Mark Piazza of Colonial Pipeline Elected Chair of Pipeline Industry Research Committee

Will Lead Pipeline Research Council International Committee Driving Strategic Industry Research on Pipeline Safety and Performance

ALPHARETTA, GA. (May 7, 2019) – Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI) recently announced that Mark Piazza, Manager of Pipeline Compliance and Research & Development for Colonial Pipeline, has been elected by its executive assembly as Chair of the Research Steering Committee.

The Research Steering Committee is responsible for establishing research objectives and priorities for PRCI and driving technology development of pipeline safety and performance. The committee is comprised of elected subject matter experts from member companies and provides overall guidance and review of PRCI’s research efforts. 

The Research Steering Committee advises the PRCI technical committees to ensure there is strategic alignment across the whole research portfolio and with the pipeline industry. Piazza’s first call-to-action as the newly elected chair of the committee will be leading the organization as it transitions to a new research funding model that addresses strategic research priorities for PRCI and the industry.

“Colonial Pipeline is honored to have one of our internal champions for innovation, Mark Piazza, leading this vital industry committee,” said Colonial Pipeline President and Chief Executive Officer, Joe Blount. ​“We are confident that under Mark’s leadership, PRCI’s Research Steering Committee will continue to drive the industry forward in funding and executing strategic research efforts to advance the reliability, efficiency and safety of pipelines.”

Piazza has also held the position of Manager of Colonial Pipeline’s Integrity Management Program. Prior to joining Colonial, he worked for seven years as the Director of Pipeline Programs at PRCI and led the initial development of PRCI’s research roadmaps that help set the research priorities for the industry.

About Pipeline Research Council International: 

PRCI is a non-profit research organization that is comprised of energy pipeline operating companies located in Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Middle East, South America and the United States. Augmenting the pipeline membership are associate members drawn from companies in the Australia, Canada, China, Europe, Japan, Mexico and the United States that serve the industry as pipe and equipment manufacturers, service providers, and vendors. To learn more about PRCI visit www.prci.org.

About Colonial Pipeline: Colonial Pipeline Company, founded in 1962, connects refineries ­– primarily located in the Gulf Coast ­– with customers and markets throughout the Southern and Eastern United States through a pipeline system that spans more than 5,500 miles. The company delivers refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, home heating oil, and fuel for the U.S. Military. Colonial is committed to safety and environmental stewardship across its operations. More information about Colonial is available at www.colpipe.com.

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Colonial Media Contact:
Kesley Tweed
[email protected]