [0:00] …
Stephanie: [4:36] I get one hour every month, but, OK, I dedicated two solid days [xx] . A year’s worth of impact in two solid days. [0:00]
Jim: [4:45] A year’s worth of impact. That’s that’s… [0:00] [[4:49] crosstalk] [0:00]
James: [4:50] That right there. Say that one more time. [0:00]
Stephanie: [4:53] A year’s worth of impact… [0:00]
James: [4:55] In two days. [0:00]
Stephanie: [4:57] One year, two days. [0:00]
Jim: [4:58] Stephanie, thank you so much. [0:00]
Stephanie: [4:42] Thank you so much. [0:00]
Jim: [4:43] Oh, and please say hi to Mary Palcovic for me. [0:00] [0:00] [
Stephanie: [4:47] laughs] [0:00] [0:00] [
James: [4:47] xx] consumer friend. I heard that there was a topic going on, probably, right this moment, right? Someone is talking about the digital transformation. [0:00]
Jim: [4:57] Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I think it might be Mary. [0:00]
James: [5:00] I thought it was China. [0:00]
Stephanie: [5:03] China, I believe. Yes, China in about 10 minutes. [0:00] [5:05]
James: Yeah. [0:00]
Jim: [5:05] OK. We gotta get going, then. Let’s be there or be square. Stephanie, thanks for joining us today. [0:00]
Stephanie: [5:11] Thank you. [0:00]
Jim: [5:11] It was great. [0:00]
Stephanie: [5:11] Have a great day. [0:00]
James: [5:13] Bye‑bye. [0:00]
Jim: [5:13] I haven’t seen you in two years. It’s Ben Warren from Citizens Gas out of Indianapolis. [0:00]
Ben Warren: : [5:18] Great. [0:00]
Jim: [5:19] And we haven’t seen each other in probably two years. I would say, because of COVID. It’s good to see you. You just stopped by the booth to say hi to us, for “Coffee with Jim and James at the AGA live” quote‑unquote, in Orlando. Just, just some of the feedback, if you want to share what it’s like being at a conference again. [0:00] [5:38]
Ben: You know what? The conferences are great. [xx] physical interaction with people. We are social beings by nature. [0:00] [5:46]
Jim: We are. [0:00] [5:45]
Ben: We’re supposed to be talking. [0:00]
James: [5:47] Amen. [0:00] [5:48]
Ben: We’re supposed to be communicating, not to say teams and those other platforms [xx] . [0:00]
James: [5:54] Be the time we started the podcast, really? [0:00] [6:01]
Ben: Absolutely. [0:00] [6:02]
James: We were hungry for this type of activity, and Jimmy was crying in a corner somewhere out there. [0:00] [[6:11] laughter] [0:00] [6:11]
Ben: Well, he’s walking in his only in his shorts and sport coat. [0:00] [[6:17] crosstalk] [0:00] [6:17]
Ben: Oh, hold on. Turn that camera off. I got to get over there to the [xx] . Hold on. [0:00]
James: [6:25] So, mainly it was therapy for us is how it started. And as we started to bring people on and talk to them and it was like, “Wow, people are hungry to meet us.” And like you said we’re wired that way. And so, we really leaned into that and… [0:00]
Jim: [6:45] It’s been fun. [0:00]
James: [6:47] It really has been fun. [0:00]
Jim: [6:49] It was very awkward at first. I mean, very awkward. [0:00]
James: [6:53] Some days it continues to be awkward. [0:00] [6:56]
Ben: Wait, wait, wait. You’re on mute. Turn that up, turn that down, right? [0:00]
Jim: [7:02] Yeah. [0:00] [7:02]
Ben: [laughs] [0:00]
Jim: [7:03] Well, it’s, it’s interesting. It’s just like anything in life, and the hard part is when you’re on camera versus right now. You and I have a definite feel. Like you can get the vibe, you understand the feel, the facial expressions. On camera, you don’t always see those so you really have to amplify things to let people know you’re happy, in a good mood, on top of things. [0:00]
James: [7:02] Being [xx] . I always talked about it at conferences. Like people that don’t go to conferences don’t really understand that it’s not just the day that’s 16 hours long. It’s been on, you know. Or being in a committee and walking out of there, you know, doing this… [0:00] [7:20]
Ben: It’s a personal engagement. [0:00]
James: [7:22] It is. [0:00] [7:23]
Ben: It’s about engaging each other. [0:00] [[7:26] crosstalk] [0:00]
Jim: [7:26] And it’s a valuable, isn’t it? [0:00] [7:29]
