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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: Amy Conway, 713-306-6323 |
INGAA Expands Legal, Pipeline Safety Team with Addition of Two Hires
Accomplished legal and regulatory professionals join the ranks of leading natural gas infrastructure trade association
WASHINGTON, DC, April 29, 2021 — The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) is pleased to announce that Christopher Smith and Ben Kochman have joined the organization. Mr. Kochman will serve as INGAA’s Director of Pipeline Safety Policy and Mr. Smith will serve as INGAA’s Regulatory Attorney.
“We are excited to have Chris and Ben join the INGAA team, especially during such a defining time for the industry,” said Amy Andryszak, President and Chief Executive Officer of INGAA and the INGAA Foundation. “Both Ben and Chris’ extensive experience in their respective regulatory and legal fields will be a valuable addition to our organization and our members.”
Previously, Mr. Kochman worked as the Director of Governmental, International and Public Affairs for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), serving as the agency’s lead executive for all matters affecting Congress, the media and outside stakeholders. Prior to PHMSA, Mr. Kochman served as the Senior Congressional Affairs Officer for the Department of Transportation under Secretary Elaine Chao. Mr. Kochman has more than a decade of legislative and regulatory experience on the federal level.
For nearly seven years, Mr. Smith was an associate for Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, a global law firm, in Washington D.C. In this role, Mr. Smith litigated cases before federal and state courts, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and other agencies, and in arbitration. Prior to Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Mr. Smith worked for Charles River Associates.
Commenting on the hires, Ms. Andryszak stated: “I look forward to working with Ben and Chris on the important issues facing our industry. Natural gas and natural gas infrastructure play a foundational role in our nation’s energy economy and it is important that we continue to advance the legal and regulatory frameworks that facilitate a safe, reliable, market-responsive interstate natural gas pipeline industry.”
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INGAA represents the U.S. natural gas pipeline industry. INGAA’s members deliver clean, abundant, affordable natural gas throughout North America and operate approximately 200,000 miles of pipelines that serve as an indispensable link between natural gas producers and consumers.
