Explorers of Houston Committee Chairman Chuck Chauviere, President – Drilling Systems, Baker Hughes, a GE company; Scott Ballard, Executive Vice President of Human Resources, Shell Oil Company; Leslie Beyer, President, PESA; and Michael Alvarez, Workforce Development Initiative Manager, Shell Oil Company.
Each year, PESA presents the Explorers of Houston Award, established in 1999 to recognize exploration and production companies demonstrating excellence in technological innovation and industry leadership. In 2017, PESA changed the focus of this award to recognize companies in the industry who are truly committed to STEM and Energy Education.
Explorers of Houston Committee Chairman Chuck Chauviere, President – Drilling Systems, Baker Hughes, a GE company, identified Shell Oil Company as the awardee in 2017 due to its extraordinarily strong support for the IPAA/PESA Energy Education Center and Petroleum Academies. On November 16, PESA and IPAA members gathered at the Junior League of Houston for the award reception.
“I am honored to present this award to Shell Oil Company,” Chauviere said. “Shell has been an integral part of the IPAA/PESA Energy Education Center, hosting nearly 100 students over eight years since the inception of the externship program in 2010.”
Accepting the award on behalf of Bruce Culpepper, Shell U.S. Country Chair & President, Shell Oil Company was Scott Ballard, Executive Vice President of Human Resources.
Ballard spoke to the current gap between science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related jobs and degrees earned in these fields.
“When we look to the classrooms, we see a discouraging dearth of students on track for these professions. Not enough kids are studying the essential STEM subjects. Some 60% of the new jobs developed in this century will require STEM skills, but only 13% of U.S. college graduates earn STEM degrees.”
Ballard then highlighted the importance of promoting STEM jobs in the industry and growing tomorrow’s energy explorers.
“As an HR professional, I am thrilled to watch budding scientists and engineers prepare for their roles in energy,” he said. “These students are going to discover better solutions than we dare to imagine. But it’s up to us to get them started.”
Ballard commended the service and supply sector as the leading producer of the innovative technology that drives our industry. PESA members are proud to partner with companies like Shell Oil Company as they set the stage for a strong future through technological innovation and leadership.
About the IPAA/PESA Energy Education Center
The IPAA/PESA Energy Education Center’s mission is to provide students with a multidisciplinary, advanced academic learning experience in science, mathematics and the emerging technology concepts needed to pursue professional training and degrees in engineering, geology, geophysics and global energy management in the oil and natural gas industry.
