Energy Tomorrow Blog
Celebrating Leadership, Resilience this Women’s History Month
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Olivia Culver
Posted March 10, 2021
Every March, Women’s History Month celebrates the countless women who have changed the course of history through social movements and technological innovations. In the natural gas and oil space, women scientists, educators and other leaders have pioneered advancements that have helped drive economic growth, increased energy security and furthered environmental progress.
For example, the late MIT Professor Mildred Dresselhaus – dubbed the “Queen of Carbon Science” – was renowned for her work in carbon-nanotechnology, which has since improved the industry’s exploration and oil recovery operations.
Today, women play key roles across the industry, empowering their colleagues and preparing for a better, brighter energy future. During remarks at CERAWeek’s Women in Energy Reception, Amanda Eversole, API executive vice president and chief operating officer, highlighted the forward-looking, problem-solving approach women have brought to industry.
Spotlight on Progress – Industry-wide Resilience and Opportunities for Growth
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Amanda Eversole
Posted December 18, 2020
Last week, I was honored to participate in the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council’s (WBENC) Energy Week and present at the State of Energy Industry Webinar, alongside a distinguished group of panelists representing every segment of the natural gas and oil industry to discuss the challenges facing the sector, as well as the opportunities for natural gas and oil operators in the year ahead.
This industry, like many others, has navigated the coronavirus pandemic, the nation’s racial reckoning, the election season and the ongoing economic fallout from widespread shutdowns. Across the board, API members have demonstrated unwavering resilience, finding ways to deliver essential energy products while protecting the health and safety of our workers, communities and the environment.
Helping the Community
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Sam Winstel
Posted May 4, 2020
As everyone in government and the private sector works to contain the coronavirus, there’s no shortage of inspiring stories from the front lines of generosity and selflessness as Americans band together to meet the needs of their communities.
We’ve all heard about courageous medical professionals, first responders and essential workers – including grocery store employees, food service workers and delivery drivers – who are leading efforts to safeguard public health and meet priority needs. In this historic pandemic, they’re true American heroes.
Celebrating STEM Education, Empowering Solution Seekers
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Sam Winstel
Posted November 6, 2019
To mark National STEM Day this Friday, API and a group of partners are launching the STEM Careers Coalition that focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the K-12 grades, with an emphasis on equity and access.
API, Discovery Education, Chevron, Boeing, Best Buy, The Manufacturing Institute, and Microsoft are committed to advancing the future of education through 2025 and beyond. The goal is to improve the learning experience for 10 million students in 5,000 schools nationwide – through direct investments in classrooms, connecting industry employees and students and creating an easily accessible career portal. Ultimately, the coalition will work to bridge the STEM workforce skills gap – which may leave 2.4 million positions unfilled between 2018-2028, according to the Manufacturing Institute.
Recognizing the Workforce this National Energy Awareness Month
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Sam Winstel
Posted October 15, 2019
Since 1991, October has served as National Energy Awareness Month, recognizing the importance of sustainable resource management and the dedication of the people who enable our energy economy. More recently, this also has highlighted the remarkable role of American resource abundance in strengthening the domestic economy and reducing our dependence on imported energy.
Given that the U.S. is the world’s leading natural gas and oil producer, and is expected to become a net exporter of total energy this year, the story of National Energy Awareness Month is now one of energy security and economic progress – powered, in large part, by innovation and an industrious and tech-savvy workforce.
Energy, Women and the Opportunity to Lead
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Megan Bloomgren
Posted March 9, 2019
To mark International Women’s Day, we have a new video featuring leading women from the natural gas and oil industry, including Susan Dio, chairman and president of BP America; Gretchen Watkins, president and U.S. country chair for Shell; and Stacey Nachbaur, Hess senior operations manager for upstream assets. Of course, the things these women say about the natural gas and oil industry are true every day of the year.
Our industry is high tech and critically important to the economy and powering modern life. Natural gas and oil are center stage in most geopolitical discussions, and natural gas is leading the way in reducing greenhouse emissions.
The Women of Industry: Continuing Positive Momentum
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Mark Green
Posted March 29, 2018
Women continue to advance in the natural gas and oil industry. Yes, there’s more progress to be made – and it will be made – yet, it’s clear the old narrative that our industry remains the realm of men is just so yesterday – yesteryear, really.
This week Royal Dutch Shell announced former Maersk Oil CEO Gretchen Watkins will become president of its North American operations. Last week, Susan Dio was named chairwoman and president of BP America. There are other recent examples, including Julie Robertson, president and CEO of Noble Corporation and Vicki Hollub, president and CEO of Occidental Petroleum.
Industry Leaders #PressforProgress on International Women’s Day

Tracee Bentley
Posted March 7, 2018
What if I told you that this year’s International Women’s Day theme, #PressforProgress, fits perfectly with the gains that women have made in the natural gas and oil industry? While it’s true that too often I am one of a few women in the room at industry events, that paradigm is shifting.
Here’s the good news: Nearly half of women employed in the industry work in management and professional jobs, a number that is expected to grow through 2035. The growing numbers of women in natural gas and oil are encouraging, but it’s not enough.
According to a recent API study, the industry must do more to raise awareness of industry opportunities for women and minorities, who are expected to fill nearly 40 percent of the 1.9 million natural gas and oil job opportunities through 2035. This isn’t just a feel-good sentiment, our industry’s ability to continue to grow and innovate depends on our ability to attract women and minorities to our ranks.
‘Women in Energy’ Reception Highlights Industry Career Opportunity

Mark Green
Posted March 6, 2018
API started hosting its “Women in Energy” reception at the IHS CERAWeek conference a few years ago to highlight the contributions of women in our industry, as well as the opportunities for future careers.
Sustaining America’s Energy Momentum
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Mark Green
Posted January 19, 2018
The past week or so we’ve talked a lot about how natural gas and oil help Americans power past the impossible – meeting the challenges of today and building a path to a better future. See API’s 2018 annual report, check out our keynote video and listen to API President and CEO Jack Gerard’s State of American Energy remarks. All point to the positive momentum for our nation provided by secure, abundant energy. Now, how do we keep it going? Gerard, speaking at the U.S. Energy Association’s State of the Energy Industry Forum, focused on three critical points for sustaining America’s energy renaissance.