The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) Coastal Bend Midstream Program (CBMP) worked with Joyce Perhac, Executive Director of the Eastern Gas Compression Roundtable and Michelle Jordan, Operations Manager of Techmar and Publicity Chairman of EGCR, to bring three TAMU-CC engineering professors to EGCR’s 2025 conference in Pittsburgh. EGRC generously funded all travel expenses for Dr. Dugan Um, Dr. Aref Mazloum, and Dr. Rajeev Kumar to attend the three-day conference.

“The EGCR was honored to host Dr. Um, Dr. Mazloum, and Dr. Kumar at the recent 53rd annual Roundtable in Pittsburgh,” Perhac said. “Each year, the EGCR strives to offer the latest and best educational opportunities in the natural gas industry to help everyone working in the industry stay  abreast of new developments and technology. Each year, the vendor hall offers attendees an in-depth look at new equipment and a chance to talk with knowledgeable company representatives who are willing to share their expertise. The EGCR looks forward to continuing our new partnership with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s Coastal Bend Midstream Program and welcoming more professors and students in the future.”

For Dr. Um the experience was invaluable. “We met many people and learned some important lessons  regarding the midstream pipelines, natural gas, trends, and technologies for compressors,” Dr. Um said. “I never expected to learn so much about the insights and lessons in the natural gas industry.”

Thomas Kalb, Director of CBMP, believes opportunities like this show just how powerful the partnership between TAMU-CC and the midstream industry can be. “We are truly appreciative of Michelle and Joyce’s  efforts to make this faculty development opportunity successful, and of the incredibly generous financial  support of EGRC,” said Kalb. “This kind of industry-academia partnership reflects a core purpose of  BMP’s mission to build partnerships between TAMU-CC and the midstream industry. We are truly honored by  our new friendships with Techmar and EGCR.”

The EGCR is a non-profit organization whose primary purpose is to provide the Natural Gas Industry with cost-effective training programs focusing on engine and compressor maintenance. CBMP’s mission is to build the value proposition and partnership between TAMUCC, its faculty and students, and the midstream industry through research, education, and knowledge transfer.