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2025 State of Midland

11:00 AM
Doors Open + Lunch Service Begins

11:30 AM
Program Begins

1:00 PM
Dismissal

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Why attend?

Attending the State of Midland Luncheon presents a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the community's pulse and gain invaluable insights into the region's trajectory. This annual event serves as a nexus for leaders from various sectors and offers a platform for forward-thinking initiatives.

The State of Midland Luncheon serves as a comprehensive briefing on the region's economic, social, and cultural landscapes. From unveiling upcoming development projects to addressing pressing societal issues, the event provides a panoramic view of Midland's current status and prospects.

 

 

Whether one seeks to stay abreast of emerging trends, contribute to community advancement, or network with like-minded individuals, attending this luncheon promises a rich and enlightening experience.

In essence, it's an investment in both personal and professional growth, aligning individuals with the heartbeat of Midland's evolution.

Our State of Midland signature networking luncheon purposes to engage and inform the public about current topics and issues facing our community.

 

We are excited to announce Mayor Lori Blong as this year's keynote speaker!

Following the keynote presentation, we will host a discussion on economic development featuring:

Mayor Lori Blong, City of Midland

Sara Harris, Midland Development Corporation

Krista Escamilla, Moderator

Meet the Keynote Speaker

 Mayor Lori Blong

Lori Blong
About Mayor Lori Blong
Lori Merritt Blong is a proud native of the Permian Basin and Co-Founder/Partner of Octane Energy, as well as the current Mayor of Midland, Texas. She is committed to lead, learn, and serve in the oil and gas industry at a regional, state, and federal level, in addition to her service to the community of Midland.

After spending her early career as a high school teacher in El Paso, TX, Lori co-founded an oilfield service company, Octane Energy, with her husband, Jared, in 2013. They steadily built their company over the years through the ups and downs of commodity and activity cycles, gleaning knowledge and experience in operations and development from all around the Permian Basin. In fact, in 2017 and 2018, Octane was recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the Top 5 Fastest Growing private energy companies in Texas.

For a little over 7 years, Octane provided project management and operational oversight for more than 600 wells a year, for more than 30 distinct operators across the Permian Basin and Oklahoma. Lori’s leadership and disciplined fiscal strategy have been critical to Octane’s continued sustainability in this volatile market. She thrives in problem solving and in identifying the best personnel in drilling, completions and production operations to create solutions and efficiencies

In June of 2020, Octane Energy successfully sold a portion of their book of business and Lori stepped into the leadership role of Octane Energy, pivoting strongly into the E&P space to purchase a producing asset in Ector County. Now, the Octane Team is beginning horizontal development of the asset, while participating as investors and technical expertise for various other projects in the Permian. She also serves on the board of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association, the board of Habitat for Humanity, as well as on Congressman Pfluger’s Energy Task Force. Lori values the opportunity to maintain relationships forged through the booms and busts of the energy sector, with a constant focus on fiscal discipline and long-term planning. She is leading the Octane team to identify new oil and gas assets for purchase, as well as new opportunities for project management and contract engineering.

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