In memoriam: Robert L. Parker, Sr.

Robert L. Parker, Sr., former chairman of the board of Parker Drilling Company, passed away in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday, July 9, 2016. Parker Sr., 92, joined Parker Drilling in 1947 and retired in 2006 after 59 years of service. He held the chairman of the board position from 1969 until his retirement.

The son of the company's founder, Parker was a visionary in the drilling industry. Under his leadership, Parker Drilling grew to become one of the most respected and trusted drilling companies in the world, ultimately operating in more than 50 countries. His unwavering focus on operational integrity and customer service resulted in Parker Drilling becoming the first western drilling contractor to be awarded contracts in China (1980), Russia (1991) and Kazakhstan (1993).

Under his leadership, Parker Drilling was a pioneer in the construction of helicopter rigs capable of operating in remote locations, as well as in the development of Arctic drilling techniques employed from the North Slope of Alaska to Sakhalin Island in Russia. In addition, Parker and his son, Bobby Parker, were instrumental in helping to establish health, safety and environmental practices that have since been adopted throughout the drilling industry.

"Our hearts are truly saddened today as we say goodbye to an incredible leader and friend," said Gary Rich, the company's chairman, president and CEO. "Mr. Parker's keen business sense and passion for the drilling business set the foundation for over eighty years of success for Parker Drilling and our stakeholders. While his business accomplishments are legendary, it is his humor, warmth and the love he held for his employees and friends throughout the industry that will truly be missed. He was a wise leader who always had a kind word. Each day our employees strive to live up to the high standards he set for us. Our thoughts and prayers are with his son, Bobby, as well as Mr. Parker's entire family."

Parker was a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Texas at Austin. His achievements include the US Secretary of Energy's Distinguished Service Medal, the Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement from the American Petroleum Institute, and the Waggener-Griffin Award from Spindletop Internationa. In 2007, Parker was inducted into the Petroleum Hall of Fame.

Synergy Resources makes management changes

%{[ data-embed-type="image" data-embed-id="5d086d98f6d5f267eec88548" data-embed-element="aside" data-embed-align="right" data-embed-alt="1608ogfjep M01 Eberhard" data-embed-src="https://img.ogj.com/files/base/ebm/ogj/image/2018/08/1608ogfjep_m01_eberhard.png?auto=format&h=640&w=640" data-embed-caption="" ]}%	%{[ data-embed-type="image" data-embed-id="5d086d98f6d5f267eec8854a" data-embed-element="aside" data-embed-align="right" data-embed-alt="1608ogfjep M02 Spence" data-embed-src="https://img.ogj.com/files/base/ebm/ogj/image/2018/08/1608ogfjep_m02_spence.png?auto=format&h=640&w=640" data-embed-caption="" ]}%	%{[ data-embed-type="image" data-embed-id="5d086d98f6d5f267eec8854c" data-embed-element="aside" data-embed-align="right" data-embed-alt="1608ogfjep M03 Rasmuson" data-embed-src="https://img.ogj.com/files/base/ebm/ogj/image/2018/08/1608ogfjep_m03_rasmuson.png?auto=format&h=640&w=640" data-embed-caption="" ]}%
Eberhard	Spence	Rasmuson

Synergy Resources Corp. has made changes its management team. Michael Eberhard has been named COO-operations and Nick Spence has been named COO-development, with joint responsibility over all facets of the company's drilling, completion, and production operations. Craig Rasmuson has been named executive vice president of business development. Eberhard is a petroleum engineer with over 35 years of experience with Halliburton and Anadarko Petroleum. He has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Montana State University and is a registered professional Petroleum Engineer in Colorado. Spence holds over 25 years of industry experience focused in North America both on shore and offshore. Prior to joining Synergy in October 2015, Spence was employed by Anadarko Petroleum for 15 years in various engineering and management roles. He holds a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering from Colorado School of Mines. Rasmuson joined Synergy in September 2008. He has worked in the DJ Basin since 2006 and prior to joining Synergy he worked with DCP Midstream and PDC Energy. Lynn Peterson, Jack Aydin, Daniel Kelly, Paul Korus, Raymond McElhaney and Rick Wilber have been elected to serve as directors for the upcoming year.

Kalamaras named American Midstream CFO ahead of Houston move

The general partner of American Midstream Partners LP appointed Eric T. Kalamaras as senior vice president and CFO. Kalamaras succeeds Dan Campbell who served as CFO since 2012. Kalamaras has 20 years of financial leadership experience and most recently served as executive vice president and CFO of Azure Midstream Partners LP and Azure Midstream Company LLC. Prior to Azure, Kalamaras served as CFO at Valerus Energy Holdings, Delphi Midstream Partners, and Atlas Pipeline Partners LP. Kalamaras holds a BBA from Central Michigan University and his MBA from Wake Forest University. As noted previously, American Midstream is relocating the corporate headquarters to Houston, TX from Denver, CO, and Campbell elected not to move to Houston for personal reasons.

