Sequent takes center stage at Minute Maid Park

More than 100 Sequent Energy Management employees and contractors gathered Wednesday night at the Houston Astros’ Minute Maid Park for the company’s annual baseball outing. This year’s event, the most popular activity among employees in Houston, was even more special as Sequent President Doug Schantz threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
 
Sequent became a Houston Astros sponsor this season and has signage at the park, a beautiful state-of-the-art facility in downtown Houston that features a retractable roof. The company has received a lot of positive feedback from business partners and employees about the new signage. The employee night tickets and invitation to throw out the first pitch was part of the sponsorship agreement, as well as special customer nights and events.
 
Doug, a southpaw pitcher, admits to being a bit nervous on the big stage: “That’s a lot of pressure out there,” Doug says. “I knew if I bounced the ball to home plate, I’d never live it down.”
 
Fortunately for Doug, he threw a strike to Houston Astros catcher Matt Albers as cheering Sequent employees looked on. Before the game, about a dozen Sequent employees were invited down on the field to watch batting practice up close and meet some of the hometown Astros. Future Hall of Famer Craig Biggio chatted with all of the employees on the field and signed baseballs. The evening was capped off as the Astros beat the visiting Washington Nationals 3-2.
 
“This has always been such a great event for our employees,” says Elisabeth Evans, managing director of Human Resources and Facilities for Houston operations. “But I know this year everyone felt a lot of pride seeing our name in the stadium and watching Doug throw out the first pitch. The Astros are important to the Houston community and it’s great to be part of that.”