Speakers

• Alan Bigman
  SVP & CFO LyondellBasell Industries
  
  

  Alan Bigman was appointed CFO of Basell and a member of the management board on January 1, 2006. Lyondell Chemical Company and Basell completed their merger to create LyondellBasell Industries – one of the world's largest polymers, chemicals and fuels companies in December 2007. Bigman was previously SVP of Access Industries, with responsibility for managing the financing activities of the group, with offices in London and Moscow. He was also responsible for strategic management of major group assets, and served on several supervisory boards. From 1998 – 2004, he served in several Access Industries portfolio companies, including the positions of Director of Corporate Finance at Tyumen Oil Company (TNK/TNK-BP) in Moscow and VP Finance at SUAL in Moscow. In 1996 Bigman was VP, U.S. and International Investments, for Access Industries and based in New York City.

  Bigman was awarded a Master's of Business Administration degree with High Distinction from Harvard Business School in June 1996 and a BA magna cum laude from Yale University in May 1989. He also studied economics at Moscow State University in a U.S. government-sponsored fellowship program.

• Ken Burke
  Director Pride International, Inc. and Trico Marine Services, Inc.
  
  

  Ken Burke retired in 2004 after 32 years with Ernst & Young. He currently is the audit committee chair and member of the compensation and strategic committees of Trico Marine Services, Inc. and a member of the audit and compensation committees of Pride International Inc. Burke's career included working in the finance organization for one of the country's largest independent producers. Burke's career predominantly centered on serving the energy industry, where he served as an audit partner for industry clients including BP, Sonat Exploration, Crown Central Petroleum, Elf Exploration, Transocean, Weatherford International, Cooper Cameron, Oil States International, Technip-Coflexip US, and Grant Prideco. Also, he has served as coordinating partner for Cooper Industries, a global manufacturer of electrical products and tools. These responsibilities have enabled him to develop a comprehensive understanding of the audit committee's responsibility for overseeing management, the internal audit function and independent auditors in the financial reporting process.

  Burke has served as Ernst & Young's National Energy Director, where he was responsible for developing and managing the firm's strategy for serving the industry. During this period, he co-authored the book, Oil & Gas Limited Partnerships: Accounting, Reporting and Taxation. For five years, he served as Managing Partner of E&Y's Assurance and Advisory Business Services Practice for the Gulf Coast Area, which included Houston, Austin, New Orleans and San Antonio. He is a former chairman of the AICPA Oil & Gas Committee and his tenure included publication of the Industry Guide, Audits of Entities with Oil and Gas Producing Activities.

• Richard A. Fuchs
  Senior Partner, Global Capital Markets Group PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
  
  
  Rich Fuchs is a Senior Partner in the Global Capital Markets Group (GCMG) of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and the leader of IFRS conversion services in the U.S. at PwC. GCMG provides extensive advisory services to non-U.S. companies seeking to enter the U.S. public and private capital markets for the first time, as well as to those already registered with the SEC and listed on either the NYSE or NASDAQ. The clients of GCMG include many of the world's largest companies such as BT, KPN, Deutsche Telekom, GlaxoSmithKline, Nokia, PetroChina, China Netcom, Sony and Toyota. Fuchs is a member of a team of 450 professionals located in 35 cities across the world who provide the full range of capital markets advisory services to companies. He has worked in Europe and Asia providing capital market and IFRS accounting advisory services to global clients for 15 years. Fuchs is also a member of the PwC Steering Committee leading the efforts of PwC in the U.S. in the adoption of IFRS by U.S. companies.

