alliance

[əˈlīəns]

a union or association formed for mutual benefit, especially between countries or organizations, a relationship based on an affinity in interests, nature, or qualities. The state of being joined or associated.

The above is a definition of what our hopes and dreams were when we formed The Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma by combining the tradition rich Oklahoma Oil & Gas Association (OKOGA) and Oklahoma Independent Producers Association (OIPA). Equal representation between each of the organizations headed by the leadership of each of the industry groups, Wade Hutchings and Berry Mullennix. We chose Chad Warmington from OKOGA to serve as President and lead the new organization on behalf of the combined entities. We came fast out of the gate utilizing the best procedures, policies, organizational traits, and most of all … the outstanding leadership availed to us through the combination of OKOGA and OIPA. With a high-quality staff supporting the goals of the organization, we forged a single voice for Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry. I was honored to be elected the first Chairman of the newly minted Alliance, and subsequently the Executive Committee (EC) ran an outstanding process to replace Chad Warmington, who departed to run Oklahoma’s State Chamber of Commerce, with Brook Simmons…the right guy at the right time.

Fast Forward… Price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia. Demand destroying global pandemic. Abandonment of the industry by most capital sources. Massive layoffs. Reckless regulation. Demonizing of the industry by the progressive left. Changes in the EC, staffing, and budgets due to the economic adversity. Basically, an epic myriad of head winds erupted to challenge our way of life. 

In an April 2020 Wellhead article titled “Stronger, Together,” I wrote about the challenges ahead, spoke of the tenacity of our membership and…

Read the full article on LinkedIn.