Coffee With Jim & James

In a full-circle finale, Coffee with Jim and James wraps up its journey where it all began—Texas Gas Association (TGA). The episode is a heartfelt celebration of industry friendships, leadership transitions, and a few emotional mic drops. Jim announces his recent move to GridHawk Holdings, reflecting on 25+ years in the industry and the relationships that shaped his journey. He emphasizes that while roles may change, the bonds in the utility sector remain strong. The episode features conversations with outgoing and incoming TGA chairs (Kyle Slaughter and Jeff Henderson), who share their vision for a growing, more inclusive association, including bringing associate members like Coleman Sterling (EWN) into leadership roles. Coleman Sterling, Billy Kidd, Larry Alspaugh, Jeff Henderson, Kyle Slaughter, and other guests reflect on industry evolution, knowledge sharing, mentorship, and how much younger generations are changing the game—with more empathy, more tech, and a lot more humility. The team gets nostalgic, sharing behind-the-scenes stories, unexpected highlights from traveling across North America, and what they've personally gained—from learning field operations firsthand to sparking conversations about mental health and sobriety. Ashley Jesko, a behind-the-scenes powerhouse, is recognized for her pivotal role in expanding the show's reach in its final year, injecting creativity and connecting with new voices. In closing, Jim, James, and Ashley reflect on what the show gave them: visibility, humility, a broader platform to serve, and lasting friendships across the industry. It's not just a goodbye—it's a thank you. And maybe, just maybe, a "we'll be back

In this special on-the-road episode, the EWN team—Jim, James, and Ashley—take you behind the scenes of a memorable visit to Indianapolis with our longtime partners at Miller Pipeline. What started with a few laughs and a hotel booking mishap turned into a powerful deep-dive into core values in action: safety, quality, commitment, and reputation. Over the course of the trip, we had the privilege of joining multiple job sites, speaking with Miller team members, and witnessing first-hand how their culture and values are deeply embedded in everything they do—from mentoring interns and practicing knowledge transfer, to executing complex urban gas infrastructure work with precision and pride. Special thanks to Kevin Miller, Abby, Sage, Stephanie Stapert, Al, and many others who made us feel right at home. Shoutout to Citizens Energy Group, CenterPoint, and Versiv for joining the collaborative spirit on site and highlighting how cross-organizational teamwork powers this industry forward. Whether we were discussing horizontal directional drilling or enjoying iconic shrimp cocktails at St. Elmo's, this trip reminded us what excellence in the field really looks like. And as always, our goal is to carry those stories back to the wider industry—ensuring the knowledge, commitment, and pride in our work continues to echo far and wide. Thank you to Miller Pipeline and the greater Artera group for opening your doors and giving us a front-row seat to the incredible work you're doing. This one's for the books.

Follow along with some of these special guests as they make an impact in our industry. Karen Harbert- American Gas Association Allisyn H- Magnolia River Shawn Hailey- LineQuest Paul Baugher- GridHawk Holdings Sue Forrester- American Gas Association Dale Anderson- Miller Pipeline     Subscribe and listen to more great conversations from the APGA Fall Operations Conference! #CWJJ #CoffeeWithJimandJames #EWN #Energyworldnet #SometimesAshley

Follow along with some of these special guests as they make an impact in our industry. Matt Dodd John Fluharty Khrysanne Kerr   Sarah Magruder-Lyle   Jemmie Wang   Josh Hinrichs   Subscribe and listen to more great conversations from the APGA Fall Operations Conference! #CWJJ #CoffeeWithJimandJames #EWN #Energyworldnet #SometimesAshley    

Follow along with some of these special guests as they make an impact in our industry.   Follow along with some of these special guests as they make an impact in our industry. Paul Wehnert - Heath Consultants Rhett Krieger - RCP Inc. Ryan Ellis Steve Allen -EWN Stephen Mayfield - City of Tallahassee John Olshefki - Ingevity Subscribe and listen to more great conversations from the APGA Fall Operations Conference! #CWJJ #CoffeeWithJimandJames #EWN #Energyworldnet #SometimesAshley   Subscribe and listen to more great conversations from the APGA Fall Operations Conference! #CWJJ #CoffeeWithJimandJames #EWN #Energyworldnet #SometimesAshley

