EnergyTech Podcast

In this episode of the Energy Tech Podcast, we welcome Jeff Hancher — U.S. Army veteran, Fortune 500 leader, executive coach, and USA Today bestselling author of Firm Feedback in a Fragile World.Jeff shares his powerful journey from growing up in poverty to building a 25-year Fortune 500 career and launching his own leadership company. We discuss why feedback is often avoided, how to overcome fear when holding tough conversations, and why deposits of trust are essential before withdrawals of accountability.We also dive into:- The origins of Firm Feedback in a Fragile World- Multi-generational challenges in today’s workforce- The F-E-A-R model leaders face (Fallout, Emotion, Amateur, Retaliation)- Why diversity is an advantage (the “Avengers” analogy)- Leadership in 24/7 control rooms & shift work- How to reset when you’ve given poor feedback in the past- Practical frameworks for expectations, feedback, and accountabilityUseful Links:📖 Get Jeff’s book + free resources: FirmFeedbackBook.com🎙 Listen to Jeff’s podcast: The Champion Forum (new episodes every Thursday)📖 Firm Feedback in a Fragile World — https://www.firmfeedbackbook.com/-https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-champion-forum-podcast-with-jeff-hancher/id1456048671📖 John C. Maxwell — The 5 Levels of Leadership: https://www.maxwellleadership.com/blog/the-5-levels-of-leadership/www.jeffhancher.com0:00 – Intro & episode setup0:18 – Guest welcome: author of Firm Feedback in a Fragile World1:17 – Why this book matters (host’s Cape Cod story)2:05 – Guest background: Army → Fortune 500 → leadership coach3:49 – From poverty to purpose: early life & turning points4:06 – Why write the book? Pandemic workshop → book origin6:06 – The “fragile world”: multi-gen teams, quiet quitting, retention8:43 – Why leaders avoid feedback: the F-E-A-R model (Fallout, Emotion, Amateur, Retaliation)11:44 – The framework: Expectations → Feedback → Accountability12:31 – Compliant vs engaged: the speed-limit analogy15:06 – Making deposits before withdrawals (building trust)16:27 – Mentor story: tough feedback that changed a career21:07 – Leaders as culture shapers (large teams & politics21:19 – Control rooms & shift work realities (12-hr rotations)22:51 – Diversity as an advantage (the “Avengers” analogy)25:18 – Earning the right to give feedback (breath-mint story)28:08 – Shift-worker accountability: sharing your “why31:16 – Socializing personal “whys” to drive team standards34:24 – Motivation through impact: AED save story & purpose36:31 – High standards, soft on people (Chick-fil-A example)39:20 – Common mistakes: the “feedback sandwich” & labeling43:00 – How to reset if you’ve given feedback poorly (fall on the sword)45:56 – Boss vs. leader people don’t want to let down46:04 – Lightning round: must-read, pre-conversation advice, favorite quote50:16 – Where to find the guest: website & podcast plugs50:47 – Wrap-up & thanksIntro Music:Uygar Duzgun / “Fast Life” / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

We’re live at ICC 2025 (Sacramento) with Zoe Ritling from OnLogic—maker of rugged industrial PCs, edge servers, and panel PCs built for harsh environments. We dig into right-sized edge hardware for Ignition + MQTT, fast build-to-order turnarounds, and how manufacturers, energy producers, and integrators are scaling computer vision and edge data reliably.GuestZoe Ritling, Business Development Manager, OnLogic — helping teams deploy configurable, industrial-grade compute from palm-size gateways to compact 1U/3U edge servers.Highlights- What OnLogic builds: rugged PCs/servers/panel PCs for plant floors, vehicles & remote sites- Right-sizing edge hardware (configure CPU/RAM/I/O/cellular/Wi-Fi) so you pay for what you need- Build-to-order ≠ slow: typical lead times ~3–5 business days (parts availability)- Real deployments: data center MQTT bridge; CNX Resources scaling Ignition across the field; rail facility.