We're Still Here Podcast

Today Phil was joined by Ryan Flynn, Executive Director of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association (NMOGA). Ryan tells Phil how he got into the oil and gas industry and what led him to his role as the Executive Director of the organization. They discuss how the association approaches out of the box thinking, why they put an emphasis on being humble and the obstacles they’re facing going into 2021. Ryan also shares how political policies will affect the industry and the overall impact this will have on the environment.  Here are some of the things you can look forward to in this episode: The initiatives that NMOGA has focused on this year How the pandemic has affected the industry in New Mexico Why incentivizing American producers will help reduce the overall environmental impact    Highlights: 1:47 How Ryan got involved in the oil and gas industry  8:29 What the NMOGA does 12:06 Out of the box thinking the association has done 18:27 Their approach around being humble  20:03 The association’s efforts in the field to reduce the environmental impact 21:08 The state of oil and gas in New Mexico during the pandemic 27:01 Biggest wins the association has had this year 33:19 Obstacles they face going into 2021 40:43 Why you should be looking for ways to incentivize American producers 43:27 What the annual meeting will be like this year 48:07 His thoughts on the future and the resilience of the oil and gas industry   About Ryan Flynn:Ryan Flynn is the Executive Director of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, a trade group representing the hard-working men and women in New Mexico’s oil and natural gas industry. As NMOGA’s Executive Director, Ryan has worked to strengthen relationships with community partners and members, and better communicate with the public about the role and impacts of oil and natural gas in New Mexico. Prior to joining NMOGA, Ryan previously served as the Secretary of Environment and the Natural Resources Trustee for the State of New Mexico. As Environment Secretary, Flynn brokered several key agreements with federal and state agencies, including a successful agreement with the United States Air Force to remediate groundwater contamination at Kirtland Air Force Base; and a landmark settlement agreement with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Navajo Nation over regional haze regulations in the coal and power producing Four Corners region of New Mexico -- called by one environmental group, the “greatest environmental improvement in the state’s history.” Ryan’s settlement agreement with the Department of Energy over violations at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant is the largest settlement agreement of its kind in the history of the United States. Ryan serves as an area defense counsel in the New Mexico Air National Guard and is the proud father of two girls. Connect with Ryan:New Mexico Oil and Gas Association | Facebook | Twitter | Personal Twitter | LinkedIn   About SherWare, Inc. If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts. SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.

In this episode, Phil was joined by Charlie Burd of the Independent Oil & Gas Association of West Virginia (IOGAWV). Charlie touches on what’s been happening in West Virginia (WV) with the industry and the wins his association has had this year. He and Phil talk about the resilience of the industry, the decline in conventional permits in WV and what the association is working on moving forward.  Here are some of the things you can look forward to in this episode: The current state of the oil and gas industry in WV Focuses of the industry in WV on natural gas Priorities of the IOGAWV going into 2021   Highlights: 1:26 What the oil and gas industry is like in West Virginia and what the IOGAWV does 2:09 The history of Marcellus wells in the state 2:56 What caused the decline in conventional permits 4:10 How the pandemic has affected the flow of natural gas in WV 5:34 The majority of the production in their state 8:13 Companies using the advantages of cheap natural gas 10:18 Wins they’ve had this year  12:47 The resilience of those in the oil and gas industry 15:42 How the acquisition of assets by Warren Buffet’s company may affect future projects 16:16 What the association’s priorities are over the next several moments 17:22 His thoughts about oil and gas in WV and what people should know   About Charlie Burd:Charlie Burd has been the executive director of the Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia since July 2002 where he manages the operations of the nearly 500-member trade association of oil and natural gas operators. Charlie also oversees IOGAWV’s legislative efforts. Prior to joining IOGAWV, Charlie worked at Hope Gas, Inc., holding a variety of marketing, economic development, and management positions.  He holds an associate degree in accounting from Mountain State College, a Regents BA degree from Glenville State College and is a graduate of the University Of Oklahoma’s “Economic Development Institute.”   Charlie serves on several industry advisory committees for West Virginia University, is active with the Independent Petroleum Association of America, the West Virginia Chamber, and the West Virginia Manufacturers Association.  Charlie is the Governor Jim Justices’ official state representative to the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission where he also serves as the organization’s 1st Vice Chairman. In 2017, Charlie was honored as the “West Virginia Oil and Gas Man of the Year.”  Charlie and wife Leone reside in Vienna, WV, with their son Nathan, a senior in the WVU Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources - Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering where he majors in computer science with a minor in cyber security.  His older son Charlie is the VP and COO of the American Masala Enterprises and resides in New Delhi, India.       Connect with Charlie:Independent Oil & Gas Association of West Virginia   About SherWare, Inc. If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.   SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.

