Venezuela at a Crossroads: Democracy, Energy & Security
Event Description
Join WorldDenver for an exclusive fireside chat exploring the complex geopolitical and economic landscape of Venezuela following the U.S. military intervention earlier this year. This timely discussion features Ambassador (ret.) James Story, the former U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela (2018–2023), and Norma Mozeé, U.S. diplomat (ret.) and Energy and Critical Minerals Consultant, who co-drafted the strategic “Oil Sector Recovery Plan” for Venezuela. Together, they will offer a rare, “behind-the-scenes” look at the challenges of diplomatic engagement in Caracas, the critical role of the energy sector in regional stability, and what the future holds for U.S.-Venezuela relations. Whether you are interested in international security, global energy markets, or humanitarian issues, this conversation promises to provide deep insights from two leaders who have shaped U.S. policy in the heart of Latin America.
Tickets:
Be sure to log in to view Annual Supporter ticket prices.
General Admission: $40
Annual Supporters: $30
Young Professionals: $20
Event Agenda:
5:45 p.m. | Doors open
6:00 p.m. | Registration, networking & refreshments
6:30 p.m. | Speaker program
8:00 p.m. | Event concludes
About Our Speakers:
Ambassador (ret.) James Story, Former Ambassador to Venezuela
James “Jimmy” Story served as both Ambassador and Charge d’Affaires to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela from July 2018 until May 2023. In June 2024, Ambassador Story was nominated as Ambassador to Mozambique. While awaiting the nomination process, he taught as a Senior Fellow at Georgetown University and served as the Charge d’Affaires at the US Embassy to Angola and Sao Tome and Principe, as well as the Charge d’Affaires in Eswatini and to the Dutch Caribbean from Curacao. Ambassador Story retired in May 2025.
In retirement, Ambassador Story has remained active in diplomacy as a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy, a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, and an Advisory Board member at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University. After creating his own consulting firm, Palmetto International Consulting, he also helped found the strategic advisory company, Global Frontier Advisors. He is a Senior Advisor to Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel as well as to the strategic advisory firm Dinamica Americas. He sits on the Advisory Board of telecommunications company Africell, which is focused on improving connectivity in Africa, and on the Advisory Board of Project Beisbol, which uses baseball to teach life skills to disadvantaged youth in countries such as Brazil and Colombia. Finally, Ambassador Story is an on-air international affairs analyst for MS Now.
A career Senior Foreign Service Officer, Ambassador Story served as Consul General in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Director of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Office for the Western Hemisphere; Director of the INL Office in Bogota, Colombia; and Senior Civilian Representative in Southeastern Afghanistan.
Ambassador Story’s previous assignments include Sao Paulo, Brazil as the Deputy Principal Officer and Political-Economic Chief; Brasilia, Brazil as the Regional Environmental Affairs Director for South America; Washington, D.C. in the Office of Marine Conservation in the Oceans Environment and Scientific Bureau; Maputo, Mozambique as Economic-Political officer; Guadalajara, Mexico as a Consular Officer; and at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations as the Ambassador’s staff assistant.
He is the recipient of numerous State Department and interagency awards including the Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards, the Department of the Army Superior Civilian Service Award, the Warren Christopher Award for Outstanding Achievement in Global Affairs, the Distinguished Honor Award for the Western Hemisphere Bureau, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence Exceptional Service Award.
Ambassador Story grew up in the small town of Moncks Corner, South Carolina, and graduated with a B.A./B.Sc. in Interdisciplinary Studies from South Carolina College at the University of South Carolina. He also received an M.Sc. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. He speaks Portuguese and Spanish. He is married to Susan West Story, and they have a son, James McKelvey “Mac” Story.
Norma Mozeé, U.S. Diplomat (ret.) and Energy and Critical Minerals Consultant
She is an oil and gas and natural resources independent consultant focused on energy geopolitics and critical minerals strategy across the Americas. As a subject matter expert on Venezuela’s oil sector, she has been quoted by MarketWatch, the New York Times, and Investor’s Business Daily.
Norma has over two decades of business development and commercial market entry experience in information technology and energy sales into Latin America, including Mexico, Ecuador, Chile, and Central America. She spearheaded Ecuador’s participation at the 2023 Cities Summit Mining Event in the Americas sponsored by the State Department. She was the invited keynote speaker at the 3rd Regional Energy Conference in El Salvador (2016), chaired the “Diplomacy Begins Here” Summit (2015) sponsored by the State Department, and presenter at the Department of Commerce’s “Look South” (2014) event. She served as a board member for WorldDenver, Chamber of the Americas, and the Colorado School of Mines Alumni Association.
Norma holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mineral Engineering Mathematics, from Colorado School of Mines, a Master of Science degree in Global Energy Management from the University of Colorado, Denver, and a Certificate in International Trade. She is a bilingual (Spanish/English)
executive with ability to operate effectively in Spanish-speaking environments. Norma hails from Denver Colorado, is an avid Formula 1 fan, and enjoys world travel with her husband.
Note: As a nonpartisan convener of global affairs programming, WorldDenver provides an unbiased forum for experts, world leaders, diplomats, and representatives from the public and private sectors to share their expertise and views on a broad spectrum of issues that matter to the world. We aim for our events to inspire curiosity and further reading, discussion, and civic engagement among our members and the Denver community on the global issues that we present.