- Where demand’s hottest: integrators, manufacturing digital transformation, renewables- Support that knows the hardware: tech teams co-located with production (US/EU)- AI at the edge: computer vision for safety/smoke/fire & quality/defect detection- Edge servers for CONEX/remote sites: dust filtration, hot-swap fans, intrusion detection, lockable bezelsLinks• OnLogic – Industrial Edge Hardware: https://www.onlogic.com/• Inductive Automation Ignition: https://inductiveautomation.com/• OpSite Energy: www.opsiteenergy.com00:00 Intro & music00:10 Welcome to Energy Tech Podcast (ICC 2025)00:31 Host intro (Sacramento) & guest setup00:40 Guest: Zoe Ritling – OnLogic01:13 What OnLogic does: rugged industrial PCs, servers, panel PCs01:35 Zoe’s role: Business Development (relationship-first)02:24 First time at ICC: community vibes & Ignition 8.3 buzz04:55 “Level Up” theme + Prove It flavor + Energy Tech Podcast vision05:58 Where OnLogic fits: bridging legacy OT ↔ modern data centers06:56 Story #1: Data center use case (MQTT + Ignition at the edge)07:48 Story #2: CNX Resources – scaling MQTT with OnLogic IPCs08:54 Build-to-order without long waits; real talk on lead times10:51 Right-sizing hardware: config options (CPU/RAM/I/O/cellular/Wi-Fi)12:26 Another win: rail facility deployment & fast ship13:45 Where demand is booming: integrators, mfg, renewables14:47 Unboxing & support: guides, QR to tech docs, licensing15:51 Support model: teams co-located with production (US/EU)16:45 AI at the edge: computer vision, safety/smoke detection18:14 Edge servers: 1U & 3U, built for harsh sites (dust, locks, fans)20:51 “Edge data centers” in CONEX buildings & compact racks22:00 OnLogic + Ignition community & partner ecosystem22:46 Education/Lab collabs; future demo series invite23:50 Wrap & subscribe

Live from ICC 2025 in Sacramento: Pat Smith (Avadine) joins the Energy Tech Podcast to unpack real-world upstream production automation—and why Ignition can (and should) power rod-lift optimization without the black boxes. Pat will discuss Avadine's new IPOC platform for pump off control. Pat spent 16 years as an end-user/operator before becoming an integrator, bringing rare field credibility to SCADA conversations. He introduces IPOC (Ignition Pump-Off Control)—an open, Ignition-native approach to connect popular pump-off controllers (Lufkin, Weatherford, GE & more via Modbus), visualize downhole pump cards, issue control/setpoints, and push actionable data to the business.What you’ll learn- Why ICC 2025 is a “level up” (new venue + Ignition 8.3)- The upstream gap: automate before the dehy, not just at the plant- From silos to value: BOE focus, transparency, and operator empowerment- IPOC overview: start/stop, setpoints, card retrieval & visualization- Open integrations: Modbus devices, brand-agnostic controller support- What’s next: AI/LLM pump-card diagnosis, MCP possibilities- Ignition 8.3 roadmap tie-ins: event streaming & RESTful backend- How to demo IPO and bring “Prove It” energy to production opsLinks & resources• Avadine – IPOC (Ignition Pump-Off Control): https://www.avadine.com/• Inductive Automation – Ignition 8.3: https://inductiveautomation.com/• Opsite Energy – Insight-Driven Remote Operations: www.opsiteenergy.comAbout the showThe Energy Tech Podcast covers SCADA, MES, DataOps, AI/ML, and control-room ops across energy and industrial markets—broadcasting onsite at ICC 2025.ConnectQuestions for Pat/Avadine or want a product demo? Drop them in the comments—and subscribe for more ICC sessions.00:09 Welcome to Energy Tech Podcast @ ICC 202500:32 Guest intro: Pat Smith (Avadine)01:06 “Level Up” at ICC 2025: venue & Ignition 8.301:36 Pat’s journey: 16 years as end user → now integrator02:27 What Avadine does (custom software → SCADA integration)03:18 Field credibility: Pat’s production/operator background04:46 Bridging OT realities with SCADA/automation06:06 Why upstream well ops (pre-dehy) need more automation07:51 The challenge with proprietary pump-off controllers08:33 Introducing IPO: Ignition Pump-Off Control09:40 Open integrations (Modbus; Lufkin/Weatherford/GE, etc.)10:56 From siloed data to business value (BOE focus)11:52 Early traction: pilots, excitement, alternatives to legacy tools12:42 What IPO does today: start/stop, setpoints, pump cards visualization13:58 Next up: AI/LLM diagnosis of pump cards; MCP potential14:56 Roadmap with Ignition 8.3: event streaming & RESTful backend15:55 “Prove It” for Energy—call for demos & real results16:26 Wrap-up: how to connect; like & subscribeMusic: Uygar Duzgun / “Fast Life” / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

