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Message from Founding Director

Jack ChristiansenDear students, industry professionals and partners,

Welcome to the University Of Houston CCE Technology Division Petroleum Technology Initiative (PTI) celebrating its eight anniversary of collaboration with energy industry companies, professional societies and organizations, and providing workforce development solutions to the students and experienced employees in the companies.

During my more than 35-year career with Texaco, later Chevron-Texaco, I worked as geophysicist, geologist, and later manager of the reservoir engineering department conducting domestic and international work focused on exploration and development projects in the North Sea, Southeast Asia, and South America regions. Also, I had a passion to coach and mentor newly hired early career geoscientists, engineers and technologists. It was vital to give them an idea of how oil and gas industry value chain works, where all of the pieces fit together and why that's so important to know. However, while leading multiple teams around the world and meeting projects strict deadlines, the coaching was never an easy task.

We work with many subject matter experts who teach courses and mentor university graduates hired by company, and we all agree that at least couple years of experience is required before early career employees are able to work independently and contribute to company objectives as professionals.

In today world with continuous collaboration between engineering technology education and the energy industry we can prepare students for the competitive job market. Students request more of industry courses and like PTI programs, projects, and events, as all our activities are focused on energy industry and provide opportunity to meet experienced professionals, get closely involved with companies and professional groups, and start their professional development while at school. That helps each graduate not only choose a job of his or her interest, but also start creating value and deliver results in a company from the first days of employment.

To give back to the industry we conduct specialty courses and certificate custom designed technical training programs for major operating companies, such as LUKOIL Overseas, Sinopec, PDVSA, PetroChina, PEMEX. Interest in such offerings is growing as the need of meeting global demands for energy requires companies to create new strategies, develop and apply latest technologies, and constantly look for new opportunities to be successful and conduct their business on the most economical manner.

Our latest creation in partnership between UH and PennWell - The Offshore Learning Center - is a key resource for experienced professionals and those who just entering the industry, as well as members of the local and global community that are interested in learning more about The Energy Industry.

I hope you find our offerings interesting. If there is anything you would like to discuss further, please contact me the soonest.

Sincerely,
Jack Christiansen
Director