November 2017, Vol. 244, No. 11

Company & Association News

Business News

Natural Gas Rodeo Winners

The 2017 National Gas Rodeo, held recently at the Jefferson County Fair-grounds in Denver, CO announced the winners for the two- and four-person team events. Organized by the Midwest Energy Association, the event draws teams from utility companies across the U.S., and includes 54 teams (29 two-person teams and 25 four-person teams). Over 320 spectators attending the event. Case Construction Equipment is the sponsor.

The overall champion in the two-person team category was Lil’ Gas House Gang (Steve Bouse and Barry Hicks) from Laclede Gas Co.  in Spire-Laclede, MO. This is the Laclede Gas House Gang’s third back-to-back win, the first two being in the four-person category. The four-person team winner for 2017 was Intense Ignition (Korey Ross, Dylan Middleton, Jeff Smith and Justin Wald) from Missouri Gas Energy of Kansas City, MO.

AGA

Glenn R. Jennings, chairman, president & CEO of Delta Natural Gas Co., Inc. in Winchester, KY,  received the 2017 Distinguished Service Award from the American Gas Association on Oct. 2 at its Executive Conference in Washington, D.C. He is the longest serving board member in AGA’s history.

AGA President and CEO Dave McCurdy said. “Glenn’s advocacy on behalf of the smaller companies that make up AGA’s membership has enriched our advocacy by broadening our perspective and enhancing our collective voice. His leadership led to the formation of AGA’s Small Member Council in 1990 and, most impressively, he continues to play a valuable role in amplifying the voice of these companies in the national energy dialogue 27 years later.”

Jennings was the first in his family to graduate from college, earning a business degree from Berea College in 1972. He joined Delta Gas in 1979 and in 1985 became president and CEO, a position he still holds.

Chevron

Chevron Corp.’s Board of Directors elected Michael K. Wirth chairman of the board and CEO, effective Feb. 1, 2018. Wirth, 56, who is vice chairman of the board and executive vice president of Midstream and Development, succeeds John S. Watson, 61, who will retire from the company and its board on Feb. 1 after 37 years of service, including eight years as chairman and CEO. Wirth joined Chevron in 1982 as a design engineer.

In a related move,  Mark A. Nelson, 54, will become vice president of Midstream, Strategy on Feb. 1. He will lead the supply and trading, shipping, pipeline and power operating units.  He will also oversee corporate strategy as well as policy, government and public affairs.

DNV GL

DNV GL appointed Liv Hovem as the CEO of its oil and gas business area. She has been with DNV GL since 1988.

ARB Midstream

ARB Midstream, LLC hired Alison Vanderhoef to head Crude Supply and Trading. She is responsible for identifying new opportunities to acquire and market crude oil from various regions throughout North America as well as develop midstream business opportunities including gathering and processing.

P&GJ

Pipeline & Gas Journal Editor Jeff Share recently won two  Houston Press Club Lone Star Awards for his Editor’s Notebook column. He won second place for “Building a New Company, Piece by Piece,” about the renewal of Pacific Gas & Electric Co., published in February 2016, and third place for “Philip Burguieres Was a Man with a Soul,” published in August 2016 detailing the passing of the former energy executive who made public his battle with depression. The awards were Share’s 11th and 12th for his monthly column.

HDR

John Heyman joined HDR as oil and gas business development lead, based in HDR’s Charlotte, NC office. He was a vice president and officer for S&ME where he established strategic direction of the energy and power businesses and developed the business plan for the company’s move into the transmission and midstream gas marketplace.

NGVAmerica

Dan Gage is the new president of Natural Gas Vehicles for America (NGVAmerica). Gage has worked in government and community relations and public affairs for over 20 years and comes from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers where he directed communications and public affairs since 2011.

JP Services

JP Services, a Houston-based provider of pipeline integrity and maintenance services, appointed Todd Harper as chief financial officer. He will direct strategic planning, accounting, forecasting and financial modeling. He was president and CFO of TGE Industrial Services and served as CFO of Fronterra Geosciences and as International Controller at the Wood Group.

Orbital Gas Systems

Orbital Gas Systems appointed Jacob Tivey as its trace measurement specialist, based in Houston. As a member of  the  Research & Development team, he will be involved in the company’s research into adsorption phenomena.

Obituary

Fred “Freddy” Burrell, III, 65 of Winnie, died Sept. 1 at his residence. He was born Nov. 18, 1951 in Winshire, TX to Verna Elisabeth Phelps Burrell and Fred “Doodle Bug” Burrell, Jr. He had been a lifelong resident of the Winnie area and was a retired pipeline inspector. He leaves his wife, Judy Stanley Burrell, of Winnie; daughter, Misti Stewart and her husband, Billy of Weleetka, OK; son, Michael Burrell and his wife, Marilyn, of Winnie;  brother, Bobby Burrell and his wife, Donna; and several grandchildren