-- We’re in the OpSite Energy Control Room to welcome our newest team member, Daniel Netto — VP of Regulatory Compliance. Daniel brings 25+ years in control room operations with dozens of state & PHMSA audits under his belt, and a track record of successful outcomes. We dig into what truly wins audits: preparation, ownership, and data that proves your procedures.GuestDaniel Netto, VP Regulatory Compliance, OpSite Energy — leads audit readiness, control room oversight, and client representation for state/PHMSA inspections.What you’ll learn- Daniel's path: water/wastewater → midstream → OpSite Energy- Inside an audit: what inspectors really ask for- “Audit-ready” culture: monthly/annual packaging of evidence- Procedures vs. proof: shift turnover, hours of service, backup/failover tests, calibration & alarm data- Why OpSite shares playbooks (no gatekeeping) + upcoming CRM Rule mini-series- Tips for success: prep materials, assign owners, practice retrieval, be ready anytimeLinks & resources• OpSite Energy – Control Room Services: www.opsiteenergy.comAbout the showThe Energy Tech Podcast covers SCADA, control rooms, audits/compliance, DataOps, and AI/ML across energy and industrial markets.ConnectFrom another control room? Drop a comment with your questions for Daniel, and subscribe to catch the upcoming CRM series.00:07 Welcome to Energy Tech Podcast (OpSite Energy)00:24 Studio setup: OpSite Control Room, Canonsburg, PA00:38 Guest intro: Daniel Netto joins OpSite Energy01:11 Role: VP, Regulatory Compliance & control room oversight02:20 Audit experience: state & PHMSA inspections (14–15 audits)03:02 Mike & Daniel’s history (water/wastewater → midstream)05:00 Why this matters: third-party control room representation06:06 Field lessons: prepare for audits, know what inspectors want07:51 Early days of the CRM rule & first Texas audits (~2014)09:54 Shout-out to mentor Patricia Thompson & training impact11:00 Living “audit-ready”: cadence, documentation, clarity12:56 OpSite’s philosophy: share knowledge, don’t gatekeep14:35 Upcoming Control Room Management (CRM) video series16:12 Procedures vs. proof: it’s the data that counts18:58 Examples: shift turnover, hours of service, backup tests27:16 What makes a successful audit: prep, owners, audit-ready always28:59 Wrap-up & call to like/subscribeUygar Duzgun / “Fast Life” / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Live from Ignition ICC 2025 in Sacramento, the Energy Tech Podcast sits down with Oliver Wang, Product Marketing Manager at Moxa. In this episode, we explore: Moxa’s role as a key Ignition partner. - How industrial compute and edge devices unlock stranded data- Real-world use cases in oil & gas, water, automotive, and manufacturing- Live demos on microgrids, EV charging, and energy storage optimization- The importance of cost, complexity, and cybersecurity in deployments- Moxa’s vision for AI, machine learning, and future-ready edge computingWhether you’re an integrator, end user, or technology partner, this conversation highlights how Moxa helps bridge legacy systems, modern connectivity, and event-driven data for digital transformation.Useful Links🌐 Moxa Official Website: https://www.moxa.com🔧 Moxa Edge Solutions: https://www.moxa.com/en/products/industrial-edge-connectivity🎤 Energy Tech Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@EnergyTechPodcast🎟️ Ignition ICC Conference: https://icc.inductiveautomation.com00:00 Intro00:10 Welcome to the Energy Tech Podcast00:23 Introducing Oliver Wang from Moxa01:00 Oliver’s role at Moxa02:05 What makes ICC 2025 different03:14 Leveling up the Ignition community04:45 Conversations and problem-solving at ICC05:49 Legacy equipment and Modbus RTU to TCP07:49 Unlocking stranded data & MQTT conversion08:43 Live demo: microgrid, EV charging & energy storage10:54 Event-based data and market forces12:35 Energy management opportunities13:11 Moxa industrial compute product showcase15:55 Edge computing with Ignition Edge18:16 Support and proof-of-concept process18:53 The “tipping point”: cost, complexity, cybersecurity21:48 Reducing complexity for field techs22:56 Moxa’s support and fleet management tools23:41 Reliability, updates, and user experience24:52 Moxa’s future with AI and ML27:39 Customer-driven development & GPU/TPU options27:45 Oliver’s personal goals for ICC 202529:43 Leveling up engagement & closing thoughts30:17 Outro – Like & SubscribeUygar Duzgun / “Fast Life” / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Join us at Inductive Automation's Ignition User Conference (ICC) 2025 in Sacramento, CA. September 16-18.

