FROM BLACK GOLD TO GREEN HORIZON: A PROFESSIONAL'S GUIDE TO SHIFTING FROM OIL AND GAS TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL FRONTIER

Every industry experiences its ups and downs, there are times where things flourish and periods when things are tight. Nothing, however, compares to the Oil and Gas industry. Between 2007 and 2021, just 14 years, there were 3 major events that disrupted the petroleum sector. From 2008-09, there was the housing bubble and Great Recession; 2014-15, the oil price collapse due to record production; and finally, 2020-21, the pandemic, sending oil prices negative. What I saw from 2020-2022 was a mass exodus from the petroleum industry, including field personnel, technicians, operators, and industry professionals. The highs and lows were too drastic to maintain a career, and the industry will never be the same.

My transition to the environmental industry was both wanted and needed; I knew I could grow my experience and knowledge, so I moved from Oklahoma to Minnesota not knowing what I would find, or if I could even convince companies that my skills could transfer from one industry to another. The transition was not easy, with a big learning curve on a completely different level. I did not, however, realize how fast my career was going to take off with the opportunities that laid ahead.

My experiences and career started in southern Utah, in the field, on a drilling rig, searching for Uranium. After my undergraduate degree, I went from the field, to graduate school, back to the field, and have moved across state lines three times to advance my career. Getting to where you want to be is never a straight line, and I believe my unique background can help provide some insight on how to navigate the ever-growing complexity of obtaining a career you enjoy.