25 A Message from Boone Pickens School of Geology Advisory Board Rick Fritz, Alumni Advisory Board Chair Resource Plays and Resourceful People The culture of energy and related economics is constantly evolving. One thing we know for sure is culture always trumps strategy. Just about the time we become proficient at finding unconventional gas resources the culture of supply and demand takes over and the strategy of exploring for gas is temporarily obsolete. Then we become very good at finding liquid-rich resource plays and prices collapse. There is a Chinese proverb that says, “Dig a well before you are thirsty”. It seems we drilled too many wells and now we are drowning. We’ve been here before and many of us are survivors. We know how to survive and even flourish. The Geoscience Alumni Advisory Committee was formed to provide advice and support for the School during good times and bad. Advice comes in many forms from recommendations on curriculum to considerations on funding. Support takes the form of service and donations. During a downturn especially GAAC acts as liaison with companies to inform and guide the school on where the industry is going…or not going! Jobs of course are critical for graduates and it is important for GAAC members to advise on industry hiring and firing practices and on opportunities—current and future. This is the first time the “resource professionals” are experiencing a downturn. During our mid-year meeting last November in Stillwater we had a great discussion on jobs and what our graduates need to do to find work. One of the most productive outputs from the meeting was a comprehensive list of things our graduates need to find jobs (see inset).Donations and even pledges fall off during this time but it is not a time to hide. GAAC members have been very generous and many of our members continue to give and others continue to ask their companies to support OSU. One key thing I wanted to accomplish this year is a review of the School’s strategic-tactical plan. I asked Kristie Ferguson and Mike Gaskins to work with Dr. Atekwana, BPSoG chair, to build a plan supported by the faculty, alumni and administration. Developing a plan during tough times is important because it make us focus on what is most important. GAAC met with faculty in early February regarding the strategic plan. Most of the faculty and GAAC leadership attended and we had frank discussions about many of the goals in the strategic plan. Both faculty and alumni learned a lot about each other and about critical needs. Kristie and Mike will make a presentation on the results of our discussion at the annual GAAC meeting before the banquet at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 2. Speaking of the spring banquet, the Boone Pickens School of Geology will hold the annual event that Saturday evening, April 2 starting at 5:30 p.m. Mr. Pickens will be there and will address the audience before the keynote speaker. We have a great keynote speaker this year—Ken Tubman, VP Technology and Subsurface with Conoco-Phillips. Also we will pay tribute to Dr. Gary Stewart this year as he receives the GAAC Honorary Life Membership Award and to Terry Hollrah as he receives the GAAC Bootstrap Award. The banquet is free, the networking is great, and this year we are having flat-iron steaks (I’ve tested them and they are excellent!). Please come join us as the Rock Cowboys get rowdy! It’s a tough but exciting time to be in the oil (and gas) business. It is a great culture. As long as we match our strategies to the current culture of technology and economics we can be successful. Go Pokes, Rick Fritz GAAC Chair
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