Blessing Petroleum Group LLC
Dallas, has announced that its founder and managing director, Edward W. Blessing, has been appointed vice-chair of the Independ ent Petroleum Associa tion of America Wild catter's Fund. Blessing will work with IPAA member companies to provide tools to communicate issues important to the industry, and to encourage employees, retirees, and their families to participate in the political process.
Blessing Petroleum Group LLC is a financial and managerial resource, pri mar ily serving as a venture capitalist for petroleum industry leaders seeking to de velop projects, both domestic and internationally.
IPAA, based in Washington, DC, represents independent oil and natural gas producers and service companies.
Koch Industries Inc.
Wichita, Kan., has promoted Ron Vaupel, formerly president of Koch Hydrocarbon LP, to Koch Industries vice-president for business development, chairing a newly formed business development board for the company. Vaupel, a graduate of Kansas State University, joined Koch Industries in 1983.
Steve Tatum will replace Vaupel as president of Koch Hydrocarbon. Tatum, a graduate of Oklahoma State University, is a 19-year Koch veteran.
Koch Industries Inc owns a diverse group of companies engaged in trading, investment and operations around the world. Koch companies are involved in trading, refining, asphalt, natural gas, gas liquids, chemicals, plastics, chemical technology equipment, minerals, fertilizers, ranching, and finance businesses, as well as a host of new, technology-oriented ventures.
Landmark Graphics Corp.
Dallas, has announced the establishment of a technical center of excellence in Stavanger, Norway, in cooperation with IBM and Intel. The center will focus on combining Intel-based computing platforms from IBM running the Linux operating system with Landmark's software solutions.
Landmark Graphics Corp. is a wholly owned business unit of Halliburton. Landmark offers a broad range of consulting services and software solutions to the upstream oil and gas industry.
Unidynamics Inc.
Conroe, Tex., has appointed John Stebbins as vice-president of marketing. Stebbins holds a BS degree from Purdue University, and has done post graduate work at both the University of Missouri and the University of Wisconsin. He worked for General Electric, Colt Industries, Bombardier, and Tyco International, and was an aviator in the US Navy.
Unidynamics Inc. designs and builds solutions and equipment for material handling applications in such markets as marine, offshore energy, hazardous materials, and aerospace.
Petroleum Communications Inc. (PetroCom)
New Orleans, has announced the appointment of Bradley M. Parro as president and chief executive officer, replacing John Payne, who will serve as chairman of the board. Parro is a 20-year veteran in the telecommunications and energy industries.
Additionally, Dennis d'Aquin was named chief financial officer; Mark A. Littlejohn, vice-president of sales and marketing; and Kenneth Wright, vice-president of engineering and operations.
PetroCom was founded in 1983 to construct, develop, and operate the first satellite-based cellular network in the world. The firm is a full-service telecommunications and network solutions company.