In today’s episode, we brought back Mike Chadsey of the Ohio Oil and Gas Association to chat about the state of oil and gas in Ohio. Phil and Mike talk about how the pandemic has affected the state and how this impacts operators. Mike shares their priorities as an association, how the upcoming elections figure into the association’s plans and their outlook for the next few years. He also shares his thoughts on House Bill 6 and how the significant drop in operators since 2008 has affected the OOGA. Here are some of the things you can look forward to in this episode: How the oil and gas industry has been in Ohio during the pandemic What House Bill 6 means for the oil and gas industry What the OOGA’s priorities are for 2020 and beyond   Highlights: 2:11 How virtual meetings have been for him this year 2:35 How the pandemic has affected oil and gas in Ohio 4:46 Mergers and acquisitions he’s seen during this year  6:19 Wins that the OOGA has had this year 8:18 How the repeal of the House Bill 6 affects how they approach the legislature 10:47 Their priorities as an association for the remainder of 2020 11:59 How the upcoming elections figure into the OOGA’s plans 13:16 A discussion on a recent article about Google being carbon neutral 16:58 How the drop in operators in Ohio has affected membership in Ohio 18:21 What Mike wants people to know about oil and gas in Ohio 20:53 The association’s outlook for 2021 and beyond   About Mike Chadsey:Mike Chadsey serves as Director of Public Relations for the Ohio Oil and Gas Association. In that capacity, he leads OOGA’s engagement with the media in the state and continues the Association’s great work of creating and building relationships with local elected, community, and business leaders throughout the state. Immediately prior to joining OOGA, Mike served two years as the first state director of Energy In Depth-Ohio (EID), a grassroots advocacy, research and education initiative organized in support of responsible oil and gas development. Mike has served in a variety of roles over the last 20 years at both the local and state level working for various campaigns and office holders. He was elected by the voters of Summit County as a Board member of the Summit County Educational Service Center in 2017. He is a graduate of Kent State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He lives with his wife, Jean Anne and their daughter Madeline and son Matthew in Green. Connect with Mike:Ohio Oil and Gas Association   About SherWare, Inc. If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.   SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.

In this episode we’re continuing the conversation with oil and gas associations across the U.S. Today, Phil was joined by Daron Fredrickson of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association. Daron shares what his organization has been working on to help impact oil and gas producers and how this will affect taxes. They also discuss what the industry has looked like amidst the pandemic, OPEC and natural disasters such as hurricanes.    Here are some of the things you can look forward to in this episode: What the oil and gas industry is currently like in Louisiana The impacts of natural disasters on independent oil and gas producers  Why it’s critical to vote in the upcoming election   Highlights: 2:05 What the oil and gas industry is like in Louisiana 3:15 The types of members in the association and the challenges they face 5:27 How the pandemic and OPEC has affected Louisiana’s oil and gas industry 8:00 How independent producers are affected by hurricanes 9:22 The election and how politics affect the industry 14:37 How the amendment came into place 20:54 The problems he’s seen this cause for the oil and gas industry 26:13 How this amendment will not affect landowners 26:47 Inequality impacts on oil and gas producers 34:21 How you can get involved in helping the industry   Connect with Daron:Louisiana Oil and Gas Association   About SherWare, Inc. If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts. SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.