  Fuchs has extensive experience serving telecommunication and technology clients where he has served as an advisor in connection with the efforts of many of the world's premier telecommunications and technology companies to access the international capital markets, principally in the United States via NASDAQ and the NYSE. His telecommunication clients include BT, Colt Telecom, Energis, Equant, Hutchinson Telecommunications International Limited, MTNL and NTT,. He served as an advisor to the privatisation team at Deutsche Telekom in connection with their privatization and global IPO in 1996. His technology clients include ARM, Creative Technologies, LGPhillips LCD, Magnachip, QXL.com, STATSChipPac, Satyam Computer Services, Smallworldwide, Sony, topjobsonthenet.com and Webzen. In addition, he advised many of these companies in their transition from their local accounting standards to IFRS in connection with the adoption of IFRS by these companies, either in connection with their IPO or to comply with EU accounting regulations.

  Fuchs has been with PricewaterhouseCoopers for twenty-eight years. During that time, he has had extensive experience working with multinational companies located in the US, Europe and AsiaPacific. A Certified Public Accountant, he is a member of the American and Pennsylvania Institutes of Certified Public Accountants and is a frequent lecturer regarding accounting and reporting requirements for non-US companies seeking access to US capital markets and the implications of adoption of IFRS. Fuchs is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business.

• Michael T. Kaiser
  Principal, Risk Advisory Services, Global Leader, Enterprise Risk Management Services Ernst & Young LLP
  
  

  Mike Kaiser is the global leader for Ernst & Young's Enterprise Risk Management Services team. In his role, he coordinates dedicated professional service delivery teams and leverages best practices in methodology, knowledge, technology and learning in risk management and internal control to support Ernst & Young clients.

  Kaiser is focused on delivering a balanced approach to risk and performance where risk management is viewed as a competency that is critical in enabling an organization to realize its potential - whether that means driving top-line growth, eliminating costs, enhancing reputation and brand, or making better use of capital assets. Kaiser continues to personally serve the largest global clients in leading the implementation of Enterprise Risk Management solutions across a range of industries. His experience extends over 16 years of progressive consulting and advisory roles having lead engagements on a global basis. He brings insights and practical experience from working with the world's leading organizations.

  Kaiser earned a Master's of Business Administration in Risk Management and Finance from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

• J. David Kirkland Jr.
  Partner, Corporate Baker Botts
  
  

  David Kirkland is chair of the firmwide corporate practice at Baker Botts. His principal areas of concentration are mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, corporate control and governance, and general corporate matters. Kirkland has extensive experience representing numerous parties and investment banking firms in mergers and acquisitions, including negotiated acquisitions and dispositions, controlled auctions, tender offers, and related financings. He has been involved in many of the largest mergers in the oilfield service sector. He has participated in numerous contested takeovers and proxy fights and has assisted many clients in the analysis of their defensive posture and the adoption of "poison pill" rights plans. Kirkland also counsels clients in transactions involving special committees formed to deal with interested party or conflict of interest issues.

  Kirkland also has substantial experience representing issuers, underwriters, and selling shareholders in numerous registered public offerings, including initial public offerings and shelf registrations, and in Rule 144A transactions and private placements. He advises issuers in a wide variety of industries, including oilfield services, contract drilling, oil and gas exploration and production, food products, electronics and technology, and entertainment. Kirkland is listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 2001; Global Counsel 3000, "highly recommended" in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and joint ventures; and Chambers USA, America's Leading Business Lawyers since 2003 as a "leading individual" in Corporate/M&A. He is recognized as a "Texas Super Lawyer" in Mergers and Acquisitions by Texas Monthly and Law & Politics every year since 2003, and one of the "Top 100 Texas Super Lawyers" and "Top 100 Houston Super Lawyers" in 2007. He was named a "Go-To Lawyer" for M&A/Securities Law by Texas Monthly, 2007.

  Kirkland received his B.A. Summa Cum Laude in Economics from Yale University and his J.D. from Yale Law School.

