Today, my heart is very full.
This past June, the 2026 EiSi OGE Conference & Vendor Exhibition, along with our Industry Field Trip, reminded me once again why community matters. The energy, the learning, the laughter, the collaboration… it all reaffirmed the purpose behind the work I’ve poured myself into for over 13 years.
For more than a decade, I have dedicated my companies and organizations to one mission: helping people succeed. Through creating opportunities for career, personal and business development using innovative processes, connections, training, and events, I have watched people grow, advance, connect, and transform their careers. That has always been my passion — seeing others win, seeing others rise, seeing others step into the future they deserve.
And none of it happens alone.
I want to express my deepest appreciation to the EiSi Leadership Team. Their dedication, consistency, creativity, and unwavering commitment to carry the EiSi vision forward means more than I can ever fully express. They show up for the organization, for our members, and they have shown up for me — especially this year, when I needed it most.
I am not someone who easily shares personal obstacles. Not because I don’t trust people, but because I am a fixer. My instinct is always to assess, solve, and carry as much weight as possible so others don’t have to. But this year…whew! This year reminded me that some things cannot be fixed, and others cannot be carried alone.
In February, we buried my little brother after his unexpected passing. Not even two months later, my dad received a sudden diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, and we lost him shortly after. I am still trying to wrap my mind around it, and I don’t know if I ever fully will.
But these moments reminded me — and I feel led to remind others:
Life is short. Life can change without warning. And we cannot afford to wait to live, to love, or to pursue the dreams God placed in us.
Tell your family and friends you love them. Take the trip. Start the business. Build the thing you’ve been imagining. And please ask your doctor to screen your pancreas. Early detection saves lives.
While pushing through 18–20 hour days trying to pull off a conference miracle, I was reminded of something easy to forget: people care more than we realize. Sometimes all it takes is asking.
I asked, and angels showed up immediately and without hesitation.
A special thank you to: Linda Hampton, John & Maria Fugate, Ginger Rampaul, David Postma, Tracy Punch, Stephanie Harbin, Laura McAdams, Eddy Panesso, Kristina Johnson, Stephanie Reed, James Repperger, Shannon Mires, and my son Cameron Neal.
Without them, this year’s conference and field trip simply would not have happened. Their support was a blessing I will never forget.
Even in a year of deep personal loss, I feel an overwhelming sense of hope and excitement for what’s ahead.
EiSi is launching our first Hard Hats & Tutus Walk & Taste on Saturday, November 14, 2026. It is a fun, family‑friendly community event focused on connection, joy, and togetherness. After everything we’ve all been through, we need more moments that bring us together.
And beyond that, I am energized by the future projects, programs, partnerships, and opportunities we are building. Thirteen years in, the mission is only growing stronger. The vision is expanding. The impact is deepening.
I am deeply grateful for every person who has supported Energy Industry Support International — and for those who have supported me, my vision, and even my wild ideas over the years. Your belief in this mission has fueled every program, every event, every initiative, and every step forward we have taken.
The journey continues, and the best chapters are still ahead!
La Donna Finnels-Neal
“Love your life. If you don’t love it…change it! Make it happy!”