In this episode, we had on Ryan Watts and Maverick Bentley from the Kentucky Oil and Gas Association. Phil, Ryan and Maverick talk about oil and gas in the state of Kentucky including how the pandemic has affected the industry. They chat about moving association meetings virtual, what they’re doing to support association members and why the oil and gas industry is essential for people’s quality of life. You’ll hear some of the obstacles they see coming in the industry and the win’s they’ve had this year.  Here are some of the things you can look forward to in this episode: What the current state of oil and gas is in Kentucky The Kentucky Oil and Gas Association’s priorities for the rest of the year The effect that oil and gas has on people’s quality of life Highlights:1:43 Ryan’s experience of working for the Kentucky Oil and Gas Association3:02 What oil and gas is like in the state of Kentucky3:55 The growth of the oil and gas industry in Kentucky7:12 How the pandemic has affected oil and gas activity in the state12:49 Their plans for moving meetings virtual14:03 Wins they’ve had this year16:59 The association’s priorities for the rest of the year19:03 Obstacles they see coming up in the industry24:45 How the oil and gas industry is important to the quality of life we have   About Ryan Watts:Ryan Watts has served as the executive director for the Kentucky Oil and Gas Association (KOGA) since September 2017. KOGA represents and advocates for the interests of Kentucky's crude oil & natural gas industry with a focus on the independent crude oil & natural gas operators. Watts began his career as the press secretary for Lt. Governor Steve Pence. Watts also served as executive director of the Office of Public Affairs for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC). In that capacity, Watts directed all communications and served as chief spokesman for the 4,400 employee agency, which is responsible for maintaining and preserving a vast infrastructure network across Kentucky. Ryan has served as the president of the Good Shepherd Catholic School Advisory Council for two years. Watts also earned his Eagle Scout Award and currently serves as an executive committee board member of the Bluegrass Council for the Boy Scouts of America. Watts, originally from Bardstown, is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with degrees in political science and mathematics. He lives in Frankfort with his wife, Ashli, and two children. Connect with Ryan:Kentucky Oil and Gas Association | Twitter | Facebook   About Maverick Bentley:Mr. Bentley joined Diversified in July of 2018 through its acquisition of EQT. He has 35 years in gas and oil operations, in both upstream and midstream. He is highly experienced in midstream operations, compression and well productivity. He is also an executive board member of the Kentucky Oil and Gas Association. Connect with Maverick:Kentucky Oil and Gas Association About SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.   SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.

This week we’re bringing on someone from the Colorado Oil & Gas Association to talk about the state of the industry in Colorado. In this episode, Phil is joined by the President and CEO of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association, Dan Haley. Dan and Phil talk about the Senate Bill 19-181 bill that was passed in 2019 and what it means for them. Dan expresses the need of voting and getting involved as someone who is in the oil and gas industry to make your voice heard. He also talks about how the pandemic has affected the industry in Colorado and what the Colorado molecule is.  Here are some of the things you can look forward to in this episode: What you need to know about Senate Bill 19-181 Why you need to vote and make your voice heard How the pandemic has affected the oil and gas industry in Colorado Highlights:2:23 The key provisions for the Senate Bill 19-1816:17 Who the commission is made up of 9:20 Why they want to see the bill implemented 12:24 Why you can’t just ignore politics12:51 How COVID-19 has affected the industry in Colorado15:54 What the Colorado molecule is22:24 His thoughts on oil and gas and why you need to get involved About Seth Whitehead:Mr. Dan Haley serves as President & Chief Executive Officer of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association. As President, Mr. Haley is responsible for leading the industry in Colorado legislative, regulatory, and public relations matters. Previously, he was Vice President of Communications, Development and Strategy at EIS Solutions, a public affairs firm where he served as a consultant for numerous corporate and political clients, including oil and gas interests. Prior to that, Mr. Haley spent more than 20 years in the communications field, including 13 years at The Denver Post, where he was the Editorial Page Editor. He also was Director of Corporate Communications for CoBank, a $100 billion bank headquartered in Denver. A Colorado native, Mr. Haley has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Wyoming and sits on the Advisory Council to the USO Denver as well as the Colorado Advisory Committee for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. Connect with Dan:Colorado Oil and Gas Association    About SherWare, Inc. If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts. SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.

We’re continuing our series of conversations with different state oil and gas associations. In this episode, Phil is joined by Seth Whitehead of the Illinois Oil and Gas Association and Illinois Petroleum Resources Board to talk about the industry in the state of Illinois, what they do to improve the industry within their state and what type of education they provide. He shares the biggest obstacles they’re facing as an industry in Illinois, their top 3 priorities going forward and how the state is made up of small independent producers rather than large corporations. Here are some of the things you can look forward to in this episode: How we can work together to shift how people view oil and gas as an industry How the Illinois oil and gas industry is made up of small independent producers The top 3 priorities for the Illinois Oil and Gas Association Highlights: 1:32 How Seth got involved in the oil and gas industry 2:46 The mission of the Illinois Petroleum Resources Board 3:54 What type of adult education they provide about the oil and gas industry 5:36 Seth’s advice about changing the way people see the industry 7:13 His transition to working for the Illinois Oil and Gas Association 10:23 The biggest obstacles of the oil and gas industry in Illinois 11:27 How has COVID-19 affected the industry 14:09 Their top focuses for the association  15:50 The current state of oil and gas in the state of Illinois About Seth Whitehead:I am currently the interim operations administrator for the Illinois Oil & Gas Association and the executive director of the Illinois Petroleum Resources Board (IPRB). IPRB is an education and outreach program that is voluntarily funded by Illinois oil producers and royalty owners. I was previously Team Lead for the Energy In Depth program from 2016-2018. I am a graduate of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and am married with five kids. Connect with Seth: Illinois Petroleum Resources Board | Illinois Oil and Gas Association | IPRB Twitter | IPRB Facebook About SherWare, Inc. If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts. SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.

