PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS 

3:00 pm CST Session

Topic: Adaptive Leadership for Finance Executives: Thriving in the Next Decade of Change

Speaker: Miguel Lozano, PhD

An insightful fireside chat with a distinguished leadership expert as we explore the critical leadership evolution required for finance executives in an era of unprecedented disruption. In an era where AI and automation are reshaping operations, regulatory landscapes shift rapidly, economic volatility creates new uncertainties, and generational workforce changes transform organizational dynamics, finance leaders need new skills and strategies. This session will dive into essential change management techniques that enable leaders to guide their organizations through continuous transformation.  Sharing a strategic thinking roadmap that enables finance executives to anticipate and adapt to emerging challenges, while identifying the resources and support systems essential for success. Our expert will provide unique perspectives on how finance leaders can not only survive but thrive during the next 10+ years of accelerated change by developing the adaptive leadership skills. 

4:00 pm CST Session

Title: Cost Intelligence and the Art and Science of Price Negotiation 

Speakers: Mark Hay and Tod McLauchlin, ERA Group 

Join us to find out what type of negotiator you currently are and how this might prevent you from getting the best possible outcome. Learn all ERA’s cost intelligence principles to make you become a more confident negotiator in the future and get the results that you deserve. 

4:00 pm CST Session

Topic: Future-Ready Finance: AI in Practice

Moderator: Nicole Sherwood 

Panelist: To be announced 

As artificial intelligence reshapes the finance landscape, forward-thinking leaders are moving beyond theory to real-world implementation. This session dives into the practical side of AI in finance, how it's being used today to drive efficiency, enhance forecasting, manage risk, and unlock strategic insights.

Hear from finance leaders who are applying AI to transform their operations and learn what it takes to build a future-ready finance function.  

6:00 pm CST Cocktail Reception 

Drinks and Hors D'oeuvres and networking 

Dr. Miguel Lozano is a certified associate coach (ACC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and hones a demonstrative history of providing extensive leadership in the areas of process improvement, project, and change management. He possesses over 25 years in leadership roles across organizations within the healthcare, automotive manufacturing, and traffic safety industries. In 2018, he earned his doctoral degree from the University of Texas, School of Public Health. From the University of Texas at El Paso, he holds a master's in business administration and has a bachelor's degree in industrial and systems engineering from Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey - Mexico. His career is enriched with a number of professional certifications, including but not limited to: Project Management Professional (PMP), Six Sigma Black Belt (SSBB), Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), and Certified Change Practitioner (PROSCI).

His professional expertise lends itself to the field of academia as he serves as an adjunct professor of leadershhip, project management and process improvement at the University of Houston Bauer College of Business, the UH-Downtown Marilyn Davies College of Business and the University of Texas School of Public Health. Dr. Lozano completed training through Coach RICE at the Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University. Currently, he coaches leaders of MD Anderson Cancer Center, and also services external clients while functioning as an organizational development consultant and coach; he effectively leads teams to manage change and improve processes throughout the hospital's operations. Dr. Lozano has been happily married for 30 years and has two children. He holds a Black Belt in Taekwondo and enjoys playing golf.
[email protected] 

Mark Hay is a National Practice partner with ERA Group. He studied Business Management at Robert Gordan’s University in Aberdeen, Scotland. He has an extensive background in the oil & gas industry with over 20 years of sales leadership experience across 60 countries worldwide specializing in the OCTG Vertical. He has lived in Aberdeen, London, Paris, Dubai and since 2018 Houston. He has negotiated and managed numerous multi-million-dollar contracts with some of the industry’s top organizations, ranging from privately owned companies to government owned companies. 
His passion is to help businesses fulfill their potential. ERA Group who Mark became a National Practice Partner in 2021, has helped thousands of clients find extra cash flow and improve operational efficiency through strong negotiation skills and industry expertise. He provides specialized expertise, real-time industry benchmark data, and practical insider knowledge for dozens of supplier industries. Mark works with clients in Healthcare, Education, Manufacturing, Retail and the Service Industries.

 

Todd McGlauchlin is a consulting partner, based in Houston, Texas, with over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. 
 
Before joining ERA Group, Todd worked at various operating companies (producers) and service companies. He started as an engineer and advanced to an operations and project manager on highly successful global projects with daily spending of more than $1 million.  
 
He has lent his expertise across the world, researching potential operations and political risks, building relationships with other operators, local and global suppliers, government officials, and U.S. diplomatic staff. Todd also developed and implemented global logistics plans, communication and security plans, safety and environmental plans, contingency and continuity plans, and numerous operations bases and processes. Additionally, he has helped integrate artificial intelligence initiatives for various organizations.  
 
Todd earned a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering from Louisiana State University (LSU).