C&J Energy names new CEO, CFO

C&J Energy Services Ltd. has appointed Don Gawick, C&J's current COO, to the position of president and CEO. Gawick will also continue performing his existing duties as the company's COO. Gawick is a 37-year veteran of the oilfield services industry and has held numerous senior management positions over the course of his career since starting with Schlumberger in 1979. He previously served as president and CEO of Casedhole Solutions Inc., a wireline services company that C&J acquired in 2012. He has served as C&J's COO since 2012. Gawick replaces Randy McMullen as C&J's former president and CEO. McMullen stepped into the CEO role earlier this year following the unexpected death of C&J's founder, chairman and CEO, Josh Comstock. McMullen has also departed from his role as CFO and as a member of the company's board. Mark Cashiola has been appointed to serve as C&J's CFO. Cashiola joined C&J in January 2011 and has served as the company's vice president - controller and chief accounting officer. He has over 18 years of finance and accounting experience, the majority of which has been spent in the energy industry. In addition, the board appointed Danielle Hunter as executive vice president, general counsel and chief risk officer following the departure of Ted Moore, C&J's prior executive vice president, general counsel and chief risk officer. Hunter joined C&J in June 2011 and has served as the company's vice president - corporate and compliance and associate general counsel. Prior to joining C&J, Hunter practiced corporate law at Vinson & Elkins LLP from 2007 through 2011, representing public and private companies and investment banking firms in numerous capital markets offerings and mergers and acquisitions, primarily in the oil and gas industry.

OGTC names Cohen CEO

%{[ data-embed-type="image" data-embed-id="5d086d98f6d5f267eec8854e" data-embed-element="aside" data-embed-align="right" data-embed-alt="1608ogfjep M05 Cohen" data-embed-src="https://img.ogj.com/files/base/ebm/ogj/image/2018/08/1608ogfjep_m05_cohen.png?auto=format&h=640&w=640" data-embed-caption="" ]}%

Cohen

Colette Cohen has been appointed as the CEO of the new Oil & Gas Technology Centre (OGTC) in Aberdeen. Cohen, who has spent 25 years in the oil and gas industry and was latterly senior vice president for the UK and Netherlands region with Centrica's upstream business, will formally take up the new post in September. The OGTC will enable, lead, support and facilitate market-led technology programs appropriate to the mature basin in tandem with a strong focus on subsea and decommissioning excellence. It will also facilitate, stimulate and accelerate supply chain led research and development through a technology accelerator with the potential to double the UK's oil and gas supply chain exports from £16 billion to £32 billion over the next 10 years. The OGTC is expected to secure £180 million of innovation funding from the Aberdeen City Region Deal (ACRD), which is co-funded by the UK and Scottish Governments. As CEO of the OGTC, Cohen will report to the board. Key aspects of the role will be to ensure that the OGTC is a catalyst for creating strategic value, helps to deliver the UK's MER agenda, and grows the domestic oil and gas supply chain in the UK and overseas. Cohen began her career as a petroleum engineer with BP and has worked in Aberdeen, Astana (Kazakhstan), Houston, and Stavanger over the past 25 years in a variety of senior management roles. Before joining Centrica in 2013, she spent 15 years with ConocoPhillips, latterly as managing director of its Brittania Operator Ltd. joint venture with Chevron in the UK. She has been co-chair of the OGA's North Sea Decommissioning Board, a member of the Technology Leadership Board and a member of the Board of Oil & Gas UK.

Snider named president, COO at Laney Directional Drilling

%{[ data-embed-type="image" data-embed-id="5d086d98f6d5f267eec88550" data-embed-element="aside" data-embed-align="right" data-embed-alt="1608ogfjep M04 Snider" data-embed-src="https://img.ogj.com/files/base/ebm/ogj/image/2018/08/1608ogfjep_m04_snider.png?auto=format&h=640&w=640" data-embed-caption="" ]}%

Snider

Alan Snider has been named president and COO at Laney Directional Drilling, a global provider of integrated engineering, horizontal directional drilling (HDD) and direct pipe (DP) construction services. With more than 26 years of experience in the industry, Snider will be responsible for the overall management of the company, including leadership of the HDD; DP; engineering; sales and marketing; and estimating teams. Since joining Laney in 2011, Snider had served as vice president of engineering and project management. Prior to joining Laney, Snider served as south business unit leader, energy market director, principal, and board member of GeoEngineers. Snider began his pipeline career with Willbros in 1990 before starting his own firm, Advantage Professional Services, which managed HDD engineering, design and construction projects for the oil and gas industry all over the world. He served as its president and senior HDD engineer until 2004 when GeoEngineers acquired the company. Snider is a licensed professional engineer and graduated from the University of Arkansas with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering.