We’re still here, despite the fear-mongering that the media attempts to bring to the public, despite oil prices hitting record lows. This pandemic has brought a double whammy to the oil and gas industry but it will indeed recover. In this episode, Phil shares why traditional energy sources will never become obsolete and why it's superior to misnamed, “renewable energy sources”. He shares a few interesting articles about the prospects of the oil and gas industry and how it will recover.    Here are some of the things you can look forward to in this episode:   Why we’re still here How oil has surged over 80% as demand has returned Why the misnamed “renewable energy sources” won’t replace traditional energy sources   Highlights: 1:25 How this pandemic has been a double whammy for the oil and gas industry 2:01 How not everything going on right now is doom and gloom 5:22 Why the world cannot work without oil 9:55 How Amazon is a huge partner in the oil and gas industry 11:16 Current conversations about replacing traditional energy sources with renewable energy sources 14:19 One of Phil’s favorite books over the past few years 16:02 An acronym for fear that the oil and gas industry leans on   Links: Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World--and Why Things Are Better Than You Think   About SherWare, Inc. If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.   SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.

Being a part of the oil and gas industry affords you with many opportunities and the ability to be a part of an industry that is constantly evolving. In this episode, Phil is joined by Brad Gray, COO of Diversified Gas & Oil to talk about his experience of being with the company and helping it grow from a couple thousand producing wells to over 18,000+ producing wells. He shares his advice for being in the oil and gas industry and his predictions for how the company will continue to grow.  Here are some of the things you can look forward to in this episode: How Brad’s seen the company grow over the past four years What the term “smarter well management” is (and why you should know about it) Advice for being apart of the oil and gas industry Highlights: 2:33 Brad’s experience of joining Diversified Gas & Oil  5:06 The growth he’s seen at the company since coming on in 2016 8:03 What “smarter well management” means to them 10:07 Their experience of utilizing remote monitoring for their wells 11:13 What they see for the future of their conventional and unconventional wells 12:53 What he predicts for the future growth of the company 14:36 His advice on the oil and gas industry About Brad Gray: Prior to joining the Company in October 2016, Mr. Gray held the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Royal Cup, Inc., a United States based commercial coffee roaster and wholesale distributor of tea and other beverage related products. Prior to Royal Cup, Inc., from 2006 to 2014, Brad worked in the petroleum distribution industry for The McPherson Companies, Inc. and held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Before McPherson Companies, he worked for over a decade in various financial and operational roles with the previously listed NYSE retail group, Saks Incorporated. Brad received a Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Alabama and earned his CPA license (Alabama). Connect with Brad:LinkedIn About SherWare, Inc. If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts. SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.

With everything that’s currently going on in the world, there’s a lot of fear, panic and uncertainty. In the oil and gas industry, we’ve seen oil prices dip into the negatives and many companies are unsure of what will happen next. But what can we do to help eliminate the spirit of fear? In this episode, Phil talks about three practices that can help you deal with uncertainty. He clarifies the three things that cause fear and shares an exercise you can use to overcome fears that come your way. We’ve been through it before, and we’ll probably go through it again but just remember: We’re still here.    Here are some of the things you can look forward to in this episode: The three practices that can help you deal with uncertainty The three things that cause you to fear An exercise you can do to overcome fears   Highlights: 2:12 Three practices that can help you deal with fear and uncertainty 2:56 Adopting the role model mindset 4:41 Why you should check in with the news and social media multiple times a day 6:44 Choose how much you’re going to check in and sticking to that 8:28 Why you should choose to act instead of react 8:39 How you can describe your reality without complaints 10:25 Why you need more self-evaluation to develop self-awareness 11:39 Learning to understand and tap into why your fear is showing up 14:16 Giving more emotional energy to the other side of fear 17:58 Why people are terrified of the hardships 22:48 How you’re a role model in your community and your home 24:05 An exercise for overcoming fears   About SherWare, Inc. If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts. SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.