Since I’ve been an AAPG Young Professionals (YP) lead I have fully embraced the concept of networking and reaching out to people. I’ve started two local society YP groups, both of which now hold monthly meetings and are reaching out to the local companies to gain traction in the workplace to get more YP involvement with AAPG.

As AAPG secretary I’d like to take networking a step further and work to integrate YPs into mainstream membership. The focus of this effort will be to have YP events that support the goals of the six AAPG outreach committees currently overseen by the secretary. I will network with the editors of the Explorer and Search and Discovery on ideas and authors for articles and/or theme issues.

I bring a Young Professional technical and business perspective to the role of AAPG secretary from my petroleum geoscience experience at FireWheel and as a MBA graduate (May 2014) from Rice University.

My geoscience work at FireWheel has instilled in me the importance of capturing and communicating science of rapidly developing petroleum plays. The Rice program has furthered my ability as an effective listener and communicator with diverse cultural, gender and experience level teams.

I have learned to see global perspectives to comprehend the big picture and work toward group consensus. I am organized and detail oriented in both my professional and volunteer activities.

Through the past seven years in industry, I’ve gained strong multi-disciplinary problem solving and communication skills from working resource play projects. The MBA I received provides the foundation to understand project prioritization and funding for a robust and self-sustaining scientific association. I’m able to actively listen, synthesize information and follow through on task completion.

Serving as secretary is the next step in my AAPG career. I comprehend the role AAPG plays in the facilitation and dissemination of geoscience to a diverse membership and the general public from experience working emerging resource plays.

I plan to use my broad network of Young Professionals and industry contacts to revitalize and implement AAPG’s strategic plan. It is an opportunity to gain new perspectives and insight into AAPG and communicate how Young Professionals can learn from veteran members so together we can continue the legacy of science and professionalism that is AAPG.