Ben: It is a valuable. It is a valuable. Long term relationship, just like [xx] said, it’s been two years, and we’ve picked right up. [0:00]
Jim: [7:40] It is. I mean, I remember being in your office and seeing pictures of family and everything and the stories that go with them. That’s what hits my memory. Not the [xx] plants and used to be part of you and this and that and the other thing. It’s part of I remember being in your office with the pictures and I remember the stories. [0:00] [8:07] And I remember at one point, something happened, you had a black eye, or something. You fell or you… [0:00] [8:14]
Ben: I was wresting my, at the time, 13 year old. [0:00]
James: [8:19] Oh, man. [0:00] [8:20]
Ben: And that’s what it was. [0:00]
Jim: [8:22] And how old is your 13 year… [0:00] [8:25]
Ben: He’s 15 now. Turned 15 last week. [0:00]
Jim: [8:29] So it was two years ago. Remember that? [0:00] [8:01]
Ben: [xx] [0:00]
James: [8:02] I love it. We were just talking to Len Miller from TLC, and we were talking about his presenting style and how, at the beginning, he always talks about family or things that… [0:00]
Jim: [8:25] Trips. [0:00]
James: [8:25] Trips, just personal. [0:00] [[8:26] xx] [0:00]
Jim: [8:27] He’s 20 minutes into the presentation and he hasn’t even started the presentation. He’s just talking about himself and everybody… [0:00] [0:00] [
James: [8:39] xx] just a boring compliance guy that’s supposed to tell us. [0:00] [[8:44] crosstalk] [0:00]
Jim: [8:44] People are drawn in by it. They’re hungry for it. Like you said, we’re social creatures. We like to hear that, so. [0:00]
James: [8:54] It’s been awesome already. I, for me, I was newish. [xx] in the industry about five six years, but… [0:00] [[9:02] crosstalk] [0:00]
Jim: [9:02] He grew up in West Texas in Midland Odessa, he’s got oil fields in his bones. [0:00]
James: [9:03] Yeah, it’s in my bones. [0:00] [9:05]
Ben: Oh, really? West Texas. [0:00]
James: [9:07] But, I got here as soon as I could, since I got here and I started connect with people [xx] . And so, when we did this podcast I met a lot of people that I had never met before online. And so, I’ve got to shake their hands [xx] . It’s really been a special AGA for me. [0:00] [9:31]
Ben: That’s awesome. [0:00]
James: [9:33] Unlike any event I’ve ever been to, because of that platform allowed us to connect. I mean, we’ve done 75, 80 episodes. [0:00] [[9:42] crosstalk] [0:00]
Jim: [9:43] I think we’ve done one a week. [0:00]
James: [9:46] I think we’ve done 67 today. [0:00]
Jim: [9:49] Today. Yeah, we have done a lot today. But it’s fun. Listen, thank you for joining us. [0:00] [[9:48] crosstalk] [0:00]
James: [9:49] Send somebody our way. [0:00]
Jim: [9:50] Anybody else. [0:00] [[9:51] crosstalk] [0:00]
Jim: [10:00] Next time I’m in Indianapolis, I’m going to stop by. [0:00] [10:03]
Ben: Oh, I’d be great. [0:00]
Jim: [10:06] Thanks, Ben. [0:00]
James: [10:07] Lane Miller from… [0:00] [[10:09] crosstalk] [0:00] [10:09]
Lane Miller: What are we talking about? [0:00]
Jim: [10:16] We’re just… [0:00]
James: [10:17] We’re talking about you. [0:00] [10:18]
Lane: [laughs] [0:00]
Jim: [10:18] Lane Miller, TRC. Tight across [xx] . Lane and I have known each other for years. Whatever happens in New Orleans, stays in New Orleans. We never speak of it again. [0:00] [10:28]
Lane: We’re not in New Orleans though. That’s our problem right now. [0:00]
Jim: [10:30] We’re in Orlando. [0:00] [10:32]
Lane: Can we convey that? [0:00]
Jim: [10:34] Please. [0:00] [10:34]
Lane: What happens in Orlando this week anyway shouldn’t happen again. [0:00]
James: [10:39] I agree. [0:00]
Jim: [10:57] Yep. [0:00] [10:58]
Lane: [laughs] [0:00]
Jim: [10:59] Lane, what do you think about AGA and being back here? [0:00] [11:03]
Lane: Oh, my gosh. [xx] my wife, I have not travelled this least amount since 1987. [0:00]
Jim: [11:09] I would agree. Yep. [0:00] [11:11]
Lane: I’m out for my second week this year for business. [0:00] [11:04]
James: Wow. [0:00] [11:04]
Lane: And so, it’s like… [0:00]
James: [11:05] It’s incredible. [0:00]
Jim: [11:06] Yeah. [0:00] [11:06]