Follow along with some of these special guests as they make an impact in our industry.  Michael Shoemaker James Goble Kevin Parker   Subscribe and listen to more great conversations from InfraSource, A Quanta Services Company!  #CWJJ #CoffeeWithJimandJames #EWN #Energyworldnet #SometimesAshley  

Follow along with some of these special guests as they make an impact in our industry. Dave Schryver Keith Ormsby Mike Pence Victoria Price Langan Cruz Gonzales    Subscribe and listen to more great conversations from the Florida Natural Gas Association Symposium+Expo event!  #CWJJ #CoffeeWithJimandJames #EWN #Energyworldnet #SometimesAshley

Follow along with some of these special guests as they make an impact in our industry.   Rob Wilson Chad Calaway John Burke Chris Hiestand   Subscribe and listen to more great conversations from the Florida Energy Pipeline Association event!  #CWJJ #CoffeeWithJimandJames #EWN #Energyworldnet #SometimesAshley

Follow along with some of these special guests as they make an impact in our industry.   Sam Ariaratnam David Maddux Kevin Miller Kevin Salazar Craig Besa    Subscribe and listen to more great conversations from the Western Regional Gas Conference event!  #CWJJ #CoffeeWithJimandJames #EWN #Energyworldnet #SometimesAshley

In this eye-opening episode of CWJJ, the crew heads to Oakland to join PG&E employees in the field, discussing the implementation of the company's HEAT program. Created to protect PG&E's most valuable asset—their employees—the HEAT program was designed to address the rise in threats faced by field workers, including robberies, stabbings, and gun violence while performing their duties in areas like Oakland. With firsthand stories from the front lines, the episode explores the complex dynamics of keeping utilities running in a city facing extraordinary challenges. PG&E shares how they're tackling this crisis and their efforts to support and safeguard their workforce in the face of new and unpredictable dangers.

This month, in recognition of Suicide Prevention Awareness, we had the privilege of hearing from a few brave members of the Artera team who shared their personal stories with us. Their courage in opening up about their experiences is a testament to the importance of this cause. Thank you to Dustin Dier, Eileen Atkinson, and James Fox for sharing your story. Together, we're committed to raising awareness and positively impacting mental health within our industry. Don't miss this important conversation! #MentalHealthAwareness #SuicidePrevention #ConstructionSafety #EWN #Artera

Follow along with some of these special guests as they make an impact in our industry. Stuart Salters- APGA Rodney Dill- Gas Authority  Sara Gillis- Atlanta Gas Light Bill DeFoor- Gas Authority PJ Zonsius- NextEra Mike Jewell- City of Covington Ian Skelton- Atlanta Gas Light Chris Turner- SouthStar Energy Services Mary Landrieu- Natural Allies of Clean Energy   Subscribe and listen to more great conversations from the Natural Gas Association of Georgia event!  #CWJJ #CoffeeWithJimandJames #EWN #EnergyWorldnet #SometimesAshley

Part two of the CGA episode is here! Listen along as we highlight some of our favorite guests. Follow along with some of these special guests as they make an impact in our industry.  Khrysanne Kerr- Common Ground Alliance Forrest Sim- GPR Consortium JJ Harrison- 811 Ambassador Kendra Geiger- Badger Infrastructure Solutions Jon Smith- Veteran Horizons, LLC Bob Bishop- PelicanCorp   Subscribe and listen to more great conversations about life, BBQ, and the energy industry!  #CWJJ #CoffeeWithJimandJames #EWN #EnergyWorldnet #SometimesAshley

Part one of the CGA episode is here! Listen along as we highlight some of our favorite guests. Follow along with some of these special guests as they make an impact in our industry. Sarah Magruder Lyle – Common Ground Alliance Kelly Cahill- Common Ground Alliance Steve Cleaver- PG&E Wade Farr- EGW Ed Landgraf- Marine Safe/Texas811 Adam Zeciri- Locating Dynamics Subscribe and listen to more great conversations about life, BBQ, and the energy industry!  #CWJJ #CoffeeWithJimandJames #EWN #EnergyWorldnet #SometimesAshley

Join hosts James and Ashley as they engage with Molly Smith from Kinder Morgan at the lively Global Excavation Safety Conference. This episode offers a deep dive into the intricacies of excavation safety and damage prevention, showcasing Molly's expertise and her role as the damage prevention supervisor. The discussion spans a variety of safety demonstrations, including the unique "boom box" demo, and delves into practical tips for handling natural gas and propane safely. Recorded live, the episode captures the dynamic and spontaneous interaction between the hosts and guests, making complex safety topics accessible and engaging for all listeners. 

