Sponsors
Important Dates
November 10 (11:50AM) - December 31 (11:50AM), 2025
Last day to reserve booth space at Smart Saver Rates!
*Scroll down to review schedule with track titles and sessions in each track by day. This will be updated regularly once speakers and sessions are confirmed.
For questions, contact:
Paula Lerash, CEM
Director of Education & Exhibits
Email: lerash@texaschemistry.org
Direct: (512) 646-6404
LEADERSHIP TRACK(Track Sponsored by HASC)
June 2026
June 1, 2026
8:00AM - 9:30AM
Leadership Opening General Session
From Development to Departure: Planning for Success
Dr. Taylor Giley, Houston Zoo
June 1, 2026
12:00PM - 1:30PM
Keynote Luncheon
Dr. Vincent Solis
President, Brazosport College
THE FUTURE OF PROCESS SAFETY TRACK (Track Sponsored by LyondellBasell)
June 2026
SUSTAINABILITY TRACK
June 2026
FOUNDATIONS OF SAFETY
June 2026
LEADERSHIP OPENING SESSION (Session Sponsored by HASC)
June 2026
June 2, 2026
2:30PM - 4:00PM
Leadership General Session
Is HOP Making Us Safer or Softer? The Hard Truth About Accountability in High-Risk Work
John Grubbs
This session confronts the uncomfortable side of HOP: the subtle ways the philosophy breaks down when it collides with human nature, leadership behavior, and organizational pressures. Through practical examples and behavioral insights, we will examine how leaders can apply HOP without lowering the bar for competence, clarity, or responsibility. Expect a direct, challenging look at whether HOP is truly improving your culture—or quietly eroding the foundations of high-performance work.
Key Takeaways
- Where and why HOP breaks down in real operational settings
- The psychological traps that turn learning-focused cultures into low-accountability cultures
- How leadership responses shape whether HOP builds trust—or destroys it
- Practical strategies to use HOP without weakening performance expectations
- A more mature, balanced approach to human performance in high-hazard work
June 2, 2026
4:00PM - 5:00PM
Exhibit Hall Grand Opening: Safety in Paradise
SAFETY EXCELLENCE: AWARD-WINNING BEST PRACTICES
June 2026
INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE TRACK (Track Sponsored by JK, Inc.)
June 2026
ENVIRONMENTAL TRACK: AIR (Track Sponsored by OxyChem)
June 2026
PROCESS SAFETY TRACK TRACK
June 2026
June 2, 2026
8:00AM - 9:00AM
Environment: Air Track
Netting Gains: Making NSR Applicability Work in the Chemical Industry
Robynn Andracsek
This session will provide a clear roadmap for evaluating NSR applicability within the chemical industry, with a practical focus on how netting can be effectively applied to manage permitting outcomes.
Topics will include: *Understanding baseline emissions and how to establish credible records for chemical processes. *Step-by-step approaches to determining NSR applicability for common industry scenarios such as unit modifications, flare improvements, and process expansions. *The mechanics of netting: how to calculate contemporaneous changes, document emission decreases, and defend decisions during agency review. Case studies will be discussed where strategic netting avoided unnecessary major NSR permitting, reducing both timelines and costs. Attendees will leave with practical tools to improve project planning, anticipate agency concerns, and integrate netting analyses early in project development.
Whether you are an environmental manager, engineer, or compliance officer, this session will sharpen your ability to navigate NSR with confidence and keep chemical plant projects on track.
INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES TRACK
June 2026
PROCESS SAFETY FOR LEADERS TRACK
June 2026
ENVIRONMENTAL TRACK : WATER & WASTE
June 2026
EMERGENCY RESPONSE & SECURITY (Track Sponsored by inFRONT)
June 2026
June 3, 2026
10:30AM - 11:30AM
Emergency Response & Security Track - Track Sponsored by inFRONT
Liithium-Ion Battery and Energy Response Challenges
Gordon Lohmeyer, Texas A & M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX)
Our energy response world is changing quickly! Wind, Solar and our ability to store energy in batteries has introduced new response challenges. The unique chemistry composition of Li-Ion batteries poses a new set of response challenges that we must take into consideration.
The Emergency Response & Security Track is sponsored by
June 3, 2026
12:45PM - 1:45PM
Emergency Response & Security Track - Track Sponsored by inFRONT
The Emergency Response & Security Track is sponsored by
June 3, 2026
2:15PM - 3:15PM
Emergency Response & Security Track - Track Sponsored by inFRONT
The Emergency Response & Security Track is sponsored by
LEADERSHIP SESSION (Session Sponsored by HASC)
June 2026
June 3, 2026
3:30PM - 4:30PM
All-Star Women in Leadership: Inspiring Change, Driving Excellence
Moderator: Monica Beynaerts, Coastal Ice & Water
Join an extraordinary panel of powerhouse leaders from the Women in Alliance luncheon series, an organization dedicated to empowering women in the Port Region and beyond. Moderated by the dynamic Monica Beynaerts, this “All-Star” cast of exceptional women will share their journeys, challenges, and triumphs in leadership across diverse industries. From breaking barriers to building future leaders, these women are committed to passing on their strengths, knowledge, and experiences to inspire the next generation.
Whether you’re a rising professional, a seasoned leader, or an ally seeking to support and amplify women’s voices, this session will deliver practical insights, motivational stories, and actionable strategies for advancing women’s leadership. Discover how resilience, collaboration, and the courage to aim higher can transform careers, organizations, and industries.
Panelists announced soon!
EHS LEADERSHIP (Track sponsored by Vetergy)
ENVIRONMENTAL HOT TOPICS TRACK (Track Sponsored by BGE)
June 4, 2026
9:00AM - 10:00AM
Environmental Track: Stewardship & Sustainability - Track Sponsored by Mitsubishi Chemical
June 4, 2026
10:30AM - 11:30AM
Environmental Track: Stewardship & Sustainability - Track Sponsored by Mitsubishi Chemical
June 4, 2026
1:00PM - 2:00PM
Environmental Track: Stewardship & Sustainability - Track Sponsored by Mitsubishi Chemical
June 4, 2026
2:15PM - 3:15PM
Environmental Track: Stewardship & Sustainability - Track Sponsored by Mitsubishi Chemical
ADVANCED PROCESS SAFETY TRACK
AMERICAN CHEMISTRY COUNCIL TRACK
None at this time.
PLANT MANAGER ROUND TABLE (Plant Managers Only)
None at this time.