• Drayton McLane Jr.
  Chairman, McLane Group Chairman & CEO, Houston Astros Baseball Club
  
  

  Drayton McLane Jr., chairman of McLane Group and chairman and CEO of the Houston Astros Baseball Club, was born and raised in Cameron, TX, where his father, Drayton McLane Sr., owned a wholesale grocery company, McLane Company, Inc. In 1959, Drayton Jr's first job was an entry level job loading trucks on the night shift. Over the next three years, he advanced, holding a variety of warehouse jobs until moving into management as VP of Purchasing. Soon after, he advanced to GM of operations, a post which he held for the next 14 years. In 1978, Drayton Jr. was named President and CEO of McLane Company, Inc.

  During these early years, Drayton Jr. assisted his father in building a strong grocery distribution network that served convenience stores, supermarkets, fast food stores, and family owned business around Texas. They were one of the first to use new technology to computerize the distribution system. That was one of the key moves in McLane Company's success. Since becoming President and CEO, eighteen distribution centers were built around the United States. This happened during an amazing time (1964- 1993) when the company achieved average yearly sales growth of 30% or more. During those years, Drayton Jr. served as President of the Texas Wholesale Grocers Association (1970-1971) and Chairman of the National American Wholesale Grocers Association (1986-1988). In 1990, McLane Co. agreed to merge with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Drayton Jr. accepted the positions of Chairman of McLane Company, Inc. and Vice Chairman of Wal-Mart. In 1993, he resigned both of these positions in order to devote his full time as Chairman of McLane Group, which is a holding company found in 1992.

  These days, Drayton Jr. spends the majority of his time working with McLane Group and the Houston Astros Baseball Club, which he purchased in 1992. He does put aside a large amount of time to serve on civic and charitable committees. Drayton Jr. currently serves as: VP of Executive Board- Boy Scouts of America; Chairman of Board of Trustees- Scott and White Memorial Hospital; Member of National Board of Governors- Cooper Institute of Aerobics Research; director- Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University; Member of the Greater Houston Partnership; Member of United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast.

  His past civic duties include: Chairman- United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast's Pacesetter Campaign; Member- Children's Miracle Network National Board of Governors; Chairman of the Board- Children's Miracle Network; Member- Texas State Board of Mental Health and Mental Retardation; Vice Chairman of Board of Trustees- Baylor University; Chairman of Board of Regents- Baylor University; Chairman of Temple (Texas) Chamber of Commerce; Trustee- South Texas College of Law.

  Over the years, Drayton Jr. has received many significant awards. These awards include: The International Society of Logistics (SOLE) Field Award for Supply Chain Management (2006); Elizabeth and Drayton McLane Jr. Chair in Health and Wellness (2005)- Scott and White Memorial Hospital; Silver Buffalo Award- Boy Scouts of America (Twice 2004 & 1985); Houston Community Partners Father of the Year Award (2000); Food Distributors International Herbert Hoover Industry Award (1998); Golden Plate Award- American Academy of Achievement (1997); Honorary Doctorate- Michigan State University (1997); Master Entrepreneur- Texas A&M University (1993); Inducted Texas Business Hall of Fame (1992); WR White Meritorious Service Award (1991); Distinguished Alumni Award- Baylor University (1990); Man of the Year Award- Anti Defamation League of B'nai B'rith Food Distributor (1990); American Achiever Award- National American Wholesale Grocers Association (1990); Distinguished Citizen Award- Boy Scouts of America HOT Council (1989); Silver Antelope Award- Boy Scouts of America (1988); Entrepreneur of the Year - Arthur Young/ Venture Magazine (1987); Award for Management Excellence and Achievement- University of Georgia School of Business (1985).<

• Robert D. McTeer
  Distinguished Fellow, National Center for Policy Analysis
  Former President, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Former Chancellor, Texas A&M University System
  
  

  As a Distinguished Fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis, Bob McTeer covers macro-economic issues, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, tax and education policy. The NCPA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan market-oriented public policy institute headquartered in Dallas with offices in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining the NCPA in January 2007, McTeer was Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System from November 2004 - November 2006. The Texas A&M University System is composed of nine universities, seven state agencies and a statewide health science center. The system has approximately 25,000 employees and budgets totaling $2.5B. Its universities have approximately 102,000 students, including about 45,000 at its flagship, Texas A&M University in College Station.

