August 31, 2026
ITS has named Chris Taylor Vice President of Regulatory & Industry Affairs, a new role that reflects his standing as one of the industry’s most trusted regulatory voices and gives him an even greater platform to support operators across the pipeline industry.
Regulatory change in this industry doesn’t slow down. Between PHMSA rulemakings, updates to 49 CFR 192 and 195, and evolving state requirements, most teams don’t have the bandwidth to track it all and translate it into what needs to happen on the ground. That’s where subject matter experts make the difference, and few people bring that combination of depth and credibility like Chris does.
Chris has spent more than 15 years in the pipeline industry and in various leadership roles at ITS, including leading the company’s learning and product organization. He leads the ASME B31Q team responsible for the standard’s process language, chairs API RP 1161 Working Group 3, and serves on the Kentucky Gas Association Education Committee. That experience has made him a go-to resource for operators working through OQ compliance and regulatory change.
For years, Chris has led Regulation Navigation, ITS’s webinar series that convenes hundreds of industry experts each quarter to unpack regulatory changes and what they mean for operators in the field. The next Reg Nav session is September 2, and Chris will once again be leading the conversation with key industry players.
In his new role as VP of Regulatory & Industry Affairs, Chris will spend even more time where operators need him most: in the room for the industry discussions that shape regulatory direction, and at the table with clients working through their toughest OQ program challenges.
That means more direct access to Chris’s expertise for ITS clients, whether that’s help interpreting a new rule, building out a compliance strategy, or benchmarking a program against what’s working elsewhere in the industry. It also means Chris stays closely connected to the regulatory conversations happening, so ITS clients hear about changes as they’re being shaped rather than after they take effect.
Chris has been an integral part of ITS for over 15 years, helping shape the company into what it is today. I’ve watched him grow into one of the most respected voices in our industry. In his new role as VP of Regulatory and Industry Affairs, I’m confident Chris will continue to elevate ITS and the industry as a whole — driving higher standards of safety and compliance integrity for years to come.
— Stephanie Balmer, CEO of ITS
