Michelle BarnettYoung Women Energized ChairTPC GroupMichelle is the Assistant Corporate Controller at TPC Group and has over 20 years of experience in SOX, technical accounting, and financial reporting in the energy industry focused on power and natural gas wholesale and retail energy trading, oil and gas upstream and midstream, and petrochemical manufacturing. Michelle also serves on the Executive Committee of the Good Samaritan Foundation celebrating excellence in nursing.
Renee HansenExecutive Events ChairManaging Director, RCH StrategiesRenee Hansen rejoins PwC as a Global Projects & Change Management Team Consultant, through TalentWave. Previously, she was Managing Director for RCH Strategies and focused on the expansion of new business development, operational effectiveness and strategic fundraising efforts. Renee formally was the Business Development Director for Vaco Houston, responsible for generating new business for their senior level finance and accounting consultants in the Greater Houston area. She worked in public accounting as a Sr Manager in PwC’s West Region Tax Marketing team focused on impacting the tax sales process by linking client issues and needs to specific new business opportunities. In addition, she held a role in PwC’s Marketing & Sales team responsible for account management of the Firm's priority Energy accounts. Renee expanded her understanding of Houston, home to numerous F500 Energy companies, while the Retention Manager of the Member Services Division at the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP). She facilitated impactful interactions between Partnership Members and the local, state, national and international communities to promote resources, initiatives and events available to over 2,000 of its Members. Previously, Renee developed business for Triangle Technology focused on companies delivering technology solutions. While in sales, Renee utilized GHP’s networking opportunities to gain new clients through her volunteer role as an Investor Ambassador. In addition, she expanded her sales knowledge by participating in Sandler Sales Training. During her tenure at PwC, she served on the founding Board of Advisors for Lasco Enterprises, owners of The Tasting Room and Max’s Wine Dive. Renee has also served as Director of Sponsorships for NBDA and Co-Director of Membership for the Houston Chapter of the Women's Energy Network (WENH). She has been Advisory Council Co-Chair for WENH and is currently Co-Chair of Executive Events & Programs in 2020.
Jusleen KarveExecutive Events ChairEIV Capital LLCJusleen M. Karve (“Jusleen”) joined EIV Capital in 2018 as a Senior Associate. Her responsibilities include operational and commercial due diligence on prospective investments, working with portfolio companies to maximize value from operations, and stewardship of the firm’s Environmental, Social and Governance initiatives. Prior to joining EIV Capital, Jusleen worked for General Electric, where she progressed through positions of increasing responsibility, ultimately joining GE’s executive talent development program, XLP. During her time at GE, Jusleen held roles in a variety of operating functions, including project management of power plants across Asia & Australia, global commercial sales and business development and project finance. Prior to GE, Jusleen worked with Parsons Corporation as a member of the design team for the World Trade Center Transportation Hub and reconstruction efforts in New York City. Jusleen graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and remains active with the MIT Alumni Association.
