Eric Santana, a student in Texas A&M’s industrial distribution program, told the audience how much his PVF Roundtable scholarship has helped him. Santana was accompanied by Don Fazzino, assistant director of development with the university’s Dwight Look College of Engineering. Santana is slated to graduate in May.

“I’m so excited to go into the workplace,” he said. “I can’t stress enough how much the fishing (TroutBlast) and golf tournament (Don Caffee Memorial) means (those are the main PVF Roundtable scholarship fundraising events). When I say it’s life-changing, it’s not a cliché. From the bottom of my heart, thank-you so much.”

The winter PVF Roundtable meeting, the first of four in 2016, brought together 425 members of the industrial PVF supply chain. Jeff Share, editor of Pipeline & Gas Journal, was the evening’s keynote speaker and delivered a dose of much-welcomed good news to the industry — pipeline construction projects are alive and well.

Share referenced a P&GJ 2016 survey that indicates 94,799 miles of pipelines are planned and under construction worldwide. Of these, he revealed 49,848 miles represent projects in the engineering and design phase, while 44,951 miles are in various stages of construction.

The survey shows North America accounts for 34,122 new and planned pipeline miles, by far the world leader in that category. “Projects are being built and there are more on the way,” he said.

Also during the evening, Supply House Times Editor Mike Miazga presented representatives of Penn Machine with the 2015 Supply House Times PVF Ring of Honor award.

The next Roundtable meeting takes place Tuesday, May 17 at the Westin Galleria. On Monday, May 16, the Don Caffee Memorial Golf Tournament will be held at Sweetwater Country Club in Sugar Land, Texas. Proceeds go to the PVF Roundtable Scholarship Fund and benefit the industrial distribution/engineering programs at Texas A&M and the University of Houston.