American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2015 - 147

students to pursue technical positions
that fuel our world, will double in size
from LAGCOE 2013 by offering both
morning and afternoon programs. Two
hundred high school juniors and seniors
are being given a tour of LAGCOE, led
by a Young Professional of LAGCOE
volunteer and a University of LouisianaLafayette Engineering Ambassador for a
hands-on experience with the technology
and mechanics of the oil and gas industry.
New At LAGCOE 2015
New for LAGCOE 2015, the Energy
Innovators Pitch Challenge is a collaborative effort between LAGCOE and two
economic organizations: INNOV8 Acadiana and the Lafayette Economic Development Authority's Opportunity Machine. This event seeks to connect the
best emerging energy innovators ready
to move their business ideas forward with
credible investors.
The Energy Innovators Pitch Challenge
winners will be showcased throughout
LAGCOE at the Energy Innovators tent,
with a culminating Shark Tank-style pitch
event on Thursday. The best presentation
will receive an INNOV8 Award and possible funding for the idea. For more information, or to apply to present an idea,
visit LAGCOE.com/energyinnovators.
For the first time in its 60-year existence, LAGCOE will award a new Cadillac
to a winning industry attendee, at noon
on Thursday. Attendees may qualify for
the drawing simply by visiting six exhibitors identified on the maps located in
the LAGCOE program guide, and in the

LAGCOE 2015 phone application.
Continuing the conversation that began
at the 2013 LAGCOE, LAGCOE
DRILLS, an industry think tank event on
leadership, legacy and succession, will
highlight women in energy. This invitation-only event, hosted by Excelerant,
will identify and create conversation
about issues such as work/life balance,
safety, and professional development that
impact retaining women and other nontraditional work groups.
The Young Professionals of LAGCOE
are wrapping up the inaugural year of
the newly established mentor program.
A luncheon will be held from noon to

1:30 p.m. Thursday to promote developing
productive relationships, engaging in positive networks, and building leadership
skills through industry mentoring. This
event is open to mentor/"mentee" pairs
of Young Professionals of LAGCOE and
individuals interested in participating.
More information about all LAGCOE
events can be found on the calendar of
events at www.lagcoe.com/2015calendar.
LAGCOE has been fueling global energy
solutions for 60 years and is climbing
still. Attendance is free and open to industry
personnel. Register online for LAGCOE
2015 by visiting LAGCOE.com/register.
r

LAUREN
RABALAIS

Lauren Rabalais is marketing coordinator for the Louisiana Gulf Coast
Oil Exposition, and is responsible for
media relations, social media, and internal and external organization communications. Before joining LAGCOE
in 2014, she worked in nonprofit communications and marketing for the Upper Lafayette Economic Development
Foundation and the Foundation for
Historical Louisiana. Rabalais holds
a bachelor's in mass communication
from Louisiana State University.
OCTOBER 2015 147

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