Annette KreuzSpeakers ChairUSI Southwest, Inc.Annette Kreuz is an Employee Benefits Strategy Consultant with USI Insurance Services. She has 15 years of business management experience in diverse settings from dot.com start-ups to Fortune 100 companies. Today, she leverages her analytical and creative penchants to drive improvements and financial savings without reducing benefits for mid-sized organizations experiencing the extraordinary year over year increases in healthcare costs this country is facing. To build on the cultural insights gained from her Art History & French BA’s from SMU, Annette attained her MBA from Europe’s #1 MBA program, HEC-Paris, in France, where she spent 4 years. Her professional experience includes 2 years with Marsh & Mclennan Companies, several years with Amazon in NYC, an MBA stint with the Director Generale of Lancome in France, and time with Restoration Hardware Corporate, Stage Stores, and FXCM currency trading. In each of these, Annette has relied on her love for drawing insights from metrics, resourcefulness, inquisitive nature & integrity to build relationships with her vendors, clients, and colleagues. Annette currently serves as the Co-Chair of Speakers & Education focusing on the Northside extension of WEN and serves as an Energy Corridor Chair & Ambassador for the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
Kim AkbarCharity Luncheon ChairDeloitteKim has over 9 years of experience in public accounting with a expertise in the investment management and insurance industries. She manages a variety of external audit engagements including large hedge funds, complex private equity funds, small family wealth funds, and life, health and property & casualty insurance entities, specializing in investment valuation and financial reporting. In addition to external audit engagements, she has also participated in a variety of projects with her clients including providing support during regulatory examinations, researching statutory and technical financial reporting issues and assisting with complex mergers, acquisitions and other business development strategies. Prior to joining the Houston practice, she served in the Cayman Islands office working with some of the largest asset managers in the world, and London, where she seconded to assist in a global forensic operation. Kim serves on the Scholarship Board of the Houston CPA society and as the Treasurer of the Fashion My Future Board. In her spare time, she lectures at the University of Houston as one of the lead lecturers for all 4 parts of the CPA exam.
Emily M. BahenaMentoring ChairSenior Consultant, Capitalize ConsultingEmily is a Manager for Capitalize Consulting providing business solutions to a wide range of clientele. Some of her clients include Tallgrass Energy, Lucid Energy Group, and Phillips 66. Her focus is in Midstream and Transportation. She began her career in Industry and Public Accounting before moving to Consulting. Emily graduated with a BS in Biology and Chemistry from Texas State University and with a Master’s of Professional Accounting (MPA) with a focus in Energy from University of Texas Permian Basin. In her spare time, you can find her at the barn with her horse training for her next horse show.
Erin ThrockmortonMentoring ChairSr Program Manager, Baker HughesErin Throckmorton is currently Senior Program Manager for the Energy Transition team at Baker Hughes. She is responsible for project infrastructure development and maintenance, program level governance, and developing strong customer and internal product company relationships. Erin has over 20 years of professional experience, with more than 10 years in the energy industry, working in various project management related roles (production equipment refurbishment, drilling control system upgrades, online information platforms, and energy operations/analytics applications). After earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Management and Finance (double major) from Dallas Baptist University, Erin began the next stage of her professional career at FMC Technologies, as a Project Coordinator for Exxon’s production equipment refurbishment program. Erin then went on to work as the Operations Manager for an IT services start-up where she developed their full project management program before moving on to Chevron Pipeline Company, where she worked in the program management organization, focusing on internal IT application projects. Erin joined GE Oil & Gas in 2012 as the Project Manager over a first of its kind roll-out of an upgrade to the control system for all drilling customers over 13 months. This upgrade was highly successful in increasing the reliability of the control systems across 40+ drilling platforms worldwide. During her career at GE, Erin took on increasing responsibilities and moved into a Program Management role, governing a drilling customer website portal, and Oil & Gas Digital application projects.
Cindy DartezChief of StaffFirm Initiatives Specialist, Opportune - National SponsorCindy Dartez supports talent development and client relationship initiatives across the business practices of Opportune LLP, a leading global energy business advisory firm specializing in adding value to clients across the industry. She works closely with firm management and professional staff to promote strategic collaboration, while also helping cultivate client and stakeholder relationships. For almost twenty years, Cindy has been actively engaged in brand management, business development, and strategic marketing for private and public sector clients. An entrepreneur at heart, she founded a successful consulting firm specializing in graphic design, advertising, and marketing prior to joining Opportune. Her client portfolio included energy, manufacturing, healthcare, technology, and professional services firms. They recognized her unique talent for crafting and communicating concise value propositions across print and digital media. Cindy has also demonstrated a commitment to helping the local professional and non-profit community. Recent volunteer activities include supporting efforts at the Women’s Energy Network (WEN) Houston Chapter, Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas, and other service organizations. Cindy served as Luncheon Chair for WEN in 2018 and currently serves as Chief of Staff for the 2019 – 2020 term.