While you're here, meet a few people who are in the industry and see what they have to say about their careers.
| Annie C. | Chad M. | Cristin L. | David G. | Daniel I |
| Hiep S. V. | Jay R. | Kristin W. | Mary Beth F. | Tandis B. |
| Tara W. | Timothy F. | Timothy L. | Veronica M. |
Q. What is your current position with the Industry?
A. I am currently a Diamond Product Development Engineer with Hughes
Christensen. I have been in this group for 3 years. In my position I develop new
PDC (Polycrystalline Diamond Compact) drill bits.
Q. Where did you obtain your undergraduate/graduate degree(s)
and in what fields?
A. I graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in
Mechanical Engineering in 2000.
Q. What subjects/courses were instrumental in helping you gain
your current position?
A. The most important classes for me were my Math and Science classes. These
classes were instrumental for my Engineering degree and they continue to help me
in my current position.
Q. How many years of education were needed in order for you to
enter the industry?
A. Many students complete an Engineering degree in 4-5 years. It took me 6 years
to complete my bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. One reason for the
added school years is that I took advantage of co-op opportunities to get real
word experience while I was in school. Also, I took one semester off to study
abroad in Spain.
Q. Were any summer internships or advanced learning
opportunities helpful in entering the industry?
A. Yes, my co-op with Alcatel USA, a telecommunications company in Plano, Texas,
was very beneficial to my professional development. I learned many skills
outside of the preparation I received in my Engineering courses. I learned how
to communicate with my peers, and my supervisors. I also learned time management
and business communication skills.
Q. Does your current position allow you to travel? If so, what
was your favorite location?
A. Yes, working in the energy industry has allowed me to travel everywhere from
East Texas to Argentina and Saudi Arabia. I enjoy traveling and learning about
new cultures and customs. My favorite place by far has been Argentina. I enjoyed
the hustle and bustle of Buenos Aires and the laid back atmosphere of Neuqen and
Comodoro.
Q. What opportunities do you see for yourself in the industry?
A. There are many opportunities right now in the Energy industry to improve
technology, go into research or be a manager. At this point I see myself
becoming a technical drill bit and drilling expert.
Q. What are some of your favorite aspects of your job?
A. I enjoy working on the latest PDC drill bit technology and working to build
it into a viable product to solve our customer’s drilling needs. I also enjoy to
opportunity to travel around the world and see new places.
Q. What are some of the most surprising aspects of your job?
A. Before I entered the Energy industry, I could never imagine how oil and gas
was pulled from the ground to serve our energy needs. Once I began working in
the Energy industry it was surprising how much new technology actually goes into
finding, drilling for, pulling and processing oil and gas.
Q. What is the most rewarding part of your job?
A. The most rewarding aspect of my job is watching a new idea or concept develop
into a new product.
Q. What are some of your interests outside of your position
responsibilities?
A. I enjoy sports; both watching and playing them. I also enjoy traveling with
my wife to many different places around the world.
Q. What is the most exciting technological tool that you have
either used or helped to develop in your job?
A. The performance of the new PDC drill bits we are developing at Hughes
Christensen is very exciting. I believe that with these new technologies we will
be able to drill formations with one or two PDC drill bits that previously took
many drill bits to drill. This will save the customer a lot of time and money.
Q. Do you speak any foreign languages? If so, were they helpful
in your position?
A. Yes, I speak Spanish and it has been an immense help in my career. When I
designed PDC drill bits for the Latin America region I was able to understand
the customers needs better and we felt more comfortable working together since I
was able to speak with them in their native language. It also made traveling to
that region much easier for me.
