This week, the Energy Workforce team says goodbye to longtime CEO Leslie Beyer. After nine years at the helm of the Energy Workforce & Technology Council, she is departing to take on new adventures.
In January, the Board of Directors initiated its management succession plan when it was announced Beyer would be leaving. Molly Determan and Tim Tarpley were both elevated to the role of President with equal responsibility, reporting to the Board of Directors.
“I will greatly miss my work partner of almost a decade, mentor and great friend. For the past nine years we have been a dream team working on behalf of the men and women of the energy services and technology sector. The industry is fortunate to have Leslie’s strong voice continuing to advocate on its behalf. Tim and I have big shoes to fill, and we are ready to take the organization to the next level.”
President Molly Determan
“I joined Energy Workforce in 2018, and one of the main reasons was the vision outlined by Leslie, and her leadership qualities, excellent reputation and style. Working with Leslie these past five years has been even more rewarding than I imagined. Building out a top-notch advocacy team, we have exceeded expectations, providing an influential voice for the industry. I look forward to helping lead this amazing organization through its next chapter.”
President Tim Tarpley
Beyer came to Energy Workforce (then Petroleum Equipment & Services Association or PESA) in 2014 after the Board of Directors completed its search for someone to expand the organization’s influence among policy makers, and within the industry. Paul Coppinger was Chairman of the Board at the time, and at this year’s Annual Meeting, he said, “In Leslie Beyer, I knew we had the right person.”
Through her leadership, she modernized the Association and improved organizational governance, building a leadership structure that requires routine turnover through term-limits, thus bringing new voices and experiences into leadership.
Beyer launched a government affairs and advocacy team, building it to where it is today – a widely recognized influencer on behalf of the industry in Washington, DC, leading to her testifying in front of Congress as the face of the sector.
By building a highly experienced government affairs team, with deep ties throughout Congress and the Executive Branch, the sector has a stronger voice in front of policymakers and regulators as they shape the landscape in which Energy Workforce members operate.
With an entrepreneurial mindset, she sunset outdated committees and developed workforce leadership programs, a non-dues revenue source that has given Energy Workforce the ability to build a top-notch team, provide more networking opportunities for Members, and develop the energy services workforce of today and tomorrow.
In 2021, she spearheaded the merger of PESA and the Association of Energy Service Companies (AESC), and the rebranding to become what Energy Workforce is today. Her vision led to Energy Workforce becoming the world’s largest energy technology and services association, representing more than 665,000 U.S. based jobs, broadening the organization’s geographical reach and strengthening its influence as an industry leader.
Recognizing the regulatory landscape and the rise in ESG-based investing, she launched the ESG Center of Excellence, the sector’s first repository of ESG information and best practices, providing companies across the sector guidelines as they each set their own ESG goals, developed reporting processes and launched sustainability programs.
As a strong advocate for inclusion and diversity across the sector, she launched the I&D Business Champions Program and established the task force on racial equality. She also created the first diversity survey for the energy services sector, which set the baseline to develop metrics and recommendations for companies to build more inclusive cultures.
And recently, Energy Workforce released the first-of-its-kind industry guidelines to address the safe use of natural gas as an off-road fuels source while performing hydraulic fracturing services.
Through the years, she has also been a tremendous ambassador for the industry – telling the industry’s story through speaking engagements and appearing in national and international media on behalf of the sector. This has elevated the sector, helping remind the American people of the importance of domestic energy production in their everyday lives – and for our nation’s economic and national security.
Energy Workforce will greatly miss Leslie Beyer and wishes her the best as she moves on while thanking her for the many years of dedication and leadership to the industry, Member Companies and the energy workforce.
Corry Schiermeyer, Senior Director Communications, writes about governmental policies for the Energy Workforce & Technology Council. Click here to subscribe to the Energy Workforce newsletter, which highlights sector-specific issues, best practices, activities and more.
