Speakers

THE 42ND USAEE/IAEE NORTH AMERICAN CONFERENCE WILL FEATURE A DYNAMIC LINE-UP OF SPEAKERS FROM ACROSS INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT, AND ACADEMIA – MORE SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INFORMATION ARE COMING SOON!

Kevin Book
Co-Founder and Director of Research | ClearView Energy Partners, LLC

For more than two decades, Kevin Book has been translating energy policy into actionable strategy for corporate leaders and institutional investors. Kevin and his team excel at distilling key trends and salient issues into accessible frameworks. Their work unpacks moving parts—decision-makers and decision protocols, signposts, and uncertainties—to identify impacts to supply, demand, price, and environmental performance. Clients value Kevin’s succinct, transparent, and witty delivery; his willingness to tackle challenging and hard-to-predict topics; and his Firm’s ability to parse the geopolitical big picture as well as specific details. In his analytical capacity, Kevin covers energy geopolitics and fossil energy policy. He appears frequently within print and broadcast media, contributes to policy forums convened by government and private organizations, and meets with top Washington policymakers. Kevin has also testified before several House and Senate Committees. He is a member of the National Petroleum Council (a self-funded advisory body to the Secretary of Energy), a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a nonresident Senior Adviser to the Energy Security and Climate Change Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Kevin holds a B.A. in Economics and English from Tufts University and an M.A.L.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

Thomas J. Gleeson
Chairman | Public Utility Commission of Texas

Thomas Gleeson was appointed Chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) by Gov. Greg Abbott on January 19, 2024. He previously served as the Executive Director of the PUCT, a position he held since December 2020. Thomas has worked for the PUCT for over 15 years in various roles, including chief operating officer, director of finance and administration, and as a fiscal project manager. Gleeson also worked as a legislative analyst for the Texas Senate and a budget analyst for the Legislative Budget Board. Gleeson is a graduate of the Governor's Executive Development Program at The University of Texas at Austin and served as the former chairman of both the City of Pflugerville Finance and Budget Committee and the First United Methodist Church of Round Rock Finance Committee. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Southwestern University and a Master of Public Administration from The Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University. 

Ken Simonson
Chief Economist | Associated General Contractors of America

Ken Simonson has been Chief Economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, the leading construction trade association, since 2001. He provides insight into the economy and what it implies for construction and related industries through frequent media interviews, presentations, and the Data DIGest, his weekly one-page e-newsletter that goes to more than 20,000 subscribers. Ken has over 40 years of experience analyzing, advocating, and communicating about economic and tax issues. He currently serves as an advisor to the Census Bureau’s construction data re-engineering initiative. He is a Fellow and past president of the National Association for Business Economics, and he is co-director of the Tax Economists Forum, a professional meeting group he co-founded in 1982. Ken has a BA in economics from the University of Chicago, and an MA in economics from Northwestern University.

Dr. Dean Foreman
Chief Economist | Texas Oil & Gas Association

As chief economist for the Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA), Dr. Foreman brings over two decades of experience in the oil and gas industry, including global and domestic policy analysis, finance and risk management, business planning, forecasting, and market analysis, all grounded by his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Florida. His career also includes progressive roles at the American Petroleum Institute, ExxonMobil, Talisman Energy, and Saudi Aramco, where he spearheaded initiatives crucial to industry planning, regulatory influence, and supporting multibillion-dollar investments. His work has driven analyses that guide strategic industry decisions and played a significant role in the development of legislation and regulatory frameworks. He is the president of USAEE, serves as an advisory board member and faculty fellow at TCU’s Ralph Lowe Energy Institute, and is recognized as a Top Voice on LinkedIn.

Dr. Greg Upton
Executive Director & Associate Professor - Research | LSU Center for Energy Studies

Dr. Greg Upton's research interests are related to the analysis of economic, environmental and public policy issues in the energy industry. During his tenure at LSU, he has addressed topical energy issues of significance to Louisiana, including state mineral taxes, solar tax credits, and net metering policies, the impact of the oil price collapse on Louisiana’s budgetary challenges, and implications of the crude oil export ban’s lifting on the Louisiana economy, among others. He has presented research to more than 150 industry, governmental, and academic audiences, and has been quoted or cited approximately 150 times in local and national media, including the Wall Street Journal and NPR’s Marketplace. Dr. Upton holds a Ph.D. in Economics from LSU, where he also received both an M.S. in economics and a B.S. in economics with a concentration in empirical analysis.