Chris Huffman

Chris Huffman

Chief Accounting Officer, CorEnergy Infrastructure

Putting the pieces together

During a recent conversation, Chris Huffman talked about his own career path, his perspective on ESG, and the importance of differentiating yourself.

What drew you to accounting?

I always thought about it as a strategic path. With accounting, you’re learning the foundational language of business. And if you understand the foundations, you can do whatever you want from there. I’ve also always loved the numbers, the analytical part, and the challenge of it.

What stands out from your time at PwC?

PwC is a great place to learn how to become a professional. I learned all of the basics, from how to send an email to how to professionally interact with a client. The other thing that I took away was the breadth of clients and industries we had exposure to. I worked with all kinds of clients, from a meat processor to a satellite imagery company. That was a great opportunity—to see all walks of life, gain different experiences, and get to figure out what you like and what you don't like along the way.

How did you get to where you are now?

I always tried to be the first to volunteer as new assignments or opportunities presented themselves. They weren’t always traditional accounting assignments but it allowed me to gain a broad exposure to different parts of the business. The next thing I knew, I was taking on more and more responsibilities and pulling all of the pieces together so that I could successfully perform in the role I have now.

What do you like most about your work today?

Every day is different. Working at the first energy infrastructure REIT [Real Estate Investment Trust] to exist in the country, there's always a new challenge going on, and I think that's what makes it exciting to me. I never wanted to go to a company where it was just close the books and once you've mastered that, you do it on rinse and repeat. I always wanted something that was dynamic and had activity—buying, selling, and thinking about things from a different perspective. That’s really what I think drew me to this role.

How is ESG playing a role in your sector?

ESG plays a huge role. We’re really focused on good stewardship, which means being a good custodian of the assets that we have now—for instance, putting things in place to prevent oil spills and prevent emissions and retire fossil fuel assets over time in an appropriate way. We spend a lot of time thinking about that and reporting on that. In addition, I think that energy companies are very well positioned to be big players in the energy transition, which will be a big part of the new economy. Planning for the future is challenging, of course, but at the end of the day, I’m optimistic that we’ll get to the right place.

How would you describe your leadership style?

There was a baseball manager that talked about the servant style of leadership and, when I heard it, it immediately resonated with me. It’s really about putting others and the team in front of you, and that's what I strive for.

Reflecting on your career so far, what makes you most proud?

By far, the thing that I'm most proud of is the relationships I’ve built with my co-workers. I’ve seen so many people who I’ve worked with go on to have successful and happy careers. And I recently ran into someone at a networking event who thanked me for something I had said to him a couple of years ago, and that was very gratifying to know I had made a small impact on his path.

Outside of the office, what keeps you busy?

Well, I have three young kids, so most of my hobbies now are their hobbies—going to their basketball, volleyball, and softball games. We also spend a lot of time with our extended family and we do a fair bit of skiing and snowboarding.

What’s something about you that might surprise people?

I think the thing that always surprises people about me is that I'm a bit of an introvert. I enjoy the interactions with people during the day, but I really need time away to recharge.

What advice can you offer to others?

Any chance you can get to differentiate yourself is always going to be a positive thing. So, for example, getting your CPA and your master’s degree may seem challenging, but those foundations stay with you forever. You’ll have a lot of years to work, so try to enjoy the education part while you can. And on the work front, remember that some of your hardest experiences might end up being the best experiences. Challenges will make you more capable—in fact, they’re often the best learning and growth opportunities.