Lane: And what I miss, I miss the network. [0:00] [11:08]
Jim: Yeah. So do we. [0:00] [11:10]
Lane: And I’m one of those guys that’s like I would rather sit down across the table and let’s see what’s going on. And talk about what’s happening with family and everything like that. [0:00]
Jim: [11:21] Yeah. [0:00] [11:21]
Lane: Because, I’m sorry, you can’t build a relationship over a Zoom call. And you know, there’s one thing about convening information, but [xx] virtual seminars with their be, whatever associations been this year. And the tough part is, is welcome into a box and I get no feedback. [0:00]
Jim: [11:45] Oh, no. No facial expression. [0:00] [11:47]
Lane: No facial expression. [0:00]
James: [11:48] No laughs. I’m a laughter guy. [0:00] [11:51]
Lane: You know if it’s like, I mean I can’t tell somebody [xx] or whatever, because I can typically change my… [0:00] [[12:00] crosstalk] [0:00]
Jim: [12:00] I would much prefer to speak to a hundred people live as opposed to that. So when we first started this, it was hard for me. I was not used to camera. I’m like [xx] get used to it, but it’s good to be back. [0:00] [12:15] I want to tell you one thing about the personal thing. Just a story about Lane, one of the first times I’ve ever seen a PowerPoint of Lane, it must have been 8 years ago, maybe something like that. I don’t even know where…maybe Arizona, maybe California. The first eight slides was all about Lane and people and life. Had nothing to do with the presentation. [0:00] [12:36] It was beautiful. It was one of the best presentations I’ve ever seen. 8 slides, at least. [0:00]
James: [12:41] We do that too. [0:00]
Jim: [12:42] Yeah, but he was like… [0:00]
James: [12:43] We do it to, I mean… [0:00] [[12:45] crosstalk] [0:00] [0:00] [
James: [12:46] xx] if you’re talking to someone. [0:00]
Jim: [12:47] Yeah. [0:00]
James: [12:47] And you know their dad or a grandmother or a father, or whatever the [xx] . [0:00] [[12:52] crosstalk] [0:00]
Jim: [12:53] I knew you. It was beautiful. [0:00] [12:55]
Lane: I’ll tell you what. One of the…I had an opportunity that’s been…it doesn’t [xx] trying to figure out the camera and stuff and if I, it was so hard, as a matter of fact with another association, and say, “Hey, we want to come now. We want to film you in a media room [xx] I had to get people to sit in there so I could have somebody to talk to. [0:00]
Jim: [13:28] Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. [0:00] [[13:29] crosstalk] [0:00] [13:29]
Lane: [xx] presentation it’s like, I’m gonna die in here by myself because [xx] . [0:00]
Jim: [13:35] That’s a good idea though. That’s a good idea. [xx] facial expressions. [0:00] [13:38]
Lane: [xx] I’ll talk to you all day long. But if I have no feedback from you… [0:00] [13:45]
Man 1: this guy has got the best presentation… [0:00] [[13:49] crosstalk] [0:00] [13:49]
Man 1: The biggest pictures you’ve ever seen from the gas industry [xx] . [0:00]
James: [13:55] Don’t touch that. [0:00] [[13:56] crosstalk] [0:00] [13:57]
Lane: [xx] I’m being quite honest with you. [0:00]
James: [14:00] That was great [xx] . [0:00]
Jim: [14:02] That’s right, yeah. [0:00] [14:03]
Lane: For me, my challenge is I’m an extrovert. [0:00]
Jim: [14:18] Yes, you are. [0:00] [14:19]
Lane: I get my energy from people. [0:00]
Jim: [14:22] Yep. [0:00] [14:22]
Lane: And it’s been a really difficult year from that perspective, because there’s one thing about getting on the phone, but it’s not the same. [0:00]
Jim: [14:29] Yeah, I agree. It really isn’t. [0:00]
James: [14:32] It’s a thing to crack. We’ve worked a lot this year. [0:00] [14:39]
Lane: I have enjoyed your pods, I really have. You emailed me month’s, month’s ago and we just never really connected. [0:00]
Jim: [14:46] We will. We’re going to have you on an official one. This is the AGA virgin, so to rebait we’re gonna have a lot of folks. We’re gonna have you on for a real one. [0:00] [[14:55] crosstalk] [0:00] [14:55]
Lane: Oh, no. If you have me on for a real one I will not talk. [0:00]
Jim: [15:01] Oh, yeah. You will. [0:00] [[15:03] laughter] [0:00]