Skidmore joins the Natural Gas Training Council Board of Directors

%{[ data-embed-type="image" data-embed-id="5d086d98f6d5f267eec88552" data-embed-element="aside" data-embed-align="right" data-embed-alt="1608ogfjep M07 Skidmore" data-embed-src="https://img.ogj.com/files/base/ebm/ogj/image/2018/08/1608ogfjep_m07_skidmore.png?auto=format&h=640&w=640" data-embed-caption="" ]}%

Skidmore

Jim Skidmore, Chancellor Emeritus of the Community and Technical College System of West Virginia (CTCS), has joined the Natural Gas Training Council Board of Directors. Skidmore became the first chancellor of the CTCS in 2004 and served in that position for eleven years. With over 35 years of experience in higher education, Chancellor Emeritus Skidmore has served in positions at the West Virginia University Institute of Technology, West Virginia State University, and the West Virginia Board of Regents. He has been involved with the state-level administration of community and technical college education in West Virginia since joining the state-level central office staff in January 1986. During his tenure as chancellor, Skidmore was involved in the implementation of several legislative actions that set a new direction for community and technical college education in West Virginia and increased the capacity of the Community College System to meet the workforce needs of the State's employers and enhance the economic development efforts of the state. Under his leadership, the Community College System implemented Petroleum Technology and Gas Measurement programs to address the emerging workforce needs of the state's energy sector. The Natural Gas Training Council is a non-profit organization formed to partner with industry and communities to educate workers and increase knowledge of the natural gas industry.

KrisEnergy appoints interim CEO

Keith Cameron, a co-founder and CEO of KrisEnergy Ltd., announced retirement plans in late June. Jeff ery S. Macdonald, a non-executive independent director of the company since 2009, took over as interim CEO effective July 1, 2016 and will remain until a successor is appointed. Cameron will continue as an advisor to Macdonald, who will become an executive director. Macdonald was previously a managing director with

First Reserve, with responsibility for investment origination, structuring, execution, monitoring and exit strategy, with

particular emphasis on the oil and gas reserves sector. Prior to joining First Reserve, Macdonald was a founder and CEO of Caledonia Oil and Gas Ltd. Macdonald will step down as chairman of the Remuneration Committee, to be replaced by Duane Radtke as interim chairman. Macdonald will also resign from the Remuneration Committee and the Nomination Committee.

Occidental names Brown SVP

Oscar K. Brown will join Occidental Petroleum Corp. as senior vice president, worldwide business development, effective August 9, 2016. Brown brings more than 25 years of energy banking experience to this new role. Brown joins Occidental from Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofAML), where he most recently served as managing director and co-head of Americas energy investment banking. Prior to joining BofAML, he worked at Barclays Capital, Lehman Brothers, and Credit Suisse First Boston. He received a bachelor of business administration degree in finance and marketing from the University of Texas at Austin.

Fryhover joins RAMTeCH as SVP of energy data management

RAMTeCH Software Solutions Inc., a provider of geospatial data management, managed services, and consulting services, has named Don Fryhover as senior vice president of energy data management. Fryhover brings 40 years of experience in resolving complex business challenges in the energy sector. Prior to joining RAMTeCH, Fryhover was the vice president of operations of the Geological Products & Solutions division at TGS-NOPEC. He also co-founded Petroleum Research Company and owned a consulting practice that assisted energy clients with large data implementation projects. Additionally, Fryhover has served in executive roles at multiple companies throughout the course of his career, including ASI Energy, Tadpole Technology Group, Analytical Surveys Inc. and Cartotech Inc.

McCarter joins Houlihan Lokey

Jon McCarter has joined international investment bank Houlihan Lokey as a managing director, based in Houston. McCarter will serve as National Energy Leader for Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) and assist in leading Financial Advisory Services (FAS) in Houston. McCarter spent nearly a decade at EY where he was a partner in TAS, serving as Houston Transaction Support Leader and Americas Energy Transaction Advisory Services Leader. He has advised corporate and PE clients in complex transactions across the energy supply chain. McCarter began his career at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, serving seven years each in the TAS and Assurance practices in Houston and Cleveland. McCarter holds a BS in Business Administration from Bowling Green State University. He is also a Certified Public Accountant in Texas and Ohio.

Mulvehill joins Wolfe Research as a director

Chase Mulvehill joined Wolfe Research in June 2016 as a director on the energy team, specializing in the oilfield service industry. Prior to joining Wolfe, Mulvehill spent two years as a sell-side analyst and director on the energy team for SunTrust Robinson Humphrey. He was previously a buy-side analyst at Carlson Capital and Millennium, where his primary coverage universe was oilfield services. Prior to his time on the buy-side, Mulvehill worked in sell side equity research at both Jefferies and JP Morgan, also covering the oilfield service industry. Prior, he was an aeronautical engineer at Lockheed Martin. Mulvehill earned his MBA from Southern Methodist University and a bachelor's degree from Auburn University.

2H Offshore appoints new managing director

2H Offshore, an Acteon company, has appointed Yann Helle as managing director. Helle replaces Tim Eyles, who will become vice president at Acteon. Helle, who previously held the position of technical manager, will focus on evolving and expanding new business opportunities particularly life extension, abandonment, and marginal field developments. Helle joined 2H in 2002 after graduating from Kingston University, London, with a master's degree in mechanical engineering. In 2008, Helle received an MBA from Imperial College. He is a chartered engineer and member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. Helle recently returned to 2H's London office following three years in Houston as project manager of the TLP top tensioned riser system delivery management project for Total's Moho Nord field development. Helle will continue his involvement in the project through to installation in the third quarter of 2016.

ENERGY PLAYERS

In order to access this content, you must be logged-in and have an active subscription to the OGJ Premium Archive