Join WorldDenver for an exclusive fireside chat exploring the complex geopolitical and economic landscape of Venezuela following the U.S. military intervention earlier this year. This timely discussion features Ambassador (ret.) James Story, the former U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela (2018–2023), and Norma Mozeé, U.S. diplomat (ret.) and Energy and Critical Minerals Consultant, who co-drafted the strategic “Oil Sector Recovery Plan” for Venezuela. Together, they will offer a rare, “behind-the-scenes” look at the challenges of diplomatic engagement in Caracas, the critical role of the energy sector in regional stability, and what the future holds for U.S.-Venezuela relations. Whether you are interested in international security, global energy markets, or humanitarian issues, this conversation promises to provide deep insights from two leaders who have shaped U.S. policy in the heart of Latin America.
Tickets:
Be sure to log in to view Annual Supporter ticket prices.
General Admission: $40
Annual Supporters: $30
Young Professionals: $20
Event Agenda:
5:45 p.m. | Doors open
6:00 p.m. | Registration, networking & refreshments
6:30 p.m. | Speaker program
8:00 p.m. | Event concludes
About Our Speakers:
Ambassador (ret.) James Story, Former Ambassador to Venezuela
James “Jimmy” Story served as both Ambassador and Charge d’Affaires to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela from July 2018 until May 2023. In June 2024, Ambassador Story was nominated as Ambassador to Mozambique. While awaiting the nomination process, he taught as a Senior Fellow at Georgetown University and served as the Charge d’Affaires at the US Embassy to Angola and Sao Tome and Principe, as well as the Charge d’Affaires in Eswatini and to the Dutch Caribbean from Curacao. Ambassador Story retired in May 2025.
In retirement, Ambassador Story has remained active in diplomacy as a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy, a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, and an Advisory Board member at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University. After creating his own consulting firm, Palmetto International Consulting, he also helped found the strategic advisory company, Global Frontier Advisors. He is a Senior Advisor to Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel as well as to the strategic advisory firm Dinamica Americas. He sits on the Advisory Board of telecommunications company Africell, which is focused on improving connectivity in Africa, and on the Advisory Board of Project Beisbol, which uses baseball to teach life skills to disadvantaged youth in countries such as Brazil and Colombia. Finally, Ambassador Story is an on-air international affairs analyst for MS Now.
A career Senior Foreign Service Officer, Ambassador Story served as Consul General in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Director of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Office for the Western Hemisphere; Director of the INL Office in Bogota, Colombia; and Senior Civilian Representative in Southeastern Afghanistan.
Ambassador Story’s previous assignments include Sao Paulo, Brazil as the Deputy Principal Officer and Political-Economic Chief; Brasilia, Brazil as the Regional Environmental Affairs Director for South America; Washington, D.C. in the Office of Marine Conservation in the Oceans Environment and Scientific Bureau; Maputo, Mozambique as Economic-Political officer; Guadalajara, Mexico as a Consular Officer; and at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations as the Ambassador’s staff assistant.
He is the recipient of numerous State Department and interagency awards including the Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards, the Department of the Army Superior Civilian Service Award, the Warren Christopher Award for Outstanding Achievement in Global Affairs, the Distinguished Honor Award for the Western Hemisphere Bureau, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence Exceptional Service Award.
Ambassador Story grew up in the small town of Moncks Corner, South Carolina, and graduated with a B.A./B.Sc. in Interdisciplinary Studies from South Carolina College at the University of South Carolina. He also received an M.Sc. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. He speaks Portuguese and Spanish. He is married to Susan West Story, and they have a son, James McKelvey “Mac” Story.
Norma Mozeé, U.S. Diplomat (ret.) and Energy and Critical Minerals Consultant
She is an oil and gas and natural resources independent consultant focused on energy geopolitics and critical minerals strategy across the Americas. As a subject matter expert on Venezuela’s oil sector, she has been quoted by MarketWatch, the New York Times, and Investor’s Business Daily.
Norma has over two decades of business development and commercial market entry experience in information technology and energy sales into Latin America, including Mexico, Ecuador, Chile, and Central America. She spearheaded Ecuador’s participation at the 2023 Cities Summit Mining Event in the Americas sponsored by the State Department. She was the invited keynote speaker at the 3rd Regional Energy Conference in El Salvador (2016), chaired the “Diplomacy Begins Here” Summit (2015) sponsored by the State Department, and presenter at the Department of Commerce’s “Look South” (2014) event. She served as a board member for WorldDenver, Chamber of the Americas, and the Colorado School of Mines Alumni Association.
Norma holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mineral Engineering Mathematics, from Colorado School of Mines, a Master of Science degree in Global Energy Management from the University of Colorado, Denver, and a Certificate in International Trade. She is a bilingual (Spanish/English)
executive with ability to operate effectively in Spanish-speaking environments. Norma hails from Denver Colorado, is an avid Formula 1 fan, and enjoys world travel with her husband.
Note: As a nonpartisan convener of global affairs programming, WorldDenver provides an unbiased forum for experts, world leaders, diplomats, and representatives from the public and private sectors to share their expertise and views on a broad spectrum of issues that matter to the world. We aim for our events to inspire curiosity and further reading, discussion, and civic engagement among our members and the Denver community on the global issues that we present.