Dear Independent Oil and Gas Producers,

Since my term as Executive Director of the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council (PTTC) will be drawing to a close in June, 
I was asked to reflect on this dynamic organization that has been such a consuming force in my professional life for nearly a decade. Rather than answering interview questions, I decided to write an open letter to the people PTTC serves - America's independent oil and gas producers.

I feel proud of PTTC's accomplishments - growing from a germ of an idea to a fully-established national organization that plays a unique role in the oil and natural gas industry as a technology intermediary. The long process of forming PTTC essentially began in 1991, when the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) was launching its new Reservoir Class Program through the Fossil Energy Office. DOE sought help from the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) and the state/regional producer associations to determine industry's technological needs.

That led to many industry meetings during the next three years, and eventually a consensus to form a new nationally-coordinated organization in 1994. With every year that PTTC survived against staggering odds, we took steps to point the organization in a direction it could follow for years to come.

I've been trying to create a snapshot of PTTC to remember, but it's difficult to look at things in any 
static sense because our services and products are growing every day. Here are some current highlights:

• There were 128 technology workshops sponsored or co-sponsored by PTTC in the U.S. last year (with almost 6,000 attendees).
• Each of the 10 regions has a resource center providing industry assistance and outreach.
• PTTC's Internet system is adding more content every day through our integrated network of 11 websites (the 10 regional sites 
  plus our national award-winning www.pttc.org).
• In addition to this newsletter, we publish the semi-annual Petroleum Technology Digest (jointly released with World Oil); 
  Solutions from the Field, which is updated online twice a month; and our E&P Petroleum Software Sampler, which is still in 
  demand on CD-ROM. Most of the regions publish their own newsletters and various technical reports.

None of this would have been accomplished without many people who have devoted their time, funds, expertise, and reputation to get PTTC off the ground. If there were more room, I would be able to list everyone who has helped in this often-daunting effort. However, with limited space, I just want to mention and thank a few key groups of people with whom I've personally worked very closely:

• PTTC Chairs Leo Schrider, Bob Nance, Chris Hall and Jim Russell (who died in 1995)
• Current and past members of PTTC's Board (including Gene Ames, Jr. and Denise Bode who led IPAA's role in creating PTTC)
• Current and past DOE officials (especially Tom Wesson from Bartlesville, OK)
• Current and past staff/contractors (especially Kathy Chapman and Lance Cole who have served as rock-solid, dedicated professionals since the beginning. In the early days, John Benton and ICF Resources also helped steer our technical path.)
• Current and past regional directors (who are the backbone of our grassroots program)

Continuity is as essential as change because it preserves the mission of the organization, its core competencies, and its vision for the future. I want this leadership transition to be more than just a “handoff.” It needs to be a “handhold”—binding all we have learned in the past to what PTTC can become in the future.

I'm very fortunate to have had such a unique opportunity to play a key role in forming this national organization and serving as its first Executive Director. Having accomplished the goals I set for myself, the time is right to have someone else lead PTTC into the next successful stage of its life cycle. I'm looking forward to pursuing other challenges on behalf of independents -this time in the consulting world where I can be reached at drowell@EncoreConsult.com

With gratitude and warmest regards,

Deborah Rowell, 
Founding Executive Director
Petroleum Technology Transfer Council