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