Glenn Eisenberg, Branch Manager, Stream-Flo Industries, is a graduate of the Energy Workforce Executive Leadership Program. He recently shared his insights on the energy services and technology sector.
ENERGY WORKFORCE: Why did you join the energy industry? Was there an individual who influenced your decision?
GLENN EISENBERG: I joined the industry because I saw the value of hard work in many roles within the industry. It did not matter whether it was freezing temperatures or hotter than you can imagine, like it is here in West Texas. These men and women were out in the elements getting the job done. That was the motivation I needed. Clay Collins was a man I looked up to who got me into this industry. He took a chance with me and here I am 12 years later in the same position he was in when he hired me.
EW: What was your impression of the industry beforehand and how has it evolved?
GE: I used to be one of those guys who cared only about the cost at the pump, and thought that everyone in the oilfield was taking advantage of those who were not in the industry. Now I laugh at myself for thinking that. This industry not only supplies jobs for many people, but it also allows those who are not in the industry to make a decent salary.
I was at a meeting quite a few years back when the bottom fell out of the industry and jobs were being lost. I was sitting with a guy who was so happy that oil prices dropped and gas was cheap. I asked him what he did for a living, and he said he was a waiter. I asked him how things were going there, and he said slow and was not making a lot in tips like he used to. I told him that there was a good reason for that and explained how the oilfield in the Permian Basin supports a lot of other places, like restaurants, retail stores and hardware stores. He got the point.
EW: How has your involvement in Energy Workforce supported your career goals?
GE: It has given me the ability to be able to manage with confidence and to understand the views of others not in the industry. I have been able to educate some to have a better understanding of how this industry is vital to our economy.
EW: What’s a technology or innovation you’ve seen in the sector that impressed you?
GE: New types of wellhead equipment that is speeding up the drilling process and cutting down on the drilling time for the wells. The technology to drill longer laterals is also amazing.
EW: What advice would you give someone just getting started in the energy industry?
GE: Be patient and try to learn as much as possible. I say be patient because there are going to be some days when you are going to want to quit because of the workload, but I can guarantee there will be more days that will be rewarding. Learn as much as you can so you can be versatile in the energy industry. The ability to have a plethora of experience with different skills will make you more marketable for future promotions.
EW: What do you wish other people knew about oil and gas?
GE: That these men and women are hardworking individuals who work in different environments in all types of weather. These people work hard for their salaries.
EW: What’s your idea of a perfect vacation?
GE: My perfect vacation would be to take my family on an Alaskan cruise.
Click here to subscribe to the Energy Workforce newsletter, which highlights sector-specific issues, best practices, activities and more.