In this episode of the Energy Tech Podcast, hosts Jeff Perry and Mike Flores sit down with Paola Paz of Automated Dynamics (ADC) to explore the theme “Factory to the Field: The Next Generation of Industrial Automation.”Paola shares her journey from sales into applications engineering, where she has become a hands-on problem solver helping customers bridge the gap between legacy equipment and modern automation solutions. From automotive plants in San Antonio to oil & gas operations and emerging data centers, she explains how ADC’s portfolio — including Red Lion, Banner, Pulse, HMS, and Turck — delivers real-world value across industries.Key topics include:• The role of applications engineers as “secret weapons” on the factory floor• How generational mindsets shape adoption of new technology• Legacy equipment challenges and the risks of “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it”• Bridging the IT/OT divide with modern networking and protocols• The role of edge devices, predictive maintenance, and data logging in industrial transformation• How AI, cybersecurity, and digital convergence are reshaping the future of automationIf you work in manufacturing, oil & gas, energy, or data centers, this conversation offers insight into real challenges and practical solutions for taking industrial automation to the next level.https://www.adcreps.com/https://www.bannerengineering.com/us/en/products/connectivity-technology/snap-signal.html00:00 – Introductions & Welcome 02:42 – Meet Paola Paz (Automated Dynamics, ADC) 04:48 – Career Journey: From Sales to Applications Engineering 07:42 – The Role of an Applications Engineer (hands-on problem solving) 10:30 – What ADC Represents: Red Lion, Banner, Pulse, HMS, Turck 12:27 – Serving Automotive, Manufacturing, and Oil & Gas 15:05 – Legacy Equipment Challenges in Industrial Automation 17:05 – Generational Mindsets in Controls Engineering 19:34 – Why Critical Assets Stay on Old Technology 22:11 – Safety Risks and Preventative Maintenance 23:46 – Emerging Tech: Banner Snap Signal & Data Centers 26:27 – Power, Connectivity, and Edge Data in Modern Facilities 29:37 – IT vs OT: Bridging the Gap 33:44 – Network Challenges, Protocols, and Training Engineers 36:12 – Convergence, AI, and the Future of Industrial Automation 39:33 – AI Adoption Barriers in Manufacturing 42:58 – Closing Thoughts & Future Episodes with Paola Paz

Ep. 028 – From Install to Optimization – A Pipeline Leak Detection Masterclass – Adrian Kane – Atmos International. Adrian Kane is Senior Vice President at Atmos International and started with Atmos in 2002 in their Manchester office. Before joining Atmos Adrian was an advance completion engineer with Schlumbeger. Adrian’s role has spanned many areas of the Atmos ecosystem over the years, and he brings a hands on and practical approach to LDS projects worldwide. About Atmos International: Atmos International was originally founded in 1995 with a primary focus to detect pipeline leaks reliably on operational pipelines. This technology has been successfully applied to over 2,000 pipelines across more than 60 countries.As the world’s leading leak detection provider, Atmos is best placed to help you ensure any leak is detected reliably and located accurately, giving you peace of mind and helping you sleep at night.https://www.atmosi.com/us/00:30 Welcome in02:30 Adrian and his spare time04:00 Irish & Scottish Links06:00 Pipeline leak detection implementation steps with Atmos International07:00 Gathering operational data for tuning09:45 Tuninig the system before FAT14:30 Success factors for large operations16:30 Coordinated efforts with SCADA teams17:20 Failures or delays in implementation19:15 Training and Facility acceptance testing20:30 Site acceptance testing23:45 Project Timeline and PHMSA 195 compliance25:00 Leak detection during commissioning 27:30 