Description

Join the Conversation. Shape the Future.  

The Durango Chamber of Commerce is proud to present Forums for Progress—an interactive community event designed to foster meaningful dialogue on key local issues.

Plus, the option to order lunch from Cafe Amor to enjoy while the panelists speak.

Meet the Panelists

Jeff Robbins Chair CO Energy & Carbon Management Commission	George Sharpe Investment Manager Merrion Oil & Gas	Chris Hansen CEO La Plata Electric	Kyle Kerr COO Entrada Energy

Panelist Bios:

Jeff Robbins is Chair of the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC). A longtime Durango attorney, he practiced law in Colorado for decades and was a partner at Goldman, Robbins, Nicholson & Mack, PC. Under his leadership, the ECMC has expanded its regulatory scope beyond oil and gas to include emerging areas such as geothermal energy and carbon sequestration. At the forum, Robbins will share insights on Colorado’s evolving energy policies and the role of geothermal energy in the state’s transition.

George Sharpe is a native of Farmington, New Mexico. He has a Masters in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and has over 40 years of experience in the industry.  He worked 8 years with Chevron, primarily as a reservoir engineer, before joining Merrion Oil & Gas in 1990.  An expert in reserve analysis and economic valuations, he has been the Investment Manager for the company since 1993 and is tasked with vetting all investment opportunities. George is an advocate for the oil and gas industry and has written countless op-eds and created several YouTube educational videos on various energy topics, both of which he spams out ad-nauseum.  

Chris Hansen is the Chief Executive Officer of La Plata Electric Association (LPEA). He brings more than 25 years of experience in the global energy industry, with expertise in energy economics and data analytics. Before joining LPEA, Hansen served in the Colorado State Senate from 2020 to 2025 representing central and east Denver, where he worked on key committees including Finance, Appropriations, and the Joint Budget Committee. Prior to his time in the Senate, he served in the Colorado House of Representatives. Earlier in his career, Hansen was a Senior Director at IHS Markit (now S&P Global) and a Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. He holds degrees from Kansas State University, the University of the Witwatersrand, MIT, and Oxford University.

Kyle Kerr is an experienced energy industry leader with more than 25 years of work in drilling, capital projects, and renewable energy development. He has managed major operations in the San Juan Basin, most recently overseeing oil, gas, and geothermal development for IKAV Energy. Earlier in his career, Kerr spent a decade with BP, where he advanced to Area Manager for San Juan Basin assets and led drilling and facility development programs. Today, he focuses on advancing geothermal and other low carbon energy projects with an emphasis on sustainable, capital efficient growth.

This event is proudly sponsored by the Energy Council and the Durango Area Association of Realtors. 

Refunds are available through the Friday before the event. After that date, no refunds will be issued, but registrations may be transferred to another attendee.