Jim: [15:03] Maybe we should do it at LGA. [0:00] [15:06]
Lane: [laughs] [0:00]
James: [15:07] Oh, let’s do it in New Orleans. [0:00] [15:10]
Lane: I tell you what, I’ve got conflict that I can’t make it. [0:00]
Jim: [15:16] What? [0:00] [15:17]
Lane: This is the first LGA I’ve missed in… [0:00]
Jim: [15:21] We go back to the [xx] . [0:00] [15:23]
Lane: Oh, yeah. Big time. [0:00]
James: [15:25] I’ve had people that just cancelled their registrations… [0:00] [[15:29] crosstalk] [0:00] [15:29]
Lane: But the deal is you’re in the Sherridan and [xx] goes there, that is the best… [0:00] [[15:36] crosstalk] [0:00] [15:37]
Lane: The best char‑grilled oysters. [0:00]
Jim: [15:39] Yeah. And it’s beautiful by the river, it’s off the beaten path. [0:00] [15:45]
Lane: It’s off the beaten path… [0:00] [[15:47] crosstalk] [0:00] [15:48]
Lane: But you’re closer to [xx] too. [0:00]
Jim: [15:51] Oh, yes. You are. [0:00] [[15:53] crosstalk] [0:00]
Jim: [15:53] Well, Lane. Thanks for being honest. [0:00] [[15:55] crosstalk] [0:00] [15:55]
Lane: No, no, no. Thanks for letting me stop for a few seconds. [0:00]
Jim: [16:00] Absolutely. [0:00]
James: [16:01] We’ll see around [0:00] [16:02]
Lane: All right. See you all later. [0:00]
Jim: [16:05] OK. [0:00]
James: [16:06] Bimbo Jim, man. Lane Miller [xx] friends over at TRC. We just had Mike Lamont on not too long ago and connected with the bunch of them over there over the years. [0:00]
Jim: [16:15] I have to tell you, when it gets back to really, James, that emulates what everything we talked about and preach and say that this, this industry is based on relationships. And the more that we can get out and connect those dots, it just seems to spread, you know. [0:00]
James: [16:36] Yeah, that’s true. [0:00]
Jim: [16:37] You’ll introduce me to somebody. I’ll get to know them and I’ll get two more people and knowing vice versa. You know, I introduce you to somebody. I just love it. I just absolutely love it. [0:00]
James: [16:46] We’ve seen a lot this week already, and we’ve only been here, seriously, it feels like I’ve been here a week. [0:00]
Jim: [16:52] Yeah. [0:00]
James: [16:53] We’ve been here, I think, half of that. [0:00]
Jim: [16:54] What it what it is. Today is Tuesday. So we’ve been here… [0:00]
James: [16:58] We just got here yesterday. [0:00]
Jim: [16:59] 26, 26 hours. [0:00]
James: [17:01] It was a blistering 26 hours. [0:00]
Jim: [17:05] Yeah. [0:00]
James: [17:05] We got here [xx] showed up at the booth. About the same time they had luckily, [xx] and I watched them haul it all in and then we pulled into the parking lot. [laughs] [0:00]
Jim: [17:18] Jim hauled it in. [0:00]
James: [17:20] Jim hauled it in. We have pictures. We’ll post them… [0:00] [[17:24] crosstalk] [0:00]
Jim: [17:25] On a loading dock. [0:00] [[17:26] crosstalk] [0:00]
Jim: [17:27] She was in the car with the car running, [xx] and the guy said, “If you’re not out of here in x amount of time you’re out.” So she had to stay in the car. I’m literally running back and forth with a dolly, bring it in, bring it in, bring it in. We got out. Everything was good. [0:00] [17:45]
James: We had two and a half hours to get set up. [0:00]
Jim: [17:47] Yep. [0:00]
James: [17:49] And they, they actually did a really good job here, kicking everyone out, but it looked like we had still had some folks in milling around, building and doing that. So we put in two and a half hours yesterday building all of this. [0:00]
Jim: [18:01] Wait, wait, we have a special guest that wants to be on. [0:00]
James: [18:03] Say again. [0:00]
Jim: [18:08] I think the audience is asking us something. [0:00]
James: [18:10] Is there a question from the audience. [0:00]
Jim: [18:10] What are your question. [0:00] [18:11]
Audience Member: [xx] [0:00]
James: [18:12] We’re always recording. [0:00]
Jim: [18:16] Yeah, it’s going live right now. You want an answer? You want to come on? [0:00] [18:20]
Audience Member: No, [xx] . [0:00]
James: [18:24] Well, hold on. We’re going to take a quick break to talk to someone very special. [0:00]
Jim: [18:31] We’ll be right back. Stay tuned. Stay alive. [0:00]