Houston-based Spectra Energy Corp. is one of the three largest natural gas transmission companies in North America. In the United States and Canada, it controls approximately 17,500 miles of transmission pipeline, 250 billion cubic feet of storage, natural gas gathering and processing operations, natural gas liquids operations and local distribution assets. In January, the 7,300-employee company spun off from parent Duke Energy. Before the spin-off, President and CEO Fred Fowler served as group executive and president of Duke Energy Gas, having worked his way up to the top job over more than two decades with the company. He has 38 years of energy and natural gas experience. He received a bachelor’s degree in finance from Oklahoma State University at Stillwater. General counsel Bill Garner previously served as group vice president of corporate development for Duke Energy Gas Transmission. Before joining the company in 2006, he was managing director for Petrie Parkman & Co. He began his career in 1979 as an assistant staff judge advocate for the U.S. Air Force. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville and a law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law. Texas Lawyer associate editor Kristine Hughes recently asked questions via e-mail of the two. The discussion appears below, edited for length and style.
Texas Lawyer: Describe your career trajectory and how you came to lead Spectra Energy.
