Houston Energy Event Feb. 12

Texas McCombs hosts Business Outlook panel on energy’s evolving risks and opportunities

Registration is open for the 2026 McCombs Business Outlook event in Houston, bringing together leaders from industry, academia, and the Federal Reserve for a timely discussion on the future of energy, Feb. 12 at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas — Houston Branch.

Presented by The University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business and the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, the event is part of the annual “Focus on the Future” Business Outlook series and will be hosted by McCombs Dean Lillian Mills. McCombs alumni and members of the Houston business community are invited. Breakfast and networking begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by the panel discussion at 8:30 a.m. CPE credits are offered, with no prerequisites or advance preparation required.

Titled “Energy: Reliability, Responsibility, and Resilience in a Transforming Economy,” the panel will explore how energy companies are navigating market shifts, emerging technologies, and long-term transition goals. Speakers will address key risks and opportunities across upstream and midstream operations, as well as the energy transition, with a focus on how reliability, responsibility, and resilience are shaping strategic decision-making. The discussion will also examine the role of industry-government collaboration and how leaders are balancing near-term operational demands with longer-term economic and environmental considerations.

Panelists include:

• Garrett Golding, assistant vice president for energy programs at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, who leads research and engagement at the intersection of energy markets and the broader economy.
• Craig Friou, BBA ’96, MPA ’96, chief financial officer of EnCap Investments, a Houston-based private equity firm focused on energy investments.
• Jack Balagia, UT B.A. ’73, J.D. ’76, executive director of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Energy Center, adjunct professor at the UT School of Law, and former vice president and general counsel of Exxon Mobil.

“The Business Outlook series is designed to bring clarity to complexity,” Mills said. “By convening experts who understand the energy sector from multiple perspectives, we aim to equip business leaders with insights they can use to navigate uncertainty and plan confidently for the future.”

The Houston energy discussion is part of the 2026 McCombs Business Outlook series, which also includes a real estate-focused event in Dallas later this month.

Space is limited. Registration is $60 per person or $480 per table of nine. For assistance with purchasing a table, please email McCombs Alumni Engagement.

For journalists: Please contact Judie Kinonen at Judie.kinonen@mccombs.utexas.edu for more information.