  Before becoming Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, McTeer had a 36-year career with the Federal Reserve System, including 14 years as President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and member of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). While at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond in the 1970s, McTeer taught economics as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University. While he ran the Richmond Fed's Baltimore Branch in the 1980s, McTeer taught two classes per semester in the evening program of The Johns Hopkins University.

  McTeer got his B.B.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Georgia and taught there for two years before joining the Fed in 1968. His graduate education was financed by a National Defense Education Act (NDEA) fellowship. He holds an honorary doctorate in the Humane Letters from Austin College.

  Today he serves on the Boards of Directors of Guaranty Bank, the Westwood Holdings Group, and Refocus Group. He is a former member of the Board of Overseers of UGA's Terry College of Business, where he was named Distinguished Alumnus in 1991. He is past president of the Association of Private Enterprise Education, a national association of free enterprise scholars and others who advocate market solutions to public policy problems, and a former board member of the National Council on Economic Education. McTeer was featured as a Texas Legend in Business in 2004 by the Texas Cable News Network.

  You may find his articles and speeches on www.BobMcTeer.com.

• Holli Nichols
  EVP & CFO Dynegy Inc.
  
  

  As Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Dynegy, Holli Nichols has responsibility for the company's financial affairs, including finance and accounting, treasury, risk management, internal audit, investor and public relations, and credit agency relationships. After joining Dynegy in 2000, Nichols held various positions in the company's financial area, including Senior Vice President and Controller and, most recently, Senior Vice President and Treasurer. Prior to joining the company, she was a Senior Manager-Audit with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, where she supervised teams that provided audit services to large public companies in the oil and gas industry.

  A Certified Public Accountant, Nichols received a Bachelor's of Science from Baylor University. She serves on the board of His Grace Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that provides support to families with children undergoing bone marrow transplants.

• Peter Ragauss
  SVP & CFO Baker Hughes Incorporated
  
  

  Peter Ragauss, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer joined Baker Hughes in 2006. Prior to Baker Hughes, he served as Segment Controller of Refining and Marketing for BP plc in London. Earlier, he was Chief Executive Officer of Air BP, and Assistant to the Group Chief Executive of BP.

  Prior to joining BP, Ragauss served as Vice President of Finance and Portfolio Management for Amoco Energy International, Vice President of Finance for El Paso Energy International and Vice President of Corporate Development for Tenneco Energy.

  Ragauss received his Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering in from Michigan State University and a Master's of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School.

• Bob Simpson
  SVP & CFO Waste Management, Inc.
  
  
  Robert G. (Bob) Simpson has been Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Waste Management Inc. since March 2004. Simpson is responsible for the Waste Management Inc.'s accounting, business improvement, internal audit, investor relations, tax, treasury, risk management, and profit and budget analysis functions. He served as Chief Accounting Officer of Waste Management Inc. since May 2002. Simpson served as Senior Vice President of Waste Management, Inc. He was Vice President, Taxation of Waste Management from November 1998 – May 2002. Prior to joining WM, he served as Vice President and General Manager of Tenneco Business Services from July 1997 – November 1998 and served as and Vice President of Tax. Previously, he was Director of Federal Taxes for Phillip Morris with the Kraft General Foods Division.
• Lane Sloan
  Former CFO, Shell Oil Director, Strategic Energy Alliance, University of Houston
  
  

  Lane Sloan has thirty years of experience in the oil and petrochemical industries and before retiring at the end of 1999, held a number of senior leadership positions with Shell Oil including Vice President Corporate Planning, Chief Financial Officer and President of Shell Chemical Company. He was also Regional Coordinator for all Royal Dutch Shell's operations in the Asia Pacific region and Director of the East Zone in Shell's Global Oil Products business both positions based out of London.

