Join CPGA for the 2026 Annual Conference that will take place September 14-17, 2026, in Myrtle Beach, SC at the Hilton Resort. 

Sponsorships

Become a sponsor at this year's CPGA Annual Conference and get your company's name in front of industry leaders. We have some new and exciting sponsorships this year, including the opportunity to sponsor CPGA's favorite beverage, Mountain Dew! Check out the full list of sponsorship opportunities here. 

 

Golf at the CPGA Conference

We're so excited to offer Golf at the CPGA Conference. Golf will take place at Arcadia Shores in Myrtle Beach. Cost is $65 per player. Thank you to our golf sponsor, Ed Young Sales Co! Click here to register for golf. 

Hotel Information: Deadline to Book is August 15

Hilton Resort (1000 Beach Club Resort, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572) is offering a special rate for CPGA conference attendees! Click here to book your hotel room or call 800-876-0010 Press 3 for Hilton. 

Register here!

Meeting Agenda

Monday, September 14

• 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm:  Registration - Sponsored by: Fountain Inn Natural Gas
• 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm:  Exhibitor Set Up
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm:  Executive Committee Meeting
• 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm:  CPGA Ladies Reception  - Sponsored by: Magnolia River
• 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm:  Welcome Reception with Associate Members & Exhibitors - Sponsored by: City of Monroe

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

• 8:00 am – 12:00 pm: Registration -  Sponsored by: Fountain Inn Natural Gas
• 7:30 am – 8:30 am:  Breakfast with Associate Members/Exhibitors - Sponsored by: TBD
• 8:30 am – 8:45 am:  CPGA Welcome and Announcements - Amanda Gallagher, 2026 CPGA Chair
• 8:45 am – 9:30 am:  The Growing Energy Demand: Data Centers, Natural Gas Supply & Pipeline Expansion with Mr. Anupam Das, NextEra

Explore how rapidly growing data center demand is influencing regional natural gas supply and infrastructure planning. This session will provide insights into anticipated supply challenges, the impact of increasing energy demand, and planned pipeline projects designed to enhance system capacity and address future supply constraints.

• 9:30 am – 10:15 am:  Keynote Address: “How to Be a Good Leader When You've Never Had One” - Mick Hunt, Keynote Speaker
• 10:15 am - 11:00 am:  Navigating Natural Gas Market Volatility: Market Outlook, Hedging Strategies, and Reliability Planning for Utilities - Mike Enoch, Patriots Energy Group, Executive Director

This session examines current natural gas market fundamentals, emerging supply and demand trends, and the factors driving price volatility across the Southeast. Participants will learn how utilities can manage risk, improve reliability, and protect customers from extreme winter market events based on past historical events.

• 11:00 am – 11:15 am:  Break with Associate Members / Exhibitors  - Sponsored by: Southern Cathodic Protection
• 11:15 am - 12:00 pm:  LNG: U.S. Operations and Global Market Impacts -  Orlando Alvarado, VP of Commercial, Shell North America LNG

 Overview of U.S. LNG production, export capacity, international demand trends, and impacts on domestic natural gas markets and utility operations.

• 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm:  Lunch Provided for Afternoon Activity Attendees
• 1:00 pm: Free Afternoon/ Afternoon Activities
• 1:00 pm: Golf – Arcadian Shores -  Golf Sponsored by: Ed Young Sales Company **GOLF REGISTRATION COMING SOON
• 6:00- 8:00 pm: CPGA Annual Awards Reception - Sponsored by: Consolidated Pipe & Supply

Awards Beverage Sponsored by: The Blythe Company; Awards Sponsored by: Bartlett Controls; Entertainment Sponsored by: RK&K;  Dessert Bar Sponsored by: ISCO

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

• 8:00 am – 3:30 pm:  Registration - Sponsored by: Fountain Inn Natural Gas
• 7:30 am – 8:30 am:  Breakfast with Associate Members & Exhibitors - Sponsored by: TBD
• 8:30 am – 8:45 am:  Welcome and Announcements with Door Prizes
• 8:45 am – 9:30 am:  APGA Federal Regulatory Update, Erin Kurilla – Executive Vice President, VP of Advocacy & Operations
• 9:30 am – 10:15 am:  South Carolina and North Carolina Compliance Update, John Iglesias – SC Pipeline Program Manager

Review of recent federal and state regulatory developments, PHMSA initiatives, inspection trends, and emerging compliance concerns impacting public gas systems. Discussion of recent legislative changes, implementation timelines, impacts on operators and excavators, and best practices for compliance.                                                     

• 10:15 am – 10:30 am:  Break with Associate Members & Exhibitors - Sponsored by: Next Era Energy
• 10:30 am – 11:15 am:  SC and NC Legislative Updates -  Geoff Penland, Santee Cooper, Senior Director of State and Federal Affairs
• 11:15 am – 12:15 pm:  Damage Prevention with Ron Peterson, NULCA, Executive Director

Presented in partnership with NULCA representatives. Discussion topics include root causes of damages, locating challenges, documentation practices, enforcement efforts, and industry best practices. 

• 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm:  Lunch with Associate Members & Exhibitors - Sponsored by: ITS
• 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm:  Operator Qualification Roundtable

Open discussion regarding OQ Program management, requalification triggers, contractor oversight, audit finding, record keeping and lessons learned

• 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm:  Data Center Impact in Energy and Operations - Anwar Timol – CloudOgre

First hand experience in data center, building out and anecdotes from force majeure events like Sandy and Helene

• 3:15 pm – 3:30 pm:   Meeting Wrap Up with Door Prizes
• 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm:  Operators Meeting
• 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm:  Reception and Dinner on your own

Thursday, September 17, 2026

• 7:00 am -10:00 am:  Exhibitor Breakdown
• 7:00 am – 8:00 am:  Breakfast with Associate Members & Exhibitors
• 8:00 – 10:30 am:  CPGA Board of Directors Meeting