AAPG Executive Director Rick Fritz has announced his resignation after almost 12 years at the helm of the Association.
AAPG Executive Director Rick Fritz has announced his resignation after almost 12 years at the helm of the Association.
In mid-April, following the AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition in Houston, Fritz will join the Tulsa exploration staff of SM Energy Co. (formerly St. Mary Land & Exploration), which has headquarters in Denver.
The search for a new executive director is under way.
AAPG President Dave Rensink has formed an ad hoc search committee comprising members of the Executive Committee and the AAPG Foundation.
In the interim between Rick’s departure and the selection of a new executive director, David Lange, AAPG’s chief financial officer, is handling executive director duties.
Prior to assuming the AAPG post, Fritz was president of Masera Corp., Tulsa. He is a native Oklahoman and holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Oklahoma State University.
He joined AAPG in 1984 and is a member of the Division of Environmental Geosciences and the Division of Professional Affairs.
Fritz served as the eighth executive director in the Association’s 94-year history. A statement issued by the AAPG Executive Committee following the announcement of the move read:
“The Executive Committee thanks Rick for his strong leadership of AAPG for the past 12 years. Rick has served AAPG with distinction, and we have enjoyed considerable success under his direction.
“AAPG now offers twice as many programs as we did when he began in his position (with same number of staff), and is on a strong financial footing. He can also be justly proud of the success of the AAPG Foundation’s capital campaign.
“We wish him every success in the future.”