YPs Enter New Era with SIG, Leadership Team
On July 1, 2017, the Young Professionals Special Interest Group (YP SIG) bid farewell to outgoing co-chairs Meredith Faber and Jon Allen. Over the past three years Meredith and Jon have revolutionized what it means to be a young professional member of AAPG, and the benefits associated with membership.
Their accomplishments are numerous, but some notables include:
- Establishing the Young Professional Exemplary Service Award. This award was presented for the first time in Houston during AAPG's 100-year ACE celebration.
- Forming and leading AAPG's first special interest group, the YP SIG, from the now defunct AAPG Young Professionals Committee.
- The Explorer ProTracks article series. These articles have helped to engage YP's from across the planet, highlighted important YP events, and has been fundamental in providing AAPG membership with a better understanding of the mission, values and goals of the YP SIG.
- Facilitating the Young Professionals Leadership Summit (YPLS). The industry downturn and its associated budget cuts led many to believe that the YPLS would fall victim to tough economic times; however, a scaled back version of the YPLS has been a big success over the past few years.
The YP SIG would like to thank Meredith and Jon for years of dedication and commitment to YP-related initiatives. Without their persistence, the YP SIG would not be the valuable membership program that it is today. Good luck to you both!
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On July 1, 2017, the Young Professionals Special Interest Group (YP SIG) bid farewell to outgoing co-chairs Meredith Faber and Jon Allen. Over the past three years Meredith and Jon have revolutionized what it means to be a young professional member of AAPG, and the benefits associated with membership.
Their accomplishments are numerous, but some notables include:
- Establishing the Young Professional Exemplary Service Award. This award was presented for the first time in Houston during AAPG's 100-year ACE celebration.
- Forming and leading AAPG's first special interest group, the YP SIG, from the now defunct AAPG Young Professionals Committee.
- The Explorer ProTracks article series. These articles have helped to engage YP's from across the planet, highlighted important YP events, and has been fundamental in providing AAPG membership with a better understanding of the mission, values and goals of the YP SIG.
- Facilitating the Young Professionals Leadership Summit (YPLS). The industry downturn and its associated budget cuts led many to believe that the YPLS would fall victim to tough economic times; however, a scaled back version of the YPLS has been a big success over the past few years.
The YP SIG would like to thank Meredith and Jon for years of dedication and commitment to YP-related initiatives. Without their persistence, the YP SIG would not be the valuable membership program that it is today. Good luck to you both!
Beginning with the 2017–18 fiscal year, the new YP SIG leadership team comprises co-chairs Robynn Dicks and Ryan Lemiski, vice-chairs Maxim Kotenev and Juan Carlos Quinto, AAPG Programs Team Lead Susie Nolan and AAPG President-elect Denise Cox.
Region and section leads include:
- Ademola Lanisa (Africa Region)
- Reetu Ragini (Asia-Pacific Region)
- Low Wan Ching (Asia-Pacific Region)
- MarcelinaŁabaj (Canada Region)
- Andrew Smith (Eastern Section)
- Vacant (Europe Region)
- Hunter Lockhart (Gulf Coast Section)
- Lizbeth Calizaya (Latin America and Caribbean Region)
- Pierre Karam (Mid-Continent Section)
- Abdullah Al-Kandari (Middle East Region)
- Brandi Johnson (Pacific Section)
- Nikki Oliver (Rocky Mountain Section)
- Joe Bauman (Southwest Section)
The YP SIG leadership team is focused on carrying the momentum built by previous leaders. In order to further the YP mission we hope to accomplish several goals over the next three years. These include:
- Maintaining and enhancing programs that are currently offered through the YP SIG.
- Encouraging AAPG student and young professional members to become members of the YP SIG. If you have yet become a member of the YP SIG you can subscribe here: aapg.org/sigs
- Advancing all members of the YP SIG with AAPG associate member status to full, or "capital M,” member status.
- Investigate co-operative efforts with the Society for Exploration Geophysicists, the Geological Society of America, the American Geophysical Union, the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers and other professional societies regarding petroleum industry geoscience outreach, perspectives on employment options in academia and government and the energy industry, and the potential for alternative sources of funding.
- Establishing a mentoring network within AAPG that will allow young professionals to connect with experienced industry experts. The "great crew change” is upon us and senior geoscientists have begun leaving the workforce. It is imperative that we establish a mentorship program that will provide opportunities for experienced members to remain active so that knowledge and life skills transfer can occur.
The YP SIG strives to make AAPG membership more attractive to the YP demographic and to ensure young professional membership retention. We need your help in order to accomplish this. Regions and section leads of the YP SIG are always looking for volunteers. If you are interested in lending a hand, please contact your respective lead. Remember, AAPG allows one year of free membership with the YP SIG. Let us demonstrate to you the value of membership in this organization.
Finally, staying up-to-date on the latest YP news is easy. You can find us on various interweb social media platforms including Facebook, AAPG LinkedIn groups, Twitter (@aapgypsig), and Instagram (@aapgypsig), or at the AAPG YP SIG page.
Onward!