  Today, he is the Director of the University of Houston Strategic Energy Alliance as Special Assistant to the Provost. He previously taught corporate strategy and leadership to undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Houston's Bauer College of Business. He was formerly the Chair of the Greater Houston Partnership's Energy Collaborative Committee. Sloan is a Silver Fox Advisor previously serving as both President and Chairman. He is an investor and mentor to Legacy Energy Solutions.

  Sloan has co-authored with Chris Ross the new book Terra Incognita: A Navigation Aid for Energy Leaders. He has written several articles for World Energy Magazine and World Energy Monthly Review. Sloan is a member of the boards of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, Davidson Instruments, Sam Houston Area Boy Scouts, Houston Technology Center, and the University of Houston's Petroleum Advisory Board. He received a BS in Business magna cum laude and an MS in Management Science from the University of Colorado. At the University of Houston, he received an MS in Accountancy and an MBA in Finance. He was previously a CPA in the State of Texas.

• David P. Stangis
  Director, Corporate Responsibility Intel Corporation
  
  

  Dave Stangis is Intel Corporation's Director of Corporate Responsibility. He works across Intel business units (EHS, Legal, govt. affairs, Human Resources, etc) to coordinate strategy in line with external Social Responsibility/Sustainability drivers and Intel business processes. He manages Intel's relationship with the social investment universe and coordinates public affairs and external engagement in the area of Corporate Responsibility.

  Stangis manages production of Intel's Corporate Responsibility Report and monitors and responds to emerging issues that may affect the company's reputation. He is a member of Intel's Ethics and Compliance Oversight Committee and facilitates the Company's Corporate Responsibility Management Review Committee and the company's Executive CSR Council.

  Stangis is on the advisory boards of Net Impact, The Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship and Ethical Corporation magazine. He was recently named one of the 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics by Ethisphere Magazine.

  Stangis has been with Intel for more than 10 years and has held a range of EHS and CSR positions since 1985. He earned his MBA from the University of Michigan and a Master of Science in Occupational and Environmental Health from Wayne State University in Detroit.

• Bruce Williamson
  Chairman, President & CEO Dynegy, Inc.
  
  

  Bruce A. Williamson was named Dynegy Inc.'s President and Chief Executive Officer and elected to the company's Board of Directors in October 2002. In May 2004, the Board of Directors elected Williamson as Chairman. In his leadership role, Williamson is responsible for the development and execution of the company's business strategies with a focus on delivering long-term value to each class of investor. For the first two-and-a-half years of his tenure, he directed a comprehensive self-restructuring plan, successfully refocusing, repairing and rebuilding Dynegy as a financially stronger and operationally focused organization, while addressing the issues of the past era to move the company forward. Most recently, he has led the strategic initiatives to position Dynegy as an independent power generation company with a sustainable business model and capital structure to pursue greater investor value through organic growth, opportunistic expansion or sector consolidation.

  Prior to joining Dynegy, Williamson served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Duke Energy Global Markets. In this role, he was responsible for all Duke Energy business units with global commodities and international business positions. He was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Duke Energy International in 1997. In this position, he was responsible for strategy, business development and asset management for all international activities.

  Prior to the Duke-PanEnergy merger in 1997, Williamson served as Vice President of Finance for PanEnergy and was responsible for corporate development, corporate-wide commodity risk management and strategic oversight of corporate treasury. Before joining PanEnergy, he held positions of increasing responsibility at Royal Dutch/Shell Group, advancing to Assistant Treasurer.

  Williamson earned a Bachelor's degree in Finance from the University of Montana and a Master's of Business Administration from the University of Houston. He is active with the University of Houston, serving on the Dean's Advisory Board for the C.T. Bauer College of Business and the Chancellor's National Advisory Council. He also serves on the board of Questar Corp., an independent gas and oil producer.