Cybersecurity in leak detection30:00 Training through tuning and beyond36:15 Simulating a leak for training scenarios38:00 Documentation required for compliance – API 113042:00 Challenges or obstacles in implementing a solid LDS 44:00 Selecting the correct leak detection system for the system46:46 PHMSA 195 Section 417 Rupture Compliance Module50:50 Gas pipeline leak detection 52:00 Building a digital twin of your pipeline system for modeling55:30 Atmos and Machine learning – 2+ decades56:00 AI and Leak Detection – is it risky??57:40 Top 3 items to have in order to be successful in leak detection

Ep. 026 – Scaling the Edge – From 10-200K Points w/ Joey Philippi - WaterbridgeJoey Philippi is currently Director of Operational Technology at WaterBridge based in Houston Texas. He brings experience from previous roles at Berkana Resources, EN Engineering and Encana. Ryan Glover is currently the director of Remote Operations at WaterBridge based in Houston Texas. he brings experience from previous roles held at Apache Corp, Marathon Oil and Oxy.00:30 Welcome in01:05 Introduction – Ryan’s 30s commercial01:30 Joey’s career path and passion for technology 02:00 Texas A&M technology projects03:00 Joey’s growth in oil and gas SCADA systems integration05:00 Transforming Wadebridge’s SCADA infrastructure to Scale07:30 Startin at zero with Ignition – the tools and knowhow you need to succeed13:00 Aha moment and polling 100s of devices and control at the edge15:45 MQTT and Report by exception16:45 Wadebridge’s early hurdles with Ignition20:30 Building a SCADA HMI – The collaborative approach22:30 Wadebridge’s Operations26:50 Enterprise Architecture for Ignition36:30 Point to point when using MQTT protocol40:45 Field communications over vast landmasses like the Delaware and Permian43:45 Leveraging Lorowan to close the gaps52:30 Future technologies at Waterbridge57:30 Tips for scaling in Ignition1:01:30 Closing Remarks

Lets discuss the different types of pipeline leak detection systems (LDS). Internal Leak detection, external leak detection. Adrian Kane is Senior Vice President at Atmos International and started with Atmos in 2002 in their Manchester office. Before joining Atmos Adrian was an advance completion engineer with Schlumbeger. Adrian’s role has spanned many areas of the Atmos ecosystem over the years, and he brings a hands on and practical approach to LDS projects worldwide. About Atmos International: Atmos International was originally founded in 1995 with a primary focus to detect pipeline leaks reliably on operational pipelines. This technology has been successfully applied to over 2,000 pipelines across more than 60 countries.As the world’s leading leak detection provider, Atmos is best placed to help you ensure any leak is detected reliably and located accurately, giving you peace of mind and helping you sleep at night.https://www.atmosi.com/us/00:0000:30 Introductions01:50 Adrian’s Career Journey03:00 A passion for pipeline leak detection04:30 About Atmos International 05:30 1100 pipelines in North America06:00 EPA Civil enforcement penalties for pipeline leaks07:30 Reputational and financial damage of pipeline leaks09:15 Building an LDS strategy with Atmos11:00 Gathering networks and leak detection – unregulated risk13:40 Selecting the right leak detection system16:00 Internal vs external LDS17:30 Working with the instruments you already have installed20:00 Comparison of LDS’s for the fluid(s) your pipeline is transporting22:00 Pipeline theft outside of North America24:40 Is your LDS program effective?25:45 API RP 1130 – true characteristics of a high-performance system 26:30 API RP 1130 requirements28:30 Sensitivity vs performance29:30 The six properties of pipeline leak detection32:30 LDS False alarms33:45 Leak location accuracy37:10 Getting started with Atmos International40:15 Tune in for Part II