Coffee with Jim and James - Episode 178 Live @ The Global Excavation Safety Conference pt. 1   The Global Excavation Safety Conference episode is here! Listen along as we highlight some of our favorite guests. Follow along with some of these special guests as they make an impact in our industry. Scott Landes (Excavation Safety Alliance) & Roger Cox (ACTS Now!) Kesley Tweed (Public Association for Public Awareness -Papa) Ron Peterson (National Utility Locating Contractors Association -NULCA) Jemmie Wang (acretivPartners) Steve Allen (EWN) Louis Panzer (NC 811) Louis Panzer (NC 811)     Subscribe and listen to more great conversations about life, BBQ, and the energy industry! #CWJJ #Coffeewithjimandjames #EWN

Coffee with Jim and James - Episode 177 Live @ Association for Materials Protection and Performance Annual Conference + Expo James Cross sits down with Alan Thomas at the bustling AMPP annual conference, marking a milestone event with record-breaking attendance and exhibitor participation. Alan Thomas, celebrating his first year as CEO, shares his journey to this point, describing it as a "divine appointment" and the best professional year of his life. Under his leadership, AMPP has focused on being the thought leader in asset integrity and materials protection, aiming to make its vast repository of knowledge more accessible worldwide, with exciting plans to incorporate AI for better accessibility. A significant part of the conversation revolves around AMPP's commitment to workforce development, highlighting a strategic move to establish a dedicated entity focusing on attracting, training, and qualifying professionals in the industry. Thomas's passion for AMPP's mission is palpable as he discusses the transformative effect of AMPP's certifications on individuals' lives and careers, a testament to the organization's global impact. We've also included highlights from the exhibitor floor. Tune into this episode of "Coffee with Jim and James" to see who we ran into and dive into the future of asset protection and integrity with Alan Thomas.   Follow along with some of these special guests as they make an impact in our industry. Alan Thomas - AMPP Kevin Klausmeier- Surview Jodi Rutledge- Trenton Cole Finney- American Innovations Jim Kunkle- AkzoNobel Jarret Brelsford- MESA Kailey Dharam - Dairyland Electrical Tyler Schlesselman- Tru Solutions Jordan Groody- Magneto   Subscribe and listen to more great conversations about life, BBQ, and the energy industry! #CWJJ #Coffeewithjimandjames #EWN

Live @ The Utility Safety Conference pt. 1 – Coffee with Jim and James Episode 176   The Utility Safety Conference episode is here! Listen along as we highlight some of our favorite guests from the second part of this series.   Follow along with some of these special guests as they make an impact in our industry. James Wingate - Underground Service Alert of Northern California and Nevada (USA North 811) Tony Millikin- Project Resources Group, Inc. Michael Mayr - 3-D Line Locating Ltd. Cliff Meidle - Spokesperson for Georgia 811 Wylie Davidson - Legacy Safety Solutions   Subscribe and listen to more great conversations about life, BBQ, and the energy industry! #CWJJ #Coffeewithjimandjames #EWN

Live @ The Utility Safety Conference pt. 1 – Coffee with Jim and James Episode 175   The Utility Safety Conference episode of Coffee with Jim and James is here! Follow along with some of these special guests as they make an impact in our industry. Mike Sullivan – Utility Safety Partners Jay Stephens – Damage Prevention Academy Cookie- Before You Dig Australia   Subscribe and listen to more great conversations about life, BBQ, and the energy industry! #CWJJ #Coffeewithjimandjames #EWN

The Distribution Contractor Association part 2 episode is here! Listen along as we highlight some of our favorite guests. Follow along with some of these special guests as they make an impact in our industry. Sarah Mahlik- TT Technologies Elizabeth Michels- Michels Mike James - ISCO Laura Mason -Caterpillar Sam Ariaratnam -Arizona State University & GPAC Randy Rupp -Ditch Witch Randy Bunch -Eastern Services Alan Goodman -Hammerhead Trenchless   Subscribe and keep up with Jim and James! https://www.energyworldnet.com/coffee-with-jim-and-james   More about Energy Worldnet https://linktr.ee/energyworldnet   #DCA # DistributionContractorAssociation #Coffeewithjimandjames #CWJJ #EnergyWorldnet #EWN

The Distribution Contractor Association episode is here! Listen along as we highlight some of our favorite guests. Follow along with some of these special guests as they make an impact in our industry. Rob Darden- DCA Ray Swerdfeger- Miller Pipeline Mark Albert- AGI Cnstruction Kevin Parker- InfraSource Stephanie Krabbe- InfraSource Mike Hickey- The Hallen Construction Company Vince King- McElroy Manufacturing John Lamberton-Wyo-Ben, Inc.   Subscribe and keep up with Jim and James! https://www.energyworldnet.com/coffee-with-jim-and-james   More about Energy Worldnet https://linktr.ee/energyworldnet   #DCA # DistributionContractorAssociation #Coffeewithjimandjames #CWJJ #EnergyWorldnet #EWN

Ever wondered how Hawaii stays powered up? Kevin Nishimura from Hawaii Gas spills the beans on everything from synthetic natural gas to green hydrogen. Tune in for an electrifying conversation!   Keep up with Kevin and Hawaii Gas! https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-m-nishimura-144a7784/   Subscribe and keep up with Jim and James! https://www.energyworldnet.com/coffee-with-jim-and-james   More about Energy Worldnet https://linktr.ee/energyworldnet   #HawaiiEnergy #Coffeewithjimandjames #CWJJ #EnergyWorldnet #EWN

Join us as we dive deep into the world of damage prevention with Sam Hall and Kelly Cahill from Common Ground Alliance (CGA). Discover the cutting-edge initiatives aimed at safeguarding our underground utilities.   Keep up with Kelly and Sam and what they are doing in the Damage Prevention world! Kelly Cahill - CGA  Sam Hall - CGA 

In this heartwarming episode of Coffee with Jim and James, we delve into the profound question of legacy with industry stalwart Jim Green.  Jim is the general manager of the Scottsboro Water Sewer Gas Board and the current president of the Alabama Natural Gas Association.

The Louisiana811 Damage Prevention Summit is here! Listen along as we highlight some of our favorite guests. Follow along with some of these special guests as they make an impact in our industry. Brent Saltzman- Louisiana 811 Raymond Sonnier- Atmos Roger Cox- ACTS Now Sam Hall- Common Ground Alliance Molly Smith- Kinder Morgan Mike Parilac- Planet Underground

The Second Annual Stockyard Short Course is here! Listen along as we highlight some of our favorite guests. Follow along with some of these special guests as they make an impact in our industry.   Andrew Bell- Explorer Pipeline Pat McDarris- Mesa Products Lon Duke- American Innovations John Reddick- Far West Corrosion Control James Carter- Bass Engineering CaLae Miller- CEM Solutions Co.

The Alabama PSC Pipeline Safety Conference highlight is here! Listen along as we highlight some of our favorite guests. Follow along with some of these special guests as they make an impact in our industry. Bobby Purvis- Daphne Utilities Jim Denham- Southern Company Geoff Isbell- Energy Worldnet Dennis Kuhn- ASTAR Subscribe and listen to some more great conversations about Alabama PSC Pipeline Safety Conference, wrapping up the 2023 season, and the energy industry! #CWJJ #CoffeeWithJimandJames #EWN #EnergyWorldnet

The Midwest Damage Prevention Training Conference highlight is here! Listen along as we highlight some of our favorite guests. Follow along with some of these special guests as they make an impact in our industry. Mike Martin- USDI Jeremy Wyatt- Miller Jemmie Wang- acretivPartners Steve Allen- EWN Shane Hart – Competers, Inc. Subscribe and listen to some more great conversations about the Midwest Damage Prevention Training Conference (MWDPTC), Holey Moley, and the energy industry!   #CWJJ #CoffeeWithJimandJames #EWN #EnergyWorldnet

Coming at you live from AI World 2023 in Austin, Texas with some very special guests! From software beginnings to embracing industry uncertainty, Jim Bass and Clay Brelsford share their wealth of experience and lessons learned in corrosion control. Tune in for an insightful chat!   Connect with our special guests on LinkedIn! Jim Bass Clay Brelsford Jarret Brelsford Subscribe to keep up with Coffee with Jim and James! #CWJJ #CoffeeWithJimandJames #EWN 

Coffee with Jim & James is officially on Hiatus! Tune in to the last episode of the year as they are taking a break until the new year. Happy Holidays from the guys!

Ashley Knight joins the show as a repeat guest, this time focusing on creating a culture built on vulnerability. This episode is part of the Kickstart Your Culture series, and gives you information to activate within your culture today!

The guys are joined by Tal Centers from Centerpoint Energy and he shares his passion for natural gas and also his work with the Texas Gas Association.

Stephen Wieczorek & Ashley Donnini join the show and talk about Pipeline Safety and their work with the PSMS Linkedin Group.

Jim & James were on the road again and attended the APGA Operations Conference. Tune in for part 2 and check out who joined the show.

Jim & James were on the road again and attended the APGA Operations Conference. Tune in and check out who joined the show.

We continue the Kickstart Your Culture Series and focus on the most important action item, "getting started". Tiffany Hopkins from Shactee joins the guys and they talk culture and the importance of starting.

The Colonel, John Olshefski joins the podcast and dives deep into leadership, the APGA, and his work within the industry.

Jim and James sit down with Jim Francis (EN Engineering) and talk all things Pipeline Safety. Jim Francis also shared his love for movies, painting, and his family.

Long-time industry icon, Jeff Wiese joins the guys as they talk PSMS, thought leadership, and how to move the needle in the bigger energy diversity discussion.

Long-time industry icon, Jeff Wiese joins the guys as they talk PSMS, thought leadership, and how to move the needle in the bigger energy diversity discussion.

Monique joins the guys, LIVE from the Louisiana Gas Association's Pipeline Safety Conference. A Louisiana native, Monique talks about being a 3rd generation pipeliner and she also geeks out on data standards as she discusses her work with PODS.

This week Jason Crowe subs in for Jim and helps to bring focus to the Oklahoma Gas Association's Annual Conference. Join us for another live show!

Tune in for Part 2 of our first annual EWN Tailgate Week. Check out more of our awesome people within EWN.

This episode showcases some of the awesome people within EWN at the first annual EWN Tailgate Week hosted at our Decatur, TX headquarters.

Jim & James caught up with Brian Kendrick at the TGA Operations & Management Conference. Brian discusses LNG/ CNG for virtual pipelines, how RNG is being used, and LNG &CNG for NGV operations.

The show is on the road! On this episode, Yasmin Massey, Guidry Sue, Monique Roberts, Heather Kleinpeter, Benton Thell Gillis, Joe Klimas, Lauren Tipton, Chris Krin, Erin McKay, and Todd Cash all join the show to share about their experiences. This episode focuses on the Louisiana Gas Association Pipeline Safety Conference and the value it brings to the industry.

The show is on the road! This week's episode focuses on the Louisiana Gas Association's Pipeline Safety Conference and the value it brings to the industry. This live show attempts to bring back the conference to those not able to attend.

The show is on the road! This week's episode focuses on the Louisiana Gas Association's Pipeline Safety Conference and the value it brings to the industry. This live show attempts to bring back the conference to those not able to attend.

The guys sit down with the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Gas Association, Tom Rider, and discuss the value OGA members receive, as well as highlight the upcoming OGA Annual Conference in August.

This episode, the guys discuss pipeline integrity, composite wraps, compression sleeves, and more with Allen Edwards Account Executive, Tommy Precht.

Nick Pero joined us live at the SGA Natural Gas Connect Conference last month. Check out our coffee break and Believe. Act. Impact.